By blending all of the movement techniques together, you can move through a map very quickly. When you can react instantly to incoming fire, you greatly increase your chances of surviving a sudden ambush.
Wall Bounce
> Press back on the Analog Stick at the last second while Cover Sliding.
Wall bouncing is simply the act of using Cover Slide cancels repeatedly to propel you quickly through a level. You can also use it in close-quarters combat to make yourself a very difficult target. Or you can get to an enemy’s flank or rear for a lethal shotgun finish.
Practice your wall bouncing technique by occasionally cancelling Cover Slides during your normal movement through the level. Cancelling the last slide just before you engage an opponent at close range is often a useful maneuver, and it’s a good way to get a feel for the technique.
Repeatedly bouncing through a map is much more difficult. It simply takes practice, as does using bouncing effectively in a close-range fight. Don’t sweat this technique’s high-level applications if you find them unnatural at first. Simply practicing cover slides and cancelling them occasionally is enough to put you on more than even footing with most players. As your skill grows, you’ll find that you naturally begin to slide and cancel repeatedly without thinking about it as you move through a level.
Roll Switch
> Continue to hold the A Button and a direction on the Analog Stick after performing a Dodge.
Roll switching allows you to run instantly in any direction after performing a dodge. Combining this with a quick cover slide makes you into a very erratic, very fast-moving target that’s extremely difficult to hit. This can easily save your life when you come under heavy fire as you run toward an enemy position or a surprise attack.
When you’re still learning the maps, don’t worry about the direction that you run after the roll. Just perform a roll, start the run, and then cover slide at the nearest piece of cover.
This won’t always end well for you, but you have to perform the technique repeatedly to get
a feel for it. Transitioning a dodge into a 180-degree run, and into a sideways cover slide can be very disorienting. Remember that it’s just as difficult for your opponent to aim at you!
As you become more familiar with the maps, rolling and running into cover that gives you the best protection becomes second nature. With practice, you can use it to shift your position quickly to escape or attack an enemy almost anywhere on any map.
Roadie Run Switch
> Briefly release and then hold the A Button and a direction on the Analog Stick while Roadie Running.
The roadie run switch is a simple but useful maneuver that allows you to suddenly perform a 90- or 180-degree turn while you’re running. Normally, roadie running constrains your turning ability, giving you a somewhat ponderous, tank-like feel while you’re running. By switching directions suddenly, you can traverse the maps more rapidly and present a challenging target to your opponent.
Using the 180-degree run switch to face an enemy behind you usually isn’t a good idea. It takes a brief moment to reverse directions, and that can be long enough for your opponent to take you down. Instead, use the 180 to change direction when you realize you’re headed into a bad situation and need to reverse course quickly. You can use the 180 on an enemy that’s chasing you if you aren’t immediately under fire. Again, cover sliding and quickly reversing the camera is usually a safer option. Choose the method that best suits your combat situation!
