Ballista - Black Ops 2 Weapon Guide

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This time, we're covering the Ballista.
Unlocked at level 43, Black Ops 2 marks this bolt-action rifle's introduction to the Call of Duty series.
The FN Ballista is a Belgian sniper rifle design, developed by FN Herstal in late 2010.
It was designed for the US Army's Precision Sniper Rifle program, competing alongside the Remington MSR and Accuracy International AWM, amongst others.
The specification called for a high precision, lightweight platform chambered in a powerful .338 calibre round.
The Ballista design is heavily modular, with the barrel, bolt and firing pin rapidly interchangeable to fire a variety of cartridges - and in-game, the Ballista is chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum round.
Ultimately, it was the Remington MSR that eventually won the PSR contract, a similar design to the Ballista with a similarly modular approach.
In-game, the Ballista is a one-shot kill weapon: killing with a shot to the head, neck, mid-to-upper torso and the arms.
When paired with the suppressor, you'll kill with a shot to the head, neck, upper torso and upper arms only.
The sniper rifles see no damage drop-off, so this lethality is preserved out to any distance - and, like its peers, the Ballista's ability to penetrate walls is high.
As a bolt-action weapon, rate of fire is very slow: as you'll need to manually cycle the action after every shot fired, your maximum output is a pitiful 51 rounds per minute.
Paired with woefully poor hipfire performance, it's vitally important to make shots count with the Ballista - a miss will leave you critically exposed in the time it takes to ready the next shot.
Recoil is moderate, pulling up and to the right - but this is not a factor with the slower rate of fire: your aim will recentre before the bolt is fully cycled.
Otherwise, handling is fairly good for the sniper rifle class: the Ballista is the nimblest option available.
Aim time is moderately slow by most standards, but 50 milliseconds faster than its peers - at 350 milliseconds.
Switch times are marginally faster too - and you even gain a 1 percent mobility bonus, as you'll move at 96 percent of the base speed.
Magazine capacity is fair for its class, too - 7 rounds grants a two-round advantage over the other bolt-action option, the DSR-50.
Reloads are fairly slow, taking 3.10 seconds to complete: but are infrequent, given the slow rate of fire and limited overall consumption.
Also of note is the unique attachment available for the Ballista: the Iron Sight.
This option replaces your default scope with a standard-magnification mechanical option instead - an interesting alternative for smaller maps, but tricky to use at any sort of distance.
Its unique nature does give it appeal, however - and the attachment opens up a new way to play with the weapon, ideal if you like a challenge.
The Ballista is the nimblest sniper rifle on offer, offering greater reactivity than any other of the precision rifles.
Despite this speed, it retains considerable lethality, only losing the one-hit kill upon the lower portion of the torso when compared to the more powerful DSR-50.
It is this combination of speed and lethality that make it an ideal choice for a more mobile sniper role, although this does demand a high degree of precision to be effective.
It is the slow cycling of the bolt-action that will be your downfall, should you miss: the second or so it takes to ready your next shot often sufficient for your enemy to retaliate.
The smaller one-hit kill zone can prove troublesome in such critical gunfights, too - an enemy wounded but not killed outright will be a threat until you're able to finish them off.
Still, if you prefer a faster pace of gameplay the Ballista is the sniper rifle that best fits the bill.
Capable of quickly scoping in and delivering instant lethality - if you're able to deftly leverage the one-shot power of this lightweight rifle...
...you'll send your enemy ballistic.

[@notmanjo]

Xbox ahoy the only person on KZbin brave enough to post a video using a sniper properly Stew... I salute you....

[@FlaminDamon]

Then again, everyone has there own opinions.

[@fabanano6158]

@@FlaminDamon yea

[@khakipeach2128]

@@FlaminDamon yea i agree

[@pando0495]

your accent just makes me believe everything you say

[@raulphilipgoco403]

Pando04 He’s like Morgan Freeman but he’s talking about video games and weapons.

[@stellarose03]

@Panzer VII Löwe the boog.

[@dustinsterling3248]

Would Stu ever lie to you

[@andreisouzabento7506]

Ahoy son's

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

How do you think his people conquered most of the planet?

[@lovethegoodandabsoluelyhatebad]

I love that the Iron Sight is available on this weapon. Back in CoD1 and 2 I played almost exclusively on bolt action only servers. Playing with the Ballista and the iron sight feels almost like the Kar98k, my favorite FPS weapon of all time.

[@johnmurcott1273]

Have you heard of this little game called warzone

[@nitomosquito3164]

@@johnmurcott1273 I don’t remember Warzone in 2013

[@ShinobuSakurazaka]

4:30 The "fuck it" approach to playing Black Ops 2, pull out the KAP-40s massacre the bastard sitting in the corner camping.

[@rome_055]

LMFAO mate I know right? Fucking campers.

[@theac80]

We all say this, yet camp ourselves. Don't deny it. I do it myself (though not regularly)

[@HaloFTW55]

Is that the team RWBY approach to guys with tents and campfires in the corner?

[@captainmantine3388]

3:22 DAT 360 NO SCOPE THO

[@Pind_oldaccount]

Captain Mantine I have a class on my bo2 called 360 noscopes xddddddd cuz I trickshot with it Lol

[@kanyewest6640]

+See my Tubes Nobody gives a fuck kid

[@kanyewest6640]

Joe Jurcic English?

[@Pind_oldaccount]

Kanye West do u even fucking know me? Do u even know where I live so stfu u didn't hear anything I'm 16 fair enough to play the game isn't it

[@kanyewest6640]

See my Tubes How the fuck am I supposed to know where you love and 16 isn't good enough

[@gamingguys57]

HOLY SHIT MAN, You got a triple collateral all headshots!!!

[@-snprym1683]

When? Didnt see it :/

[@MyrtleV2]

7:52 and actually it was 2 headshots and1 kill for the triple

[@jaybee8836]

Are you captain price

[@mikemasaki8193]

if price was younger and a gamer yes. but no he isn't related to price's actor

[@Rev.iRo7]

JohnLad dude this guy is a badass grandfather.

[@jib4733]

JohnLad exactly or ghost

[@LastStandBro]

0:56 Damn son! That's worth a final killcam right there!

[@SniPeRtHieF]

So this is the logic of all the kids playing COD : Snipers just rush out on the map quickscoping...All the guys with assault rifles, SMGs and LMGs sit in one corner waiting to get a kill...

[@elkitan13]

theres only one point i want to get clear: quickscope is just as disgusting as camping

[@SniPeRtHieF]

SuperCris778 None of these are problems to me. What I do when these guys are in my game is just leave...Who cares if the others say I rage quit...Btw I don't mind people rage quit in public match, but my veins explode when someone leaves a league play pro match...

[@elkitan13]

SniPeR tHieF yup agree with that

[@BMXSTUNTRIDER2232]

+Sniper Thief and the knife only guys try to sneak around and get kills lol

[@fnfallout5664]

+SuperCris778 Sniping is much more cringe in my opinion

[@quochuynh1871]

Did anybody ever notice that snipers usually have hoods on their character?

[@Ibrahym0]

All the time

[@Breakaway-ic5gj]

They don't usually wear helmets usually because it's kinda uncomfortable to aim with them, and they won't be seeing too much Action

[@alexer_1952]

Dont hate him becuz he is hardscoping. Thats how snipers are played

[@happysh_t4202]

hey bud its cod not a sniper simulator

[@Oilupimtherein5]

@@happysh_t4202 this comment is two years old, but okay

[@battleland7263]

@@happysh_t4202 Hey bud, a Sniper rifle is (yes even in COD) meant for longer range combat utilizing its scope's high magnification. Thats just how SNIPER rifles work

[@happysh_t4202]

Battle Land ITS COD THE MAPS ARENT EVEN THAT BIG

[@battleland7263]

@@happysh_t4202 They still have sniping opportunities. Stop being a quickscope fangirl

[@xinikal_]

8:32 that transition from the game to the killcam was so smooth I almost didn’t catch it

[@jmanfro1]

0:57 dank turn around noscope m8o

[@DrewFr33m4nn]

brutal noscope too

[@davecrupel2817]

3:22

[@aperson4933]

i like that you hardscope or zoom in and stay zoomed in.

[@AxeDoesStuff]

How you're supposed to play snipers

[@aperson4933]

exactly.

[@adisankar119]

+AxeDoes...Stuff exactly.

[@cyahriz]

+AxeDoes...Stuff yeah lol now everyone calls you a hardscoper and a noob if you do that

[@AxeDoesStuff]

+CompLeet Meh. I run around abit and "aquire" my target. In other words, sniping. Hardscoping is not a real thing.

[@saifazmi9782]

I personally would switch out the concussions for Toughness.

[@weakestlink20]

Happy Batman I was thinking that too.

[@saifazmi9782]

***** I like sniping but I'm bad at it, so I use toughness to keep my aim straight.

[@areufcknserious6098]

Happy Batman exactly my point m8

[@simonvandooren7071]

Thoughness, or primary gunfighter and an acog

[@axelmilan4292]

This takes me back. Loved running around with the Ballista and iron sights

[@unikornjizz1693]

I love it when he tries to no scope that guy but misses and takes out his duel kap 40's and lights that poor guy up

[@legosoilder3621]

That pun though, wish he still did these.

[@dwindokamo54]

I love those puns at the end, I always anticipate it and its very clever

[@SparksFlyin]

I love when his recommended class is the exact one I use. I just got my ballista gold and I enjoyed using it. Love the iron sight. Working on the dsr now.

[@kobeshok4123]

I got one tip with snipers use DSR or Ballista with fast mag and when u shoot immediately reload and cancle it so no need to cock it.

[@anthonyrodriguez3556]

You only need that with the DSR, cuz the ballista has high handling speeds, and you should be using the DSR for hard scoping in things like SND and League Play

[@zoom1125]

Anthony Rodriguez before the patch if you reload cancel'd the ballista it could shoot as fast as the xpr...

[@arathc9747]

Do you remember this comment?

[@SupplySideJesus1]

He makes every weapon look so damn easy. I got this gold last month - I have no damn idea how he avoids hitmarkers every other shot. I get them even when I hit people in the shoulder. Made the bloodthirsties nearly impossible. That said, the iron sights are FUN AS ALL HELL. You die a lot, but feel like an absolute badass every time you manage a kill with it.

[@eggman17872k2]

Dammit Stu, every time I think i'm finally done with this game, you come along and make me want to try something new.

[@dpas2009]

XBoxAhoy and Drift0r are my go-to men for all the best in Black Ops 2 info.

[@Godric_71]

Everything about Black Ops 2 is exactly what Call of Duty is supposed to be.

[@KTAforLIFE]

Fr

[@johnatanmachadoyt]

Facts.

[@Godric_71]

@@johnatanmachadoyt It would be great if they re-released it exactly as it was for the current and next gen consoles.

[@FyruHawk]

even more so now, what with the disaster that is new mw2

[@Godric_71]

@@FyruHawk I can proudly say that I have never played MW2. After the train wreck that was MW19, sadly, i have been turned off of COD.

[@jeffersonjadon]

Nice no scope at 0:57

[@ReSpark141]

this guy makes makes a 1% mobility boost sound game changing, truly educational

[@jackfeist2846]

ive just got black ops 2 and all these guides have been super helpful and same with the black ops 1 guides

[@Niklascam]

faze ahoy :D

[@Rev.iRo7]

Niklas Cameron Optic Ahoy

[@SmallManOnUniversalCredit]

Ballista with Ballistic CPU and B23R secondary. Flak Jacket, Toughness, Fast Hands and Tac Mask. Lethal option and Tac Insert. Is a good class.

[@eukyre]

You’ve come a long way Stew, keep it up brother

[@ThrillShake]

i love the way xboxahoy uses guns on this game

[@xxkarmaii0xx569]

#BringBackAhoy

[@johnnespino]

5% Comments about the actual video 95% Comments about quickscoping and hardscoping. Thanks for the video guide, Ahoy. It's amazing how most people on COD have so much skill with sniper rifles so I figured I should try it out. But I hate people who just complain about quickscoping and hardscoping. You shouldn't waste your time and skill shooting a bullet in game if you don't even know you're gonna hit. Everyone has a different gaming style and no one should tell you how to play. I have respect for all players so don't misunderstand me, it is just my opinion. Your video helped me improve my sniping accuracy because really, I'm always screwed when it comes to me missing a bullet at close range XD.

[@travisdudley7129]

I agree with you! All these players care about hardscoping and quickscoping.Who cares at least he gets kills.

[@travisdudley7129]

I agree with you! All these players care about hardscoping and quickscoping.Who cares at least he gets kills.

[@travisdudley7129]

I agree with you! All these players care about hardscoping and quickscoping.Who cares at least he gets kills.

[@austingordon1242]

This class setup has helped me allot stu, u are doing a great job m8

[@randomdude545]

1st: your voice sounds so epic if you talk like that with the background music 2nd you're an amazing quickscoper 3rd the ballista looks incredibly awesome with the gold camo

[@isaacfeinberg583]

0:29 look up at the party chat he was probably all like OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OOOOOOOOHHHHHhhh *screaming* xD

[@rome_055]

For you guys who are arguing about hard scoping and quick scoping, There is a difference between camping with a sniper than hard scoping while running around the map. Hard scoping is originally made for snipers but doing quick scope is a plus on your skillset which means that if you hard scope, you are not a nuub unless you sit and camp on 1 area.

[@joshawott331]

Yeah just get mad at people for aiming. We are gonna call people that aim their smgs hard scopers too

[@Leap623]

A great vid, you manage to make everything sound OP. :P

[@omgkoed25]

hands down the best at weapon reviewing =3 subbed

[@MrFlareon136]

I love the iron sights because it gives me a WaW feeling

[@donkey5424]

3:21 that 180 was solid.

[@tommulholland2204]

his voice makes everything intense

[@Ryan0123ify]

A true sniper, nice one Ahoy!

[@shyrtexx4879]

2:07 Ahoy's first quickscope? :D

[@XCVIII.]

Ahoy makes a happy ending sound evil with his voice

[@Siggimotion]

i had a headache, then i listened to your voice and it went away :D

[@cofuchs2878]

i love your videos.they really are good for learning to handle this weapons :D

[@Smokebrick]

FaZe Ahoy

[@macgames7102]

Xd

[@berattopcu1085]

Ballista is father of hitmarkers

[@tyleroneal4680]

* SVU

[@skymish533]

* SVU * XPR 50

[@blc2222]

The xpr 50 has the same hit zones as the ballista, I think

[@FPSGHoST808]

look, kid. he's xboxahoy. he can do whatever he wants. he is a boss.

[@aledirksen01]

I will have to try this setup since you always put good setup and since this is my favorite gun in the game. Ill comment back if it was good! Nice video!

[@taipizzalord4463]

The Sniper for Quick-Scoping.

[@haywood225]

It's a sniper dumbass

[@taipizzalord4463]

Why do you hate it. maybe it is cos you are crap.

[@adisankar119]

+TAIPIZZALORD no, because it ruins COD

[@abdullahmusallam3983]

Vondy you Nerfed them no need to make a joke

[@christmas-kun6930]

You mean he sniper to hard scope.

[@demonfox51321]

Damn hes better quick scope then kids kills every shot

[@SUSMAN_6969]

Your guides are really helpful.. Thank you!

[@gabrielreischl6227]

awesome clips

[@ioncesoldcocaine7551]

I LOVE YOUR VOICE

[@M14GUY762]

By voice you mean penis

[@JosephLunaGames]

Tiger Justice Your sick

[@grenber2731]

Hey Stu, what is your least favorite myth for any gun/perk/attachment? (AKA the myth that FMJ does more overall damage)

[@drkclshr]

Comment

[@jacemarks5888]

One of my favorite sniper rifles

[@HJBGAMER]

thats the magic of the ballista

[@rentzboss]

I use it with fast mag and balistic CPU

[@skymish533]

FMJ and Fast mags

[@mothekillerkiller]

1:04 lucky boy

[@harryherbert5805]

Hitting shots like a boss

[@MeWantNoodles]

You sir, just got your self another subscriber!

[@nathanielseyi007]

Your kd must be like 8.00

[@Maniac742]

Quick scoping is only a problem on console. Play on PC and it's non-existent because there is no auto-aim. Only real snipers exist there.

[@RoseLostinValley]

Maniac742 There is no such thing as auto-aim, only aim assist. Just like everybody else, it helps us have better aim. Aim assist isn't the reason why there is "quick scoping", but people actually being able to do it.

[@Maniac742]

Darkshade Vale Clementine The Sniper There's no "aim assist" on PC either. Nothing helps the guide the reticle for you.

[@RoseLostinValley]

Maniac742 That is true, there is absolutely no aim assist on PC. However it is much easier to aim with a mouse and keyboard then a joystick. With a mouse you can easily guide your mouse to wherever it needs to go.

[@Maniac742]

Darkshade Vale Clementine The Sniper Quick scoping revolves around the aim assist, though. No quick scoping on PC.

[@RoseLostinValley]

Maniac742 No it doesn't trust me, if i were to take off aim assist on console it would just make sniping a little bit harder. There are tons of videos online of people quickscoping on PC.

[@BIG-qn6ed]

Favorite gun of all time.

[@TheKristofdv]

Nice sniping and nice video!

[@brunnhild_]

Why is there so many belgium weapons,like scar-h,fal,etc

[@JimHawking-]

Probably because Fn Herstal is Belgian and they have a decent selection of weapons. The Scar series, Ballista, F 2000, Five-Seven, and P90 are all FN, and thats just one company in Beligium.

[@mrgumbwit5307]

One of treyarc's art designers are from Belgium at least born from there

[@lll-kd3mp]

MrGumbwit and fn herstal has a relationship with the us because of john m browning

[@iwto_ampere5821]

@@JimHawking- the pdw aswell

[@briancordero935]

Why no FMJ?

[@Leskovcanin]

Brian Cordero only increases the penetration value not the damadge

[@briancordero935]

Still it gives the Ballista the power to hit through walls, bad enough it's chest up kill power, as most shots hit the midsection. While the Ballista has good penetration power keeping it on par is imporatant, except if your the person who camps and uses a more tactical build. the BlackShadow

[@SniPeRtHieF]

FMJ is useless on the Ballista, I use it for the DSR 50

[@briancordero935]

***** Gun attachments dont affect scorestreaks, only against them. Who is gonna go against a sentry with a Sniper. That is what C4 and Black Hats are for

[@ProjectSh4dow]

Brother, I feel like everyone was insane with snipers back in the day! Cause Ahoy had some awesome shots!

[@Reon_Bruh]

Lol they are now

[@ItsMeLucyH]

The ACOG and iron sight attachment option for this weapon is quite decisive; the iron sights will avoid the fettering of your accuracy through an EMP system, while the ACOG scope provides you a clear view on target - useful on closer quarters, but can be shut down by EMP rapidly.

[@VenomIceii]

Ahoy should be in FaZe

[@lioshin]

no no NOOO

[@SunnyJims]

+_ItsNotVViz_ yes yes yees

[@adisankar119]

fuck no, Nate Gibson should be in FaZe.

[@tylerisadumb]

Isaac Watson FaZe_Ahoy

[@kingkinswag4107]

Adi Sankar exactly

[@Marcomanexists]

Your voice makes me believe everything you say. You could tell me that all chimpanzees wear pretty pink underwear and I'd take you 100% seriously.

[@corporaleliaz]

I LOVE XBOX AHOY BEEN WITH HIM SINCE MW2 ON MY IPOD BUT ME NOW ON MY CPU

[@Proj8ct]

Well look at you stu :) quick scopeing like a boss and hip firing like a champ !

[@eagledoublett9921]

DSR 50>BALLISTA

[@lioshin]

when somebody hardscopes with the dsr 50 im like: oh ok when somebody hardscopes with the ballista im like: you have to be dumb.

[@-snprym1683]

K

[@FreeSmartPencil]

+Lio I think Quikscoping is dumb online but on private match I understand why it's fun with friends.

[@dink6863]

LOL nice same

[@anomaly2733]

You have to be dumb to be using a term like "hardscoping" when talking about a sniper rifle.

[@FreeSmartPencil]

marisa fukding kirisamo This gen is fucked

[@GRIFFINPOLSKA]

You are awesome! thanks for this guide!

[@fortyjarsOjello]

Has anyone else noticed that infinityward has made all the major and amazing changes in CoD. Starting with cod 4, then mw2 went more in depth, mw3 wasnt the greatest but it happens. And now with ghosts, their new engine and game mechanics. I honestly have major respect for them. What about you xboxahoy?

[@IBennx77I]

Its so funny to see that some people cry cause other people quikscope and play with more skill. Why shouldnt having more skill been rewarded ??? Quikscoping and Trickshotting makes the Game to a different game, where you pick up ure buddies and freak out if you hit a awesome combo. If you are bored of smgs and rushing and permanetn fire pick up a sniper and have fun :D Some People cant understand it, so if u cant understand it too and want to tell it everybody, i ll nevermind why u keep playing these games o.O Cya Bennx77

[@Leskovcanin]

IBennx77I i dont quickscope much couse i usualy hardscope reason couse thats how youre supposed to be sniping even irl ur supposed to be hardscoping not go 360 NO SCOPE 420 BLAZE IT FAZE THE BLAZE

[@Leskovcanin]

***** what if i told you im serbian xd

[@Leskovcanin]

***** english isn't my native language and whats the problem if im not english that im no allowed to speak english xd

[@Leskovcanin]

***** plus if you're a gamer that play a competitive game and communication is esential u lithearly cant play couse i dont know russian polish spanish u name it

[@devlinnunez4588]

I agree that quickscoping takes skill but not trickshotting

[@KaBoOm1531]

Thanks for the good weapon guide

[@AboveAllGlassTO]

Faze ahoy - great video

[@canapaydin]

Thanks dude your class just worked i completed my last 5 bloodthirsty medals with ballista that i gave up months ago

[@ICONIC1PRO]

it is a rare thing to see someone using his class setup

[@TheUKNutter]

The only channel where no-one is complaining that he isn't quickscoping ;)

[@alalpwn]

This is a fun weapon, I like the variety of snipers in this game. My class for it is a perk-heavy, hardy, and mobile class. Ext. magazine on the Ballista, secondary Tac-45, Flak Jacket, Toughness, Tactical Mask, perk 1 and 3 greed with Lightweight and Dexterity respectively. It's a fun build for CTF if you are a confident sniper at closer ranges. You can also swap out one of the extra perks for tactical grenades, or a lethal grenade and laser sight, depending on the situation.

[@roboticjanitor3332]

same here, I switch out the concussions for perk-two greed so I can have toughness along with fast hands, and the b23r is my favorite pistol in the game.

[@Kevai_]

It would be nice if the world could work things out like you and that other guy did. It would make life so much easier.

[@AboveAllGlassTO]

Faze ahoy all day

[@hunterdempster5675]

The intro is badass ngl

[@StarXsu90]

the way you said Ballista is just Too Satisfying

[@LOVETOE44]

Amazing Video,you are a BEAST !!

[@husainhadi4066]

You're awesome dude!

[@dbartek9222]

You,My sir.You are amazing!

[@emperorconstantine1.361]

My favorite sniper rifle in COD games.

[@majiclog3]

it cracks me up how the scope on the gun is a big bulky beast, but its like a 3x zoom

[@howardstewart769]

2:57 3:06 3:10 another nice quickscope this has been a sniping montage by xbox ahoy best episode ever!!!

[@Trilomiter]

nice clips!

[@Gigaamped]

4:45 I literally LOLd when you spontaneously 720d. Nice one, Stu xD