CWL Rule Set, Version 1.2:
Note: As this is the initial version of the ruleset, it is subject to change. Please follow CallofDuty.com/esports, as well as @CallofDuty, @CODWorldLeague and @Treyarch on Twitter, for future updates.
Maps and Modes
For this year, all competitions will be played on three game modes: Hardpoint, Search and Destroy, and Control.
Control is a new signature game mode that brings out the best in Black Ops 4 team tactical gameplay. It brings together some elements of S&D and Hardpoint in a way that feels completely unique. Like S&D, teams alter between attacking and defending two pre-determined objective areas on the map. Like Hardpoint, these objectives are hills where attackers must stand in to capture them.
Each team gets a collective 25 lives per round. A team takes a round when they either capture both hills on offense, run out the clock on defense, or expend all of the other teams’ 25 lives on either side.
Our initial slate of maps may be reduced ahead of CWL Las Vegas. We want to make veto strategy an important element this season but have kept the map pools for each mode purposefully larger to allow us to adjust in the future.
At this time, Control will be our third game mode – replacing Capture the Flag from the previous CWL season.
Here are the maps and main settings changes for Control:
Maps: - Updated November 15
— Arsenal
— Frequency
— Gridlock
— Seaside
Settings:
— Two second respawn delay
— Three-second suicide penalty
— 15-second pre-match timer
— Five second pre-round timer
As for the other two modes, here is the initial map pool and settings changes for Hardpoint and Search and Destroy:
Hardpoint Maps: - Updated November 15
— Arsenal
— Frequency
— Gridlock
— Hacienda
— Seaside
Hardpoint Settings:
— Two second respawn delay
— Three-second suicide penalty
— 15-second pre-match timer
Search and Destroy Maps: - Updated November 15
— Arsenal
— Frequency
— Gridlock
— Hacienda
— Payload
Search and Destroy Settings:
— Time limit decreased to 1:30
— Round Win limit increased to six rounds
— Select Spawn disabled
— Silent Plant enabled
— 15-second pre-match timer
Five second pre-round timer
Specialists
The following Specialist is restricted from use in CWL competition:
— Nomad
Torque has been removed from the restricted Specialists list and has been re-enabled in competitive play (Updated 11/15)
Specialists in the game can be used by one player on each team, just like in regular Multiplayer lobbies.
Specialist Equipment
The following Specialist Equipment is restricted from use in CWL competition:
— Tac-Deploy (Restricted in Hardpoint and Search & Destroy only)
Sensor Dart has been removed from the restricted Specialist Equipment list and has been re-enabled in competitive play (Updated 11/15)
Following CWL Las Vegas, special attention will be paid to the tuning of specific Specialist Gear (specifically for esports competition), adjusting elements like the damage dealt and durability of some offense-based equipment as well as the active time and impact of persistent support items.
Some equipment the studio would like to try adjusting – specifically for Esports Modes – include how Tac-Deploy operates and how many spawns it can generate, Reactor Core’s strength and radius, the damage and durability of Torque’s gear and more.
Weapon Restrictions
The following will be restricted for competitive play.
— Titan
— Hades
— VKM 750
— MOG 12
— SG12
Hellion Salvo has been removed from the restricted weapons list and has been re-enabled in competitive play (Updated 11/15)
Rocket Launchers have traditionally been restricted from competitive Call of Duty due to free fire functionality and the damage that they apply to other players. However, they will be permitted in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 competitive play after a tuning adjustment has been made to significantly reduce damage to players.
The ultimate goal of keeping Launchers in play in competitive is to serve as a tactical counter to equipment and scorestreaks exclusively, and not affect player-to-player combat.
For that reason – specifically when selecting Esports settings in custom games, which will be added to the game in the near future – damage to players from Launchers will be dramatically reduced, such that it will be insignificant.
Other Restrictions:
The following will be restricted for competitive play.
Attachments:
— High Caliber
— High Explosive
— Laser Sight II
— Max Load
— Rapid Fire
— Rocket Cache
— Steady Grip
Optics:
— Fast Lock
Perks:
— Gung-Ho
— Skulker
— Team Link
— Tracker
Wildcards:
— Overkill
— Primary Operator Mod
— Secondary Operator Mod
Scorestreaks:
— UAV
— Care Package
— Counter-UAV
— Sentry
— Mantis
Gear:
— Acoustic Sensor
Lobby Settings
In all modes, some standard game settings will be changed, including:
— Friendly Fire enabled
— Battlechatter disabled
— Revenge voice disabled
— 3rd Person Spectating Disabled
— 3rd Person Gestures Disabled
— Gesture Camera Controls Disabled
— Team Assignment – Open
— Announcer – Enabled
Remember, this is just the initial ruleset; rules are subject to change, and we will continue to fine-tune these settings throughout the remainder of the year