You're standing in the middle of Liberty Falls, back against a wall, wondering if that last Mangler kill actually counted toward your gold progress. It’s a familiar feeling for anyone who has spent the last decade circles-strafing undead hordes. But honestly, the Black Ops 6 all zombie camo challenges are a bit of a departure from the "bore-fests" we saw in some recent titles. Treyarch went back to the roots of the round-based system, and with that comes a camo grind that is actually rewarding—if you know how to navigate the specific weirdness of the requirements.
Let's be real. Nobody wants to spend forty hours on a pistol just to find out they were supposed to be getting "Point Blank" kills when the game engine barely registers what a point blank is. This year, the focus is on the Military, Unique, and Mastery tiers. It's a long road. It's frustrating. You'll probably hate the Jet Gun by the time you're done with the Liberty Falls specific tasks. But that Nebula skin? It's arguably the best-looking final tier camo we've seen since Dark Aether in Cold War.
Breaking Down the Military Tiers
Before you even look at the shiny stuff, you’ve got the Military Camos. This is the foundation. It’s basically just a high-volume body count. You need Critical Kills (headshots) for most weapons, though launchers and melee tools swap this out for standard eliminations because, well, hitting a zombie in the "head" with a rocket is a bit of a tall order.
You’re looking at nine Military Camos per gun. The numbers usually ramp up from 100 to 2,000 Critical Kills. It sounds like a lot. It is. But if you’re playing efficiently—meaning you aren't exfilling at round 15 every time—you can knock out the Military tiers for a single weapon in about two solid runs to round 30. Use the Deadshot Daiquiri perk. It’s not a suggestion; it’s a requirement. The snap-to-head mechanic is the only thing keeping your sanity intact during the 2,000 headshot stretch.
The Unique Challenges: Where Things Get Weird
Once you finish the headshots, you unlock the ability to earn the two "Unique" camos for that specific weapon. This is where Treyarch gets creative, or annoying, depending on your perspective. These aren't just "get more kills." They require specific gameplay loops.
For example, with SMGs, you might be tasked with getting kills while the zombie is affected by tactical equipment. This means you're spamming stun grenades or decoys. For sniper rifles, you might need "Longshot" kills, which are notoriously difficult on a map like Terminus where every corner is a tight hallway. You have to find those long sightlines, like looking from the top of the sea tower down toward the docks.
Some weapons require "Kills shortly after switching." This forces a frantic playstyle where you’re constantly cycling your triangle or Y button. It’s clunky. You'll feel like you're playing the game wrong, but that's the nature of the Black Ops 6 all zombie camo challenges. They want you to use the gun in ways it wasn't intended.
The Mastery Tiers: Mystic Gold to Nebula
This is why you're here. The Mastery camos are the status symbols. They are divided into four distinct stages: Mystic Gold, Opal, Afterlife, and finally, Nebula.
Mystic Gold
To get Mystic Gold, you first need all Military and Unique camos for that specific gun. Then, you have to complete a specific Mastery Challenge. Usually, this involves getting a certain number of kills (often 10) in a single life, a specific number of times. It’s easy, but it requires discipline. Don't get greedy. If you get your 10 kills, back off, let the streak reset if necessary, or just keep the momentum if the challenge allows for consecutive stacks.
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Opal
Opal is where the "Global" grind starts. You can't just be good with one gun. You need to unlock Mystic Gold on a set number of weapons within a specific class. If you want Opal on your XM4, you better start leveling up the other assault rifles too. The challenge for Opal usually involves getting kills with the weapon while it is Pack-a-Punched. Since you’ll be Pack-a-Punching anyway to survive higher rounds, this usually happens naturally.
Afterlife
This is the "animated" tier that starts to look really special. It requires you to have Opal unlocked across a massive chunk of the arsenal. The requirements here often shift toward Elite or Special zombie eliminations. We’re talking Manglers, Amalgamations, and those annoying Abominations. Terminus is generally better for this than Liberty Falls because the spawn rate of Specials feels slightly more consistent in the later rounds.
Nebula
The endgame. Nebula is the culmination of the Black Ops 6 all zombie camo challenges. It’s a reactive, cosmic camo that covers the entire weapon. To get this, you need Afterlife on basically everything. The final challenge is usually something like "Get 10 Elite Kills." By the time you reach this stage, you’re a pro at kiting zombies, managing your essence, and knowing exactly when to pop your Frenzied Guard.
Optimized Pathing for the Terminus Map
If you're grinding on Terminus, you need a plan. Don't just wander. Start by focusing on the trials. The trials give you Pack-a-Punched weapons or high-tier rewards that can speed up the early Military tiers.
Use the sea. If you’re getting overwhelmed while going for headshots, hop on a boat. The zombies will follow you into the water, and they move slower, making them easy pickings for those critical hits. Also, keep an eye on the "S.A.M. Device" events. These spawn high densities of enemies in a small area, which is perfect for those "10 kills in rapid succession" challenges.
Misconceptions About the Grind
A lot of people think you have to do every single gun in the game to get Nebula. That's not technically true. Usually, you only need to complete a number of weapons equivalent to the launch roster. If a new DLC weapon comes out in Season 1, you can use that to skip a weapon you hate—like a particularly miserable sniper rifle or a weak launcher. This "skip" mechanic is a lifesaver for your mental health.
Another misconception is that you need to be in a 4-player lobby. Honestly? Solo is better for camos. In a 4-player game, your teammates are "stealing" your headshots. In solo, every single zombie on the map belongs to you. You control the pace. You decide when to flip the round.
Practical Tips for Efficiency
- Ammo Mods are key: For challenges requiring elemental damage, remember that Brain Rot kills sometimes don't count toward your primary weapon's headshot tally because the turned zombie is doing the work. Use Dead Wire or Napalm Burst for more consistent credit.
- The Power of Melee: Even if you aren't doing a melee weapon, having a combat knife equipped as your dedicated melee slot allows you to save ammo in early rounds while still racking up points for doors.
- Gobblegums: Don't hoard them. Use "Free Fire" or "Wall Power" to get your weapon's rarity up early. A legendary (orange) weapon does significantly more damage, making headshots easier at round 25+.
- Audio Cues: Turn down the music. Listen for the sound of a Mangler spawning or the screech of a Vermin. In Black Ops 6, spatial awareness is half the battle when you're scoped in trying to hit tiny hitboxes.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
Start with the "bad" guns first. Get the pistols and launchers out of the way while your interest is high. If you leave the hardest weapons for the end, you'll burn out and never see that Nebula camo.
Focus on one weapon class at a time to stay in the rhythm of that specific weapon's handling and recoil pattern. Map out your route through Terminus or Liberty Falls to maximize your "up-time" with the Pack-a-Punch machine. Once you hit the 2,000 Critical Kills mark on a gun, immediately swap it out. Efficiency is the difference between finishing the grind in two weeks versus two months.
Check your progress in the "Camo" tab mid-match if you're unsure. There's nothing worse than finishing a 40-round game only to realize you were five kills short of a milestone because you miscounted.