What is ADS in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2

What is ADS in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
(Image credit: Activision)

If you're wondering what is ADS in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, then you've probably trying for 50 kills while in ADS with the M4. Or you've seen it elsewhere in the settings or some other challenge, and are unsure what it actually means. ADS stands for Aim Down Sight, which is a standard acronym used in Modern Warfare 2 and many other shooters, and it basically means that you're looking through the scope of your weapon rather than firing from the hip.

MW2 splitscreen

Modern Warfare 2 splitscreen

(Image credit: Activision)

How to set up Modern Warfare 2 splitscreen and what multiplayer modes are available using it.

So why do you need to ADS in Call of Duty? The main reason for using it is accuracy, as you'll get a lot less bullet spread while you Aim Down Sight, and depending on the zoom level of your attached scope this will let you target more distant enemies with greater precision to hit your mark. There are also certain challenges for which you need to Aim Down Sight in order for your progress to count, so here's everything you need to know about how to ADS in Modern Warfare 2.

How to ADS in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2

What is ADS in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2

(Image credit: Activision)

To ADS in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, you simply need to hold down the aiming trigger, which is defaulted as L2/LT on your controller. This will bring up your scope and allow you to Aim Down Sight, so you can target enemies or get a better view of the area you're covering ahead. The default setting is to hold down that trigger to enter ADS then release it to return to normal view, though you can change your Aim Down Sight behavior in the controller settings under Gameplay to toggle with the trigger instead. When you're faced with challenges such as get 50 kills while ADS with the M4 in Modern Warfare 2, make sure you Aim Down Sight whenever you engage with enemies, as any hipfire kills you get won't count and will just extend the time it takes you to clear that assignment.

Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 750 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.

Read more
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 screenshot
I swore I'd never even look at a Call of Duty game, but then I started falling asleep to the sound of Black Ops 6
Mister Fantastic in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals crosshairs and how to change or import them
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty season 2 brings back Gun Game and a fan-favorite Zombies weapon we haven't seen in 10 years
Marvel Rivals mouse acceleration
How to toggle Marvel Rivals mouse acceleration and smoothing
Two Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 players using omnimovement to dive past each other on the Skyline map
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 2 brings back a beloved game mode fans have been begging for, but all I care about is a practically meaningless bug fix
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
136,000 Call of Duty accounts have gotten banned since ranked launched for Black Ops 6: "We’re not slowing down in our mission to shut down cheaters"
Latest in Call of Duty
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty season 2 brings back Gun Game and a fan-favorite Zombies weapon we haven't seen in 10 years
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
136,000 Call of Duty accounts have gotten banned since ranked launched for Black Ops 6: "We’re not slowing down in our mission to shut down cheaters"
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reportedly surpasses Red Dead Redemption 2's huge development costs, with a massive $700 million budget
Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 makes headshots deadlier while cutting back on weapon sway and recoil: "We will be keeping a close eye on sniper balance after this change"
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 movement.
Black Ops 6 player spent nearly 20 hours grinding to Prestige without getting a single kill, all by spamming Spy Cams
Black Ops 6 Zombies
Call of Duty hacker says "I had my fun" after reportedly getting thousands of Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 players falsely banned
Latest in Guides
Assassin's Creed Shadows Nishinomiya Shrine
All Nishinomiya Shrine locations in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows riddles Naoe answers
All Assassin's Creed Shadows riddle answers for NPC encounters
Fortnite Henchmen Walkie Talkies
Fortnite Henchmen Walkie Talkies: How to eavesdrop on Kane
Assassin's Creed Shadows Makino Kurumazuka Kofun
How to get in the Makino Kurumazuka Kofun in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe looking at map
Assassin's Creed Shadows map size and all regions
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe wearing black kosode
How to acquire a kosode in Assassin's Creed Shadows and should you choose red or black?