You’re sprinting through a corridor in Babylon, bullets whizzing past your ears, and instead of reloading your Jackal PDW, you pull out a massive blade. It’s a vibe. Honestly, Black Ops 6 has leaned harder into the movement-heavy, "omnimovement" style than any previous Call of Duty, which makes melee weapons feel less like a meme and more like a genuine threat. But figuring out how to get swords in BO6 isn't always as straightforward as just hitting a certain level, especially when the game cycles through seasonal content, events, and the ever-present shop bundles.
Melee is different this year. With the ability to dive and slide in any direction, closing the gap on an enemy player is faster than ever. If you aren't carrying a blade, you're missing out on some of the most satisfying killfeeds in the game.
The Most Reliable Way to Get Swords in BO6
If you want the base experience, you're looking at the Tanto MP. It’s the foundational melee weapon for many players starting their journey. You unlock it relatively early through the standard military ranks. Specifically, once you hit Level 37, the Tanto becomes available in your loadout. It’s a short-range, high-damage knife, but let’s be real—you’re here for the longer blades.
The actual "swords," like the Goblin MK2 variants or the seasonal melee additions, usually require a bit more effort. Traditionally, Treyarch locks these behind the Battle Pass or specific "In-Season" challenges. For the current cycle, you need to keep a close eye on the Sector rewards. Usually, a new melee weapon like a sword is tucked away in a mid-tier sector that requires about 15 to 20 Battle Pass Tokens to reach. You don't necessarily have to buy the BlackCell version, but you do have to grind the matches.
Sometimes, the game throws a curveball. Remember the "Wall Buy" mechanics in Zombies? Swords often appear there first as a proof of concept before migrating over to the multiplayer side as a permanent unlock.
Zombies and the Melee Meta
Zombies is where the sword really shines. In the Terminus or Liberty Falls maps, having a sword isn't just about looking cool; it's about crowd control. To get the more "mystical" or high-tier swords here, you aren't just looking at loadouts. You’re looking at the Arsenal Machine.
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You can actually start a match with a melee weapon by selecting it in your dedicated Melee slot in the Create-a-Class menu. However, to make it viable past Round 10, you have to upgrade its rarity using Salvage. A common sword is basically a butter knife by Round 20. You need that Legendary (orange) glow.
- Step 1: Earn Salvage by killing zombies and picking up the green/blue drops.
- Step 2: Head to an Arsenal toward the middle of the map.
- Step 3: Spend your Salvage to "Tier Up" your weapon.
It’s a simple loop. But it's the only way to ensure your sword stays a one-hit kill. If you're looking for the Wonder Weapon style blades, those are usually tied to the main Easter Egg quests or high-roll Mystery Box pulls. They aren't technically "swords" in the traditional sense, but they function the same way with added elemental effects.
Why Everyone is Hunting the Melee Unlocks
Speed. That’s the answer. In Black Ops 6, your movement speed is dictated by the weight of what you're holding. Carrying a sword gives you the maximum possible sprint speed. Pro players—and the sweaty guys in your SBMM-heavy lobbies—switch to their sword the second they need to rotate across the map.
It’s tactical.
Think about the map Skyline. It’s got those long sightlines but also very tight interior rooms. If you’re caught reloading a sniper, swapping to a sword and using a directional dive toward an enemy is often faster than trying to swap to a pistol. The lunge mechanic in BO6 is surprisingly generous. If you’re within a few meters, the game basically "magically" pulls you toward the target for the kill. It feels a bit cheap when it happens to you, but it's glorious when you're the one swinging.
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Challenges You Can't Ignore
If you missed a seasonal unlock for a specific sword, don't worry. Activision usually adds an "Unlock Challenge" once the season ends. Usually, it’s something like: "Get 2 kills with a melee weapon without dying in 15 different matches."
It sounds tedious. It is.
But if you load into a small map playlist like Face Off 6v6, you can knock this out in about an hour. Stick to the corners. Use the Ninja perk to dampen your footsteps. Most importantly, use the Stim Shot. Since you're going to be taking fire while closing the distance, that instant health regen is the difference between a successful sword strike and a death screen.
The Store and the "Pay to Look Cool" Factor
We have to talk about the shop. It’s Call of Duty. There will always be a sword skin that looks better than the base version. Whether it’s a katana or a glowing medieval longsword, these blueprints are usually part of 2,400 COD Point bundles.
Buying a bundle gives you instant access to the weapon even if you haven't done the level grind. It's a shortcut. Is it worth $20? That’s up to your wallet. But keep in mind that buying a blueprint doesn't always unlock the base weapon for customization; it just gives you that specific version. If you want to change the camo to Gold or Diamond, you still usually have to complete the base challenges.
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Mastering the Omnimovement Sword Play
Getting the sword is only half the battle. Using it without going 5-25 in a lobby is the hard part.
The trick is the Slide-Cancel-Slash. In BO6, you can slide and then immediately melee to carry your momentum through the strike. It makes your hitbox move unpredictably. Most players are aiming at chest height for a standing target. If you’re sliding under their bullets and coming up with a blade, you’ve already won.
Also, don't forget the dedicated Melee slot. You no longer have to sacrifice a secondary weapon like a launcher or a pistol to carry a sword. You have a dedicated knife/sword slot that you can pull out by holding the melee button or swapping through your weapons. This changed the game. It means everyone has a blade at all times, so expect "sword duels" to happen more frequently in the middle of a chaotic Hardpoint match.
Summary of Actionable Steps
Stop searching and start playing. The path to the blade is straightforward if you focus your playtime.
- Check your Level: If you aren't at least Level 37, you aren't even in the conversation for the base Tanto. Grind those levels first.
- Scout the Battle Pass: Open the map and look for the melee icon. Use your tokens to path directly toward that sector rather than auto-spending them.
- Small Map Moshpit: This is your best friend. High density, fast respawns, and constant close-quarters combat make melee challenges fly by.
- Zombies Salvage: If you're a Zombies main, prioritize the Arsenal. A base sword is useless by Round 15 without rarity upgrades and Pack-a-Punch.
- Perk Synergy: Equipping Ghost and Ninja is non-negotiable for sword users. If they see you on the UAV, you'll never get close enough to swing.
The meta will shift, and new swords will definitely be added in the mid-season "Reloaded" updates. Stay aggressive, stay fast, and keep your movement unpredictable.