Do Killstreaks Count as Kills? A Deep Dive into Call of Duty Mechanics
The question of whether killstreaks count as kills in Call of Duty games is a common source of confusion, often sparking debate among players. The short answer is: it’s complicated, and it depends on the context. While kills from a killstreak do eliminate enemies, they don’t always contribute towards everything that a “kill” traditionally counts for. Let’s break down the specifics and explore when killstreak eliminations count and when they don’t.
Killstreaks vs. Kills: Understanding the Distinction
At its core, a killstreak is a reward earned by getting multiple player eliminations without dying. These rewards manifest as powerful abilities, weapons, or support options that can greatly impact a match. However, these rewards are not the same as the fundamental action of earning a kill with your base weapons or equipment.
Here’s the crucial distinction:
- Direct Kills: These are kills achieved directly with your primary or secondary weapons, grenades, or melee attacks. These kills almost always count towards every progression system.
- Killstreak Kills: These are kills achieved by using the reward you have earned from a killstreak. Examples include kills from a UAV missile, a chopper gunner, or a sentry gun. These kills are where the confusion comes into play.
Killstreak Kills: What They Count For and What They Don’t
Generally, killstreak kills do not count toward the following:
- Earning Other Killstreaks: Kills earned by a killstreak reward usually do not contribute to the kill count needed to earn another killstreak. This prevents a snowball effect where a player gets one killstreak and then uses it to rapidly earn more. The core rule here is that killstreaks don’t stack in this way.
- Nuke Kill Requirement: In modes with a “nuke” or similar game-ending reward (such as a nuclear bomb in some modes), only direct kills from weapons typically contribute to this requirement. Killstreak kills do NOT count toward earning a nuke.
However, killstreak kills CAN count for:
- Scorestreaks: In games with scorestreak systems, kills achieved by killstreaks can often contribute to your overall score, and therefore can assist in earning a scorestreak. However, the points are often reduced compared to direct kills.
- Challenges: Some challenges may include general “kill” requirements, and killstreak kills often fulfil these requirements. However, specific weapon-based challenges usually require direct weapon kills.
- Progression: Killstreak kills do generally count toward overall player level progression, and potentially towards some weapon progression systems, though this may vary per title.
- Perk Interactions: Certain Perks can influence how killstreaks function. For example, the “Kill Chain” perk in some games enables killstreak kills to count toward subsequent killstreak earnings, but the perk is very specific.
The Role of Perks and Game Modes
The behavior of killstreak kills can further be modified by:
- Perks: As mentioned, specific perks can alter whether killstreak kills count towards other progression systems. These perks need to be carefully considered as they can significantly alter your play style.
- Game Modes: Some game modes have specific rules that affect how killstreaks function, although the core of the distinction between direct kills and killstreak kills will still apply. For example, some modes may give significantly higher scores for kills achieved through objectives than those achieved from kills alone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify the complexities surrounding killstreaks and kills, here are 15 common questions:
1. What is the difference between a killstreak and a scorestreak?
Killstreaks are earned solely through consecutive kills without dying, while scorestreaks are earned through accumulating points from kills, objectives, and support actions.
2. Do killstreak kills count towards camo challenges?
Generally, no. Most camo challenges require direct weapon kills, not kills from killstreak rewards.
3. Does Juggernaut count towards killstreak?
The Juggernaut itself is usually a killstreak reward, so the kills you make with the Juggernaut armor will not typically count toward earning other killstreaks, though they may count towards challenges or general XP.
4. Do kills in vehicles count towards killstreak?
Kills made using vehicles in modes like Ground War generally do NOT count toward your personal killstreak progression.
5. What killstreak is earned with 15 kills?
Specific killstreak requirements can vary, but a common 15-kill reward is the Juggernaut in some games.
6. What killstreak is earned with 4 kills?
A Counter UAV or UAV are often early killstreak rewards earned with around 4 kills.
7. How do multi-kills contribute to killstreaks?
Multi-kills (rapidly eliminating multiple enemies) speed up the process of earning a killstreak, but they do not change the fundamental distinction of whether killstreak kills count toward future killstreaks.
8. Do kills from scorestreaks count towards my next scorestreak?
Similar to killstreaks, scorestreak kills usually do count towards overall score, but they may not contribute as much score as direct kills and don’t “stack” scorestreaks.
9. Can you get a nuke with killstreak kills?
No, you can typically only earn a nuke using direct weapon kills. Kills earned via killstreaks do not contribute to this requirement.
10. Does “Hardline” affect killstreak kills?
Hardline typically reduces the number of kills (or score) needed to earn killstreaks, but it does not change whether killstreak kills count toward other killstreaks or nuke requirements.
11. What is the best field upgrade to use with killstreaks?
This depends on playstyle, but Dead Silence is a popular choice as it lets you move unseen to earn more kills. Trophy Systems help protect you while using your killstreaks.
12. Do AI kills in Invasion count towards killstreaks?
No, only player kills count towards killstreaks.
13. Do killstreaks carry over between lives?
No, killstreak progress is reset when you die.
14. What does “SAE” mean in MW2?
SAE stands for Saturated Aerial Effect or Synchronized Aerial Explosive, and is the name of a specific killstreak in Modern Warfare 2.
15. What is considered a “killing spree” in competitive play?
In many competitive games, a “killing spree” is a multi-kill streak, often around 3 kills or more consecutively without dying. The exact number may vary depending on the game.
Conclusion
Navigating the intricacies of killstreaks and kills in Call of Duty can be complex, but understanding the core rules – particularly that killstreak kills generally do NOT count toward future killstreaks or nuke-like rewards – is crucial. Pay close attention to the descriptions of Perks, game modes, and challenges, and adapt your playstyle accordingly. By comprehending these mechanics, you’ll be better equipped to dominate the battlefield and maximize your potential in any match.