Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's penchant for keeping a toe dipped in the pond of nostalgia extends beyond returning characters and familiar gadgetry. Infinity Ward haven't been shy about embracing and updating old maps.
Something oft forgotten in the wider discourse surrounding Modern Warfare is the subset of fans who vehemently dislike the close combat arenas. Rust, Shoot House, and in particular Shipment, have as many fervent fans as they do detractors, owing to their tightly constructed layout and limited lanes of combat.
Spawning can also be a bone of contention, often making rounds in these kill boxes devolve into a flurry of blink and your dead firefights that fly by at maximum velocity.
For those who lean more favourably in their direction, these maps do provide opportunity to hone reflexes and double down on the consistency of your gun play. It's not all about flailing around wildly and hoping for the best, and we've got some tips that'll help you up your game.
Infinity Ward
Rust
Verticality is your friend here, but also potentially your greatest downfall. The central structure offers plenty of tactical possibility, with multiple clamber routes up along the adjoining pipes and main ramp.
Control of that high ground is key, and despite a seeming lack of protection at that height, there is just enough room to duck back in case you're being pinged. Everything revolves around that centre piece, and it should be your primary point of attack.
On the flipside, if you find yourself on the receiving end of an onslaught from above, the edges of the map offer multiple cover points with minimal flanking vulnerability. Engaging at range is still a viable approach here, despite an overall lack of square footage.
Shoot House
The much heralded return of three lane combat attracts a certain player type to Shoot House which can be easily circumvented: the camping sniper.
Likely attaching themselves to the walls overlooking the central run, it's best to avoid this chokepoint where ever possible. Taking a stealthier approach on this map is totally viable, especially on the side opposite to the dummy buildings.
As you approach the top end spawn, you'll have a mostly unrestricted view that avoids the abundance of crates, blown out vehicles and other obstacles that litter much of the play space. Use it to eliminate players too stubborn to keep on their toes.
Camping simply isn't an effective tactic on these smaller maps; players that refuse to move even after soaking up a couple of cheap kills will quickly get grenade spammed and / or fall victim to a swift vendetta.
Infinity Ward
Shipment
Perhaps the most overt example of a slapstick arena we've ever encountered, Shipment suffers greatly when compared to other maps of a similar design by shining a light on the often unpredictable spawning patterns that can plague Modern Warfare.
This is typically caused by certain players obsessive need to rambo into battle without a seconds hesitation, and therefore breaking the in game logic and leaving you vulnerable. Your best bet here is to do the opposite of Rust: avoid the central area entirely.
Don't even entertain the notion of using it as a quick cut thought. There are simply too many angles to consider with those perfectly aligned shipping crates, and you'll get turned into red mist before you can react.
Picking a side and sticking to it, bouncing between cover points in a relatively tight area, can work even in the objective gametypes; you're guaranteed to catch someone unawares as they mistakenly make a move on your position.
