Do Pros Prefer Affected or Independent ADS FOV? Most Opt For Independent

As an avid Call of Duty player and content creator, I get asked this question a lot. After thoroughly testing both settings and digging into opinions from top players, the general consensus is Independent ADS Field of View is superior for improving awareness and target acquisition at range.

By zooming in more aggressively when ADS versus affected (which ties zoom to FOV), independent allows you to spot enemies sooner at distance without compromising up close play. The peripheral vision tradeoff is worth it.

However, Affected is great if you prioritize consistency between hip fire and ADS. And some simply prefer how it feels. At the end of the day you can‘t go wrong experimenting to see what works best for your playstyle.

Below I‘ll explain these concepts more thoroughly, including optimal FOV, sens, aim assist, and other key graphics settings tips to maximize your performance based on my testing and research. Time to take your Call of Duty game to the next level!

Why Independent ADS FOV Reigns Supreme for Most Players

Independent ADS FOV came into prominence with Warzone 2.0 as players realized unlinking ADS zoom from base FOV gave tangible competitive advantages.

As top Twitch streamer IceManIssac explains, independent allows you to reap these main benefits:

• Wider field of view when not aiming for improved awareness and target acquisition speed
• Stronger zoom when ADS for better long range accuracy and focus on enemies

This YouTube video perfectly illustrates the zoom difference between affected and independent ADS FOV:

Video demonstrating how independent ADS FOV zooms much more aggressively when aiming versus affected ADS FOV – via IceManIssac

Meanwhile, affected ADS FOV directly links zoom factor to your base FOV setting. So if you play on 120 FOV, aiming down sights will feel extremely zoomed out and make hitting longer range targets quite tough.

Based on my testing across multiplayer and Warzone 2, I‘ve found independent ADS FOV much easier to control recoil and stay accurate at range with. Situational awareness does take a slight hit, but pre-aiming corners helps mitigate this.

So like many top Call of Duty players, I believe independent ADS FOV is simply superior if you learn to leverage the advantages correctly.

What FOV Do Professionals & Top Streamers Use?

The default field of view in Modern Warfare 2 is 80 which is quite narrow. Expanding FOV significantly improves awareness of your surroundings – letting you spot enemies sooner.

But set FOV too high and targets appear smaller + recoil control suffers. So finding the right balance is key.

Based on researching various "pro player settings" articles and videos, here is a breakdown of the most common FOV values used by top competitors and streamers:

As you can see, 100-110 FOV is overwhelmingly the most popular. This expands visibility considerably versus default 80 FOV while avoiding the extreme "fisheye" distortion at 120.

However, some players like Shotzzy do opt for 120 FOV because they value maximizing awareness above all else. While top streamers like SuperEvan favor 100 FOV to balance seeing more versus long range target acquisition.

So consider testing both 100 and 120 FOV to determine which you control best.

What‘s the Best ADS Sensitivity Multiplier Setting?

Your ADS sensitivity multiplier determines how fast you rotate while aimed down sights versus hip firing. Setting this properly for your FOV is crucial for accuracy.

The default value is 1.0x. Lower multipliers help stabilize shots with ranged weapons. Using higher multipliers lets you react quicker while ADS with SMGs and shotguns.

Most pros stick with 1.0x or 0.8x depending on their role. Some hyper-aggressive SMG entries like Abezy use 1.2x for added mobility.

Meanwhile Snipers often drop to 0.7x or even 0.5x for precision. So again – finding the right balance for your FOV and input device is key.

I‘d recommend starting at 1.0x multiplier and adjusting in 0.1 increments until aiming feels comfortable. Going too extreme can make it hard to track targets at mid-range.

How Does FOV Impact Recoil Control & Accuracy?

Higher FOV settings do indirectly help with recoil control, but perhaps not for the reasons you‘d expect.

By zooming the camera out, weapons and visual recoil appear reduced simply because targets take up less space on your screen.

However, this effect is purely visual. Raw recoil values do not change based on FOV setting.

So while high FOV provides mental advantages for staying on target, you still need proper gunskill fundamentals like recoil smoothing via mouse or thumbstick manipulation to beam consistently.

I see lots of players mistakenly believe maxing FOV will magically keep them on target. But taking the time to build weapon mastery pays way bigger accuracy dividends.

Why Aim Assist Matters Too

As most players know, Modern Warfare 2 does include various aim assist options to help track close range targets on controller.

But aim assist in MW2 functions quite differently from past titles. Traditional "rotational" aim assist has been toned down considerably.

Instead, slowdown aim assist around targets is more heavily emphasized. This makes micro adjustments and precision weapons mastery more important than ever on controller.

After testing all options extensively, I‘ve had the most success using Default or Black Ops aim assist settings. This provides a balanced amount of slowdown when putting crosshairs near an enemy without overpowering natural recoil control.

For those wondering – yes sniper rifles still get extra aim assist in MW2. So keyboard & mouse players should remain wary when facing controller snipers!

Now let‘s move on to a few other graphics settings that can impact aiming performance…

Additional Aiming & Visibility Tips

Besides FOV and aim assist preferences, a few other settings impact play:

Enable Nvidia Reflex + Boost For Lower Latency

Nvidia Reflex technology reduces input lag or delay between your mouse clicks and in-game actions. Boost mode aggressively minimizes latency for max competitive response when enabled in graphics options.

Disable Weapon Motion Blur

This cinematic effect can obscure vision on fast moving targets. Disabling weapon motion blur cleared things up for me.

Lower Anti-Aliasing If Needed

MW2 defaults to FILMIC SMAA T2X anti-aliasing which smooths edges nicely but can introduce slight blurring on small distant targets. Dropping to standard SMAA T2X or disabling anti-aliasing altogether may help spot enemies sooner if you have a high res monitor.

Are MW2 Public Lobbies Skill Based?

You may be wondering whether all these optimizations actually influence your opponents and lobby difficulty in public matches…

While never officially confirmed by Infinity Ward, reputable sources indicate Modern Warfare 2 does utilize always-on skill based matchmaking (SBMM) algorithms similar to previous Call of Duty titles.

So in public game modes, you are more likely to queue against players around your general skill bracket based on historical performance data like K/D ratio, score per minute, accuracy etc.

Perform better over a stretch of games seems to bump you into tougher opponents. Vice versa for extended periods of worse stats.

However, connection quality still plays a role per the developers. So ping and latency remain considerations for matchmaking too.

How severely SBMM manifests likely depends on player population size. At peak times, narrow skill ranges should be common. During off hours, balancing connections may take priority.

Some players definitely feel MW2‘s skill matching is too strict based on community feedback. Personally, I don‘t mind it除 keeping public matches competitive. But having a visible ELO or ranking system could help provide context around relative skill tiers.

What‘s The Hardest Mode & Difficulty Setting in MW2?

For those seeking the ultimate single player challenge, Modern Warfare 2‘s hardest mode is considered Realistic difficulty.

Realistic removes most HUD elements like mini-maps, equipment indicators, hit markers etc – forcing true situational awareness versus interface reliance.

Meanwhile, both you and enemies deal significantly increased damage – leading to extremely quick lethality where just 1 or 2 bullets can kill.

Realistic also restricts regenerative health, meaning med kits and stim shots become vital to sustainability. Limited ammo and scarcer resources also up the ante.

Veteran Call of Duty players note Realistic provides a highly authentic combat loop where strategy and tactical positioning are rewarded over reaction speed and reckless aggression.

While certainly frustrating initially, learning to thrive on Realistic mode provides a hugely satisfying mastery journey for those seeking the ultimate SP test.

Summing It All Up

Hopefully this guide has given you tons of insights into configuring graphics and gameplay options for peak performance – whether aiming to go pro or simply see better results in public matches!

To recap my personal recommendations:

Enable Independent ADS FOV – Zooms way more effectively for accuracy at range

Use 100-120 FOV – Balance visibility versus target acquisition

Refine ADS Sensitivity Multiplier To Your Preference – 1.0x default is a good starting point

Leverage FPS Boosting Tech Like Nvidia Reflex – Crucial for competition

Default or Black Ops Aim Assist – Most consistent yet skill-rewarding slowdown

Of course you should always experiment to find settings that match your priorities and playstyle rather than solely copying what works for pros.

Let me know if this helps you nail down your optimal configuration or if you have any other questions!

Stay frosty out there and GG.