COD MW3: What is Tactical Stance and how to use it

Tactical Stance breakdown and how to use it in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Contents

1. What is Tactical Stance? – MW3
2. How to use Tactical Stance – MW3
3. Best use cases for Tactical Stance – MW3

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III feels mostly like a content expansions for MW2 and Warzone 2.0, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few new additions to keep things feeling fresh. For one is the speedy mantling your character performs when climbing over obstacles, but the most interesting new addition might be the Tactical Stance.

If you’ve done a slide around a corner to surprise a foe, you’ve probably accidentally pulled up the Tactical Stance and not understood why. This is a new aiming mode added to MW3, and in this guide we’re breaking down what it is, how to activate it, and when it’ll be better than aiming down sight.

What is Tactical Stance? – MW3

Activision

Tactical Stance is a new alternative to ADSing that a few weapon and scope types have displayed in previous COD games. Essentially this should be looked at as the middle ground between hip-firing your weapon and actually ADSing. You’ll have turn speed which is between the two, and a sharper crosshair than hipfire, but not as precise as actual ADS.

How to use Tactical Stance – MW3

Activision

By default activating Tactical Stance is as simple as ADSing and pressing down. On PS5, for example, it’s L2 and down on the D-pad.

Activision

In the gameplay settings you can optionally make this either a toggle that will remain your preferred ADS style each time you aim, or you can set it to only affect a single use.

Best use cases for Tactical Stance – MW3

Activision

As stated, Tactical Stance can be seen as an interim between a full, precise ADS, and the wildly inaccurate hipfire mechanic. Hipfire is only really useful at very close range unless you’ve built your weapon for it, but ADSing can take time with certain weapon types and loadouts.

Activision

As a result, when moving into a tight area and you’re not sure where an enemy might be located, using Tactical Stance might be best, as you have extra turn speed to adjust your shorts, and your bullets won’t miss their mark like with traditional hipfire. The best of both worlds when put inside buildings and the like.