A Guide to the AWM

A Guide To The AWM

• Introduction

- This guide basically applies to all sniper rifles , but It will needed to be tweaked to work for all ;]

- While writing this guide, I am assuming that you know the extreme basics of sniping (How to zoom, shoot, and know the different types of guns) >:]

What I'm going to try to teach you in this guide is not how all good snipers do. It's based on what I do, and what works for me. With a little tweaking, you should probably get these to work for you ;]. Im also not saying that I'm a super 1337, pwn all sniper. But.. I think I'm good enough to be called a hacker in just about every game >:O. Always remember, no matter where you hit (Except for the legs), its a 1 Hit Kill, so dont worry about getting Headshots ;]



• Strengths OF The AWM



Before you learn how to actually use the AWM, it is really important to know its strengths. Well, the AWM is a 1-Shot kill sniper rifle in anywhere but the legs (If you shoot someone in the legs, usually does 75-90 Damage). It can also double-scope. (That was short).



• And now for its Weakness's

To really know how to use the AWM, you'll have to know it's weakness's, so that you can address them. The AWM is really heavy (Which makes it easier to shoot you, as your not moving as quick as you would with a rifle), has a small clip of 5 bullets and it has a really slow firing rate.

• And Now For......

Well, first even though the sniper rifle is important and all, you cant really be a successful all-around sniper without a good sidearm. Even though I would use either the Deagle of Anaconda, almost anything works. The importance of a pistol is so important, its like not having a manly body part, and trying to make a baby with a women :[. Yes, I know, Its That bad -_-. Anyway, a sidearm is extremely useful when faced with close range combat, because the AWM has an incredibly slow firing rate, and 5 bullets ( I know.. I know, I keep on saying that, but It matters ).

Knowing the map. To snipe accurately, you'll have to know the map inside-out. You'll have to know where an enemy will most likely pop up. Where a enemy is running, and how to intercept them. Know where there are good sniping spots, where you can hide/run ect. Yeah, sniping without knowing the map is like looking for a ant in the dark : p

Also, you would have to know where to find the ideal sniping spot. The ideal sniping spot is narrow, without a lot of things to hide behind, and is quite long (The farther away you are, the harder it is to hit you :]). But keep in mind, there should be a exit near you, incase you're rushed, and need to run. <- And that brings me to another thing. Dont be afraid to run away, as some dude said "Live to fight another day". If your out of ammo/reloading/ect. and someones coming, dont be stupid, pop out, and try to shoot him/her with an empty gun. Pull out your knife and RUN! There's no shame in running ; )

Now.. That brings me to this. After each shot, you should press "Q" (You could scroll down, which I did when i first started sniping, but after a while, pressing Q became instinctive ) , so that your pistol (IF you have one)/Knife appears, an then jump to the left\right (Depending on the situation), then switch back to AWM, shoot, repeat. This is useful in a number of ways:

1. Less likelihood of getting hit

2. If your being charged (Assuming you have a pistol), you can start shooting with that.

3. It lets you refocus on the target(s) your shooting at. I find that I dont switch to pistol ,and back, I cant really get more than 2 kills with 1 clip. If I switch, and back to AWM, I have to time to refocus on my target, and shoot. I can usually kill at least 3 people, each kill spaced about a few seconds after another (As I re-aim).

• Shooting accurately on the move.

As the name implies, you'll learn to shoot accurately on the move. What you do (Its really simple), is while you are locking on to whoever your shooting at, keep on moving\strafing. Once you lock on, quickly stop moving, get off a shot, then start moving again. All that should be accomplished in less than 4 seconds. Soon, you'll learn to do this instinctively.



• Quick Scoping


Quick scoping is when you see someone, quickly scope, and shoot. (As the name implies). I found a method (That's hopefully not illegal -_-) that doesn't require any software. All you'll need is some tape, a sniper rifle, and a sharpie. Go into a game and scope in with your sniper rifle. Put the piece of tape approx. where the red dot of the scope is, and dot the sharpie where the red dot is. A homemade no scope! Dont no scope unless you have to, if you point your sniper rifle at the same place, shoot 2 times, the bullets wont end up in the same place




• "Pre-Aiming"

Prefiring with the AWM is way different from that of a rifle. With the AWM, this is where your knowledge of the map will come in. Say you see someone coming towards a wall, and you have a clear shot at the wall. Scope in, and point your crosshair not exactly at the edge of the wall, but a few centimeters off (This accounts for ping, and that someones speed as he passes the wall) An poorly drawn image to help






• Keeping Your Cool

Its a lot different to be sitting back, and sniping someone while they are focused on someone else. Its another thing to snipe with someone firing at you, and while your taking damage. The main thing to keep in mind is to Keep your cool. If you try to rush your shots 9/10 it'll miss. Aim each shot, dont rapidly fire, It wont do you any good. If you just cant do it, my advice would be to run

• The Donts Of Sniping

- Things you should never do while sniping ;]

- Never stand still! Always keep on moving, since most sniper rifles are heavy, you are easy to hit, and standing still basically paints a HUGE bulls eye on you. ;P

- Dont rush. Period. You have 5 bullets, a terrible firing rate (0), and people with rifles shooting you. So dont rush. Blah :[

- Unless you've really mastered sniping (Being able to kill ~3 people with 5 bullets), dont go solo


I think thats all.. But Im a pretty forgetful person, So if you have any questions, just ask