The first time you load into Holiday Havoc, it's like getting smacked with glitter and gunfire at the same time, and if you're trying to "play normal" you'll feel lost fast. I'd honestly tell anyone warming up for it—whether you're practicing routes or just getting comfy with the pace in a CoD BO7 Bot Lobby—to forget the K/D panic and lock in on one thing: Holiday Cheer, because that's what actually wins games.

1) Stop Chasing Solo Kills

People jump in and try to be the hero. It's a trap. Kills matter, sure, but they aren't the main paycheck. Cheer comes from how the team's fighting, not just your gunskill. You'll notice it quick: the match snowballs for the squad that farms points together, not the guy ego-challing every corner.

2) Live on Support Streaks

If you're not spamming Support Streaks, you're leaving points on the table. UAV, Counter-UAV, repeat. That "Cheer Reveal" bonus is basically a tip jar that never stops filling. You pop a UAV, your teammate cleans up the ping, and you get paid for doing the smart, boring thing. It also calms the team down—nobody likes playing blind, and constant info makes randoms act coordinated for once.

3) Win the Zone Before It Exists

Objectives are where the mode prints Cheer. In Dom or Hardpoint, you've gotta be glued to the hill, even when it feels risky. In Dynamic Zone playlists, the real flex is rotating early. Don't wait for the announcer. Start moving when you feel the fight stalling. Slide out, cut a safer lane, get set up. When the other team arrives late and stressed, you're already posted, already earning.

4) Treats Are Momentum, Not Decorations

Treats aren't cute little bonuses; they're tempo. A well-timed Care Package can swing a whole minute of map control. Don't crack it in the open like it's standard pubs. Drop it where your team can actually use the buff, and call it out so someone doesn't sprint past it like it's trash loot.

5) Abuse the Candy Cane Window

The Candy Cane melee buff is ridiculous in the best way. The range feels illegal, and it turns tight rooms into free clears. The key is timing: don't grab it and instantly sprint into the busiest lane. Take a second, flank the campers, hit the doorway, and let them panic. If you need pure rotation speed, Gingerbread Sprint's great, but the melee buff is the one that makes teams tilt.

Holiday Havoc rewards the loud, helpful player—the one feeding info, touching the hill, and telling the team where the buffs are. Keep comms simple, keep UAVs rolling, and don't be scared to play "support" because it stacks Cheer like crazy; if you want a smoother way to practice those routes and timings, you can always buy BO7 Bot Lobbies and bring that muscle memory straight back into the playlist.