CDL Pros Struggle to Break the Habit of Snaking in Call of Duty: League

It’s no easy feat for Call of Duty League (CDL) professionals to break the muscle memory of snaking, even after agreeing to ban the controversial movement technique. Snaking involves players rapidly switching between prone and crouching positions behind objects on the map, resembling the movements of a snake. This maneuver makes it challenging for opponents to hit their targets, leading to frustration among players.

Sledgehammer Games, the developers of Call of Duty: Vanguard, have acknowledged the issue with snaking and expressed their commitment to finding a solution. In an interview with Warzone content creator Repullze, Multiplayer Creative Director Greg Reisdorf explained the challenge of balancing the feature. While they want players to excel at the game, they also want to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for all.

CDL Takes Action

The CDL teams didn’t wait for the developers to address the snaking problem and instead took matters into their own hands. On November 29, the pros voted to remove snaking through a Gentleman’s Agreement (GA). However, enforcing this agreement relies on the players and coaches themselves, as there are no official consequences for breaking the GA. This lack of enforceability has led some professionals to doubt whether snaking is truly gone for good.

Shortly after the vote, accusations began to fly as teams accused each other of violating the snaking ban during practice matches known as scrims. Veteran CDL pro Clayster was among the first to be caught in this controversy, admitting it takes time to break the habit.

Snaking has been a contentious issue in CDL matches for years, particularly in games like Call of Duty: Vanguard and Modern Warfare 2. Critics argue that snaking slows down the pace of the game and negatively impacts the overall experience, forcing players to adopt a more cautious approach. However, some CDL legends, like Scump, have expressed skepticism about the longevity of the GA, suggesting that it may eventually crumble under the pressure to win.

Community members also express doubts about the sustainability of the GA. They argue that the pressure to win in crucial moments during tournaments and LAN matches may push players to resort back to snaking out of instinct. Some believe that the responsibility lies with the developers to address the snaking issue through game updates rather than relying solely on player agreements.

Although the CDL has made strides by addressing the banning of snaking, there is no specific timeline for the developers’ investigation into the matter. Fans eagerly await the upcoming CDL season, starting on December 8, to see how the ban holds up and whether snaking truly becomes a thing of the past.