Black Ops 2 Scorestreak Guide - Best Streaks & Strategy

Introduction

Black Ops 2 revolutionized Call of Duty's killstreak system by replacing kill-based rewards with scorestreaks — points earned from kills, assists, objectives, and equipment destruction. This change rewarded objective play and team support in ways previous games never did, making scorestreaks accessible to all playstyles, not just high-kill slayers.

This guide ranks every scorestreak in Black Ops 2, provides optimal combinations for different point earnings, and teaches you how to maximize streak impact at every skill level. Whether you struggle to earn a UAV or consistently drop Swarms, understanding the scorestreak meta is essential to dominating the battlefield.

How Scorestreaks Work

Unlike traditional killstreaks that reset on death, scorestreaks in BO2 use points:

• TDM Kill: 100 points
• Kill Confirmed Kill: 50 pts + 50 pts (tag pickup) = 100 pts
• Domination Capture: 200 pts
• Hardpoint Time: 10-25 pts per second

This means an objective player capturing flags and defending them may earn streaks faster than a slayer purely chasing kills.

Complete Scorestreak Tier List

Best Scorestreak Combinations

Low-Tier Setup (Easy to Earn)

UAV → Hunter Killer → Lightning Strike

• Total: 1600 points
• Consistent, impactful, and achievable even for average players
• UAV provides team utility, Hunter Killer gives a free kill, Lightning Strike clears objectives

Competitive Setup (Meta)

UAV → Hellstorm Missile → VSAT

• Total: 2425 points
• UAV starts the info chain, Hellstorm secures lane control, VSAT wins the game
• The VSAT is the single most impactful streak in competitive BO2

High-Tier Setup (Slayer)

UAV → Stealth Chopper → Swarm

• Total: 3950 points
• High risk, high reward. If you can consistently earn a Swarm, the game is effectively over
• Requires gunskill and map control to reach reliably

Anti-Streak Support (Team Player)

UAV → Counter UAV → VSAT

• Total: 2225 points
• Provides vision for your team while denying enemy intel
• Enables your whole team to perform better

Scorestreak Deep Dives

UAV (425 pts) - Best Value in the Game

The UAV is the most underrated streak in Black Ops 2. At just 425 points (effectively 4 gun kills or 2 objective captures), it provides your entire team with real-time enemy positions for 30 seconds. The UAV enables map control, spawn prediction, pre-fires, and flank prevention. Always include a UAV in your setup unless you are in a full party with coordinated VSATs.

Lightning Strike (750 pts) - Precision Destruction

The Lightning Strike lets you target three locations on the map for devastating airstrikes. It is excellent for clearing hardpoints, destroying entrenched positions, and spawn-trapping enemies on predictable maps. The delay between placement and impact is short, making it reliable compared to the Hellstorm.

VSAT (1200 pts) - The Game Winner

The VSAT (Orbital VSAT) reveals enemy position and direction on the minimap for 35 seconds, completely undetectable and un-counterable. There is no counter to a VSAT — not Counter UAV, not Ghost, not anything. A team with VSAT active nearly always wins the map control phase. It is the most impactful streak in competitive Call of Duty history.

Swarm (1900 pts) - Endgame

The Swarm calls in a massive flock of Hunter Killer drones that swarm the map for 45 seconds, instantly killing any enemy who steps outside. It is the ultimate denial streak — enemies must stay indoors or die. Combined with a VSAT to track their hiding positions, a Swarm guarantees map control.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I earn scorestreaks faster?

Play the objective. Capturing flags in Domination (200 pts), holding Hardpoints (up to 250+ pts per rotation), and confirming kills in Kill Confirmed (50 pts for tag) all earn score faster than pure kills. Run Hardline to reduce streak requirements. Use EMP Grenades to destroy enemy equipment for easy bonus points.

What is the difference between scorestreaks and killstreaks?

In previous Call of Duty games, only kills counted toward your next streak. In Black Ops 2, all score — kills, assists, objectives, equipment destruction, UAV assists — counts toward your streaks. This rewards team play and objective focus.

Can I call in multiple streaks at once?

Yes. You can have multiple air streaks active simultaneously. A common tactic is UAV + Counter UAV + Stealth Chopper + VSAT all active together, completely overwhelming the enemy team.

What counters the Swarm?

Stay indoors. Any building with a roof blocks Hunter Killer drones. Use Blind Eye to avoid being targeted by air streaks (note: Blind Eye does NOT counter Swarm). EMP Systems destroy all active enemy streaks instantly.

Should I use the RC-XD?

In public matches, it is fun. In competitive or serious play, the RC-XD is a waste of a streak slot. It requires you to stop controlling your character (leaving you vulnerable), earns 1 kill at best, and costs a slot that could be UAV or Hunter Killer.

Conclusion

Mastering the scorestreak system is about understanding not just which streaks are powerful, but which combinations you can reliably earn. A Lightning Strike you can call in every game is infinitely more valuable than a Swarm you only see once every ten matches.

Start with UAV + Lightning Strike to build consistency, add VSAT as your map knowledge improves, and graduate to the high-tier streaks as your skill allows. Remember: a UAV that benefits your whole team is worth more to your win rate than any number of RC-XD kills.