The soft reboot has more game modes than you might think. Not all of them are unlocked at this point, but modes like Hardpoint, Headquarters, and others exist in the game. So do several Hardcore game types, particularly Team Deathmatch and Domination. Trouble is, they aren’t immediately apparent in the menus.
This guide will walk you through how to find the Hardcore game modes and give a quick rundown of what’s different in Modern Warfare’s Hardcore mode.
How to Find Hardcore Game Modes in Call of Duty Modern Warfare
From the main screen, you’ll want to open the Filter menu next to the QuickPlay button.
This will open the QuickPlay Filter. There isn’t any clear way to open — or even select — a Hardcore match. Instead of a clear menu button allowing you access the mode, you have to change the Selected Category at the top of the menu:
Once you press the corresponding button, your QuickPlay Filter menu will change completely, showing you all your options for Hardcore.
That’s it. Select the Hardcore game mode(s) of your choice, click QuickPlay, and you’ll load into the next available lobby.
What’s Changed in Hardcore in Call of Duty Modern Warfare?
There are a lot of changes to the multiplayer experience in Hardcore, but there are several that make a huge difference.
Reduced Health
If you thought you died quickly in core, Hardcore’s about to show you a whole new world of pain. Historically, core game modes have your health capped at an even 100. In Hardcore, that’s reduced to 33.
That means one hit from almost any weapon results in a kill from medium distance and closer. SMGs suffer slightly from longer ranges, but the meta weapons — by which I mean the M4A1 — are a one-shot from almost any range.
Reduced HUD
There is no minimap, score counter, ammo counter, or red player names. You will have your compass, but that’s about it. You can check the score by pulling up the full scoreboard, of course. Just don’t count on knowing where your enemies are half the time or if you even have enough bullets to fight.
No Killcams
Wondering where that guy at the edge of the map killed you from?
Keep wondering.
On death, you’ll zoom out above the map, then quickly respawn wherever the game feels like putting you. Your foe still has their hidey-hole, and you’ve got to reenter the fray.
Embrace the Camp
Because everything is riskier in hardcore, neither you nor your enemies have any incentive to play aggressive. Crouch walking is everywhere, holding sightlines is the power play, and claymores rule the day (even more than usual). You need to check your corners, hold angles of your own, and generally keep a close eye on every direction.
Everybody else is.
That’s all you need to know about how to find hardcore modes in Call of Duty Modern Warfare, as well as some tips to help you survive. While you’re here, check out our other Call of Duty Modern Warfare articles:
Call of Duty Modern Warfare Review: Marching in the Shadow of Call of Duty 4 Call of Duty Modern Warfare Killstreaks Guide Call of Duty Modern Warfare: Installing Shaders Error Fix Call of Duty Modern Warfare Perks Guide: Loadouts and Weapons And stay tuned to our Modern Warfare guides hub for more.
