What Does 'Camping' Mean in Call of Duty: Warzone?

We've come up with a comprehensive definition of camping in Call of Duty and beyond.

Confused about what camping has to do with an online, first-person shooting (FPS) game? Don't worry, we've taken the liberty to explain it all below. Here's what the term "camping" means, where it came from, and how to combat it in-game.

What Does "Camping" Mean in Call of Duty

"Camping" is the act of remaining in one spot and killing the same player(s) consistently when they respawn. It does have a secondary, less malignant definition, meant to describe a player or group of players who are sticking to one area.

It comes from the phrase "to set up camp" which essentially just means to pop a squat and hang around a given location.

Camping isn't unique to COD or FPS games, in general. Essentially, wherever players can respawn where they've fallen or in a well-known spot, campers are likely to appear. Most cases of camping can be found in MMOs like World of Warcraft—in which the player will either need to switch to a more powerful toon or recruit some friends to send the camper packing.

Generally, camping is a form of trolling with the goal of getting the other player to quit the game. It places the camper at an advantage as a newly respawned player will likely need a few moments to collect their bearings. Meanwhile, the camper has been there the whole time.

This has given the behavior a rather toxic reputation by both players and developers, alike. Some call it unsportsmanlike while others say it is straight-up cowardly.

Unfortunately, the only ways to avoid or combat camping are to steer clear of toxic players, have a loyal group of friends willing to scare the campers off, or be strong enough to overpower them, yourself. Otherwise, it may be best to take a break and come back when they've lost interest.