Beginner's Tips and Tricks - Splitgate Guide - IGN (2024)

Welcome to the Beginner's Tips and Tricks page of the official IGN Wiki Guide for Splitgate. Spligate is an ever-evolving multiplayer arena FPS. It can be tough to crack into — some players have been playing since the game's Early Access launch in 2019 — but once you understand everything you need to know, you'll be sniping enemies and launching through cross-map portals like a pro. Below are some Beginner's Tips and Tricks to help you get started.

Splitgate Tips and Tricks

Below, we've listed dozens of tips and tricks, each broken up into different sections. Please click or tap the links below to jump to different sections:

• Shooting Tips and Tricks
• Movement and Portal Tips and Tricks
• Maps Tips and Tricks

Shooting Tips and Tricks

• For the most part, you'll always start with an Assault Rifle and a Carbine. As such, you'll be using these weapons more than most so one of the first things you should do in Splitgate is focus on getting good at using these weapons.
• Every weapon has its own unique feel: get used to how each one works, fires, recoils, and more.
• One of the best ways to get to know the game's weapons is by using the game's Training mode. Here, you can use any of the game's weapons for as long as you'd like — learn how they fire, how long it takes to fire, how much recoil they have, and more.
• You must learn the spawn points for power weapons like Shotguns, SMGs, Rocket Launchers, and more. It is imperative that you or your team get a hold of these weapons as they can easily turn the tide of any match. As such, you'll want to keep these weapons out of your enemy's hands.
• Headshots, headshots, headshots: nothing is more damaging than a headshot so you should always focus on trying to get a headshot when facing an enemy. Headshots will kill them the quickest, but it's also very easy to recoil above their head. That's why it's important to learn each weapon's recoil.

• Reload: If you need to reload mid-firefight, consider switching to your secondary weapon instead. It's quicker than reloading.
• Grenades: the grenades you have in Splitgate do not damage enemies. The only purpose they serve is to destroy enemy portals so don't waste your time throwing grenades at enemies.
• All weapons are equal, kinda: There are weapons that are better than others, of course. However, all Assault Rifles do as much damage as all other Assault Rifles. No single Battle Rifle is stronger or better than a different Battle Rifle.
• There are no pay-to-win elements in Splitgate: You might be wondering if there's a way to purchase power-ups or more powerful weapons — you can't. The only things you can purchase using in-game currency (which can be purchased with real-world money) are cosmetics.

• There are no classes or builds in Splitgate: Splitgate is like classic Halo in that there are no classes or builds to create like those found in Call of Duty. Instead, everyone spawns with the same weapons in a mode (unless you're in a mode where starting weapons are random or something like that).
• Sniper: The Sniper is the best long-range weapon. It can kill an enemy with a single headshot. Most maps have a single Sniper and it usually can be found in a hard-to-reach place.
• Shotgun: The Sniper is the best close-range weapon. One shot at a close enough distance can kill an enemy with ease. Most maps have a single Shotgun and it usually can be found in a hard-to-reach place.
• Rocket Launcher: The Rocket Launcher is the best explosive-based weapon in Splitgate. It fires rockets that will 100% kill an enemy with a direct hit and, for the most part, will kill enemies if the rocket explodes anywhere near an enemy. Most maps have a single Rocket Launcher and it usually can be found in a hard-to-reach place.

• Railgun: The Railgun is an interesting weapon and you'll likely love it or hate it. It's a long-range weapon that must first be charged up before firing. It takes about two seconds to fully charge the shot. When you fire, it will fly through the air in real-time as a laser (unlike bullets). Most maps have a single Railgun and it can usually be found in a hard-to-reach place.
• Pistol: Ahhh the trusty Pistol. This is probably the weakest weapon in Splitgate but it's the quickest-firing weapon in the game. It will fire as fast as your finger can pull the trigger. You'll often need to use an entire clip (or nearly an entire clip) in order to kill an enemy with the pistol. We don't recommend starting a firefight with this — instead, start a firefight with a different weapon and switch to the Pistol to finish the enemy off when it's time to reload your other weapon.
• Battle Rifle: The Battle Rifle is one of the best guns in Splitgate. A single trigger pull releases about three bullets. If you can place all three bullets into an enemy head, only two trigger pulls are necessary to kill an enemy. Otherwise, it will take three to four trigger pulls to kill an enemy. This weapon is good at all ranges, but it especially excels at mid-range firefights.

• Plasma Rifle: The Plasma Rifle is very similar to that found in the Doom series. The bullets, or rather plasma orbs, fly through the air in real-time. As such, you'll need to have great accuracy to use this Plasma Rifle. It can absolutely melt an enemy's health if your accuracy is dead-on. However, it has a long recharge (the gun's reload, essentially) so if you don't kill the enemy with a full 100% charged clip, you should switch to a secondary weapon.
• SMG: The SMG can melt enemies at close range. In fact, the only gun that kills faster at a close range is the Shotgun. When you have the SMG, fire at enemies in close range and you can literally spray at them as the gun does excellent damage no matter where you hit an enemy.
• Assault Rifle: This is the standard Splitgate machine gun. You'll almost always spawn with one. It takes a few seconds to kill an enemy and it fortunately has a high ammo count to match those seconds. It also has high recoil so be sure to get that under control or it could be your death in a firefight.

• Carbine: This is the standard semi-automatic rifle of Splitgate. It fires a single bullet at a time — one trigger pull = one Carbine bullet fired. It's actually quite weak and probably our least favorite weapon in the game. However, you'll be using it a lot so it's important to get comfortable with the Carbine.
• The BFB: This is basically Splitgate's Gravity Hammer. It's a melee-only weapon and can only be used at extreme close-range. However, if you make contact with an enemy, it's essentially guaranteed to kill. It's an excellent weapon to pair with a mid-range weapon like the Battle Rifle. Fire away with the Battle Rifle and when you get close enough to the enemy, switch to the BFB, and take the enemy out for good.

Movement and Portal Tips and Tricks

• You should basically never not have a portal out — portals are essential to the gameplay of Splitgate and essential to your success. They can save your life in a pinch, they can be used as traps against enemies, and they can be used as quick gateways to the action.
• Remember that your enemies can see you portals — any good Splitgate players won’t simply walk by an enemy portal. They’ll shoot into because newer players will often stand right behind it to snipe at enemies.
• On that note, you should always fire a shot or two into an enemy portal just in case there’s an enemy on the other side of it.
• If you aim through an enemy portal, you’ll see your reticle turn red if there’s an enemy behind it. You don’t need to look for that red reticle through your own portal and that’s because if it’s your own portal, or a portal of someone on your team, you’ll be able to see right through and actually see an enemy if there is one.

• If you’re sniping through a portal, stay a few feet back and if possible, don’t stand directly behind it. Stand either to the left of it or to the right because most enemies will shoot directly into it.
• Learn the choke points of each map because your portals can be used to quickly reach those points or as great camping spots.
• However, don’t get too comfortable camping because this is a fast-paced game. The best players will be zipping around the maps, launching in and out of portals, and camping can be tough when an enemy is always in your vicinity thanks to portals.
• Chain together your portals — you don’t need to just use one single in-portal and one out-portal. Sure, the game only gives you one Orange portal and one Purple portal but after going through the first portal, you could fire it again to be somewhere in front of you after launching through the purple portal.
• You can jump from portal to portal to portal to portal if you continuously shoot one portal after the other.

• If you position your out-portal in such a way that it’s facing up or above the ground below, you’ll likely find that you’re actually launched through the portal. Use this to your advantage to reach higher parts of the match.
• Practice shooting enemies while flying through the air so that when portals launch you up, you can use this extra height to your advantage.
• You should 100% practice portal movement via the game’s Race mode. Here, you’ll be able to race through the levels using your portals and you’ll learn the best portal pathways as a result. The game’s races are the best ways to optimize your portal movement and learn where in portals should go and where out portals should go.
• Learn where the game’s portal walls and platforms are located. You should always be aware of your surroundings and because a portal can often be the difference between life or death, you should know exactly where you can actually shoot a portal. When taking damage, you won’t have time to think about where a savior portal can go so knowing this information beforehand can be a game changer.

• Don’t forget about your jetpack — you should use your jetpack while going through portals to get an extra boost and you should also use portals to quickly reach ledges or floors above you.
• If someone is chasing after you, shoot an in-portal out and then quickly shoot an out-portal below your feet. Make sure you don’t fall through it and oftentimes, your enemy will fall through that portal and poof! They’re out of your hair!
• On that same note, if you’re being chased by an enemy, quickly shoot an out-portal somewhere far away and then shoot an in-portal down onto the ground in front of you in such a way that you can drop right through it to safety on the other side.
• If you see an enemy using the same portal over and over (and getting kills as a result), consider tossing a grenade at it. However, if you do this, the enemy will know that it’s happened. If you want to sneakily prevent them from jumping through the portal again, shoot your own portal in such a way that it’s kind of on top of it. This will stop them from jumping through their portal and they won’t even necessarily know it until they try.

Maps Tips and Tricks

There are a grand total of 21 maps in Splitgate and technically, every game mode in Splitgate is supported on these maps. Some are them are very sci-fi, complete with high-tech buildings and pathways built high above the ground below, while others are reminiscent of ancient ruins from a previous civilization long ago. Regardless, each map is cool in its own way. Below, we’ve listed each map alongside a picture of each, and a quick summary of how the map plays.

Abyss

• "Abyss is an underground cave with a large open center. Since combatants fight underground, gunfire cannot be heard from the surface. Fight with caution. If you perish at Abyss, you may never be found."
• Key Notes: This map features a ton of gaps and while most advanced players might risk making the jump over them, more amateur players could easily fall to their death...so be careful. Utilize portals to get from one side of the map to the other, rather than running through the open middle.

Atlantis

• "Built in the year 2552, Atlantis is an underwater utopia filled with beauty and riches. As the primary income source, the combat arena attracts thousands of tourists a day. The focal point of the arena is its open center where The BFB can be found."
• Key Notes: If you're good with a Battle Rifle, this is the map for you. There is a large circular center with two hallway offshoots — grab a Battle Rifle or a Carbine and keep an eye on these hallways to pick off enemies across the map. Otherwise, use portals to traverse the map and acquire the BFB as quickly as possible.

Club Silo

• "Once an underground missile base, Club Silo is now a night club where attendees can place their bets on competitors while viewing them behind the safety of bullet-proof glass."
• Key Notes: This map is extremely vertical. At the top on a circular platform is a Sniper. Whoever gets that has an extreme upper hand. Utilize portals to avoid the main open center and try to acquire a Carbine or Battle Rifle as quickly as possible.

Crag

• There is no official description of this map in Splitgate. However, based on the time we've spent on this map, we can tell you that it is a mix of caverns, a mining facility, and a touch of a western town.
• Key Notes: There are plenty of gaps that, if not cleared, will result in death. There are sightlines everywhere, too, so be sure not to stand still. Use portals to clear the gaps if you're not comfortable using your jetpack.

Foregone Destruction

• There is no official description of this map in Splitgate, but after spending a lot of time on the map, we can tell you that it's a large ruinous temple area designed for long-range snipers and close quarters combat.
• Key Notes: If you can snipe well, find a Sniper or Carbine or Battle Rifle and hang back. If you can't snipe well or don't want to snipe, stick with a close quarters weapon. The map is large and it feels large, but due to the temple layout, you'll often find that temple walls are blocking vantage points. As such, most combat encounters will occur when an enemy turns a corner and confronts you head one (and a close quarters weapon will do wonders in these moments).

Helix

• "Helix is the ultimate training for competitors who want to get close and personal."
• Key Notes: This map is esepcailly great for close range weapons like Shotguns, SMGs, and more. There is a Rocket Launcher on the map, too, and this can easily shift the tide for the team in control.

Highwind

• "Situated atop the tallest Japanese forest, this treehouse-inspired map is the smallest arena. With intimate corridors and exposed ramps, combatants are guaranteed to see plenty of combat."
• Key Notes: In team modes, focus on staying together as splitting up could be your ruin. Everything is close-quarters so focus on using weapons like Shotguns and SMGs to remain on top.

Impact

• "The impact event at Silvertree Farms revealed that humans weren't the only lifeforms with portal travel. After discovering alien portal tech upon the wrecked spacecraft, the farmland was converted into a Splitgate arena."
• Key Notes: Shotgun present on map, Plasma Rifle on map, Close Quarters Combat

Lavawell

• "Fueled by a volcano's geothermal energy, Lavawell became the first Splitgate arena with portal surfaces not powered by anti-matter. Players will navigate the former reserach facility's high-tech laboratories, tight outdoor areas, and hazardous trench of molten rock."
• Key Notes: Rocket launcher spawns at one team's spawn and a Railgun spawns at the other team's spawn.

Oasis

• "Once a luxury beach resort, Oasis is now a beachside battlefield open to all combatants. This sunny and sandy arena features long lines of sight and tall portal walls, so make sure you locate a long-range weapon."
• Key Notes: High portal platforms make this map a great map for those who prefer to snipe and attack from a distance. Keep an eye out for the Shotgun that spawns underground.

Olympus

• "Olympus is a large and open arena that is floating in the clouds. Try not to fall off the map, but if you do, make sure to look down. There's a portal platform at the bottom that just might save your life..."
• Key Notes: As the description suggests, this map floats high in the sky. As such, you should be careful not to fall off because 9 out of 10 times, it will lead to your death...unless your fast enough to utilize the single portal platform down below. The map is quite symmetrical and more arena than most maps in the game. It works well with all playstyles, especially mid-range shooters.

Pantheon

• "The temple Pantheon is believed to be the first place the portal technology was discovered. The temple has now been modernized and seats up to 8000 viewers."
• Key Notes: This is very much a classic arena. It's symterical no matter where you are and it's essentailly a giant circle with four main quadrants. Each quadrant is identical to the others. Watch the cliffs for sneaky snipers.

Simulation

• There is no official description of this map or its variants in Splitgate, but we've played them enough to let you know that these are the most arena-like maps in the entire game. They're all clean and mimalistic, and each is entirely symmetrical. That's why they're used often in Ranked and Takedown arena-style game modes.
• Possible Simulation Maps: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, and Golf
• Key Notes: Because each map is symmetrical, you should learn the different hallways and sightlines in each. This will make your time on these maps a lot easier — focus on using portals to sneak up on enemies, too, and use them to snipe at enemies passing by your portals. On that same note, be sure to use grenades to take out enemy portals.

Stadium

• "Paying homage to ancient gladiatorial arenas, Stadium is a futuristic battlefield where combatants fight for glory. With an open center and overlooking corridors, Stadium provides opportunities for long distance and close quarters combat."
• Key Notes: As the description mentions, this map is great for long distance weapons like Snipers and Battle Rifles and equally as great for close range weapons like Shotguns and SMGs. Utilize portals to quickly jump from one side of the map to the other.