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Reason #8 – You think you're Super Mega Sniper Elite 007

We see you out there trying to be all stealthy, creeping around really slowly pretending that if you move like some hot-stuff Navy SEAL nobody will see you. We know why you’re doing it – because that's how it works in the movies. But video games don't work like that, buddy. While you see yourself moving with the utmost precision, as slowly and stealthily as a mighty jungle cat, everyone else sees you creeping along like a sitting duck, possibly with your gun barrel glitching through the wall and your legs dancing wildly as they constantly realign.

How to fix it: Move quickly (but don’t sprint – more on that later) and with purpose or not at all. If you're going to try to go stealth, stop moving entirely or move quickly, then stop. The human eye is trained to see motion, and in a game like Black Ops the frenetic action will often make it tough to see anything that isn't moving. Get into position, then stop fidgeting. If you have to move, do it in one swift motion to reduce the chance anyone will catch you moving.

Worst in: Free-for-All

Reason #7 – You never stop reloading

After you win a gunfight, you reload right away. Don’t do that. We've lost count of how many idiots we've picked off right after their fight because they started reloading immediately after the fight was over. Shooting attracts other enemies, particularly live ones you haven’t shot yet. And reloading makes you completely defenseless for a few precious seconds. If you get caught, you're toast. How many bullets do you think it takes to kill somebody anyway? You don't need 30 bullets in the clip to take somebody out.

How to fix it: Make sure you're safe before reloading. If you've just unloaded on some fool, it's likely somebody heard the shots and is coming to mop up the leftovers. They're probably even hoping you're silly enough to start reloading immediately. Head around the corner and duck behind a dumpster or something.

Worst in: All modes, but specifically Free-for-All, Team Deathmatch

Reason #6 – You don’t use what you brought

Why make your poor avatar schlep out onto the battlefield carrying a ridiculous load of ammunition and firearms, and then never even use it? Why outfit yourself with a load of flashbangs, a grenade, a rocket launcher, and an underbarrel grenade launcher if all you're going to do is fire off a little pea shooter? If you brought it, use it. Seriously, what’s the harm in tossing a flashbang into a room you think might have an enemy inside. We know, you're thinking, “But I might need it later!” You won’t. If you don’t use it now, there might not even be a later. The average CoD lifespan is probably around 20-30 seconds, so make the most of it.

How to fix it: Chuck your grenades, and launch your rockets. You'll respawn with more anyway. If they save your life, great. If you're going to die anyway, those pieces aren't going to stop that, but if you use them early, you might just get an extra kill or two out of the deal.

Worst in: Domination, Headquarters, Sabotage

Reason #5 – You're impatient

We promise you there will still be people left to kill if you take five seconds to get into position rather than three seconds. So stop sprinting everywhere, you maniac. This goes along with number seven in the “stop getting yourself killed” category. Sprinting is another one of those risky activities that leaves you defenseless long enough to get fragged. It's a subtle difference, but the simple lag time in getting your gunsights up after running is more than enough time to leave you waiting to respawn, and we promise that will take up more of your time than if you'd walked.

How to fix it: Be patient. If you even slightly expect there to be enemies nearby, just walk. Sprinting should be reserved for the opening of the match, crossing areas you know an enemy is sniping, and moving through zones you know to be safe (ideally based on spy plane reconnaissance).

Worst in: Team Deathmatch, Free-for-All

Reason #4 – Your life means too much

Most game types in Black Ops have absolutely nothing to do with kills, and yet without fail every match (of any game type) will include at least a couple people who jealously guard their mortality as though they were the last scion of an ancient monarchy. Staying alive is cool and all; rack up enough kills and you'll get killstreak rewards that can help your team win the match. But if you have no kills, or you've already received your killstreak rewards (we’re looking at you, sniper fetishists) then get yourself into the action and use your gear so you can do some damage, die and respawn with more gear.

How to fix it: Stop worrying so much about whether you survive. It takes all of five seconds to get back to the fight after respawning, and you get a bunch of useful stuff when you do it too. Unless it's a small team game, it's borderline narcissistic to think your whole team will collapse if you aren't alive for three seconds.

Worst in: Domination, Sabotage, Headquarters

Reason #3 – Your life means too little

In direct contrast to the mooks described in number four, there are always people (mostly in Team Deathmatch) who fail to realize that their deaths are contributing to the enemy score. You can see it happen. The same people will respawn right next to you and then sprint out onto the battlefield as quickly as possible, only to return to the respawn point mere moments later. You're not just getting yourself killed, you're bringing down the entire team with your impatient, sprint-y nonsense.

How to fix it: We get it. Sometimes the match just doesn't go your way. There are a thousand reasons why you might be having a bad match. That's totally OK. But the way to turn the match around is NOT too repeatedly rush blindly into the meat grinder as fast as you can. The other team is better than you, and you need to take steps to mitigate their higher skill level. Stay low. Move more slowly. Stick with teammates. Stay out of the action so your bad game doesn't cause a loss for the entire team. And watch the movie Gallipoli, for God’s sake.

Worst in: Team Deathmatch

Reason #2 – You use assault rifles for everything

What would you think about a man who owned a grocery store and yet only ever ate dry rice? Sure, it keeps him sustained, but damn if it's uninteresting. So why, when you have the option to use dozens of different type of weapons, would you choose to use a bland assault rifle for every possible circumstance? What good will it do to have you guarding a point in an objective-based game with a gun that needs four bullets to bring down a target. Odds are you'll be dead before you can count that high.

How to fix it: Think critically about what you're going to be doing and experiment with new things depending upon the situation. If you're going to be defending something, you'll probably be better off with a shotgun at short range. Or maybe a sniper rifle if you've got time to set up a perch somewhere far off. If there's lot of thin cover nearby, pick up an LMG. If it's mostly tight corridors, come packing an Uzi. You'll win far more often when you're dressed for the occasion.

Worst in: Domination, Headquarters

Reason #1 – You mindlessly assault Point B

It's almost sickening to see how many people throw their lives away trying to take or retake point B in Domination. It's in the middle of the level for a reason, folks. It's supposed to be really tough to take. Points A and C are far easier to assault on most levels, yet you continue to throw yourselves at B as though it did something special.

How to fix it: Each position gives the same amount of points. Spread the love. If the enemy is focused on B, use one of the many back roads to sneak around and take A or C. Your team will get more points, and you're far more likely to be able to take the middle point once the enemy has retreated to try to regain what you just took.

Worst in: Domination

Disagree. I reload alot and i always get higher than 1.25 as my kd.

i'm 1.61

i tend to reload once I kill someone. theres times while im reloading I do get killed due that person running over or waiting for his team mate to die. Now I use extended mags with scrav. pro and that takes care of that. 45 bullets I can take down up to 4 people and then have to reload

I definitely break rule 7. I reload all the time even I shot one round, I dont know why but I think it helps me out more than anything. I will admit though I do sometimes get killed during reload.....totally blows

The title made me laugh

i follow most of this because thats how i play and i have a kd of 1.89 with 35000 kills except the reload part ................. ps compared to ppl that say oh i have a kd of 2.10 when i only have 5000 kills yea kd goes down after a while so when you put your kd can u guys start putting down put kills after it

I agree.... hahaha

Lol wut? I do none of these yet I still suck.......

lol at taking the time to write this... and me for actually reading it :carling:

I have to fall under the category of reloading after each encounter. Its a bad habit. I also correctly pick the exact right moment to throw a flash/change gun/reload/turn around/go out of hiding so that when I do, a guy comes round the corner and bones me in the arse. FML. Thats why I suck sometimes.