Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 03 Patch Notes

Like always, stay up to date with what’s to come with our Season 03 launch, including details of new Multiplayer and Zombies Content and the latest balance adjustments, gameplay improvements, bug fixes, and more arriving tomorrow.

Looking for Warzone Patch Notes? The Raven Software team has you covered right here.

New Multiplayer Maps

• Firing Range (6v6)
  • Firing Range makes its glorious return in Black Ops 6 in a faithful remaster of the fan-favorite map. Watch for crossfire down the long center Road as Operators fight for control of the vantage points in the Tower and the upper levels of the Shoot House and Garage. Shooting targets move back and forth on their tracks behind the Office and several other spots adding a useful diversion while preparing for the next fight. Avoid the center chaos by branching off to the Dirt Road, keeping your guard up against ambush as you pass the Storage unit along the way.
• Barrage (6v6)
  • Revisit 1968 Vietnam as you follow Hudson’s clues surrounding one Summit Watch at the front lines of battle. The trees have been cleared and the landscape flattened to make room for this base housing an artillery battery in active combat. The area has taken hits with large chunks blown off buildings including the Command Center and Barracks, the damage opening new pathways through the map.
• Nomad (6v6, 2v2)
  • The Pantheon moles were in Afghanistan, too, when Woods fought there in 1986. Fight in the ruins of a fortified settlement commandeered for the ensuing battle, a parked missile carrier facing out over the valley where a convoy lies in ruins on the narrow road leading up to the map.

New Multiplayer Modes

• Kilo 141 - Assault Rifle (Call of Duty: Warzone Login Reward)
  • Fully automatic assault rifle with an ergonomic design that improves handling, and a steady fire rate helps stay on target.
  • The Kilo 141 is back and ready to tear it up across Multiplayer and Call of Duty: Warzone. The weapon’s smooth handling, manageable recoil, and steady fire rate give it room to shine in a variety of combat situations, leaving no doubt as to why the Kilo 141 was a favorite in Verdansk. Now that the location is back, it’s time to relive the glory days with this hard-hitting Primary Weapon.
  • Players will automatically unlock the Kilo 141 for use in Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone after logging in to Call of Duty: Warzone at the launch of Season 03.
• CR-56 - Assault Rifle (Battle Pass)
  • This lightweight 7.62 x 39mm full-auto assault rifle is compact and powerful. Built exclusively for military use, the standard issue rifle is deadly at mid-range combat and easily configured for a variety of assault tactics.
  • Combining high-damage hits with a fast fire rate and good handling, the CR-56 AMAX is the perfect mid-range weapon for downing targets fast. Eliminate enemies in three to four shots up to 25 meters out, leaving plenty left over to chew through equipped armor. Quick reloads get you back into the action fast, a helpful trait no matter how you choose to customize the weapon via Gunsmith.
• HDR - Sniper Rifle (Battle Pass)
  • Anti-material bolt action sniper rifle chambered in 12.7 x 108mm ammunition. Bullets have a lower muzzle velocity but remain devastating even at very long ranges.
  • Veterans of Verdansk know the power of the HDR and the havoc a sniper can inflict with it when stationed in high vantage points like the infamous Airport Control Tower. The weapon’s long reach and heavy damage make it a favorite of sharpshooters, its distinctive firing sound sending squads running. Add the Reinforced Barrel attachment to further extend your damage range and bullet velocity, and don’t forget to hold your breath for difficult shots.
• Kali Sticks - Melee (Event Reward)
  • Two-hit kill. Extremely fast attack speed. Short range.
  • The infamous Kali Sticks return, dealing out damage with rapid swings that’ll take down your target in a flash. Smack them with fast follow-up hits using the weapon’s light attack or take them out in a more dramatic fashion by unleashing the heavy attack. Use Kali Sticks in Multiplayer with the new Close Shave Perk to deploy a quick whack against enemies without having to manually swap to your Dedicated Melee slot first.
• Nail Gun - Special (In-Season)
  • Full-auto Nail Gun. High damage at close range with fast handling speeds and very low muzzle velocity.
  • Stick it to them with this handy tool configured with a magazine of 15 nails that fires at full auto. The damage drops off quickly after 25 meters and performs best up close. The Nail Gun’s low muzzle velocity can make it difficult to land shots against fast moving targets, so get them in your sights and unload before they know what hit them. This armament is a reward earned during the Black Ops Tribute Event.

New Attachments

• Monolithic Suppressor (Battle Pass)
  • Monolithic Core provides superior sound suppression and increased range. Moderate weight increase affects agility.
  • Available for Assault Rifles (except AS VAL), SMGs, Shotguns, LMGs, Marksman Rifles, Sniper Rifles, and Pistols.
• SWAT 5.56 Grau Conversion (Battle Pass)
  • Convert the SWAT 5.56 into a fully automatic weapon with lower damage and range but improved accuracy, mobility, and handling. Equips a new default Barrel and Magazine and unlocks an exclusive 50-round extended Magazine. Blocks Barrel attachments.
• C9 10mm Auto 30-Round Mags (In-Season)
  • Conversion kit to use higher caliber 10mm Auto ammunition for increased stopping power. Though the conversion results in some increased recoil and a slightly lower fire rate, the extra damage, range, and velocity make this attachment a worthy consideration when approaching enemies on bigger maps.

New Multiplayer Perks

New Scorestreak (Multiplayer & Zombies)

With the Sentinel Artifact in hand, the crew heads to the remote wooded hills above Liberty Falls to meet with S.A.M. at an old mansion in the forest which has been retrofitted to [[REDACTED]]. Only with the aid of S.A.M.’s synthetic mind can the team hope to unlock the ancient artifact’s mysteries and bring back Agent Maxis. What could possibly go wrong?

New Zombies Perk-A-Cola

• Double Tap
  • The classic rapid-fire Perk returns for the first time in nearly a decade, dramatically increasing your weapon’s fire rate to chew through enemy hordes in record time. Research the iconic Perk for powerful enhancements like an even faster fire rate and the chance to inflict double damage.
  • Double Tap is available in Shattered Veil along with the other previously accessible Zombies Perks. Note that some of these Perk-a-Colas are only available via the Der Wunderfizz machine.
  • Double Tap is available on The Tomb, Citadelle des Morts, Liberty Falls and Terminus maps via the Der Wunderfizz machine.
• Double Tap Augments
  • Major
    • Double Jeopardy
      • Normal zombies at low health have a chance to die immediately when shot.
    • Double Impact
      • Double hits on the same target in quick succession deal more damage.
    • Double Standard
      • All non-critical shots do double damage. Only applies to normal bullet weapons.
  • Minor
    • Double Time
      • Increases fire rate bonus.
    • Double or Nothing
      • Weapons have a chance to do double damage but also have a chance to do zero damage.
    • Double Play
      • Killing two enemies in quick succession has a chance to return two rounds to your magazine. Only applies to normal bullet weapons.

New Zombies Wonder Weapons

• Ray Gun  Mark II (+ 3 Variants)
  • Drop multiple zombies at once with the upgraded and modestly unstable Ray Gun Mark II. Recovered from the Dark Aether by Project Janus, this powerful laser armament delivers three-round bursts of energy, can be Pack-a-Punched, and doubles as a bludgeoning instrument if you’re running low on ammunition. 
  • Then there’s the three new variants.
    • Provided you’ve [[REDACTED]], you can experiment with an additional three variants of the Ray Gun Mark II:
      • Ray Gun Mark II-W: Offering similar bullet patterns to a submachine gun, this also has a random chance to ignite enemies.
      • Ray Gun Mark II-P: Shooting ammunition like a shotgun, with a chance to spawn a sigil with the ability to grant invulnerability to the player standing on it for a limited time.
      • Ray Gun Mark II-R: Dropping zombies with a Marksman Rifle-like discharge, expect a chance to spread a plague infection that can inflict area-of-effect damage. 
• Wunderwaffe DG-2
  • Capable of striking down hordes with chain-lightning blasts, this has the bonus effect of stunning crowds of zombies, usually resulting in additional, and eventually terminal damage. 

New Zombies Enemies

• Elder Disciple
  • Strange, floating apparitions have been seen flitting about the sprawling gardens and rambling mansion estate. Known to some as Elder Disciples, these powerful enemies likely spell trouble for the crew. 
  • Elder Disciples gain strength as they empower the zombies around them while summoning more undead to join the battle. Using their dark magic, these fetid, floating carcasses can force their allies to evolve more quickly, allowing a lowly zombie to more rapidly transform into a Doppelghast or some other sinister form.
  • Eliminate the Elder Disciple before their forces grow too powerful, keeping it at a distance to avoid the scream it lets loose against players who draw too close. The deadly enemy grows more agitated as it takes damage, so try to get the job done fast.
• Toxic Zombies
  • As a sickly yellow fog descends across the mansion, expect the inhabitants to take on an even-more revolting pallor. Easily identifiable due to their greenish hue and more skeletal exterior, Toxic Zombies seem to have lost all but their base perambulatory functions and seem intent on sprinting toward their prey before exploding, leaving a damaging pool of acid in their wake. Listen for their telltale shriek and get the jump on them before they can close the distance.

New GobbleGums

• Camo Hub
  • The Camo HUB is planned to be added shortly after launch to provide players with a wealth of Camo information and assist all in their quest for Dark Matter and Nebula. Available via the Barracks > Challenges Menu, the Camo HUB gives players all the Camo information they need in a single location: 
    • View all available Weapons by Weapon Class, with each Weapon sorted by furthest Camo progress
    • View the Next Camo Challenge for each Weapon
    • View the 2 available Special Camos for each Weapon
    • View the next unearned Camo Mastery Calling Card reward
    • Track/Untrack a Weapon’s Next Camo
    • Select a Weapon to go to that Weapon’s full Camo screen
    • “Tracked & Near Complete” tab now serves as the new home for the player’s manually tracked or automatically surfaced near complete Camo Challenges

New Operators

• Improved menu framerate stability while compiling shaders.
  • The Pre-Loading Shaders warning has been split per game mode.
  • Significantly reduced the time required to compile shaders before launching a match.
• A new menu widget was added in the lobby to indicate the progress of Pre-Loading Shaders to let you know when you are ready to play!

PC Benchmark

• ICYMI: The PC Benchmark remains a useful tool to optimize your gaming experience. Located in the Graphics Settings menu of Black Ops 6 Multiplayer, it simulates a multiplayer match to help you fine-tune your graphics for optimal performance and higher framerates.

Global

• Entering Prestige will no longer reset Operator, Calling Card, Emote, Spray, or Gobblegum customization.
• Addressed an issue where Finishing Move audio would continue to play after scrolling to a new tier in the Battle Pass.

Challenges

• BlackCell
  • BlackCell Daily Challenge
    • BlackCell owners can now complete an additional Daily Challenge in Multiplayer, Zombies, and Call of Duty: Warzone for an added 7,500 XP each. The BlackCell Daily Challenge counts toward the 3 challenges needed to earn the Daily Challenge Bonus XP.

Weapons

Multiplayer & Zombies

A major focus of our weapon balance changes in Season 03 is to enable more gameplay variety. Almost every attachment that modifies the core behavior of a weapon is receiving an improvement to help with its viability in the meta. It is our goal to ensure that all existing and future weapon mods feel fun and powerful to use.

Semi-auto weapons are another broad target for buffs this patch. The changes aim to make these weapons more accessible and competitive, as well as create more distinct gameplay feel between the faster semi-auto primaries.

As a last top-level note, the Season 03 patch includes adjustments to the Jackal PDW. More details on the thinking behind the change can be found below. Our weapon balance philosophy is to be conservative with nerfs, and to always consider whether there is an opportunity to elevate other weapons instead. In this case, we feel strongly that tuning down the Jackal PDW will be good for the health of the weapon meta going forward.

Assault Rifles

Marksman Rifles

As noted in the general section, semi-auto Marksman Rifles are getting buffs to help them contend with the other weapon classes. Rate of Fire is the main tool here, as that improves TTK and makes missed shots more forgiving.

Maps 

• Shattered Veil (NEW)
  • New map available in Season 03. Main Quest goes live at 9AM PT on April 2.
• Liberty Falls
  • Directed Mode
    • Addressed an issue that prevented the Round Cap from updating properly during the Liberty Falls Pack-a-Punch quest.
• The Tomb
  • Addressed an issue where rarely the monocle wouldn't spawn at the Shock Mimic’s location when killed for the Wonder Weapon Quest.
  • Addressed an issue where zombies could damage Staff of Ice from behind the Plinth.
  • Addressed an issue where some zombies could appear jittery when attacking the Staff of Ice.
  • Addressed an issue that caused black smoke to come out of a playable character on death.
  • Addressed an issue where the Max Ammo after a special round would spawn far away from the player if they were in the Roma Mausoleum.
  • Addressed an issue where sections of the barrier denoting the Vermin Trial zone were not always present.

Modes 

• Team Cranked (Launch Window)
  • Rules
    • The Cranked Timer starts when the first enemy is eliminated. The timer is shared across the whole team and any kill from any team member fills it.
      • The timer starts at 30 seconds. Each enemy eliminated replenishes the timer to its current maximum, and every round survived causes the maximum timer to be reduced by 1 second.
        • Essence earned by eliminating zombies is increased compared to Standard/Directed Mode
        • The Time Stopper Field Upgrade replaces your loadout’s Field Upgrade.
        • Main Quests and Easter Eggs are enabled.
  • Abilities
    • Time Stopper: Temporarily pause the Cranked timer for all teammates. All Operators begin the match with the Time Stopper Field Upgrade equipped.
      • Time Extended: Grab this rare power-up to fill the Cranked timer and add a small amount to the maximum time allowed.
  • Rewards (Survive past Round 50)
    • A custom selection of six GobbleGums per map.
      • Each contains one high-rarity GobbleGum and five GobbleGums of other rarities.
        • 15,000 XP per map, for a total of 75,000 XP across all maps.

Wonder Weapons

• Ray Gun Mark II (and Variants)
  • Drop multiple zombies at once with the upgraded and modestly unstable Ray Gun Mark II. Recovered from the Dark Aether by Project Janus, this powerful laser armament delivers three-round bursts of energy, can be Pack-a-Punched, and doubles as a bludgeoning instrument if you’re running low on ammunition. 
  • Then there’s the three new variants.
    • Provided you’ve [[REDACTED]], you can experiment with an additional three variants of the Ray Gun Mark II:
      • Ray Gun Mark II-W: Offering similar bullet patterns to a submachine gun, this also has a random chance to ignite enemies.
      • Ray Gun Mark II-P: Shooting ammunition like a shotgun, with a chance to spawn a sigil with the ability to grant invulnerability to the player standing on it for a limited time.
      • Ray Gun Mark II-R: Dropping zombies with a Marksman Rifle-like discharge, expect a chance to spread a plague infection that can inflict area-of-effect damage. 
• Wunderwaffe DG-2
  • Capable of striking down hordes with chain-lightning blasts, this has the bonus effect of stunning crowds of zombies, usually resulting in additional, and eventually terminal damage. 
• Ray Gun
  • Addressed an issue where the Ray Gun would not automatically reload when emptying magazine ammo.

Perk-A-Colas 

• Double Tap (New)
  • The classic rapid-fire Perk returns for the first time in nearly a decade, dramatically increasing your weapon’s fire rate to chew through enemy hordes in record time. Research the iconic Perk for powerful enhancements like an even faster fire rate and the chance to inflict double damage.
  • Double Tap is available in Shattered Veil along with the other previously accessible Zombies Perks. Note that some of these Perk-a-Colas are only available via the Der Wunderfizz machine.
  • Double Tap is available on The Tomb, Citadelle des Morts, Liberty Falls and Terminus maps via the Der Wunderfizz machine.
• Double Tap Augments
  • Major
    • Double Jeopardy
      • Normal zombies at low health have a chance to die immediately when shot.
    • Double Impact
      • Double hits on the same target in quick succession deal more damage.
    • Double Standard
      • All non-critical shots do double damage. Only applies to normal bullet weapons.
  • Minor
    • Double Time
      • Increases fire rate bonus.
    • Double or Nothing
      • Weapons have a chance to do double damage but also have a chance to do zero damage.
    • Double Play
      • Killing two enemies in quick succession has a chance to return two rounds to your magazine. Only applies to normal bullet weapons.

Ammo Mods 

• Light Mend
  • Dual Action
    • Addressed an issue where consuming a healing glyph would not temporarily allow the player to heal faster.
  • Antibiotic
    • Addressed an issue where healing glyphs would not damage enemies that touch it.

Field Upgrades 

• Tesla Storm
  • Overclocked
    • Addressed an issue where activating Tesla Storm would not increase the player's movement speed.
  • Lithium Charged
    • Addressed an issue where the extended duration would apply to all players activating Tesla Storm if at least one player had it equipped.

GobbleGums  

• Addressed an issue where players weren't able to use their GobbleGums in their pack after entering a Prestige. 

Power-Ups  

• Max Ammo
  • Addressed an issue that prevented the Max Ammo powerup from refilling ammo for players that are using a Mutant Injection.

Enemies 

• Mangler
  • Addressed an issue where Manglers could attack the player with their cannon from outside playable space.

Challenges 

• GS45 Military Camos
  • Changed requirement to Eliminations instead of Critical kills due to these weapons becoming explosive after being Pack-a-Punched.
• LR 7.62 Military Camos
  • Changed requirement to Eliminations instead of Critical kills due to these weapons becoming explosive after being Pack-a-Punched.
• Titan Felling (Get Elite Kills with Shotguns)
  • Now allows Special Zombie kills to progress the challenge.
• Perfectly Charred (Kill Special Zombies with Molotovs)
  • Now allows Thermobaric Grenades to progress the challenge.
• Stalking Prey (While inside smoke from a Smoke Grenade, kill Zombies with Melee Weapons)
  • Removed melee weapon requirement so all weapons can progress the challenge.

Combat Record

• Combat Record now available in Zombies under Barracks > Stats > Combat Record.

UI 

• Addressed an issue where the earned reward was missing from the notification after completing a Main Quest.
• Addressed an issue where the vote prompt could stay on screen after taking a fast travel.
• Addressed an issue where the Deadliest Weapon was incorrect in the After Action Report.
• Addressed an issue where reward notifications would overlap with the Round Cap callout in Directed Mode.
• Addressed an issue where the equipped Ammo Mod was hidden behind your Support when using akimbo weapons.
• Addressed an issue where Blueprint icons would be misaligned when viewing ground loot.
• Addressed an issue where players are able to interact with certain machines while spectating.
• Addressed an issue where the Calling Card awarded for completing a Main Quest would not be shown in the After Action Report.
• Addressed an issue where Mutant Injection HUD was displayed during a cutscene.
• Addressed an issue where a ping on the Mystery Box would stay after it changes location.
• Corrected some typos.

Graphics 

• Addressed an issue when using the Time Out GobbleGum while a white flash occurs could leave the screen white.
• Addressed an issue with visuals during the Gold Armor Side Quest on The Tomb.
• Addressed an issue where the Ray Gun would be misaligned with players hand when in 3rd-person prone supine.
• Addressed an issue where the Pack-a-Punch camo for the “Donatello’s Bo Staff” Blueprint would not cover the entire weapon.
• Addressed an issue that caused the “Fire Eater” Beamsmasher Blueprint to not be visible at short distances.
• Addressed an issue where some white flashes could be seen during the Terminus Boat Race Side Quest.

Audio 

• Addressed an issue where no sound effects played when interacting with the bottom row of keys on the Keypad in Terminus.

Stability 

• Addressed various stability issues.