1. Combat & Gunplay — Keep Moving or Die
BLACKWOOD is not a cover shooter. Anton has access to a combat vocabulary built around forward aggression — the player who commits to movement gains an overwhelming tactical advantage. Enemies will flush you from static cover with grenades within seconds if you entrench.
Combat Dive
Sprint then press Jump to dive forward. You can fire any pistol or SMG during the full dive arc — aim for headshots during the slowdown frame at apex.
Directional Rolls
Press Jump while stationary or strafing to roll left, right, or backward. Essential for dodging grenade radius and breaking enemy sight lines.
Slide Shooting
Sprint toward low cover and press Crouch. Anton slides into position with reduced hitbox, ideal for closing distance on entrenched enemies.
Blind Fire
While pinned behind cover, hold Aim without peaking to blind fire over obstacles. Suppresses enemies and creates gap-closing opportunities.
2. Contextual Takedowns — BLACKWOOD's Core Identity
The contextual execution system has hundreds of unique animations that pull from the physical environment around Anton at the moment you trigger them. A stunned enemy near a diner counter becomes a different kill from the same enemy near a fire escape.
How takedowns trigger: Enemies become takedown-eligible when staggered (shot in the leg, hit with melee), approached from behind unseen, or pinned against a surface. Walk or sprint into their range and press the Takedown button — the game picks the appropriate animation based on your relative positions and nearby geometry.
Environmental Kills
Near a glass display? Window? Car door? The game detects these and creates scene-specific kills that bypass armor, dealing instant neutralization.
Weapon Disarms
Frontal takedowns against armed enemies strip their weapon and seamlessly redirect it at an adjacent target — effective crowd control in tight corridors.
Silent Chokeholds
Approach from behind while crouching or moving slowly for a silent neutralization. Does not alert nearby guards unless they have direct line-of-sight.
Two-on-One Executions
When two enemies are clustered, rapid-melee the first to stagger, then chain a takedown that simultaneously strikes the second. Ammo-free double elimination.
3. DVD Store Management (Day Phase)
The shop is not a tutorial zone or side activity — it is the central economy of BLACKWOOD. Money earned running the store funds weapons, suppressor replacements, and apartment upgrades that directly impact night mission capability.
Inventory & Restocking
Order new stock from the supplier catalogue. High-demand genre titles (action, horror) sell fast — keep those shelves full. Obscure imports earn margin but move slowly.
Pricing Strategy
Mark up newly stocked titles 20–30% above base price on weekends. Discount aging inventory on Monday to clear shelf space. The game tracks neighbourhood purchasing patterns.
Counter Service vs Autopilot
Manning the register personally builds customer relationships and earns tips. Autopilot mode earns base income only. Use autopilot on day phases before night contracts.
Store Upgrades
Reinvest contract money and store profits into new shelving units, a rental membership system, and improved signage — each upgrade compounds daily passive income.
4. Night Contracts — Preparation is Everything
Access the hidden terminal in Anton's apartment backroom after 10pm. Contracts vary in target type, location complexity, and required approach (eliminations, extractions, surveillance). Read every briefing carefully — the heat level consequences carry into subsequent day phases.
Reconnaissance
Spend a day phase observing the target's patrol route before committing. Every target has a schedule you can learn. Deviating from your approach mid-mission costs you the clean bonus.
Loadout Selection
Suppressed handguns for stealth, shotguns for chaotic interiors, SMGs for high-mobility engagements. Don't bring a rifle to a stairwell fight.
Heat Management
Civilian witnesses raise the NYPD Heat meter. High heat affects store foot traffic the next day. Maintain a clean operation to protect both income streams.
Exit Strategy
Always scout your extraction route before breaching. Two exit paths minimum — the primary gets compromised more often than you'd expect.
5. Controls & Keybindings
BLACKWOOD ships with fully rebindable keyboard/mouse controls and native Xbox + DualSense profiles. All bindings below are defaults.
Keyboard & Mouse (Default)
| Action | Key / Button |
|---|---|
| Move | W A S D |
| Sprint | Shift |
| Aim Down Sights | Right Click |
| Fire | Left Click |
| Combat Dive / Roll | Space |
| Crouch / Slide | Ctrl |
| Takedown / Melee | F |
| Reload | R |
| Interact / Store Register | E |
| Draw / Holster Weapon | H |
| Pause / Menu | Esc |
Controller (Xbox / DualSense)
| Action | Button |
|---|---|
| Move | Left Stick |
| Camera | Right Stick |
| Aim Down Sights | LT / L2 |
| Fire | RT / R2 |
| Combat Dive / Roll | A / Cross |
| Crouch / Slide | B / Circle |
| Takedown / Melee | RS / R3 |
| Reload / Interact | X / Square |
| Switch Weapon | Y / Triangle |
| Sprint | LS / L3 |
| Map / Pause | Menu / Options |
6. Pro Survival & Profit Tips
Never Stand Still in a Firefight
Even when fully behind cover — rotate it. Enemies track your last known position and throw grenades. Move to new cover every 3–4 seconds.
Upgrade Shelves Before Weapons
The return on store shelf investment compounds daily. Every extra shelf pays for itself within 3 in-game days. Weapons can wait.
Suppressors Are Consumable
Each suppressor has a wear rating. Watch the indicator — a depleted suppressor mid-mission is as loud as shooting unsuppressed.
Environmental Kills Save Ammo
Running out of ammunition is a real pressure in BLACKWOOD. Takedowns are free — use them aggressively on any eligible target to conserve rounds.
Enable FSR 2 or DLSS
Quality upscaling mode gives 20–35% more FPS in chaotic fights. The visual difference at 1080p is undetectable to most eyes.
Restock the Store Before Night
The store runs on autopilot while you're on a contract. If shelves are empty at open, you miss the entire morning rush revenue.
Ready to start? Download BLACKWOOD at gamedrive.org/blackwood/ or see the install guide.