Written 14 March 2026, before Season 06. Weapons and balance have changed since, so treat the picks here as history. For this week's builds, see the tier list.
Controller Settings
Sensitivity
- Horizontal Sensitivity: 6-7 (most pros use 6)
- Vertical Sensitivity: 6-7 (match horizontal for consistency)
- ADS Sensitivity Multiplier: 1.0 (don't change this unless you have a specific reason)
- Sensitivity Curve: Dynamic (best for tracking moving targets)
Deadzone
- Left Stick Deadzone: 0.05 - 0.08 (as low as possible without stick drift)
- Right Stick Deadzone: 0.05 - 0.08 (same principle)
- Trigger Deadzone: 0.00 (no reason to have any trigger delay)
To find your optimal deadzone: lower it until you see stick drift, then raise it by 0.02.
Aim Assist
- Aim Assist Type: Default (Black Ops style aim assist is the strongest and most consistent)
- Target Aim Assist: On
Button Layout
- Bumper Jumper Tactical — The competitive standard. Allows jumping without taking thumb off the right stick.
- Alternative: Default with paddles (if you have an Elite/Scuf controller)
PC Settings
Display
- FOV: 110-120 (120 is standard for competitive play — wider view but targets appear smaller)
- ADS FOV: Affected (maintains FOV consistency when aiming)
- Display Mode: Fullscreen Exclusive (best performance and input lag)
- V-Sync: Off (always off for competitive play)
- Frame Rate Limit: Unlimited or match your monitor's refresh rate
Graphics Quality
- Render Resolution: 100% (never lower this — it destroys visibility)
- Texture Resolution: Low or Normal (minimal visual difference, big performance gain)
- Texture Filter: Normal
- Shadow Quality: Low (shadows are useful for spotting enemies but tank FPS)
- Particle Quality: Low
- Volumetric Quality: Low
- Screen Space Reflections: Off
- Depth of Field: Off
- Motion Blur: Off (always off — it blurs your vision during movement)
- Film Grain: 0.00 (adds visual noise for no benefit)
NVIDIA/AMD Specific
- DLSS/FSR: Quality mode if you need the FPS boost, otherwise Native
- Reflex Low Latency: On + Boost (significant input lag reduction on NVIDIA cards)
- Anti-Lag: On (AMD equivalent of Reflex)
Audio Settings
Audio Mix
- Audio Mix: Headphones Bass Boost (best for footstep audio)
- Master Volume: 70-80%
- Music Volume: 0% (distracting in competitive play)
- Dialogue Volume: 50% (operator callouts can be useful)
- Effects Volume: 100% (gunshots, explosions, footsteps)
Footstep Audio Tips
- Headphones Bass Boost emphasises low-frequency sounds like footsteps
- Use a quality headset — sound quality matters more than any in-game setting
- Turn off all background audio (music, streams) when playing competitively
- Windows Sonic or Dolby Atmos for spatial audio is personal preference — try both
PC Keybinds
These are the most commonly used competitive keybinds. Adjust to your preference, but these are solid starting points:
- Tactical Sprint: Left Shift (double-tap) or dedicated key
- Slide/Dive: C or Left Ctrl
- Crouch: Left Ctrl (toggle)
- Prone: Z
- Weapon Swap: 1/2 or Scroll Wheel
- Reload: R
- Interact/Loot: F or E
- Tactical Equipment: Q
- Lethal Equipment: G or Mouse 4
- Ping: Middle Mouse Button or Z
- Map: M or Tab
- Armour Plates: 4 or Mouse 5 (quick access is essential)
The most important keybind is armour plates — you need to be able to replate instantly mid-fight without taking your fingers off movement keys.