With less than a week until the launch of Call of Duty: Ghosts, Activision has detailed how the game's Perk system will work.
Perk Points & Equipping Perks
Offering an "incredible" level of customization, there are a total of 35 perks available, each one weighted with a point value of 1 thorugh 5. Your loadouts naturally have a pool of 8 points to spend on Perks; however, depending on your loadout choices you can up that total to 12.
As I mentioned, each loadout has 8 initial points. A single Perk is tied to the Primary Weapon slot, Secondary Weapon slot, Lethal, and Tactical. You have the option to remove any of the equipped gear in these slots to gain an additional Perk point.
Getting to 12 Perk points means you'd have to forego all weapons and equipment. Doing so will grant you the total maximum Perk points, but also means you start each spawn with just a knife. If you're one of those guys deadly with a knife, this could be a viable option. I can't wait to see!
How to unlock Perks
There are two ways to unlock Perks in Call of Duty: Ghosts. Each Perk is marked with a level and Squad Point cost. Once you reach the required level, the Perk is automatically unlocked for use. Alternatively, you can unlock a Perk early by spending the listed amount of Squad Points. Squad Points are earned as you level your soldiers in Call of Duty: Ghosts. THey are similar to CoD Points form Black Ops.
Perk Categories
There are seven different Perk Categories that house all 35 Perks. You can mix and match the Perks as you see fit to create a customized character that is perfect for your playstyle — whether it be quick and stealthy to tough and armed.
As detailed by Activision, here are the seven different Perk Categories and a few examples of the Perks you'll find within each one. Once Ghosts launches, we'll be sure to post an official guide with all of the Perks listed.
Speed
Outrun and outmaneuver enemy players. Speed Perks are all about getting the lead and staying ahead. Examples include:
- Sleight of Hand: Faster reloading.
- Stalker: Move faster while aiming.
Handling
Dexterity and control drives the Handling Perks, improving actions and accuracy. Examples include:
- On the Go: Reload while sprinting.
- Steady Aim: Increased hip fire accuracy.
Stealth
Stealth Perks aid you in staying out of sight, maintaining a low profile and engaging on your terms. Examples include:
- Takedown: Kill enemies without revealing their death locations.
- Incog: Resistant to targeting systems including: Recon, Thermal Scope, Tracker Sight and Motion Sensor. No name or red crosshairs when targeted.
Awareness
Keep in tune with your surroundings. Awareness Perks help you survey the environment and detect enemy players. Examples include:
- SitRep: Detect enemy explosives and tactical equipment.
- Wiretap: Utilize all active enemy and friendly SAT COMs on the field.
Resistance
A hardened endurance reduces the effects of fatigue. Resistance Perks keep you going through tough engagements. Examples include:
- Focus: Reduced weapon sway when aiming down sights and reduced flinch when hit.
- Blast Shield: Increased resistance to explosive damage.
Equipment
Tacticians swear by their gear, and Equipment Perks ensure you have the best tools on hand. Examples include:
- Extra Tactical: Additional Tactical equipment.
- Extra Attachment: Extra attachment for your weapons.
Elite
Elite Perks offer special abilities that affect your loadouts in a variety of ways. Examples include:
- Gambler: Spawn with a random Perk.
- Ping: Activate a sonar ping upon killing an enemy, revealing nearby hostiles.
