You may not notice many differences between MW2 and MW3 without playing it for yourself, but after a couple of games, you’ll quickly realize two things. People take more shots to kill, and movement feels very different. The latter is a contentious topic, and the ability to ‘slide cancel’ is a big part of that. In this guide, I’ll show you how to perform a slide cancel in MW3. I’ll also explain what slide canceling is and why you should learn how to do it.
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How to perform a slide cancel in MW3
For newcomers — and so we’re all on the same page — let me explain what Slide Canceling is. At the time of writing, several changes have gone live, which make Slide Canceling feel even better than it did on the first weekend of the beta.
What is Slide Canceling?
Slide Canceling is a movement technique that allows players to disengage from a slide at will. With practice, the player can abruptly stop sliding to ADS and attack other players or quickly change direction.
In an intense gunfight, you win by hitting your opponents more times than they hit you. If your movement throws your enemy’s aim off, you win the fight, and that’s what Slide Canceling is all about.
How to Slide Cancel in MW3
It’s pretty easy to perform a Slide Cancel, although the timing will take practice. While Tactical Sprinting, press Crouch to initiate a slide, then press Jump to cancel sliding. Veterans will notice the command is different, as in Modern Warfare 2019, you had to push Crouch an additional time. The key is not to jump immediately after you start Sliding. If you punch the command in too fast, it simply doesn’t work.
I wasn’t kidding about the timing; this will feel very unnatural when you start. Be patient, don’t get disheartened, and it will become second nature.
If you’re trying to emulate your favorite pro player’s ‘cracked’ movement, equip the Tactical Boots. This footwear increases the distance you can cover during a slide and allows you to ADS simultaneously. Tactical Boots also grant bonus Stance Transition speed, making Slide Canceling feel buttery smooth. Tactical Boots aren’t essential for the technique, but they do help.
What controller setting should I use for Slide Canceling?
If you’re using a Keyboard and mouse, the only option you may want to try is turning Automatic Tactical Sprint on. Controller users will also want to try Auto Tactical Sprint. You can turn this off, but it eliminates the additional button press to start Tactical Sprinting. By default, this is bound to ‘Left Stick in.’
The issue with Slide Canceling on a controller is that you must take your right thumb off the aim stick to press Jump. Taking your thumb away from the stick negatively affects your aim, as you can’t look around. To remedy this, many players use the Bumper Jumper button layout. This layout moves Jump to L1/LB, so you no longer need to use your thumb.
Naturally, learning a new control scheme will take a long time, and unlearning muscle memory is an awkward process.
The other method is adopting the ‘Claw’ grip on your controller. I’ve used this grip for years, allowing me to keep both thumbs planted on the sticks. I’m no anatomy expert, but the controller clearly isn’t designed to be used this way. If you’re after the premium option, you can purchase controllers with programmable paddles on the back.
How is Slide Canceling in MW3 different from MW 2019?
Slide Canceling was removed entirely from MW2 and is one of many changes that slowed gameplay to a crawl. In MW 2019 and Warzone, Slide Canceling reset your Tactical Sprint stamina so you could run and slide over and over at breakneck speed. This reset made the technique the fastest way to get around, and players were incredibly evasive while doing so.
Although Slide Canceling is making a triumphant return, it no longer resets your Tactical Sprint. The technique is a powerful mobility option but can’t be used to traverse the map as it was in the past.
That history lesson concludes our crash course on Slide Canceling. Some players love it, and others hate that it’s back. No matter what side of the fence you sit on, it looks like it’s here to stay for MW3.
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