Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Black Ops 6 official Zombies key artwork
Image via Activision

How does leveling work in Black Ops 6 Zombies? Classic Prestige, explained

Zombies is basically its own game in Black Ops 6, but it does share some facets with multiplayer. Here's how leveling works in the newest Zombies iteration.

For some reason, Prestige mode in Call of Duty has been a bit confusing over the last few games. Thankfully for gamers, it’s more straightforward than ever in Black Ops 6, like the good old days.

Recommended Videos

Whether you play BO6 multiplayer or the triumphant return to round-based Zombies, you can Prestige in the game. There are rewards to earn, Easter eggs to hunt, quests to finish, zombies to kill, weapons to level up, and, of course, good old prestige to earn among friends.

Here’s how Prestige works in Black Ops 6 Zombies.

Black Ops 6 Zombies Prestige, explained

Armored Zombies in Black Ops 6
Prestige means killing a whole lot of these guys. Image via Activision

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has universal progression and classic Prestige. This means your levels, and Prestige levels, are carried across BO6 Zombies and BO6 multiplayer, and potentially even Warzone and Warzone Mobile.

Leveling up through levels one to 55 will unlock all of the available content in BO6 Zombies, such as Field Upgrades, GobbleGums, and more, but it doesn’t matter if you level up in Zombies or multiplayer because it all unlocks concurrently.

Classic Prestige means Seasonal Prestige levels are over and done with in BO6. Classic Prestige is like the CoD games of old where you rank up levels one through 55, and then you can reset your progression to level one with each successive Prestige.

“Early on in Black Ops 6’s development, a goal was set to ensure leveling and XP mattered more than ever, resulting in a deep and rewarding progression journey for players, starting at launch,” Treyarch said about Prestige in BO6. “Current and past Progression systems throughout Call of Duty’s history were studied, and within the Black Ops series, there was a particular fondness – both across the community and internally at Treyarch – for a more classic Prestige system.”

BO6 has 10 Prestige levels at launch, but it doesn’t end there. Once you finish 10th Prestige, you unlock Prestige Master, including 1,000 additional levels to rank up through. If you make it all the way to the end, there’s a “classified reward” to unlock.

But levels aren’t the only thing to grind for. BO6 Zombies has a ton of other rewards to play for, including Mastery camos, custom reticles, new calling cards, Dark Ops challenges, daily challenges, and main quest rewards.

Prestige Master icon in Black Ops 6
Will you hit max level? Image via Activision

The best part about Classic Prestige is that levels are not tied to seasons, like in the past two CoD games, Modern Warfare 3 or Modern Warfare 2. You won’t be time-gated or stopped at any Prestige level, as all Prestiges and Prestige Master levels are available at launch on Oct. 25.

Black Ops 6 Zombies progression unlocks

CoD Black Ops 6 Zombies operators, one holding a Ray Gun.
Rank up to get the stuff you need to succeed. Image via Activision

Below you can find all of the items you can unlock for BO6 Zombies and the level that it requires.

  • Ammo Mods
    • Level 0: Dead Wire
    • Level six: Napalm Burst
    • Level 14: Cryo Freeze
    • Level 27: Brain Rot
    • Level 44: Shadow Rift
  • Field Upgrades
    • Level 0: Energy Mine
    • Level nine: Frenzied Guard
    • Level 20: Dark Flare
    • Level 33: Healing Aura
    • Level 47: Aether Shroud
  • Tacticals
    • Level 0: Concussion
    • Level 17: Smoke
    • Level 18: Cymbal Monkey
    • Level 30: Stim Shot
    • Level 35: Decoy
    • Level 42: Shock Charge
    • Level 48: LT53 Kazmir
  • Lethals
    • Level 0: Frag
    • Level nine: Sticky Grenade
    • Level 14: C4
    • Level 21: Thermo Grenade
    • Level 26: Impact Grenade
    • Level 32: Molotov
    • Level 41: Blast Trap
    • Level 53: Combat Axe
  • GobbleGums
    • Level five: Kill Joy
    • Level eight: Stock Option
    • Level 11: Who’s Keeping Score?
    • Level 15: Cache Back
    • Level 21: Anywhere But Here
    • Level 23: Exit Strategy
    • Level 26: Soda Fountain
    • Level 29: Profit Sharing
    • Level 32: Wall to Wall Clearance
    • Level 36: Free Fire
    • Level 38: On the House
    • Level 42: Nowhere But Here
    • Level 45: Idle Eyes
    • Level 41: Wonderbar!
    • Level 54: Hidden Power


Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Scott Duwe
Scott Duwe
Senior Staff Writer & Call of Duty lead. Professional writer for over 10 years. Lover of all things Marvel, Destiny 2, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and more. Previous bylines include PC Gamer, Red Bull Esports, Fanbyte, and Esports Nation. DogDad to corgis Yogi and Mickey, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.