Guide: Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 - Hints and Tips for Surviving Blackout

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 may be your first experience of the Battle Royale genre, and if so, it's understandable if you're a little apprehensive to jump in for the first time. Things can get a little overwhelming, with new mechanics and items that aren't present anywhere else in the game, but you needn't worry any longer. We're here to offer a helping hand to get you started on what you should be focusing on learning and mastering your first few matches of Blackout with a bunch of hints and tips.

Drop into a hot zone and practice

Let's face it, you're not going to net your first win within your first few matches, so instead you should focus on learning how the mode works and its trappings. Drop into a hot zone where you're bound to confront other players such as Firing Range, Rivertown, or Fracking Tower and get to work on scavenging supplies and weapons from the nearest building.

From there, head outside once you feel comfortable with the gun you have equipped and search out your first victim. Repeat this strategy for your first couple of rounds until you feel like you've got a good grasp of what you should be doing.

You have more time than you think to make it to the circle

The initial circle that kicks off every game has a two minute timer before it begins closing in from the outskirts of the map, but that's actually a little misleading. On top of the 120 seconds it takes before movement, the circle itself takes roughly another minute and a half before it has fully contracted, meaning you've got nearly double the amount of time to make it to the safe zone if you're relatively close. Use that time to your advantage by scavenging as many weapons and as much ammo and equipment as you can. And even if you do land far away from the first circle, there's always a quad bike or truck on hand.

Learn what attachments your favourite guns take and the ammo they use

Of course every loot drop across the Blackout map is randomised, but that doesn't mean you can't start specing towards a preferred build straight from the off. If you come across a weapon you really like, learn which attachments it takes and the ammo it consumes. That way, once you do come across that particular weapon, you can customise it to your liking straight away with a ton of bullets in the chamber because you've already picked them up while scavenging.

Study how the circle collapses

Another randomised aspect of Battle Royale is the circle itself, and its starting location is no different. If you land in the middle of the map, you'll generally have no trouble making it to the safe zone if you're not already inside it, but it's towards the latter half of matches where it can become an issue.

The final few circles do not collapse fairly, so the next circle after the current one isn't going to be directly in the middle of the land mass it's currently covering. The safe zone shifts about as it collapses, meaning that you may need to head north, south, east, or west from your current position once the next circle appears. Never assume that you're good for the next circle if you're simply in the middle of the current one.

Supply drops are risky, but can pay off

Supply drops are occasionally dropped by helicopters as matches progress, and they contain some of the best loot in the game. They're certainly enticing, but there's a big risk that comes with seeking one out. Pretty much every player on the map can see where they're going to land, and once they do, red flares strike up around it to signify its exact location.

This of course draws in many opponents. If you have a vehicle then you may be able to get in and out fast before anyone else arrives, but if you're on foot, be prepared for multiple gun fights before you get your hands on any loot. It could pay off with the best gun in the game and Level 3 armour, or you could wind up dead. It's up to you to decide whether you want to take that risk or not.

Do you have any other hints and tips for those new to Blackout and the Battle Royale genre in general? Scavenge some loot in the comments below.