Let’s be real for a second. If you’re staring at the C9 in the loadout menu, you probably already know it’s a monster in Multiplayer. But taking that submachine gun into the undead-infested trenches of Liberty Falls or Terminus? That's a different vibe entirely. The C9 camo challenges zombies grind is honestly one of the first things most players tackle because the gun is just so reliable, but if you don't have a plan, you're going to waste hours mindlessly spraying into crowds without actually making progress on those mastery badges.
It’s an SMG. You know the drill. High fire rate, decent mobility, and a reload speed that won't leave you hanging while a Mangler is breathing down your neck. But the transition from standard military camos to the coveted Nebula or Abyss involves jumping through some specific, sometimes annoying, hoops.
The Basic Grind: Military Camos
Before you even think about the flashy stuff, you’ve gotta clear the baseline. For the C9, this basically boils down to one thing: Critical Kills. You need 2,000 critical kills (headshots) to unlock the path to the Unique and Mastery camos.
Don't just run around hip-firing. Honestly, that's the biggest mistake people make. Even with a laser attachment, the C9's spread in Zombies can be erratic. You want to aim for the chin. Why the chin? Because the recoil kick on the C9 usually drags the second and third bullets upward, right into the forehead. If you aim for the top of the head, you’re missing half your burst.
I've spent way too much time in the standard "training" spots. On Liberty Falls, the parking lot near the starting area is okay, but it gets cramped fast. If you really want to fly through the 2,000 crit kills, head to the rooftop of the bank. It forces the zombies into a narrow climb, making headshots almost automatic.
Breaking Down the Unique Camos
Once those 2,000 crits are done, you hit the "Unique" challenges. These are specific to the C9.
First up is usually something like getting 300 kills while the weapon is Pack-a-Punched. This is a "gimme" challenge. You’re going to Pack-a-Punch anyway if you want to survive past round 15. The real trick here is managing your Essence efficiently so you can hit Level 1 Pack as early as round 4 or 5.
Then things get a bit more technical. One challenge often requires getting kills shortly after using a Tactical. In the current Zombies meta, Decoys are your best friend. Throw a Decoy, watch the horde bunch up, and then unload. It’s significantly more effective than using Stuns or Flashbangs, which tend to have a shorter "effective window" for the challenge to register.
Mastering the C9 Camo Challenges Zombies Requirements
Now we get into the heavy hitters: Mystic Gold, Opal, Afterlife, and Nebula.
Mystic Gold requires you to get 10 kills rapidly 15 times. This sounds easy, but in later rounds, the C9's damage drop-off starts to hurt. If you aren't keeping up with your Tool rarity upgrades (getting that gun to Blue or Purple), you’ll find yourself dumping a whole magazine into three zombies, which ruins your "rapid" streak. Use the Deadshot Daiquiri perk. It’s non-negotiable. The snap-to-aim feature on controllers—or the increased crit damage on PC—is the only way to ensure those 10 kills happen fast enough.
The Opal Obstacle
Opal is where the "Expert" tier really starts. Usually, this involves getting a certain amount of "Special" or "Elite" zombie kills. We’re talking Manglers and Abominations.
The C9 is a peashooter against Abominations. Don't try to solo an Abomination with a base C9; you’ll be there all night. Use Napalm Burst ammo mods. Since the C9 fires so fast, you’ll trigger the burn effect constantly. This chip damage is vital for finishing off Elites to count toward your C9 camo challenges zombies progress.
Also, focus on Manglers. They are much squishier. A Pack-a-Punched C9 to the arm cannon of a Mangler will pop it in seconds. In Terminus, stay in the biodome area; the spawns are predictable, and you can bait Manglers into the traps to soften them up before finishing them with the C9.
The "Afterlife" and "Nebula" Long Game
If you’re going for Nebula, you’re committed. This isn't a casual Sunday afternoon activity.
For the Afterlife camo, you typically need to complete challenges across all SMGs in the category. This is the "Gold" equivalent for the class. The C9 is usually the easiest one to finish first, but it serves as the benchmark for how you'll handle the rest.
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The biggest hurdle for the higher-tier camos is the "10 kills without being hit" requirement or similar streaks. This is where most players tilt.
- Get Armor Level 3 immediately.
- Use the Aether Shroud Field Upgrade.
- If you get cornered, don't try to shoot your way out—pop the Shroud, reposition, and reset your streak.
One thing people get wrong: they think they have to stay in the high-round areas to get these kills. You don't. You can farm the early rounds, exfil, and restart. It is much faster to do three "Round 20" runs than one "Round 60" run when you're just hunting specific camo milestones. The zombie health cap in 2026's version of the game is steep; the C9 struggles when the health scaling hits the ceiling.
Secret Efficiency Tips for the C9
Attachments matter more than you think. You might love the suppressor in Warzone, but in Zombies, it's dead weight. You want the Compensator or anything that helps with vertical recoil.
- Magazine: Use the largest drum mag available. Reloading is the leading cause of death for SMG users in Zombies.
- Ammo Mod: Brain Rot is great for survival, but terrible for camos. Why? Because the zombie you turn starts stealing your kills. If the turned zombie kills 20 others, those do not count toward your C9 headshots. Stick to Cryo Freeze or Napalm Burst.
- Movement: Use the Infiltrator or Raider stocks. Strafe speed is life. If you can move faster than the zombies can swipe, you don't need to worry about the "don't get hit" challenges as much.
Solving the "Buggy" Progression Myth
Every few weeks, someone on Reddit claims the C9 camo challenges zombies trackers are broken. While bugs happen, 90% of the time, it's a tracking misunderstanding.
For example, if a challenge asks for "Point Blank Kills," you basically need to be touching the zombie. If there is a foot of space between your barrel and their chest, it often won't register. For the C9, this is risky. Use the Stamin-Up perk so you can backpedal quickly after getting that point-blank kill.
Also, keep an eye on your weapon level. You cannot progress the Unique challenges until the weapon is at the required level. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people farm 500 kills only to realize their gun was one level too low to start the tracker.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Match
To wrap this up and get you into the game, here is the exact loop you should follow to maximize your time.
Don't wander aimlessly. Load into Terminus and stay in the starting area until round 6. Use only your knife to build up Essence. By round 10, you should have the C9 Pack-a-Punched to Level 1 and at least Rare (Blue) rarity.
Focus entirely on the 2,000 critical kills first. Do not worry about Elites or Specials until the military camos are done. Once those are clear, pivot your strategy to hunting Manglers on the docks. Use the Decoy and Deadshot combo to clear the "Rapid Kills" requirements for Mystic Gold.
If you're hitting a wall with the "10 kills without being hit," head to the Liberty Falls bowling alley. It's a tight space, but if you have a Tier 3 C9, you can mow down the doorway spawns before they even enter the room. Just watch your back for the ceiling spawns.
Check your progress in the pause menu every few rounds. If the counter isn't moving, exfil immediately—sometimes the lobby instance desyncs, and you don't want to spend 40 rounds earning zero progress. Stick to these steps, and that Nebula C9 will be in your inventory way faster than the average player.
Upgrade your Perk-a-Colas in the out-of-game menu specifically for Deadshot and Stamin-Up first; the extra crit damage and the ability to sprint while reloading are the two biggest "hidden" buffs for any SMG camo hunter. Get out there and start clicking heads.