Black Ops 3 guide: 7 tips for mastering Call of Duty's multiplayer beta 2017

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 multiplayer beta has only been out for a few days on PS4, but it’s clear even during these early stages that the competition this year is going to be fierce.
With a new movement system to master and specialist classes to get to grips with, those maps can be intimidating places for newbies, so we’ve pulled together a few tips and tricks to help beginners survive that little bit longer.
Everything you need to know about Black Ops 3 beta
1. Attack or defence? Choose your specialist and skills wisely
© Activision
The specialist soldiers and their abilities make for the biggest change in Black Ops 3, although you’ll have to earn and spend unlock tokens if you want to have all the skills at your disposal.
You can select from one of four specialists as you start the game – two more can be unlocked during the beta – and can equip one skill at a time. It’s highly recommended that you start out with a specialist and skill that suits your style of play.
If you’re new to the game, then Battery is a good choice, as she has Kinetic Armour that can deflect regular body shots. It’s a great ability for newbies getting used to maps, especially when you find yourself in wide open spaces, or are heading into a room where a battle is taking place.
© Activision
Outrider’s Vision Pulse, which reveals enemy locations within range, is a decent ability if you’re a slightly slower and more methodical player, while Ruin’s speed up ability and Prophet’s Glitch ability – which takes you back to a previous location – are handy for escaping hairy situations.
Once you’ve learned the maps and your kill counts go up, then it’s time to try the more attacking specialist skills.
2. Walk before you can run: Start off with a Team Deathmatch

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 beta contains seven game modes, including Team Deathmatch, Domination, Demolition, Kill Confirmed, Hardpoint, Capture the Flag and Search & Destroy.
© Activision
A tip that’s good for most multiplayer shooters is that you need to walk before you can run, so it’s best to stick to game modes like Team Deathmatch when you’re starting out.
Not only is it the most heavily populated of the game modes – which means you won’t be waiting as long in the lobbies – but Team Deathmatch is also the most straightforward.
It’s a kill or be killed experience where the only objective is to rack up the most points, which makes it ideal for learning the maps and getting used to the new movement system and specialist abilities.
If you think about maps as having two or three tiers, then move upwards and downwards from area to area – Evac is particularly good for this. Your constant movement will make you harder to kill, and coming in from different levels will surprise other players.
5. Don’t be afraid to get a little wet

Swimming is another new addition to Black Ops 3 multiplayer, and while there’s a useful stretch of water in Evac, Hunted is the best map to visit if you want to learn how to use swimming to your advantage.
While you can easily find yourself embroiled in an underwater gunfight, for the most part it’s a really useful way to sneak around the map and surprise your enemies.
© Activision
Hunted’s pool of water can pretty much take you anywhere you need to go, leading to the cave, the inside of the house and the courtyard with the overturned vehicle – the latter of which is a good place to emerge to catch stragglers.
6. Stay close to your teammates

Even though Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is a team-based game, you don’t necessarily have to run with a crew to have success.
However, with all of the new skills and abilities we’ve discussed, you’d do well to stick close to a higher level player when you start out.
Not only is there a good chance that they’ll protect you from getting shot – and you’ll be more aware when danger’s afoot – but you’ll discover new routes through the maps and innovative new ways to use your skills.
© Activision
7. Don’t get disheartened and keep on trying

Remember, most of the people who populate the Black Ops 3 beta are already massive Call of Duty fans who have pre-ordered the game.
Don’t get disheartened if you’re struggling to rack up those kills – keep on trying new things and experimenting with different abilities, and you’ll soon find something that works for you.
Black Ops 3 is coming to PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC on November 6.

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