Branching Near-Future FPS

Call of Duty Black Ops II Wiki

Explore the branching 1980s and 2025 campaign, Pick 10 multiplayer, scorestreaks, Zombies maps, Easter eggs, weapons, DLC, and the 2026 PS4/PS5 release.

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Call of Duty Black Ops II Guides

Everything you need for the campaign, Zombies, multiplayer, weapons, maps, and DLC

Platforms & Editions

Call of Duty Black Ops II Platforms and Buying Guide

Where to Buy and Play Black Ops II

Call of Duty: Black Ops II is available on modern PlayStation consoles through its 2026 digital release, on Xbox through backward compatibility, and on PC through Steam. The core game includes Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies, while additional Zombies and Multiplayer maps are sold through separate DLC packs or the Season Pass.

PlayStation 5

Official PS5-compatible release launched on July 9, 2026.
How to Buy
Purchase the digital PS4 and PS5 product from the PlayStation Store.
Online Requirements
PlayStation Plus and an Activision account are required for online Multiplayer. Local play supports one or two players.
Included Content
The original Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies experience. Revolution, Uprising, Vengeance, Apocalypse, and Nuketown Zombies are available through the separate Season Pass.
Important Notes
This is a release of the original Black Ops II experience rather than a new remake. Cross-platform Multiplayer is not supported.

PlayStation 4

Official PS4 release launched on July 9, 2026.
How to Buy
Purchase the digital PS4 and PS5 product from the PlayStation Store.
Online Requirements
PlayStation Plus and an Activision account are required for online Multiplayer. Local play supports one or two players.
Included Content
Campaign, Multiplayer, and the original Zombies content. Additional map packs and Zombies maps require the Season Pass or individual DLC purchases.
Important Notes
Online play supports up to 18 players. Cross-platform Multiplayer is not supported.

Xbox Series X|S

The Xbox 360 release runs through Xbox backward compatibility.
How to Buy
Buy the digital Xbox 360 version from the Xbox Store. Xbox Series X can also use a compatible physical Xbox 360 disc, while Xbox Series S requires a digital license.
Online Requirements
Online console Multiplayer requires an Xbox Game Pass plan that includes online Multiplayer access.
Included Content
Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies are included in the base game. The Season Pass and individual DLC packs remain separate purchases.
Important Notes
The game runs inside the Xbox 360 backward-compatible environment rather than as a native Series X|S version.

Xbox One

Supported through Xbox One backward compatibility since April 2017.
How to Buy
Buy the digital Xbox 360 version or insert a compatible physical Black Ops II disc.
Online Requirements
Online console Multiplayer requires an Xbox Game Pass plan that includes online Multiplayer access.
Included Content
The complete base-game Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies modes. DLC maps require separate ownership.
Important Notes
Previously purchased compatible Xbox 360 digital content can be downloaded through the same Xbox account.

PC

Original Windows PC release.
How to Buy
Purchase and install the game through Steam.
Online Requirements
Steam and an internet connection are required for activation. Broadband internet is required for Multiplayer, while Steam Offline Mode can be used for supported single-player content after activation.
Included Content
The Steam base game provides access to the core Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies components. DLC map packs and the Season Pass are sold separately.
Important Notes
Minimum requirements include Windows Vista SP2 or Windows 7, 2 GB of RAM on 32-bit systems or 4 GB on 64-bit systems, a DirectX 9-compatible graphics card, and approximately 16 GB of storage.
Getting Started

Call of Duty Black Ops II Beginner Guide

Black Ops II Beginner Guide

Black Ops II contains a choice-driven Campaign, competitive Multiplayer, and round-based Zombies. Start with one mode, learn its basic movement and economy, and then add advanced systems such as Pick 10 classes, Scorestreaks, perks, and Pack-a-Punch.

1

Choose Your First Mode

Select Campaign, Multiplayer, or Zombies based on what you want to learn first.

  • Choose Campaign on Recruit difficulty to learn movement, aiming, equipment, and weapon handling.
  • Choose Team Deathmatch in Multiplayer for a simple mode focused on eliminating the opposing team.
  • Choose Town Survival in Zombies for a compact practice area, or TranZit for the complete bus-route experience.
Campaign is the easiest place to adjust controls without competing against other players.
2

Configure Controls and Visibility

Set a comfortable sensitivity and make important visual and audio information easy to notice.

  • Practice aiming down sights, firing, reloading, sprinting, jumping, crouching, going prone, and using equipment.
  • Begin with a low or medium look sensitivity and raise it gradually when turning starts to feel too slow.
  • Adjust brightness until dark areas remain visible without making bright environments appear washed out.
  • Use headphones or clear stereo audio to identify footsteps, gunfire, and nearby Zombies.
Change one setting at a time and test it for a full mission or match before changing it again.
3

Complete the Campaign Carefully

Campaign decisions, optional objectives, and Strike Force missions can change later events.

  • Follow the objective marker, but search nearby rooms for alternate weapons and collectible intelligence.
  • Review the available loadout before each mission and bring weapons suited to the expected range.
  • Pay attention to major decisions because character outcomes and the ending can change.
  • Complete available Strike Force missions before they expire because their results affect the wider story.
Use cover and controlled bursts instead of firing continuously at distant enemies.
4

Learn Multiplayer Objectives

Kills are useful, but objective actions also award score and help unlock Scorestreak rewards.

  • Start with Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, or Domination before moving into modes with limited lives.
  • Watch the minimap for friendly positions, recent enemy fire, and open routes.
  • Capture objectives, collect tags, and assist teammates to build Scorestreak progress faster.
  • Dying resets progress toward the next Scorestreak, but rewards already earned remain available until used.
Move between cover points and check common doorways before entering open areas.
5

Build a Simple Pick 10 Class

Create-a-Class unlocks at Multiplayer Level 4 and lets you spend ten allocation points on weapons, attachments, perks, and equipment.

  • Begin with one primary weapon, one useful attachment, three perks, and a small amount of equipment.
  • Choose an assault rifle for balanced medium-range fights or an SMG for close-range movement.
  • Do not equip a secondary weapon or extra equipment unless it supports your intended playstyle.
  • Use Wildcards later when you understand which extra attachment or perk is worth the additional Pick 10 point.
A simple class with fewer specialized items is easier to learn than a class built around several Wildcards.
6

Understand Zombies Points and Survival

Damage and kills earn points that can be spent on doors, weapons, perks, the Mystery Box, and Pack-a-Punch.

  • Use early rounds to earn points before opening every available door.
  • Buy a dependable wall weapon so ammunition remains easier to replace.
  • Prioritize Jugger-Nog when the map provides access to it, then establish a safe movement route.
  • Keep moving in open areas and group Zombies into a train rather than allowing them to surround you.
  • Pack-a-Punch costs 5,000 points after the machine has been unlocked on the selected map.
Leave one slow Zombie alive near the end of a round when your team needs time to buy equipment or complete an objective.
7

Progress Without Wasting Unlocks

Player levels unlock equipment, while individual weapon experience unlocks attachments and camouflage challenges.

  • Use one or two weapons consistently until their most useful attachments are unlocked.
  • Test new weapons in lower-pressure matches before placing them in a competitive class.
  • Choose Scorestreaks that you can earn regularly instead of selecting only the most expensive rewards.
  • After reaching the level cap, Prestige resets most normal progression while providing long-term progression rewards.
Reliable low-cost Scorestreaks are more useful to a beginner than rewards that rarely become available.
Zombies

Call of Duty Black Ops II Zombies Maps and Easter Eggs

Zombies Maps, Easter Eggs, and Buildables

Black Ops II Zombies expands from the large TranZit bus route into vertical skyscrapers, Alcatraz Island, an underground western town, and a World War I battlefield. Each DLC map introduces new movement systems, buildable equipment, and a longer cooperative quest.

Included with the base game as part of Green Run.

Setting: A post-apocalyptic bus route connecting the Bus Depot, Diner, Farm, Power Station, and Town.

Main Objectives

  • Use the bus or dangerous fog routes to travel between locations.
  • Turn on the power at the Power Station.
  • Build equipment from parts found throughout the route.
  • Prepare the radio towers for the Tower of Babble quest.

Pack-a-Punch: Open the Town bank vault, keep the hidden power-station door energized with a Turbine, and enter the underground laboratory below the bank.

Wonder Weapons

Thrustodyne Aeronautics Model 23, commonly called the Jet Gun

Buildables

TurbineZombie ShieldTurretElectric TrapJet GunNavcard Table

Main Quest: Tower of Babble offers separate Maxis and Richtofen paths centered on powering and activating the transmission tower.

Recommended For: Players ready to learn large-map navigation, buildable parts, and coordinated objectives.

Multiplayer Meta

Call of Duty Black Ops II Weapons Tier List

Black Ops II Weapons Tier List

The best Black Ops II weapon depends on map size and playstyle. S-tier weapons deliver exceptional performance in their intended role, A-tier choices remain highly competitive with manageable drawbacks, and B-tier weapons are dependable options that require more specialized positioning.

S

Top-Tier Choices

Weapons with exceptional damage, handling, or role efficiency across common Multiplayer situations.

AN-94

Assault Rifle

Strengths: The first two rounds fire faster than the remaining shots, creating a powerful opening burst with manageable recoil.

Weaknesses: Sustained fire becomes slower after the initial rounds, so missed opening shots reduce its advantage.

Range: Medium to longControlled bursts, lane control, and accurate objective defense.

M8A1

Assault Rifle

Strengths: Fast four-round bursts, low recoil, and excellent accuracy can eliminate targets quickly when the full burst connects.

Weaknesses: Missing a burst creates a delay before the next shot sequence and makes close-range panic fights difficult.

Range: Medium to longPrecision aiming, head-glitch positions, and controlled map lanes.

MSMC

Submachine Gun

Strengths: High close-range damage, strong mobility, and controllable recoil make it highly effective for aggressive movement.

Weaknesses: Damage falls noticeably at distance and the magazine is less forgiving during fights against multiple players.

Range: Close to mediumFlanking, objective rushing, and fast close-quarters engagements.

R870 MCS

Shotgun

Strengths: Reliable close-range one-shot potential and strong effective reach for a pump-action shotgun.

Weaknesses: A missed shot leaves the user exposed during the pump animation.

Range: CloseRoom clearing, corner control, and short-route objective defense.

DSR 50

Sniper Rifle

Strengths: Powerful one-shot capability and strong performance when holding long sightlines.

Weaknesses: Slow aiming and bolt-cycling speed punish missed shots and aggressive close-range movement.

Range: LongDefensive sniping, overwatch, and long-lane picks.
A

Strong Competitive Weapons

Highly effective weapons with one notable handling, ammunition, or consistency limitation.

SCAR-H

Assault Rifle

Strengths: High damage and dependable range allow it to win fights with fewer accurate shots.

Weaknesses: A 20-round magazine and noticeable recoil require careful ammunition control.

Range: Medium to longMethodical movement, controlled bursts, and defensive engagements.

FAL OSW

Assault Rifle

Strengths: Heavy semi-automatic damage rewards accurate follow-up shots and disciplined trigger speed.

Weaknesses: Repeated firing can increase recoil, while missed shots are harder to recover from at close range.

Range: Medium to longPrecision shooting and controlled lane coverage.

PDW-57

Submachine Gun

Strengths: A large 50-round magazine supports sustained pressure, multiple eliminations, and aggressive objective play.

Weaknesses: Lower damage at longer ranges makes it less effective against accurate assault rifles.

Range: Close to mediumContinuous rushing, objective pressure, and extended close-range fights.

Skorpion EVO

Submachine Gun

Strengths: Extremely high fire rate creates outstanding close-range elimination speed.

Weaknesses: Rapid ammunition consumption and stronger recoil reduce its value outside close quarters.

Range: Very closeFast flanking, hip-fire engagements, and indoor combat.

LSAT

Light Machine Gun

Strengths: Stable recoil, a large magazine, and dependable ranged damage make it effective for sustained fire.

Weaknesses: Slow aiming, movement, and reload speeds make repositioning difficult.

Range: Medium to longSupport fire, objective defense, and locking down sightlines.

KSG

Shotgun

Strengths: Fires a precise slug with one-shot potential at distances beyond normal shotgun range.

Weaknesses: The single projectile demands accurate aim and missed shots are heavily punished.

Range: Close to mediumPrecision shotgun play and carefully aimed doorway control.

Ballista

Sniper Rifle

Strengths: Faster handling and bolt cycling than the DSR 50 support a more mobile sniping style.

Weaknesses: Its smaller reliable one-shot area requires better upper-body accuracy.

Range: Medium to longAggressive sniping, quick repositioning, and fast follow-up shots.
B

Reliable and Specialized

Useful weapons that remain effective when matched with the correct range, attachments, and playstyle.

M27

Assault Rifle

Strengths: Very low recoil and clear iron sights make it one of the easiest rifles to control.

Weaknesses: Lower per-shot damage can result in slower eliminations against stronger rifles.

Range: Medium to longBeginner-friendly accuracy, support fire, and consistent ranged tracking.

MP7

Submachine Gun

Strengths: Predictable recoil, good handling, and a comfortable fire rate make it dependable at several ranges.

Weaknesses: It lacks the close-range power of the MSMC and the extreme fire rate of the Skorpion EVO.

Range: Close to mediumMobile all-purpose play and controlled flanking.

HAMR

Light Machine Gun

Strengths: A fast opening fire rate, strong damage, and a large magazine provide excellent initial pressure.

Weaknesses: Its fire rate changes during sustained fire and its heavy handling slows aggressive movement.

Range: MediumPre-aimed defense, suppressive fire, and holding objectives.

MK 48

Light Machine Gun

Strengths: Strong ranged damage and a large ammunition supply support long defensive engagements.

Weaknesses: Slow movement, aiming, and reload speed require the user to prepare positions in advance.

Range: Medium to longLong-lane defense and sustained team support.

B23R

Pistol

Strengths: Rapid three-round bursts can eliminate nearby enemies quickly when the full burst connects.

Weaknesses: Burst recoil and frequent ammunition use make repeated distant shots inconsistent.

Range: CloseEmergency secondary use and fast close-range finishes.

Tac-45

Pistol

Strengths: High semi-automatic damage makes it a powerful backup weapon at close range.

Weaknesses: Its smaller magazine requires accurate shots and careful reload timing.

Range: CloseReliable secondary use, finishing damaged enemies, and lightweight classes.
Campaign Guide

Call of Duty Black Ops II Campaign Walkthrough and Endings

Follow all 11 story missions and five Strike Force missions. Track the decisions that determine the fates of Alex Mason, Karma, Raul Menendez and the Second Cold War.

The campaign contains 11 required story missions and five optional Strike Force missions. Every mission has 10 optional challenges, while the 11 story missions also contain three intel items each. Strike Force success or failure remains part of the active story, and the final montage combines several independent decisions rather than using one ending switch.

1
Main Mission

Pyrrhic Victory

3 Intel

Setting: Angola, 1986·Player: Alex Mason

Objectives

  • Fight alongside Jonas Savimbi's forces.
  • Reach the river and board the enemy barge.
  • Rescue Frank Woods and escape the combat zone.
Story Choice: No major ending branch is decided here.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges focused on mounted weapons, vehicle destruction and close-range combat.

2
Main Mission

Celerium

3 Intel

Setting: Myanmar, 2025·Player: David Mason

Objectives

  • Wingsuit into the Cordis Die research area.
  • Infiltrate the underground facility.
  • Recover the celerium device and extract the surviving researcher.
Story Choice: Introduces the technology behind Menendez's planned cyberattack.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges involving wingsuit combat, access-kit interactions, drones and automated defenses.

3
Main Mission

Old Wounds

3 Intel

Setting: Afghanistan, 1986·Player: Alex Mason

Objectives

  • Ride with the Mujahideen against Soviet forces.
  • Destroy armored and air targets during the assault.
  • Capture and interrogate Lev Kravchenko.
Story Choice: Resisting the Numbers conditioning during Kravchenko's interrogation reveals that Menendez has contacts inside the CIA.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges centered on horseback combat, launcher accuracy and destroying enemy vehicles.

4
Main Mission

Time and Fate

3 Intel

Setting: Nicaragua, 1986·Player: Raul Menendez and Alex Mason

Objectives

  • Fight through the village as Menendez during the attack on his home.
  • Raid the Menendez compound as Mason and Woods.
  • Search the compound for evidence and survive the final confrontation.
Story Choice: Finding the CIA memorandum in the compound adds evidence about Menendez's intelligence connections.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges covering the Menendez rampage, compound clearing and alternate weapon use.

5
Main Mission

Fallen Angel

3 Intel

Setting: Lahore, Pakistan, 2025·Player: David Mason

Objectives

  • Move through the flooded city with Harper.
  • Use surveillance equipment to record Menendez's meeting.
  • Escape the city in the SOC-T vehicle.
Story Choice: Recording the full conversation reveals Zhao's secret meeting and helps unlock the Dispatch Strike Force mission.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges based on surveillance, SOC-T driving, drone avoidance and vehicle combat.

6
Main Mission

Karma

3 Intel

Setting: Colossus, Cayman Islands, 2025·Player: David Mason

Objectives

  • Infiltrate the floating resort and identify Karma.
  • Reach Chloe Lynch before Menendez's forces remove her.
  • Stop DeFalco or continue the campaign with Karma captured.
Story Choice: Killing DeFalco before he escapes keeps Karma safe; failure opens the optional Second Chance rescue mission.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges focused on infiltration tools, rapid pursuit, precision shooting and protecting civilians.

7
Main Mission

Suffer with Me

3 Intel

Setting: Panama, 1989·Player: Frank Woods

Objectives

  • Capture Manuel Noriega.
  • Fight across Panama City and reach the target location.
  • Take the final sniper shot and witness Menendez's trap.
Story Choice: Shoot the hooded target in the legs instead of the head to let Alex Mason survive and return in the 2025 epilogue.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges involving sniper accuracy, rooftop movement and weapon-specific eliminations.

8
Main Mission

Achilles' Veil

3 Intel

Setting: Socotra, Yemen, 2025·Player: Farid

Objectives

  • Remain undercover inside Cordis Die.
  • Fight through the rally and help JSOC capture Menendez.
  • Choose whether Farid shoots Harper or attempts to shoot Menendez.
Story Choice: Shooting Harper keeps Farid alive, which is required to protect Karma during the later attack on the USS Barack Obama.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges built around undercover combat, VTOL support, close-range weapons and the Farid decision.

9
Main Mission

Odysseus

3 Intel

Setting: USS Barack Obama, 2025·Player: David Mason and Raul Menendez

Objectives

  • Defend the carrier after Salazar reveals himself as Menendez's mole.
  • Protect Karma if she is alive and Farid survived.
  • Stop Menendez from taking control of the drone fleet.
Story Choice: As Menendez, wounding Admiral Briggs instead of killing him allows Briggs to help defend the carrier.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges involving carrier defenses, security systems, close-quarters combat and the Briggs decision.

10
Main Mission

Cordis Die

3 Intel

Setting: Los Angeles, 2025·Player: David Mason

Objectives

  • Fight through the drone assault on Los Angeles.
  • Protect the presidential convoy and clear blocked routes.
  • Escort President Bosworth to safety.
Story Choice: The mission outcome is fixed, but surviving allies and Strike Force results affect the wider war shown around it.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges focused on jet support, convoy defense, vehicle takedowns and fast target clearing.

11
Main Mission

Judgment Day

3 Intel

Setting: Haiti, 2025·Player: David Mason

Objectives

  • Assault the Cordis Die broadcast facility.
  • Disable defenses and fight through the control complex.
  • Catch Menendez and choose whether to execute or capture him.
Story Choice: Executing Menendez turns him into a martyr and triggers a global Cordis Die uprising; capturing him produces different outcomes based on Karma's fate.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges involving anti-air defenses, sniper shots, drone destruction and the final pursuit.

12
Strike Force Mission

FOB Spectre

Setting: India, 2025·Player: JSOC Strike Force

Objectives

  • Defend the forward operating base from SDC forces.
  • Switch between infantry, turrets, CLAWs and aerial assets.
  • Keep the key defense points operational until the attack ends.
Story Choice: Success weakens the SDC campaign and contributes to the route that ends the Second Cold War.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges based on unit switching, defensive kills and keeping strategic assets alive.

13
Strike Force Mission

Shipwreck

Setting: Singapore, 2025·Player: JSOC Strike Force

Objectives

  • Assault the SDC-controlled dock area.
  • Capture and hold the marked control points.
  • Use ground and aerial units to stop the enemy operation.
Story Choice: Success reduces SDC military pressure and counts toward the favorable geopolitical ending.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges emphasizing objective capture, drone control and coordinated use of multiple unit types.

14
Strike Force Mission

I.E.D.

Setting: Afghanistan, 2025·Player: JSOC Strike Force

Objectives

  • Protect the convoy as it moves through hostile territory.
  • Detect and destroy ambushes, explosives and enemy vehicles.
  • Keep enough convoy vehicles alive to reach the destination.
Story Choice: Success further weakens the SDC and advances the route toward a United States-China alliance.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges focused on convoy survival, rapid threat removal and efficient use of drones and infantry.

15
Strike Force Mission

Second Chance

Setting: Yemen, 2025·Player: JSOC Strike Force

Objectives

  • Locate Chloe Lynch after DeFalco captures her in Karma.
  • Fight through the rescue zone before time expires.
  • Secure Karma and complete the extraction.
Story Choice: This mission appears only when DeFalco escapes with Karma; success restores the branch where Karma remains alive.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges centered on timed searching, surveillance, rescue combat and extraction defense.

16
Strike Force Mission

Dispatch

Setting: Pakistan, 2025·Player: JSOC Strike Force

Objectives

  • Attack the SDC command site.
  • Push through the defensive perimeter.
  • Find and eliminate Chairman Tian Zhao.
Story Choice: Completing Dispatch removes Zhao and allows China and the United States to unite against Menendez.

Challenges: 10 optional challenges built around coordinated assaults, automated units and eliminating priority targets.

17
Ending Route

Favorable Ending Route

Setting: Key decisions across the campaign·Player: Multiple

Objectives

  • Complete FOB Spectre, Shipwreck, I.E.D. and Dispatch successfully.
  • Save Karma in Karma or Second Chance, then keep Farid alive by shooting Harper in Achilles' Veil.
  • Shoot Alex Mason in the legs in Suffer with Me, wound Briggs in Odysseus and capture Menendez in Judgment Day.
Story Choice: This route keeps Mason and Karma alive, preserves the carrier leadership, prevents Menendez from becoming a martyr and ends the Second Cold War through a United States-China alliance.

Challenges: Campaign challenges are optional; the ending is controlled by story decisions and Strike Force results.

18
Ending Outcomes

Major Ending Variations

Setting: 2025 epilogue·Player: David Mason

Objectives

  • Menendez executed: his recorded message sparks a worldwide Cordis Die uprising.
  • Menendez captured and Karma alive: Karma stops the cyberattack while Menendez remains imprisoned.
  • Menendez captured and Karma dead: the cyberattack succeeds, Menendez escapes, kills Woods and dies at Josefina's grave.
  • Alex Mason alive: he reunites with Woods and David; Alex Mason dead: David visits his grave and retires.
  • Strike Force success and Zhao eliminated: China and the United States form an alliance.
Story Choice: The final montage combines the independent outcomes for Menendez, Karma, Alex Mason, Admiral Briggs and the Strike Force campaign.

Challenges: Replay Story can change decisions, but rewinding to an earlier mission replaces later campaign progress from that point.

Multiplayer Loadouts

Call of Duty Black Ops II Best Classes and Perks

Use complete 10-point builds for rushing, long-range lanes, objective modes, stealth and beginner play. Each class separates Create-a-Class choices from scorestreak recommendations.

Black Ops II replaces fixed class slots with Pick 10: weapons, attachments, perks, equipment and wildcards each consume points until the class reaches 10. Scorestreaks are selected separately, so they are shown as role-based recommendations rather than part of the Pick 10 total.

Close-Range Rusher

Pick 10 10

Fast entry, flank pressure and rapid gunfights

Primary
MSMC
Quickdraw Handle · Fast Mag
Secondary
None
Lethal / Tactical
Semtex · Concussion Grenade
Perks
LightweightToughnessDexterityExtreme Conditioning
Wildcards: Perk 3 Greed
Scorestreaks
UAVHellstorm MissileLightning Strike
Why it works: Lightweight and Extreme Conditioning keep the class moving, Toughness reduces aim disruption in head-on fights, and Quickdraw plus Dexterity shortens the time between sprinting and firing.

Long-Range Assault Rifle

Pick 10 10

Hold lanes, punish protected firing positions and fire through cover

Primary
AN-94
Quickdraw Handle · Stock · FMJ
Secondary
None
Lethal / Tactical
Semtex · EMP Grenade
Perks
Flak JacketToughnessDexterity
Wildcards: Primary Gunfighter
Scorestreaks
UAVCounter-UAVLightning Strike
Why it works: The AN-94 supports controlled bursts, Stock keeps movement available while aiming, FMJ improves damage through thin cover, and EMP Grenades disable equipment before a lane push.

Objective Anchor

Pick 10 10

Defend flags and Hardpoints while surviving explosives and tactical equipment

Primary
M8A1
Reflex Sight · Stock
Secondary
None
Lethal / Tactical
Semtex · Trophy System
Perks
Flak JacketToughnessTactical MaskEngineer
Wildcards: Perk 3 Greed
Scorestreaks
UAVGuardianSentry Gun
Why it works: Flak Jacket and Tactical Mask reduce common objective-clearing tools, Engineer reveals hostile equipment, the Trophy System blocks incoming projectiles, and Semtex helps clear a contested objective.

Stealth Flanker

Pick 10 10

Stay off the minimap, move around the edge of the map and attack from behind

Primary
PDW-57
Suppressor · Fast Mag
Secondary
None
Lethal / Tactical
C4 · EMP Grenade
Perks
GhostToughnessDead SilenceAwareness
Wildcards: Perk 3 Greed
Scorestreaks
UAVCounter-UAVOrbital VSAT
Why it works: Ghost hides a moving player from UAV scans, Suppressor keeps shots off the minimap, Dead Silence reduces footstep noise, and Awareness makes nearby enemy movement easier to hear.

Beginner-Friendly All-Rounder

Pick 10 10

Simple recoil control, a clear sight picture and dependable equipment

Primary
MTAR
Reflex Sight · Quickdraw Handle · Fast Mag
Secondary
None
Lethal / Tactical
Semtex · Concussion Grenade
Perks
Flak JacketToughnessDexterity
Wildcards: Primary Gunfighter
Scorestreaks
UAVHunter Killer DroneCare Package
Why it works: The MTAR is flexible across common engagement distances, the Reflex Sight is easy to read, Quickdraw improves reaction speed, and Fast Mag reduces downtime after a fight. The low-cost scorestreaks provide frequent rewards without requiring a long streak.

Search and Destroy Rifle

Pick 10 10

One-life rounds, careful routes and fast first-shot accuracy

Primary
M8A1
Quickdraw Handle · Suppressor
Secondary
None
Lethal / Tactical
Semtex · EMP Grenade
Perks
GhostToughnessDead SilenceAwareness
Wildcards: Perk 3 Greed
Scorestreaks
UAVLightning StrikeStealth Chopper
Why it works: Quickdraw supports fast reactions, Suppressor and Dead Silence reduce the information given to the enemy, and Awareness helps identify nearby movement during quiet one-life rounds.
Maps and Modes

Call of Duty Black Ops II Multiplayer Maps and Modes

Compare the 14 launch maps, Nuketown 2025 and all 16 DLC maps by combat flow and important routes. Review the rules and priorities of the most-played objective and competitive modes.

Black Ops II map design ranges from tiny close-range arenas such as Hijacked to open rifle maps such as Turbine. The DLC season adds four groups of four multiplayer maps, including reimagined versions of Firing Range, Summit, Stadium and Courtyard.

Aftermath

Base Game

Location: Ruined Los Angeles

Medium-sized urban map with mixed close and mid-range fights.

Key Routes
  • Central ruined street
  • Parking structure
  • Side buildings and alleys
Best For
Team DeathmatchDominationHardpoint

Cargo

Base Game

Location: Singapore cargo port

Container lanes create close fights while open dock sightlines support rifles.

Key Routes
  • Container maze
  • Warehouse flank
  • Raised crane and catwalk positions
Best For
DominationHardpointSearch and Destroy

Carrier

Base Game

Location: Chinese aircraft carrier

A large deck map with exposed long lanes and tighter interior routes.

Key Routes
  • Flight deck
  • Hangar and lower interiors
  • Side deck passages
Best For
Team DeathmatchDominationSearch and Destroy

Drone

Base Game

Location: Jungle drone facility in Myanmar

A medium map mixing laboratory interiors, jungle lanes and elevation changes.

Key Routes
  • Central facility
  • Cliffside route
  • Jungle and service-building flank
Best For
DominationHardpointSearch and Destroy

Express

Base Game

Location: Los Angeles high-speed rail terminal

Symmetrical rail platforms support quick rotations and strong central crossfire.

Key Routes
  • Central train tracks
  • Ticket hall
  • Overhead bridge and outer platforms
Best For
Search and DestroyCapture the FlagHardpoint

Hijacked

Base Game

Location: Luxury yacht

Very small, fast map dominated by close-range fights and frequent spawn pressure.

Key Routes
  • Main deck
  • Upper cabins
  • Lower engine-room passage
Best For
Team DeathmatchHardpointDomination

Meltdown

Base Game

Location: Nuclear power plant in Pakistan

Medium-to-large lanes connect industrial interiors and open reactor areas.

Key Routes
  • Central road
  • Cooling-tower side
  • Control buildings and service lanes
Best For
DominationSearch and DestroyCapture the Flag

Overflow

Base Game

Location: Flood-damaged Peshawar

Dense streets and broken buildings produce short-to-mid-range engagements.

Key Routes
  • Central bridge area
  • Market street
  • Side alleys and interior rooms
Best For
Team DeathmatchHardpointKill Confirmed

Plaza

Base Game

Location: Floating resort in the Indian Ocean

A nightlife setting with tight interiors, open courtyards and rapid flank routes.

Key Routes
  • Central club
  • Outdoor courtyard
  • Side rooms and service passages
Best For
HardpointDominationSearch and Destroy

Raid

Base Game

Location: Hollywood Hills mansion

Balanced three-lane layout with clean sightlines and strong objective spaces.

Key Routes
  • Central courtyard
  • Pool side
  • Driveway and garage side
Best For
HardpointSearch and DestroyCapture the Flag

Slums

Base Game

Location: Panama City neighborhood

Compact three-lane map centered on a dangerous open courtyard.

Key Routes
  • Central fountain
  • Main street
  • Side buildings and narrow lane
Best For
HardpointDominationSearch and Destroy

Standoff

Base Game

Location: Border town in Kyrgyzstan

Medium three-lane map with powerful building windows and open road crossings.

Key Routes
  • Central street
  • House and tractor side
  • Garage and back-lane side
Best For
DominationSearch and DestroyCapture the Flag

Turbine

Base Game

Location: Wind farm in Yemen

One of the largest launch maps, favoring rifles and snipers across open terrain.

Key Routes
  • Crashed aircraft center
  • Cliff path
  • Wind-turbine and cave routes
Best For
Team DeathmatchDominationSearch and Destroy

Yemen

Base Game

Location: Cliffside town on Socotra

Vertical urban combat with rooftops, interiors and narrow market lanes.

Key Routes
  • Central market
  • Upper rooftops
  • Cliffside and lower-street routes
Best For
HardpointDominationSearch and Destroy

Nuketown 2025

Bonus Multiplayer Map

Location: Futuristic model-home neighborhood

Extremely small symmetrical map built for nonstop close-range action.

Key Routes
  • Bus and truck center
  • Two houses
  • Backyards and side gaps
Best For
Team DeathmatchDominationHardpoint

Downhill

Revolution DLC

Location: French Alps ski resort

Snowy medium map combining lodge interiors, open slopes and moving gondola hazards.

Key Routes
  • Ski lodge
  • Downhill slope
  • Gondola crossing
Best For
DominationHardpointTeam Deathmatch

Hydro

Revolution DLC

Location: Hydroelectric dam in Pakistan

Three main lanes with a central spillway that can become a lethal flood channel.

Key Routes
  • Central spillway
  • Control-room side
  • Outer dam and service path
Best For
DominationHardpointSearch and Destroy

Mirage

Revolution DLC

Location: Sandstorm-damaged resort in the Gobi Desert

Long exterior views mix with tight hotel rooms and sand-covered courtyards.

Key Routes
  • Central resort
  • Courtyard and dunes
  • Upper rooms and side halls
Best For
Team DeathmatchDominationSearch and Destroy

Grind

Revolution DLC

Location: Venice Beach skate park

Curved ramps and bowls create unusual cover and fast close-to-mid-range fights.

Key Routes
  • Central bowl
  • Half-pipe lane
  • Pro shop and outer ramps
Best For
HardpointDominationKill Confirmed

Magma

Uprising DLC

Location: Volcanic Japanese village

Lava divides the map and forces players through bridges, streets and interiors.

Key Routes
  • Lava-cut central street
  • Train-side route
  • Village buildings
Best For
DominationHardpointSearch and Destroy

Encore

Uprising DLC

Location: Abandoned London music festival

Close-range stage and backstage fights are balanced by longer perimeter sightlines.

Key Routes
  • Main stage
  • Backstage corridors
  • Outer festival grounds
Best For
HardpointTeam DeathmatchDomination

Vertigo

Uprising DLC

Location: High-rise laboratory in India

Multi-level combat with exposed edges, interior labs and quick vertical transitions.

Key Routes
  • Central laboratory
  • Upper platform
  • Lower maintenance route
Best For
Search and DestroyHardpointTeam Deathmatch

Studio

Uprising DLC

Location: Hollywood movie backlot

A remake of Firing Range with compact lanes, elevated power positions and themed sets.

Key Routes
  • Central trailers and sets
  • Tower position
  • Backlot buildings
Best For
DominationHardpointTeam Deathmatch

Cove

Vengeance DLC

Location: Remote island in the Indian Ocean

Small island combat around a crashed aircraft with exposed beaches and rock cover.

Key Routes
  • Aircraft wreck
  • Shoreline flank
  • Rocky interior path
Best For
Team DeathmatchKill ConfirmedDomination

Detour

Vengeance DLC

Location: Destroyed suspension bridge

Long upper-road sightlines sit above tighter lower maintenance routes.

Key Routes
  • Upper roadway
  • Lower bridge level
  • Vehicle and support-column cover
Best For
DominationSearch and DestroyTeam Deathmatch

Rush

Vengeance DLC

Location: Paintball course

Fast close-range arena with dense cover, short lanes and rapid objective pressure.

Key Routes
  • Central paintball field
  • Speedball lane
  • Shop and wooded side
Best For
HardpointDominationKill Confirmed

Uplink

Vengeance DLC

Location: Mountain facility in Myanmar

A remake of Summit with a central control building, catwalks and dangerous cliff edges.

Key Routes
  • Central control room
  • Side catwalk
  • Lower exterior and cliff route
Best For
Search and DestroyDominationCapture the Flag

Pod

Apocalypse DLC

Location: Abandoned cliffside community in Taiwan

Multi-tier pods create fast interior fights and exposed rooftop rotations.

Key Routes
  • Pod rooftops
  • Interior rooms
  • Cliffside outer lane
Best For
HardpointDominationTeam Deathmatch

Frost

Apocalypse DLC

Location: Snow-covered European city

A frozen canal separates the two halves and supports multi-level crossings.

Key Routes
  • Frozen canal
  • Central bridge
  • Buildings on both banks
Best For
DominationSearch and DestroyCapture the Flag

Takeoff

Apocalypse DLC

Location: Pacific Ocean launch site

A remake of Stadium combining tight corners, interior fights and open central spaces.

Key Routes
  • Central launch area
  • Interior corridors
  • Outer platform lanes
Best For
HardpointDominationTeam Deathmatch

Dig

Apocalypse DLC

Location: Archaeological sites in Afghanistan

A remake of Courtyard with two major chokepoints, raised platforms and open center fights.

Key Routes
  • Open excavation center
  • Raised ruins
  • Side passages between dig sites
Best For
DominationHardpointTeam Deathmatch

Team Deathmatch

Core Multiplayer Mode

Location: All supported multiplayer maps

Two teams earn score through eliminations; map control and spawn awareness decide most matches.

Key Routes
  • Control central lanes
  • Protect team spawns
  • Use UAV information to rotate
Best For
Fast public matchesWeapon levelingGeneral practice

Domination

Core Multiplayer Mode

Location: Three capture points: A, B and C

Teams capture flags and gain score while holding them, making the central B flag the usual focal point.

Key Routes
  • Secure the home flag
  • Fight for B
  • Avoid flipping spawns without a plan
Best For
Objective classesTrophy SystemsArea-control scorestreaks

Search and Destroy

Core Multiplayer Mode

Location: Two bomb sites

Round-based one-life mode where attackers plant a bomb and defenders protect or defuse.

Key Routes
  • Learn opening routes
  • Watch bomb-site crossings
  • Preserve information and lives
Best For
Stealth classesDead SilenceCoordinated teams

Hardpoint

Core Multiplayer Mode

Location: Rotating objective zones

Teams score by occupying a Hardpoint that moves through a fixed sequence of locations.

Key Routes
  • Rotate before the hill moves
  • Hold nearby spawns
  • Use equipment to break occupied hills
Best For
Competitive playObjective scoreCoordinated rotations

Capture the Flag

Core Multiplayer Mode

Location: Two team bases

Steal the enemy flag and return it while your own flag is safely at base.

Key Routes
  • Create an escort lane
  • Cut off return routes
  • Control midfield before a flag run
Best For
Mobile SMG classesTeam communicationSpawn control

Kill Confirmed

Core Multiplayer Mode

Location: All supported multiplayer maps

Eliminated players drop tags; collecting enemy tags confirms points and collecting friendly tags denies them.

Key Routes
  • Fight near recoverable cover
  • Collect tags after teammates
  • Avoid leaving tags in open lanes
Best For
Aggressive playScorestreak earningSmall and medium maps

League Play

Competitive Multiplayer

Location: Rule-based competitive playlists

Skill-based matchmaking places players into competitive divisions and uses more structured rules than normal public matches.

Key Routes
  • Use role-based classes
  • Coordinate objective rotations
  • Learn competitive map and mode setups
Best For
Ranked competitionTeam strategyCODcasting and esports-style play
DLC Guide

Call of Duty Black Ops II DLC and Season Pass Guide

Compare Revolution, Uprising, Vengeance and Apocalypse, including every multiplayer map, Zombies map and bonus item. Check how the content is delivered on PlayStation, Xbox and Steam.

The Season Pass contains all four major DLC packs, Nuketown Zombies and The Deuce calling card, while the base game remains required. Revolution adds the Peacekeeper and Turned, Uprising adds Mob of the Dead, Vengeance adds Buried and the Ray Gun Mark II, and Apocalypse closes the season with Origins.

Season Pass Overview

Bundle
Base Game Required: Yes
Multiplayer Maps
16 maps across four DLC packs
Zombies Content
Die Rise, Mob of the Dead, Buried, Origins and Nuketown Zombies
Extras
The Deuce exclusive calling card; Revolution also includes the Peacekeeper SMG and Turned mode
Availability
The Season Pass grants Revolution, Uprising, Vengeance and Apocalypse. Individual packs may also be sold separately depending on platform.

Revolution

DLC Pack 1
Base Game Required: Yes
Multiplayer Maps
Downhill, Hydro, Mirage, Grind
Zombies Content
Die Rise plus the Turned Zombies mode
Extras
Peacekeeper SMG with its own weapon challenges
Availability
Included with the Season Pass and also listed as a standalone pack on supported storefronts.

Uprising

DLC Pack 2
Base Game Required: Yes
Multiplayer Maps
Magma, Encore, Vertigo, Studio
Zombies Content
Mob of the Dead set in Alcatraz, including the Purgatory afterlife mechanic
Extras
Studio is a reimagining of Firing Range from the original Black Ops
Availability
Included with the Season Pass and also listed as a standalone pack on supported storefronts.

Vengeance

DLC Pack 3
Base Game Required: Yes
Multiplayer Maps
Cove, Detour, Rush, Uplink
Zombies Content
Buried set in an underground Old West mining town
Extras
Ray Gun Mark II becomes available in Buried and the other Black Ops II Zombies maps when Vengeance is owned
Availability
Included with the Season Pass and also listed as a standalone pack on supported storefronts.

Apocalypse

DLC Pack 4
Base Game Required: Yes
Multiplayer Maps
Pod, Frost, Takeoff, Dig
Zombies Content
Origins, a Dieselpunk World War I-era Zombies map with the original four heroes
Extras
Takeoff reimagines Stadium and Dig reimagines Courtyard
Availability
Included with the Season Pass and also listed as a standalone pack on supported storefronts.

PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5

Platform
Base Game Required: Yes
Multiplayer Maps
Season Pass supplies all four DLC map packs for the PS4/PS5 release
Zombies Content
All four DLC Zombies maps plus Nuketown Zombies
Extras
The Deuce calling card
Availability
The PS4/PS5 version and its Season Pass released on July 9, 2026. Online multiplayer requires PlayStation Plus, and cross-platform multiplayer with Xbox or PC is not supported.

Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

Platform
Base Game Required: Yes
Multiplayer Maps
Four backward-compatible Xbox 360 map packs
Zombies Content
All Season Pass Zombies content plus Nuketown Zombies
Extras
The Deuce calling card
Availability
The Xbox Season Pass store page lists support for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Season Pass content is downloaded through the Black Ops II in-game store.

Steam PC

Platform
Base Game Required: Yes
Multiplayer Maps
Revolution, Uprising, Vengeance and Apocalypse are listed on the Black Ops II DLC page
Zombies Content
Each pack carries its associated Zombies map; Nuketown Zombies is also listed separately
Extras
Revolution includes the Peacekeeper; Vengeance includes access to the Ray Gun Mark II across Black Ops II Zombies maps
Availability
Steam handles the packs as Black Ops II downloadable content. Install the base game and owned DLC through the same Steam account.

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