Why Snaking In Call Of Duty Is So Controversial

Frequent players of one of the many multiplayer modes in "Call of Duty" or its battle royale component "Warzone 2.0" have likely encountered "snaking." Snaking involves swiftly moving between a prone and crouching position when behind cover to peek over the barrier and survey the area (via Dexerto). On the surface, this might seem like a smart and effective tactic for "Call of Duty," especially in a competitive environment. However, it's become a controversial move at the center of several heated discussions.

On Reddit, the debate surrounding snaking has raged for years. One Redditor shamed competitive players for using it. Another user also complained about the technique, stating, "I lose respect for a player every time they snake, not all of my respect for them, but more and more every time they do it." Several commenters echoed these sentiments, with the original poster calling snaking "pathetic."

So, why do some "Call of Duty" players hate snaking so much?

According to Joe Craven of Dexerto, snaking has grown controversial in the competitive "Call of Duty" scene due to its effectiveness when used by more experienced players. "When pros are snaking – because of how quickly it is performed and the object obscuring the player – they are nigh on impossible to hit," Craven said. "However, from their perspective, it is still fairly easy to see over the cover they are snaking behind."

For certain Redditors, the problem with snaking extended beyond its utility. One user likened it to "[taking] cheap shots" in the NFL, while another compared it to "foul baiting in the NBA." Some saw it more as an "exploit" than an actual technique, one that only cheaters would take advantage of. Multiple people asserted that "snaking ruins the watching experience" and that they respected the pros who don't use the tactic — even if it ultimately costs them wins. 

Despite the controversy surrounding snaking, it remains legal in competitive play, with none of the official "Call of Duty" League rules and guidelines mentioning it. According to Esports.gg, players can also use the technique in ranked matches. However, practitioners of the move may be greeted with open hostility and even disgust from other players. Snaking may not number among the banned moves that will get you ejected from a gaming tournament, but don't expect to make any friends while doing it.