Official Modern Warfare 4 artwork from Activision's launch maps and modes guide
FIELD TOOL / PLAYLIST

Find your mode.

Start with the way your squad wants to play. Filter official launch formats, then open a rule guide before queueing.

PLAYLIST DECISION

Choose a format first.

Filters are based on Activision's launch mode list. A visible match is a format match, not a claim that a playlist is active right now.

Respawn / Cash objective

Inflation

Collect cash from eliminations; high-value carriers are revealed.

Party 1–610 min
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Respawn / Carry objective

Hijack

Carry or pass the Data Spike, plant at the enemy station and defend the upload.

Party 1–64 min / round
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Respawn / Eliminations

Frontline

Push out from a fixed team base; kills outside the base count for more.

Party 1–610 min
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Respawn / Eliminations

Team Deathmatch

Reach the team elimination score limit.

Party 1–610 min
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Respawn / Capture objective

Domination

Capture and hold objectives to score.

Party 1–6No fixed time
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Respawn / Rotating objective

Hardpoint

Hold the rotating Hardpoint.

Party 1–65 min
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Respawn / Tag objective

Kill Confirmed

Collect enemy tags and deny friendly tags.

Party 1–610 min
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Respawn / Solo eliminations

Free-for-All

Solo elimination race; top three players win.

Party 110 min
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Round-based / Buy phase

Collateral

No respawns or custom classes; buy equipment between rounds.

Party 1–62 min / round
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Round-based / Bomb objective

Search & Destroy

Attack or defend two bomb sites without respawns.

Party 1–62 min / round
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Round-based / Equal loadouts

Gunfight

Teams use the same loadout, changing every two rounds.

Party 2, 3 or 1050 sec / round
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Ground War / Capture and reinforce

Combat Outpost

Capture outposts and reinforce them for team rewards in 32v32.

Party 420 min
OPEN GUIDE ↗
Party / Solo weapon rotation

Gun Game

Advance through weapons with eliminations.

Party 110 min
OPEN GUIDE ↗
SOURCE & SCOPE

Official rules, independent practice

Map names, map settings, mode formats, round limits and equipment options come from Activision's October 21 launch overview. Plans and coaching prompts are this site's own suggestions. Verify playlist availability and any balance changes in the live game.

↗ Activision launch maps and modes