Skip navigation (Press enter)

Ultimate Guide to Unlocks and Skins in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Learn how to unlock everything in the game!

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 branding in white and orange above "Unlocks & Skins" in white.

Black Ops is one of the subseries within the Call of Duty war shooter franchise, initiated in 2002. Currently, there are seven released installments of BO (starting from Call of Duty: World at War in 2008) - the latest, Black Ops 6, was launched on October 25th, 2024, and received numerous positive reviews from players within just a few days post-release.

Like many other games, Black Ops 6 also offers a leveling system, where each level unlocks new abilities, weapons, and other add-ons useful both in the campaign and in other game modes. Additionally, new Operators - characters you can embody - are also unlocked. So, what do all the unlocks in Black Ops 6 look like, and how can you acquire them? How many Operators are there, and what extra skins can they have? Learn everything from the article below! 

All Ranks and Level Unlocks

Interestingly, in Black Ops 6, you don’t level up your character in the usual sense, as you can unlock and switch them, but you earn ranks as a player. Each promotion grants access to new abilities, cards, perks, weapons, and gadgets that you can use in both the campaign and Multiplayer or Zombie modes.

The first 4 levels grant access to all available Loadouts in the game, and finally, the ability to customize them.

Four different weapons from the Black Ops 6 Mastercraft Collection, all of which feature different colored skins.

Credit: Call of Duty

Ranks and unlocks by level:

  • Level 1 - Private I - On the first gameplay level, you unlock 3 Default Loadouts: Enforcer, Recon, and Strategist, tailored to the chosen play style.
  • Level 2 - Private II - Unlocks Default Loadout: Commando (close range).
  • Level 3 - Private III - Unlocks Default Loadout: Overwatch (sniper rifle and shotgun backup).
  • Level 4 - Lance Corporal I - Unlocks Custom Loadouts, allowing free selection of Weapons, Gear, and Equipment in all Modes.

Starting from level 5, each new rank provides new perks, gear, and other add-ons. The following unlocks use shortcuts indicating the modes in which they can be used (MP - Multiplayer mode, ZM - Zombie mode, WZ - War Zone):

  • Level 5 - Lance Corporal II - Kill Joy | GobbleGum (ZM), RC-XD / ARC-XD | Scorestreak (MP, ZM), Assassin| Perk (MP)
  • Level 6 - Lance Corporal III - Flashbang | Tactical (MP), Vigilance | Perk (MP), Napalm Burst | Ammo Mod (ZM)
  • Level 7 - Corporal I - Alvarez | Operator (all modes), KSV | Primary Weapon (all modes)
  • Level 8 - Corporal II - Congrats to Me | Emote (MP, ZM), Stock Option | GobbleGum (ZM), Flak Jacket | Perk (MP)
  • Level 9 - Corporal III - Sticky Grenade | Lethal (MP, ZM), Frenzied Guard | Field Upgrade (ZM), Archangel Launcher | Scorestreak (MP, ZM)
  • Level 10 - Sergeant I - Toro | Operator (all modes), AK-74 | Primary Weapon | Assault Rifle (all modes)
  • Level 11 - Sergeant II - Augment Research | Feature (ZM), Who’s Keeping Score? | GobbleGum (ZM), Dispatcher | Perk (MP)
  • Level 12 - Sergeant III - Spy Cam | Tactical (MP), Sentry Turret | Scorestreak (MP, ZM), Trophy System | Field Upgrade (MP)
  • Level 13 - Staff Sergeant I - Payne | Operator (all modes), XMG | Primary Weapon | LMG (all modes), Grekhova | Secondary Weapon | Pistol (all modes)
  • Level 14 - Staff Sergeant II - C4 | Lethal Equipment (MP, ZM), Double Time | Perk (MP), Cryo Freeze | Ammo Mod (ZM)
  • Level 15 - Staff Sergeant III - Cache Back | GobbleGum (ZM), UAV | Scorestreak (MP), Tactical Expert | Wildcard (MP)
  • Level 16 - Gunnery Sergeant I - Rossi | Operator (all modes), Tanto .22 | Primary Weapon | SMG (all modes)
  • Level 17 - Gunnery Sergeant II - Smoke | Tactical Equipment (MP, ZM), Ghost | Perk (MP), Counter UAV | Scorestreak (MP)
  • Level 18 - Gunnery Sergeant III - Scrambler | Field Upgrade (MP), Cymbal Monkey | Tactical Equipment (ZM)
  • Level 19 - Master Sergeant I - AMES 85 | Primary Weapon | Assault Rifle (all modes), HE-1 | Secondary Weapon | Launcher (all modes)
  • Level 20 - Master Sergeant II - Dexterity | Perk (MP), Mangler Cannon | Scorestreak (ZM), Dark Flare | Field Upgrade (ZM)
  • Level 21 - Master Sergeant III - Thermo Grenade | Lethal Equipment (MP, ZM), LDBR | Scorestreak (MP), Anywhere But Here | GobbleGum (ZM)
  • Level 22 - Master Gunnery Sergeant I - Tsarkov 7.62 | Primary Weapon | Marksman Rifle (all modes), Bayan | Operator (all modes)
  • Level 23 - Master Gunnery Sergeant II - Prox Alarm | Tactical Equipment (MP), Bankroll | Perk (MP), Exit Strategy | GobbleGum (ZM)
  • Level 24 - Master Gunnery Sergeant III - Overkill | Wildcard (MP), Care Package | Scorestreak (MP)
  • Level 25 - Second Lieutenant I - SVD | Primary Weapon | Sniper Rifle (all modes)
  • Level 26 - Second Lieutenant II - Impact Grenade | Lethal Equipment (MP, ZM), Scavenger | Perk (MP), Soda Fountain | GobbleGum (ZM)
  • Level 27 - Second Lieutenant III - Signal Lure | Field Upgrade (MP), A.G.R. Mk 1 | Scorestreak (MP), Brain Rot | Ammo Mod (ZM)
  • Level 28 - Lieutenant I - GPR 91 | Primary Weapon | Assault Rifle (all modes), GS45 | Secondary Weapon | Pistol (all modes), Bailey | Operator (all modes)
  • Level 29 - Lieutenant II - Tracker | Perk (MP), Profit Sharing | GobbleGum (ZM), Titanic Might | Emote (MP, ZM)
  • Level 30 - Lieutenant III - Stim Shot | Tactical Equipment (MP, ZM), Napalm Strike | Scorestreak (MP, ZM)
  • Level 31 - Captain I - ASG-89 | Primary Weapon | Shotgun (all modes)
  • Level 32 - Captain II - Molotov | Lethal Equipment (MP, ZM), Guardian | Perk (MP), Wall to Wall Clearance | GobbleGum (ZM)
  • Level 33 - Captain III - SAM Turret | Scorestreak (MP), Gunfighter | Wildcard (MP), Healing Aura | Field Upgrade (ZM)
  • Level 34 - Major I - AEK-973 | Primary Weapon | Marksman Rifle (all modes), Marshall | Operator (all modes)
  • Level 35 - Major II - Decoy | Tactical Equipment (MP, ZM), War Cry | Field Upgrade (MP), Ninja | Perk (MP)
  • Level 36 - Major III - Strategic Bomber | Scorestreak (MP), Free Fire | GobbleGum (ZM)
  • Level 37 - Lieutenant Colonel I - PP-919 | Primary Weapon | SMG (all modes)
  • Level 38 - Lieutenant Colonel II - Fast Hands | Perk (MP), Danger Close | Wildcard (MP), On the House | GobbleGum (ZM)
  • Level 39 - Lieutenant Colonel III - Tactical Insertion | Field Upgrade (MP), Mutant Injection | Scorestreak (ZM)
  • Level 40 - Colonel I - Model L | Primary Weapon | Assault Riffle (all modes), Stryder .22 | Secondary Weapon | Pistol (all modes), Stone | Operator (all modes)
  • Level 41 - Colonel II - Blast Trap | Lethal Equipment (MP, ZM), Acoustic Amp | Field Upgrade (MP), Cold-Blooded | Perk (MP)
  • Level 42 - Colonel III - Shock Charge | Tactical Equipment (MP, ZM), HARP | Scorestreak (MP), Nowhere But There | GobbleGum (ZM)
  • Level 43 - Brigadier General I - Jackal PDW | Primary Weapon | SMG (all modes), DM-10 | Primary Weapon | Marksman Rifle (all modes)
  • Level 44 - Brigadier General II - Morphine Injector | Field Upgrade (MP), Tac Mask | Perk (MP), Shadow Rift | Ammo Mod (ZM)
  • Level 45 - Brigadier General III - Chopper Gunner | Scorestreak (MP, ZM), Prepper | Wildcard (MP), Idle Eyes | GobbleGum (ZM)
  • Level 46 - Major General I - Goblin Mk2 | Primary Weapon | Assault Rifle (all modes)
  • Level 47 - Major General II - Interceptors | Scorestreak (MP), Forward Intel | Perk (MP), Aether Shroud | Field Upgrade (ZM)
  • Level 48 - Major General III - Neurogas | Field Upgrade (MP), LT53 Kazimir | Tactical Equipment (ZM)
  • Level 49 - Lieutenant General I - LR 7.62 | Primary Weapon | Sniper Rifle (all modes), Kompakt 92 | Primary Weapon (all modes)
  • Level 50 - Lieutenant General II - Drill Charge | Lethal (MP), Gearhead | Perk (MP), Sally's Swagger | Emote (MP, ZM)
  • Level 51 - Lieutenant General III - Sleeper Agent | Field Upgrade (MP), Wonderbar! | GobbleGum (ZM)
  • Level 52 - General I - GPMG-7 | Primary Weapon | Light Machine Gun (all modes), Baseball Bat | Melee Weapon (all modes)
  • Level 53 - General II - Combat Axe | Lethal Equipment (MP, ZM), Bruiser | Perk (MP)
  • Level 54 - General III - Dreadnought | Scorestreak (MP), Perk Greed | Wildcard (MP), Hidden Power | GobbleGum (ZM)
  • Level 55 - Commander - AS VAL | Primary Weapon | Assault Rifle (all modes)
Hunters vs Hunted Operator Pack featuring masked soldiers and two zombies.

Credit: Call of Duty

All Operators, skins, and how to unlock them

As you've likely noticed, by progressing through levels, you unlock certain operators. These are:

  • Alvarez - After unlocking Level 7
  • Toro - After unlocking Level 10
  • Payne - After unlocking Level 13
  • Rossi - After unlocking Level 16
  • Bayan - After unlocking Level 22
  • Bailey - After unlocking Level 28
  • Marshall - After unlocking Level 34
  • Stone - After unlocking Level 40

Others are available from the start of the game and include: Caine, Carver, Grey, Maya, Nazir, Niran, Weaver, and Westpoint.

However, to unlock unique skins for them (or to gain access to characters not listed above), you need to, for example, reach a high Prestige level, take advantage of various promotions from external companies, or simply purchase the Vault Edition of the game (or upgrade your standard edition for a small fee):

  • SC1 skin - Purchase the C.O.D.E Endeavour Tracer Pack
  • Adler - Purchase the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition
  • Adler's Umbra skin - Purchase the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition
  • Alvarez's Unleash the Truth skin - Purchase a qualifying product from Monster Energy
  • Alvarez's The Beast Inside skin - Purchase a qualifying product from Monster Energy
  • Alvarez's Cold Trail skin - Purchase a qualifying product from Monster Energy
  • Bailey's Art of War skin - Reach Prestige 9 Level 50
  • Brutus - Purchase the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition
  • Brutus's Warden of Alcatraz skin - Purchase the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition
  • Caine's Major Za skin - Participate in the Little Caesars Promotion
  • Grey's Samantha's PJs skin - Reach Prestige 9 Level 50
  • Klaus - Purchase the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition
  • Klaus's Reborn skin - Purchase the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition
  • Marshall's Sitting Bull Reborn skin - Reach Prestige Master
  • Marshall's Heist skin - Finish the High Rollers Mission
  • Maya's Specialist Fan skin - Reach Prestige 7 Level 50
  • Maya's Trophy Collector skin - Complete the Terminus Main Quest
  • Park - Purchase the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition
  • Payne's My Name Is… skin - Reach Prestige 3 Level 50
  • Toro's Absolute Loss skin - Reach Prestige 5 Level 50
  • Weaver's Nacht Rider skin - Reach Prestige 1

Some Operators and skins were available exclusively before release, during Early Access, the Beta, and in pre-orders:

  • Westpoint's Squish skin - Reach Level 20 during the Early Access Beta
  • Westpoint's Squash skin - Reach Level 20 during Weekend 1 or 2 of the Beta
  • Woods - Pre-order any digital edition of Black Ops 6
  • Woods's Zombie Woods skin - Pre-order any digital edition of Black Ops 6
  • Woods's Numbers Woods skin - Pre-order any digital edition of Black Ops 6
  • Woods's Classic Woods skin - Pre-order any digital edition of Black Ops 6

Summary: How to unlock all unlocks, Operators, and skins

In summary, obtaining all unlocks, operators, and skins is mostly possible by… simply playing Black Ops 6! However, if you want to collect everything the game has to offer (post-release), you should:

  • Participate in Promotional Events
  • Play Zombies, Multiplayer, and Campaign
  • Purchase the Vault Edition or upgrade your version to Vault
  • Purchase Store Bundles

Eager to join the fight and unlock them all? Check out G2A's marketplace for some amazing offers on Black Ops 6 game keys!