Warzone: How to Actually Reduce Your Ping and Get an Edge

I've spent more hours in Warzone than I'd like to admit. And I've spent even more time testing network setups, tweaking settings, and figuring out what actually gives you an edge versus what's placebo or marketing nonsense. Here's what I've learned.

How Milliseconds Actually Work

Your ping (measured in milliseconds, ms) is the round-trip time for data to travel from your PC/console to the game server and back. When you pull the trigger, that input travels to the server, the server processes it, and sends the result back.

20ms ping: Your shot registers 20 thousandths of a second after you click. Effectively instant.

50ms ping: Still very playable. You probably won't notice in most fights.

80-100ms: You'll start losing close gunfights. Enemies seem to kill you faster than you kill them.

150ms+: You're at a real disadvantage. Peeker's advantage goes to everyone else.

Here's the thing most people don't understand: Warzone uses a mix of client-side hit detection and server reconciliation. This means lower ping gives you a slight advantage in registering hits, but the game also favours the shooter somewhat. It's complicated, but the bottom line is: lower ping = better, but the returns diminish after around 30-40ms.

Your Network: Does 2.5GbE or 10GbE Matter?

Let's bust a myth: faster ethernet speeds don't directly reduce ping. Warzone uses maybe 1-2 Mbps of bandwidth during gameplay. Your 1Gbps, 2.5Gbps, or 10Gbps connection is massively overkill for raw bandwidth.

But here's where faster network kit can actually help:

Buffer Bloat Reduction

Cheaper network equipment often has poor queue management. When your network gets busy (someone streaming, downloading), packets queue up and your latency spikes. Higher-end 2.5GbE and 10GbE equipment typically has better traffic handling, lower latency switching, and proper QoS (Quality of Service).

Better Hardware Overall

The kind of switch that offers 10GbE is built for performance. It has faster processors, better throughput, lower latency on the backplane. A £200 UniFi aggregation switch handles traffic better than a £20 TP-Link, regardless of the port speeds you're using.

Future-Proofing

If you're running ethernet to your gaming setup anyway, might as well run Cat6a or Cat7 and put in 2.5GbE ports. Marginal cost increase for a proper network backbone.

Reality check: Upgrading from gigabit to 10GbE might shave 1-2ms off your ping in perfect conditions. Worth it for a few hundred quid? That's your call. I have 2.5GbE to my gaming PC because it was cheap to add when I wired the house, but I wouldn't claim it's made me better at Warzone.

VPN Servers: The Controversial Topic

Some people use VPNs for gaming. There are two reasons, and they're quite different:

1. Routing Optimisation

Sometimes your ISP routes your traffic inefficiently. A VPN can theoretically provide a more direct path to game servers. Services like ExitLag, WTFast, and NoLag VPN specifically claim to optimise gaming routes.

Does it work? Sometimes, for some people, in some locations. It completely depends on your ISP's routing and where the VPN servers are. I've tested several and found maybe 5-10ms improvement in some cases, no difference in others, and occasionally worse ping. Try the free trials before committing.

2. Lobby Manipulation (SBMM)

Let's be real—some people use VPNs to try to get easier lobbies by connecting to servers in regions with supposedly lower skill levels. I'm not going to pretend this doesn't happen.

My take: It's ethically questionable and increasingly ineffective. Activision has cracked down on this, the ping penalty usually outweighs any SBMM benefit, and you're basically cheating the matchmaking system. Not something I recommend.

Regular VPNs (NordVPN, etc.)

Standard VPNs add latency, full stop. They're designed for privacy, not gaming performance. Don't use them while gaming unless you specifically need the privacy aspect and accept the ping hit.

Settings That Actually Give You an Edge

FOV (Field of View)

This is the biggest legitimate advantage PC players have over console (though next-gen consoles now support FOV sliders too). Higher FOV means you see more of the battlefield.

The trade-off: Higher FOV makes distant enemies smaller on your screen. Most competitive players settle around 100-110 FOV. I use 105—wide enough to see flankers, not so wide that I can't spot enemies at range.

If you're on console without FOV options, you're at a genuine disadvantage against PC players in close quarters. Not much you can do except upgrade to PS5/Series X where FOV is now available.

Affected vs Independent FOV

Affected: Your FOV changes when aiming down sights—zooms in more. Feels more realistic, gives you a closer view on target.

Independent: FOV stays consistent when ADS. You see more around your target. Most competitive players prefer this.

Frame Rate > Resolution

If you have to choose, prioritise frame rate over resolution. 120fps at 1080p beats 60fps at 4K for competitive play. Higher frame rates mean:

• Smoother tracking of moving targets
• Lower input lag (your inputs appear on screen faster)
• Better motion clarity

On PC, turn settings down until you're getting consistent high frame rates. Competitive players often play on Low/Medium settings not because their PCs can't handle more, but because it's an advantage.

NVIDIA Reflex / AMD Anti-Lag

If you have a compatible GPU, enable this. It reduces system latency—the time between your mouse click and the shot appearing on screen. Real, measurable improvement. Free performance.

Monitor Response Time

A 1ms gaming monitor responds faster than a 5ms office monitor. Combined with high refresh rate (144Hz+), you're seeing more current information. If you're playing on a TV or slow monitor, upgrading is one of the best investments you can make.

The Actual Priority List

If you want to improve your Warzone performance, do these in order:

1. Wired connection – If you're on WiFi, fix this first. Biggest single improvement.
2. Good monitor – 144Hz+, 1ms response time, appropriate size for your distance.
3. Optimised in-game settings – FOV, frame rate priority, Reflex/Anti-Lag enabled.
4. Stable internet – Not necessarily fast, but consistent. No packet loss.
5. Decent network equipment – Router with QoS, quality ethernet cables.
6. Everything else – 2.5GbE, gaming VPNs, etc. Marginal gains at best.

What Won't Help (Despite What You've Heard)

• Gaming routers with "gaming mode" – Mostly marketing. QoS matters, the gaming branding doesn't.
• "Low ping" ethernet cables – Unless your cable is damaged, it's not adding latency.
• DNS changes – Might help page load times, won't affect gaming.
• Port forwarding/DMZ – Only helps if you're having connection issues to begin with.
• Closing background apps – Unless they're using significant bandwidth, doesn't matter.

The Uncomfortable Truth

Past a certain point, improving your setup has diminishing returns. The difference between 20ms and 30ms ping is rarely why you lost that gunfight. Your positioning, aim, movement, and game sense matter far more.

I've seen players on 70ms connections dominate lobbies with superior movement and decision-making. I've also seen people with £5k setups and 15ms ping get destroyed because they don't understand rotations.

Get your setup to "good enough"—wired connection, decent monitor, optimised settings—then spend your time actually playing and improving.