Throughout its long-standing history as a multiplayer-centric series, Call of Duty has grappled with various issues, ranging from weapon imbalances to problematic perks. Among these, multiplayer perks have often caused controversy by either failing to function as intended or creating gameplay frustrations.

An infamous example is Martyrdom, allowing players to retaliate against their killer instantly at no cost. Another contentious perk, Scrambler, was meant to conceal players from enemies but often ended up revealing their positions instead. However, topping the list of disliked perks is Last Stand, known for its disruptive nature and negative impact on player experience. Recent leaks hint at the possible return of Last Stand in Call of Duty 2024, reigniting concerns among fans.

The Potential Harm of Including Last Stand in Call of Duty 2024

The Infamous Legacy of Last Stand in Call of Duty

Originally utilized by AI enemies in the inaugural Call of Duty campaign, Last Stand triggers when players sustain fatal damage, allowing them to enter a prone state instead of dying outright. In most cases, players in Last Stand mode switch to a sidearm, enabling them to exact swift vengeance on their assailant. Although downed players can be eliminated conventionally by shooting them or using explosives, the perk's mechanics have sparked widespread disdain.

Debuting in 2007's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Last Stand quickly became infamous and persisted in subsequent titles, growing even more notorious over time. The perk's unpopularity stems from its guarantee of a free revenge kill due to the momentary invincibility granted during the transition from standing to prone. Additionally, in certain iterations, teammates could easily steal kills from players in Last Stand, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.

The Consistent Flaws of Last Stand Across Different Versions

In Call of Duty: World at War and Black Ops, a variant of Last Stand known as Second Chance emerged. This iteration allowed players to revive each other from the downed state, introducing a unique dynamic to gameplay. However, this feature often led to frustrations, with players frequently left bleeding out while waiting for revival or experiencing the annoyance of seemingly defeated enemies returning to full health moments later.