Cover-Based Shooting

Lore & Background

In Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, cover-based shooting reflects the tactical doctrine of the Ghosts, a fictional elite special operations unit of the United States Army under the Joint Special Operations Command. The game moves away from the futuristic setting of Advanced Warfighter and instead adopts a modern-day setting, similar to the original Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon. Equipment is based on weapons and gear commonly used by military forces around the world, with some original equipment like drones that can tag enemies and show objectives. The AI is unscripted, with enemies having their own motivations and agendas. Players can grab enemies at close range as human shields while shooting with the other hand. The game features a dynamic weather system and a day-night cycle, where night offers better concealment and easier infiltration due to some guardsmen being asleep.

In Their Own Story

Sergeant First Class Mike 'Nomad' Ramos slammed his shoulder into the sun-bleached adobe wall, the crack of AK rounds splintering the plaster inches from his ear. Dust plumed into his eyes as he blinked grit away, counting the bursts—three shooters, maybe four, locked on his last position. He flicked a hand signal to his team: two fingers to the eyes, then a jab toward the collapsed archway. On the count of three, he rolled low across the gap, the stock of his rifle scraping the dirt, and slid into a new pocket of shadow. The cover wasn't just survival—it was the only language the battlefield understood.

Reader's Guide

Cover-based shooting in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands works by letting you snap to any low wall, corner, or obstacle by moving close. Once anchored, you can peek over or around the object to fire with minimal exposure, or blind-fire for suppression—though your rounds will spray like a fire hose. Moving between cover is fluid: sprint from spot to spot, or use a quick dash to cross kill zones. Players can parachute from a helicopter, walk overland, or drive towards objectives. Completing missions during day-time allows players to spot enemies easily, while completing missions at night grants a tactical advantage. Players can use multiple ways to complete objectives, such as utilizing stealth, melee combat, or using long-ranged or short-ranged weapons. The game features outposts that can be taken down by players. Players can gain experience points to level up, and weapons and gear can be upgraded. Why it matters: Every piece of cover is a tactical decision. Use it to control sightlines, set up flanking maneuvers, or bait enemies into ambushes. On higher difficulties, enemy AI will punish hesitation and punish open ground—cover becomes your only real ally. Master it, and you control the fight. Ignore it, and you're just another ghost.

Did You Know?

• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands is the first game in the Ghost Recon series to feature an open world environment.
• The game world includes a wide variety of environments such as mountains, forests, deserts, and salt flats.
• The game sold over 10 million units by March 2020.
• A sequel, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint, was released on October 4, 2019.
• The game features a dynamic weather system as well as a day-night cycle.