CDL pros publicly ban Snaking and break the agreement an hour later
Call of Duty League pros have publicly banned the use of Snaking in official matches, but it didn't take long for the agreement to be broken.
30th Nov 2023 14:29
Activision | CDL
CDL pros publicly ban Snaking and break the agreement an hour later
Call of Duty League pros have publicly banned the use of Snaking in official matches, but it didn't take long for the agreement to be broken.
30th Nov 2023 14:29
Activision | CDL
Call of Duty esports integrity has been called into question this week as players from each of the 12 teams have all been caught in keyboard wars on the rule set for the upcoming 2024 season.
So far, the teams have begun wiping off viable maps, modes, and guns in the rules, even contemplating banning snipers unless there was a way to control the usage of smoke grenades.
But, the League's biggest issue is snaking (the repeated use of Tac-Sprint and Prone to create a snake-like movement designed to make it impossible to be shot off a head glitch).
After repeated failed calls for the developers to patch snaking altogether though, the CDL teams have rallied to strike the head off the cobra for professional play - if they can contain it...
Call of Duty League pros erupt into Snaking debate, agreeing to ban 'zero integrity' mechanic
There are only a few sets of scrims left before the Call of Duty League kicks off and the annual debate over snaking has erupted again.
The argy-bargy all kicked off on social media after Brandon "Dashy" Otell rattled fellow competitors by saying, "It’s actually hilarious what this game has come to with everyone snaking every possible head glitch. Zero pride/integrity left but it is what it is."
This sentiment has been acknowledged for years, but since the Modern Warfare 2019 era where prize pools have been heightened at every event, many pros have shamelessly begun using the feature again to cheese gunfights, especially on modes like Search and Destroy.
Now though, the Gentleman's Agreement brigade, led by Boston Breach's Austin "SlasheR" Liddicoat and ex-pro turned popular talk show host Thomas "ZooMaa" Paparatto, forced the league into a public vote on Twitter as to whether they should begin enforcing a snaking ban this season.
SlasheR and ZooMaa then rallied captains and coaches from each team to get a majority vote to ban the cringe mechanic.
First up was Los Angeles Guerillas' Adam "Assault" Garcia who demanded it out, followed by Seattle Surge rep Alex "Arcitys" Sanderson, Carolina Royal Ravens' James "Clayster" Eubanks, OpTic Texas' Anthony "Shotzzy" Cuevas-Castro, Minnesota ROKKR's Lamar "Accuracy" Abedi, FaZe Clan coach James "Crowder" Crowder, and Los Angeles Thieves' Dan "Ghosty" Rother, creating an overwhelming majority vote live on Twitter.
The mechanic has now been placed on the GA list, which isn't actually punishable via the league, but will result in a blacklist (refusal to take place in scrims, or the abolishment of all GAs against the team) for anyone using it in league matches.
Clayster caught snaking an hour after CDL-wide ban
It looks like the Call of Duty League might need its own version of VAR now though, as there's a fine line between ducking and diving to save your life and abusing the snaking mechanic to gain info and twerk on your enemies.
But just an hour after the ban rolled out league-wide, James "Clayster" Eubanks was caught on the big screen and the video assistant referees (Twitter folk) raised the flag.
The esteemed CoD veteran was found snaking his scales off in Karachi Hardpoint and was called out on social media, albeit in funny spirits.
Clayster did laugh these notions off though, saying "LMFAO it was first game alright it takes a little bit to get out of our system."
With the league only a week from kick-off, these old habits will have to die quickly though, or face being blacklisted by the rest of the league.
About The Author
Jack Marsh
Jack is an Esports Journalist at GGRecon. Graduating from the University of Chester, with a BA Honours degree in Journalism, Jack is an avid esports enthusiast and specialises in Rocket League, Call of Duty, VALORANT, and trending gaming news.
