Best Call of Duty Black Ops 4 Breakdown: Weapons, Maps, Specialists

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 first launched in October of 2018, emerging as one of the only multiplayer-exclusive titles in the history of the franchise. As a game, it was remarkably successful, serving as Activision’s first key entry into the battle royale genre. It came equipped with a traditional multiplayer platform, the typical Black Ops zombies modes, and Blackout, the aforementioned battle royale experience. Today, we’re here to look at the entire product, bringing you the best Call of Duty Black Ops 4 breakdown.

From the best weapons to the all-time greatest BO4 maps, this guide will cover all key areas of the title. We’re a long way since the release of Black Ops 4, but it remains a relatively popular title today, with many players still diving back in to explore the high-octane, fast-paced multiplayer modes. This was the last ‘jetpack COD’ before the return to boots-on-the-ground combat in 2019’s Modern Warfare, and it was an exciting send-off to one of the most-loved styles of Call of Duty gameplay.

Without further ado, let’s jump head over heels into the best Call of Duty Black Ops 4 breakdown.

Best Call of Duty Black Ops 4 Weapons

Image Credit: Activision

In all the Call of Duty games, there has been an incredibly heavy focus on gunplay. It’s the bread and butter of the franchise, and a Call of Duty title with poor gunplay is like a car powered by a blender – it just doesn’t work, and it’s never going to get anywhere. As Black Ops 4 was centred around a fictional, borderline sci-fi setting, it boasted some high-tech, innovative weaponry.

At the top of the table sat the iconic ICR-7, a starter assault rifle that can easily accompany a player throughout their ongoing journey. With a few attachments, the ICR-7 becomes a powerhouse at close, mid, and longer ranges, effortlessly snapping on enemies and cleaning them off the battlefield.

In terms of SMGs, the majority of fast-paced players gravitate towards the Spitfire. This weapon offers higher levels of agility than an AR, and the high rate of fire means that it’s an absolute demon of a weapon up close. However, if you’re opting to use the Spitfire, you’ll need to have a steady hand, as the lower damage means that you’ll need to land more shots at range.

If you’re a sniper, you’ll likely gravitate towards the Paladin, a super-powered sniper that will coincidentally be the first one you unlock. This is a highly customisable weapon that can be used at long range to tap enemies in one hit, provided you hit them in the chest or above.

Best Call of Duty Black Ops 4 Maps

Image Credit: Call of Duty

When discussions arise debating whether Call of Duty is dying, a typical focus is on the quality of the maps. For some, the best Call of Duty titles are made by the standard of their maps, and in Black Ops 4, there were plenty of amazing environments to explore.

For the nostalgic Black Ops fans, one of the best maps was Firing Range Night. This map took a traditional fan favourite and flipped it on its head, plunging it into near darkness and introducing a fantastic ambience to the battlefield. It was an instantly recognisable map that required a little tactical knowledge to overcome the darkness.

If you’re more of a fan of the open environments, then Icebreaker is one of the best Call of Duty Black Ops 4 maps you’ll land on. It’s an arctic map set around a frozen, abandoned nuclear submarine, and this map is relatively unique as it boasts swimming mechanics.

For players seeking a one-stop-shop kind of map, Contraband is the place to be. This is one of the most balanced maps in the game, offering an unparalleled, action-fuelled experience, regardless of the game mode being played. It boasts perfect capture points for Domination and Control, and it incorporates the swimming portions that Icebreaker also offers.

Best Call of Duty Black Ops 4 Specialists

Image Credit: Activision

Black Ops 4’s multiplayer modes featured Specialists, special ‘hero’ characters that boasted unique attributes, abilities, and equipment. It wasn’t the first time the franchise went this way, but it certainly did it better than any game that came before it. Ultimately, Black Ops 4 would be the final outing for Specialists, as in Modern Warfare (2019), Activision and Co. reverted to traditional player-built multiplayer builds.

If you’re going into Black Ops 4 to dominate your opponents, consider running as Ruin. This fast-paced character boasts a grapple-hook gun that can launch him across the map at high speeds. It’s an exciting way to play and it’ll ensure you’re hitting objectives as fast as possible.

For the players that find themselves protecting objectives, Torque is the specialist of choice. He’s one of the most iconic Call of Duty characters when it comes to defensive abilities, coming equipped with special barricades that can block doorways and paths.

Ultimately, if you’re a key team player, you’ll want to make use of Crash, the medic and support Specialist. With Crash, players can deploy an ammo pack to resupply their teammates, but they can also deploy an ultimate buff that boosts the health of their entire squad.

There’s no harm in going back to Black Ops 4 – it’s still a fantastic game. After all, if you’re looking to play games like Call of Duty, what’s better than Call of Duty itself?