For most people, Call of Duty multiplayer matches can be hectic, tense, and exhilarating experiences when going online. Even with all the criticism and frustration that playing multiplayer matches can entail, the majority of the time I find myself enjoying the craziness. Within the mix of everything going on, killstreaks provide an extra layer to the madness when they are executed and affect everyone on the map. They were first introduced in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and have since become a staple part of the series for online multiplayer, all the way up to the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. You simply can't jump into a match and not see at least a few killstreaks all going off at the same time, with a wide range of results and effectiveness.

There have been many different kinds of killstreaks for players to use when going on a hot streak, with some looking cooler and more intimidating than others. But I often find myself gravitating towards a select few that always manage to appear in nearly every Call of Duty game. Whether it's because they're easy or reasonable to get within a match, or just potent enough to really matter when called in, these killstreaks are some of my favorites to equip to my loadouts in various games. These are the four killstreaks I love using in any Call of Duty multiplayer game I find myself in, and many others love doing so too.

Precision airstrike (Napalm Strike)

Dropping bombs everywhere from above

It may not be the most powerful killstreak around, nor one that can be obtained easily, but it packs a serious punch. Whenever I manage to get enough kills in a match to have a Precision Airstrike available to use, chances are I'll use it and shift the momentum of a match. While earlier Call of Duty games had this killstreak as a generic quick bombardment of a specific area, later games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 gave it some changes to made it more devastating. Also known as a Napalm Strike, calling this in meant an area was covered in flames for a time, damaging players who were careless enough to walk through if they weren't already caught within the blast radius. Being on the receiving end of one is never fun and can always lead to bigger problems.

Killstreaks like this can be real game-changers on smaller multiplayer maps that people love to play on, like Nuketown or Shipment. A well-placed airstrike can decimate an entire team and scatter them long enough to regain control of the match. If I find myself on a team losing in points or kills, I usually try to get enough kills quickly to call in a Precision Airstrike or Napalm Strike to even things out, and give my team a chance to catch up. Using one isn't a guaranteed hit, as dropping an airstrike and missing targets can feel like a total waste in any game mode. But this is the most common killstreak I find myself using that can do some real damage to a team mid-match, especially when I'm struggling to get enough points or kills to reach the higher killstreaks. It's still powerful enough to be a valuable tool in most games.

UAV

The old faithful

Everyone loves calling in a UAV. It's one of the easiest killstreaks to get in almost every Call of Duty game, and it's incredibly useful. Having the edge of knowing where enemies are moving and where they might be going is key to winning most matches. And in every Call of Duty since killstreaks were first introduced into the series, you can find a UAV or some variation of it. It's the old faithful and go-to killstreak for any player, whether they're a newbie or a seasoned veteran. It helps out the player using it, but more importantly, helps out the entire team.

Some of the Call of Duty games have included slight variations on the UAV, such as the Scout Pulse in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, that can be used quicker than getting an actual UAV. It usually costs less to obtain and just as easy to use when you get it, but the effects are not really the same. Scout Pulse can detect nearby enemies around the player who uses it, while a UAV can cover the entire map when revealing enemies. More often than not, I'm going to equip my loadouts with the UAV over a Scout Pulse, unless I have no other choice due to leveling up and unlocking more killstreaks.

At the same time, stronger versions of the UAV have also been included as stronger killstreaks that are harder to get. The strongest version of it would be the Blackbird, which gives a team an advanced radar that reveals the entire enemy team on the map. But not just their positions, it includes their movement and the directions they are facing at the given moment. Killstreaks like this are always appreciated by a team, especially when I can assist them in getting more kills and keeping the advantage over the other team. Although I don't always find myself using something like a Blackbird as a higher killstreak, I'm always going to default to the UAV. It can be just as effective throughout a match with how frequently I can call it in, and how much it'll give my teammates the extra boost.

Watchdog Helicopter

The original spicy devastator

If there was one killstreak that started the trend of putting the fear of god into players, it was a watchdog helicopter. From Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, calling in a helicopter can be a big blow to an opposing team. But it can also be a major problem when you're on the opposite side of it. Helicopters will loom above a map and pick off enemies that are roaming around, especially if they aren't behind any sort of cover. Most people will be safe hiding in buildings when they are called in, but can still get shot if they're near a window or overhead opening that the helicopter can target through.

Most players know that a helicopter can be shot down or eliminated with some well-placed rocket launchers, but that won't happen without a few players going down in the process. And if the match is on a smaller map where the helicopter can easily get around obstacles, it's going to be a real troublemaker for everyone. I love being able to call in a helicopter and watch as the opposing team scrambles to target it, while me and the rest of my teammates pick them off. The helicopter can take out enemies, but also provides a good distraction for getting even more kills or capturing objectives as they struggle to deal with their floating issue.

Some players would prefer to have some of the variations of watchdog helicopter equipped instead, such as the Chopper Gunner or AC-130 Gunship. These killstreaks are harder to get, and even more devastating when used in a match, but I find calling in a helicopter to be the more reasonable killstreak to obtain often. It can be a real challenge getting higher killstreaks by having enough kills or gathering enough points from objectives, which can be even harder in maps where I'm spotted more frequently. But part of the charm of calling in a helicopter is that it's tough to get, yet strong enough to cause a lot of damage to an opposing team, even when it's not the most powerful killstreak I can use.

Hellstorm Missile (Predator Missile)

Surprising death from above

Killstreaks with vehicles and aircraft are great, but have you ever surprised someone by dropping a missile on them? That's the fun of having a Hellstorm Missile or Predator Missile in any Call of Duty multiplayer game. It's a quick and easy killstreak to get that can make a big difference at the right time. Dropping a missile onto players can be just enough of a push to let your teammates capture points or get enough kills to shift the momentum in your favor. Each and every time I call down a missile I can control, I get a sense of joy, knowing that it can catch someone by surprise and ruin their entire rhythm. They may think they're safe in the best spot to pick off players, until they catch something from above that forces them to change their plans.

The Hellstorm version of this killstreak in later games is a little different from the original Predator Missile from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The Predator Missile is just the missile itself that drops from above and can be controlled before it lands on the ground, with an explosion that can catch anyone caught within its radius. But the Hellstorm Missile is a bit stronger, with the ability to launch a few extra smaller missiles before hitting the ground. It adds a bit of extra firepower to the killstreak, which can cover a slightly larger area than its predecessor. I like this version because it gives me a chance to launch the missiles if I feel that my target might be just outside the blast radius of the big missile alone, allowing me to make sure I get the kill I'm going after.

Killstreaks for everyone

Everyone's style of play in Call of Duty multiplayer is a little different, especially with the kinds of killstreaks they favor. There's a lot of depth into what perks and equipment someone can have on their individual loadouts, but it's made even deeper with the killstreaks they like to use when getting a string of kills or points. Throughout most of the series, I often find myself equipping killstreaks that are somewhat similar, with results that I know will be effective in the majority of matches I play. And with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 coming out soon, I know I'll be tinkering with killstreaks once again to maximize my impact on the matches I play online.