Call of Duty has existed for two decades, and during that time, it has essentially served as the foundation of the first-person shooter genre. While there may have been titles that came before it in the space, it has arguably ‘done it the best’. Today, it’s one of the best-selling franchises of all time, and it’s only getting stronger as the years push on. Today, we’re taking a look at a very small portion of the Call of Duty ecosystem and answering a basic question for new players: “What is ADS in COD?”

There are countless Call of Duty mechanics to know and learn, and they all have their own responsibilities and roles to play in the game. For the most part, knowing how to move and take advantage of the mechanics available to you can be the difference between a win and a loss. If you’re new to the game, you may have heard some Call of Duty terms being thrown around, and you may not know exactly what they mean.

So, what is ADS in Call of Duty, and why is it essentially the most important mechanic you’ll ever need to use?

How to ADS in Call of Duty

This is ADS (Image Credit: Activision Blizzard)

In the diverse and dynamic world of Call of Duty, ADS is an acronym for ‘Aim Down Sights’. This is the action that you take when you press and hold the left trigger, right mouse button, or the respective touchpad on your mobile device. It’s the act of ‘zooming in’ with your weapon, lining up your Operator’s eye with the optic or iron sights that sits on top of your current weapon. It serves to boost your accuracy, slow down your movement, and lock in those kills at a much faster rate.

That’s exactly how and when you’ll do it, too.

If you see an enemy ahead of you, then you’ll ADS by pressing the requisite button, and then you’ll open fire. If you’re able to keep the sights on target, you’ll have your kill secured in a matter of seconds. It’s important to note that ADS’ing will feel different with every weapon, every build, and every optic. If you’ve got a heavier weapon with more attachments, your ADS speed will be much slower, and it’ll be tougher to acquire your opponent before they do the same to you.

But, if you’re running an SMG with attachments that boost ADS speed – because that’s a thing – then you’ll be ‘snapping’ onto your targets with surgical precision and speed – it’s how the best Call of Duty players in the world do it.

Why is ADS So Important in COD?

That answers the question, “What is ADS in COD,” but there’s more tov talk about here.

Why exactly is ADS so important in every Call of Duty game, and how can it help you win fights? Well, go into any game, whether it’s Call of Duty Mobile, Call of Duty Warzone, or Modern Warfare II, and fire your weapon at an enemy without aiming down the sights. You’ll immediately notice how the rounds you’re firing are spraying haphazardly all over the place. Now, take out a sniper rifle and do the same thing. It’s almost impossible to hit anything, right?

If you ADS in COD, you’ll be ensuring that your bullets are hitting the desired target – which equals kills. While there are attachments and moments that will make a ‘hipfire’ more effective, you should almost always be aiming down your sights when you’re trying to fight an opponent. If you’re a fan of esports and you watch the Call of Duty League, you’ll notice that the players regularly ADS even when there are no enemies in front of them.

This is called ‘pre-aiming’, and it’s a solid tactic – it means that you’re ready to shoot an enemy dead if they were to suddenly appear in front of you.

Trust us, you don’t need to ask, “What is ADS in COD” – just get out there and apply the principle and win more fights.