7 drills and settings changes that actually work — no aimbot, no cheats, just practice done right.
Learning how to improve your aim in CoD is the fastest way to go from losing every gunfight to actually winning them. The good news: aim is a skill, not a talent. It can be trained. This guide gives you seven drills and settings tweaks that will make a noticeable difference within a week of practice.
Before you do any drills, your sensitivity settings need to be right. Too high and your aim shakes everywhere. Too low and you can't turn fast enough to track enemies. Most beginners have their sensitivity far too high.
A good starting point for controller players on PS5 and Xbox:
Stick with these settings for at least a week before changing them. Your muscle memory needs time to adapt. Check our full CoD settings guide for the complete breakdown.
Pre-aim every corner at head height — not at the floor, not at chest level. Head height. This means when an enemy appears, your crosshair is already close to their head. One small adjustment instead of a big swing upward. Do this consciously every game and it becomes automatic within days.
Go into a private match or find a Training Mode. Find an enemy moving slowly across your screen and try to keep your crosshair glued to their head as they move. Start slow, keep the target visible. This builds tracking aim — the type needed for mid-range AR fights.
Stand still, look left, then quickly flick your aim to a specific point on the right side of the screen. Try to land on a wall corner or door frame. Repeat 20 times, then switch direction. This builds the snap aim needed for close-range SMG fights.
Full auto spraying is the enemy of accuracy. Train yourself to fire in short 3–5 round bursts, then readjust. Let the recoil settle. Your hit rate will climb significantly in medium-range fights where spray and pray gets you killed.
TDM gives you the most gunfights per game of any mode. More fights = more aim practice. Play 5 TDM games a day for a week and focus only on aim — not scorestreaks, not objectives. Just aim. You'll notice the difference by day 4.
Every time you die, watch the killcam. Ask yourself: Was I already aimed at them? Did I ADS fast enough? Was I exposed? Most players skip killcams. The ones who watch them improve twice as fast. It's free coaching on what you're doing wrong.
Practise your mouse or controller aim between sessions using our free Aim Trainer tool. It lets you build reaction speed and tracking without loading up a full game. 10 minutes before a session makes a real difference.
You don't need expensive gear to improve — but the right controller and headset can give you a genuine edge. A controller with textured grips and responsive triggers stops your thumb from slipping during tense moments. Our best gaming gear guide has affordable options that work on both PS5 and Xbox.
Be honest with yourself: aim improvement takes 2–4 weeks of consistent practice. Not two games. Two weeks. If you follow the drills above every day, you'll notice your gunfight win rate climbing by the end of the first week. By the end of the second week, aiming at head height will feel automatic.
The players who plateau are the ones who give up after three bad matches. Stay consistent, track your progress, and remember that every top CoD player went through exactly the same learning curve you're on right now.
Ready to sharpen your setup too? Check our best beginner loadout guide to make sure your weapon choice is working with your improving aim, not against it.
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