For many Warzone players, the most daunting hurdle to overcome when sniping is bullet drop.
Being a great sniper in Call of Duty Warzone can make the difference between placing in the top 5 or dead last. For many players, the most daunting hurdle to overcome when sniping is bullet drop, but it is not too hard to get a grasp on. With this guide, hopefully you can pick up a few new tips to improve your sniping and win more encounters.
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When it comes to sniping, your bullet drop is heavily dependent on the gun you are using. In Warzone, bullets generally tend to dip at ranges above 200 or 300 meters. Under 200 or 300 meters, you simply need to line up your scope's reticle with your target, and your bullet will beam in a straight line towards your enemy, no fuss. This bullet drop pattern may be hard for Battlefield players to get used to at first. Most of your engagements in Warzone will be at medium to close distances, where you will not need to worry about accommodating for a massive amount of bullet drop.
However, if you engage targets that are maybe 500 meters away, then you will begin to notice your bullets will start to dip in arc-like fashion. With the right rifle, aim a little bit above where you want your shot to go. We're talking centimeters — not inches — above your target, so fight the temptation to overcompensate for bullet drop. While you might try to use the markings on your scope to adjust for distance, that actually isn't going to help. While it may seem counter-intuitive, the markings on your scope seem to be decorative, and you just need to worry about lining up your crosshairs with your target.
Marksman rifles are a great middle-ground between wanting more range than standard assault rifles, but not wanting the slow handling of a sniper rifle. Despite being able to have long-range scopes attached to these rifles, the downside with Marksman Rifles is their range does not compare to the snipers, and you will have to aim your reticle significantly higher to accommodate for the bullet drop. Marksman rifles are by no means terrible, they can be quite fast and hold down some impressive ranges, but if you want to cover long ranges these rifles may not be the best choice.
When choosing your sniper, it's best to avoid the Dragunov as its bullet drop is awful. What you want to focus on is the HDR with the HDR Pro Barrel mod for a selection that has an incredible amount of range, and bullet drop is almost unnoticeable at massive distances. The AX-50 is also great, and while you may need to accommodate for bullet drop slightly, it is slightly faster than the HDR.
Both of these snipers have a bullet drop pattern that is easy to get used to, and most of the time, you will just need to line up your crosshairs on your target and not several meters above your target for bullet drop. The hard part is getting a feel for bullet drop, and there is no easy way around it other than playing more to eventually learn the ins and outs of each weapon.
While players should always prioritize getting a headshot for the most damage output, that is not always going to be easy to pull off. Generally, you want to aim for the head if you know your target will be stationary. If you scope up, wait one second to see if your target makes any sudden movements, because missing your headshot will give your position away. In situations where you need to snap into your aim — say, for an ambush — focus on center mass and go for a shot to the chest. At longer distances, bullet drop will rear its head, so know your environment. If you have the high ground and your target is at a great distance below you, go for that headshot because your height advantage will help balance the bullet drop. Always assess the risk of taking a shot, as sometimes it may be best to let a target pass instead of risking giving away your position.
While bullet drop on stationary targets is easy to handle, a moving target brings in new factors to accommodate. If your target is running, your bullet is going to need some time to catch up, so try to place your crosshairs roughly the size of one body ahead of the direction your target is running. At greater distances, you may need to lead your shot a little more, and adjust for bullet drop, but with the AX-50 or HDR, it is not too drastic of an adjustment due to their impressive bullet velocity.
Remember, when using any long-range scope your position is given away by a scope glint, so try to aim only when necessary to not broadcast your location to everyone around you. Likewise, if you see an enemy sniper glint aim slightly above the center of that big glaring white light, and you can get a headshot.
Always try to have the high ground when sniping. Moreover, use the environment to your advantage, peek angles that are not too obvious, and do not get stuck in a distinct pattern that will make the enemy snipers able to predict your movement easily. Lastly, blend in, use rocks, bushes, and even operator skins that are not too flashy to make it harder for enemies to spot you. Hopefully, with enough time and practice, you can become a crack shot.
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