How to complete the longshot challenges in Call of Duty BO7?

Mastering the Longshot Challenge in Black Ops 7

To complete the Longshot challenges in Call of Duty BO7, you need to consistently eliminate enemies at a significant distance, which requires a deliberate strategy focused on weapon choice, attachments, map knowledge, and positioning. It’s not about rushing; it’s about controlling specific sightlines and understanding the exact distance required for each weapon class. The core principle is that a Longshot kill is determined by a minimum range, which varies depending on whether you’re using an SMG, an Assault Rifle, a Sniper Rifle, or another weapon type. For example, an SMG might require a 30-meter kill, while an Assault Rifle might need 37.5 meters. Knowing these distances is half the battle.

Your first and most critical decision is selecting the right tool for the job. While you can technically get Longshots with any weapon, some are dramatically more efficient. Assault Rifles are often considered the sweet spot, offering a balance of damage, accuracy, and manageable recoil at range. LMGs are also excellent choices due to their large magazines, allowing you to pre-fire and suppress lanes effectively. If you’re confident in your aim, Sniper Rifles are a natural fit, though their Longshot distance requirement is typically the highest. Conversely, SMGs and Shotguns present the biggest challenge, as their effective range is short and their damage drops off severely. The table below breaks down the estimated Longshot distance requirements for each primary weapon class based on community testing and in-game data.

Once you’ve chosen your weapon, the next step is to build it correctly. Attachments are non-negotiable; they transform a mediocre long-range weapon into a laser beam. Your absolute must-haves are optics and barrels. A Recon or Varix 3 sight helps you identify and track distant targets more easily than iron sights. For the barrel, you almost always want the Long Barrel attachment, which increases your weapon’s damage range, making it easier to hit the Longshot threshold and ensuring your bullets hit harder at a distance. To control recoil, the Grip attachment is essential for automatic weapons like ARs and LMGs. For Snipers, a Ballistics CPU is crucial to steady your aim. Don’t forget a Stock for slight side-to-side movement while aiming down sights, which is vital for peeking corners safely.

Map knowledge is what separates players who grind for Longshots from those who earn them naturally. You need to memorize the long sightlines on each map. Not every lane is created equal; you must find sightlines that meet or exceed your weapon’s required distance. On the map “Fringe,” the lane from the barn window (near the train tracks) looking across to the white house is a classic Longshot alley, measuring well over 40 meters. On “Stronghold,” the long lane from the basement of the house to the opposite sniper’s nest is perfect. “Hunted” offers the long sightline from the cave waterfall area to the opposite side of the map near the villa. The key is to find a power position where you are protected from flanking routes. This often means playing in the back of the map or using head glitches—positions where only your head is visible to the enemy, making you a very difficult target to hit.

Your in-game strategy should revolve around the Hardcore game mode. While Core is playable, Hardcore is the undisputed king for efficiently completing Longshot challenges. The reason is simple: reduced health. In Hardcore, player health is lowered to 30% of what it is in Core. This means weapons kill in far fewer bullets, negating the damage drop-off that often plagues SMGs and pistols at range. An SMG that might take 5 or 6 shots to kill at 30 meters in Core will only take 2 or 3 in Hardcore. This turns otherwise poor Longshot weapons into viable options. Additionally, the absence of a minimap (unless a UAV is active) encourages slower, more methodical play, which fits the Longshot playstyle perfectly. You can camp a lane without constant worry about being spotted on the radar.

Positioning and movement are about patience and discipline. The moment you start sprinting around the map is the moment you stop making progress on Longshots. Your movement should be slow and deliberate. When approaching a long lane, always aim down sights (ADS) before you round the corner. This pre-aiming gives you a critical split-second advantage over an enemy who might be doing the same thing. Use peeker’s advantage to your benefit by strafing in and out of cover using the Stock attachment. When you get a kill, do not get greedy and stay in the exact same spot. Enemy players will be gunning for revenge. Reposition slightly—move to a different window, a different angle on the same lane, or even rotate to a completely different power position on the map. This keeps the enemy guessing and prevents you from being taken out by a well-thrown grenade or a sniper who now knows your location.

Finally, let’s talk about specific tips for the trickier weapon classes. For SMGs, Hardcore is your best friend. Equip a Recon sight, Long Barrel, and Grip. Play very defensively on maps with shorter long lanes, like “Combine” or “Evac.” For Shotguns, this is arguably the most difficult challenge. You must use the Long Barrel attachment and play in Hardcore. The Argus, with its slug round, is your best bet as it functions more like a rifle at range. For Pistols, again, Hardcore is essential. The MR6 becomes a one or two-shot kill at impressive distances. Camp a lane and pick off distracted enemies. The most important thing is to track your progress and not get discouraged. Longshots are a grind, but by focusing on one weapon class at a time and leveraging the Hardcore playlist, you can systematically complete the challenge for every weapon in your arsenal.