Game Guide

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is on the brink of release, and players are eager to dive into its newly revamped systems. Among the most anticipated features are the progression and prestige systems, which bring back the classic Prestige mode while integrating modern elements like mastery badges, weapon camos, and more. Here’s an in-depth breakdown of everything you need to know to maximize your progression and dominate both multiplayer and zombies.

Prestige: A Classic System with a Twist

For long-time fans, the return of the classic Prestige system in Black Ops 6 is a nostalgic treat. However, there’s a catch. While it follows the traditional format, where players reset their level upon entering Prestige, the introduction of permanently unlocked weapons via bundles changes the dynamic.

Unlike previous iterations, where progressing through levels was the only way to unlock items, now you can buy a blueprint or weapon skin from the store, and it stays unlocked even after prestiging. This feature has sparked debate among players, with some labeling it as a form of pay-to-win. However, from Activision’s perspective, it’s a way to avoid complaints from players who’ve purchased items with real money, only to have them locked when they Prestige.

Mastery Badges: A New Way to Showcase Your Skills

One of the standout features in Black Ops 6 is the Mastery Badge system. Every weapon, equipment, field upgrade, and score streak has a set of Mastery Badges that players can earn as they master each item. These badges come in three tiers – bronze, silver, and gold – and track your stats for specific items. Your top three badges will be prominently displayed in-game and on your social showcase, letting everyone know your achievements.

Mastery Badges also apply to both multiplayer and zombies, adding another layer of depth to the progression system. Whether you’re racking up kills with the RCXD or showing off your proficiency with assault rifles, these badges will help you stand out in the competitive Call of Duty environment.

Weapon Camos: The Grind for Mastery

The weapon camo grind is a staple of Call of Duty, and Black Ops 6 takes it to the next level. The system is broken down into several stages:

• Military Camos: Every weapon that can get headshots requires 100 headshot kills to unlock its military camo.
• Special Camos: Each weapon has two unique challenges, like getting kills after sprinting. These can be unlocked in any order but must be completed to move on to the next stage.
• Mastery Camos: Once all military and special camos are unlocked, players can pursue the prestigious Mastery Camos. These include gold, diamond, and dark matter for multiplayer, and Mystic Gold and Nebula for zombies.

What’s new in Black Ops 6 is that unlocking these camos requires not just completing challenges, but also earning Mastery camo tier rewards for multiple weapon classes. For example, to unlock the coveted Dark Matter camo, players must complete Mastery challenges across 33 weapons.

What About the Emblems?

The Prestige system rewards players with emblems as they progress, but not all players are thrilled with the designs. While some like the eighth Prestige emblem, others feel the designs are lackluster, with speculation that some of these could have been AI-generated. Regardless of personal taste, reaching Prestige Master allows you to customize your emblem, unlocking legacy icons from previous Call of Duty games once you hit level 1,000.

Leveling and Rewards in Prestige Master

Once you reach Prestige Master, your leveling doesn’t stop at 55. Instead, you can grind all the way to level 1,000, unlocking additional rewards along the way. For example, at level 90, players unlock an animated AS 885 blueprint, and at level 100, they gain access to a full set of legacy Prestige icons.

Warzone, Zombies, and More

In addition to multiplayer, players can expect deep progression systems in both Zombies and Warzone. Completing Mastery challenges across all modes will be the ultimate test of dedication. While multiplayer and zombies are relatively straightforward, Warzone is where things get more challenging. Earning Mastery camos in Warzone requires full participation in the camo system, including challenges like Kings Ransom, which is widely considered one of the most gaudy camo designs in the game.

Final Thoughts

Black Ops 6’s progression system offers plenty of depth, blending the best elements of classic Prestige with modern-day innovations like Mastery Badges and unlockable weapon blueprints. Whether you’re aiming for level 1,000, mastering your favorite weapons, or showing off your hard-earned camos