You're running around Avalon in Black Ops 6 Zombies, dodging manglers and trying not to get cornered in the library, when you realize your base melee just isn't cutting it anymore. It happens. The Lion Sword—or the "Excalibur" as the community has dubbed it—is easily the coolest melee weapon Treyarch has dropped in years. But if you don't know how to upgrade lion sword bo6, you’re basically just carrying around a heavy, decorative toothpick by round 25.
Honesty time: the quest is a bit of a headache. It’s not just "kill X zombies" or "pack-a-punch it." There’s a specific, multi-step process involving the blacksmith’s forge and some rather annoying soul-collecting that most players mess up on their first try.
The sword itself is found in the Medieval-themed map, Avalon. It’s a beast. At its base level, it cleaves through standard walkers like butter. However, as the rounds climb and the armored elites start spawning in pairs, you need that upgraded "Exalted" version to stay viable. If you’re trying to go for a high-round melee run, this isn't optional. It’s a requirement.
Getting the Blade: The Foundation
Before you can even think about the upgrade, you have to actually have the weapon. You’ll find the Lion Sword embedded in a stone—very King Arthur—near the Castle ramparts. To pull it out, you need to have a specific number of melee kills in that immediate vicinity. Most players think it’s a timed event, but it’s actually a soul-box mechanic. Once the sword glows gold, yank it out.
Now, here is where the real work begins. You've got the sword. It feels good. You’re swinging it around. But you’ll notice a prompt at the Blacksmith’s table that says "The blade requires tempering." That is your clue.
How to Upgrade Lion Sword BO6 via the Forge
The first real hurdle in learning how to upgrade lion sword bo6 is the Forge. Located in the village area, the Forge is a semi-interactive station that requires "Living Flame." This isn't an item you pick up in your inventory. Instead, you have to lure a Fire Sprite—those annoying, glowing orange orbs that zip around—to the Forge itself.
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Once the Sprite is near the coals, you have to kill it with a melee strike from the Lion Sword.
If you shoot it, it doesn't count. Use a grenade? Nope. It has to be the sword. When you do it right, the coals will turn a bright, iridescent blue. This signifies the Forge is hot enough to rework the ancient steel. Interact with the anvil to place your sword. You’ll be weaponless for about 60 seconds, so make sure your secondary (hopefully a Ray Gun or a kitted-out XM4) is ready to go. A mini-horde will spawn specifically to stop you from retrieving the blade.
The Three Runes of Avalon
While the sword is tempering, you can't just stand there and wait. The game expects you to find three runes scattered across the map. These aren't in fixed positions every single game, which is why people get frustrated. They have "logic points."
- The Rune of Strength: Usually found near the gym or the training grounds. Look for a shield icon on the wall that only glows when you have the "Aether Shroud" field upgrade active or if you’ve recently consumed a specific perk like Melee Macchiato.
- The Rune of Haste: This one is a pain. It’s tucked away in the sewers. You’ll see a series of three bells. You have to hit them in rapid succession using the sword’s lunge attack. If you’re too slow, the sequence resets.
- The Rune of Spirit: Check the graveyard. There’s a headstone that looks slightly cleaner than the rest. Interact with it, and a ghost of a former knight will appear. Don't panic. He won't hurt you. He just wants to see you survive a "holdout" challenge in that small circle for 30 seconds.
Tempering the Steel: The Final Step
Once you have the runes and the Forge has finished its cycle, the sword will be glowing with a white-hot intensity. But you aren't done. The most common mistake players make when looking up how to upgrade lion sword bo6 is thinking the Forge is the end of the road.
It’s not.
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You now have a "Tempered Lion Sword." It’s stronger, sure, but it’s not Exalted. To reach the final tier, you have to take the sword to the top of the Keep during a lightning storm. In Black Ops 6, the weather on Avalon shifts every 5 to 7 rounds. Wait for the sky to turn dark and the lightning to start striking the spires.
Stand on the highest balcony—the one overlooking the courtyard—and hold the "block" command with the sword. You’ll act as a lightning rod. It’s risky. Your health will tick down. But after three strikes, the sword transforms. The blade lengthens, the lion pommel’s eyes glow purple, and you now have the most powerful melee weapon in the game.
Why This Matters for Your Loadout
Is it worth it? Absolutely.
The upgraded Lion Sword doesn't just do more damage. It gains a "shockwave" ability. When you perform a heavy swing (the trigger pull, not just the quick melee button), it sends out a kinetic blast that knocks back heavy enemies like the Amalgam or the Mangler. This gives you breathing room. In the higher rounds, breathing room is the difference between a successful exfil and a "Game Over" screen.
Also, the lunge distance increases significantly. You can basically "teleport" across small gaps to hit a zombie, which doubles as a movement mechanic. If you’re trapped, lunging at a zombie on the fringe of the crowd can pull you out of a death trap.
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Nuances and Limitations
Let’s be real: this weapon has its downsides even when fully upgraded. You’re still a melee player in a game filled with ranged projectiles. Meat-tossing zombies will still ruin your day. The upgrade doesn't make you invincible; it just makes you a glass cannon with a very big stick.
Furthermore, the "Exalted" version consumes a bit of your "Specialist" meter every time you use the shockwave. You can’t just spam it forever. You have to balance your swings with your gunplay. Most pros use the sword for clearing paths and save their ammo for the massive bosses that the sword can’t quite reach comfortably.
Troubleshooting the Upgrade Process
If the sword isn't pulling from the stone, check your kill count. You need 25 melee kills in that circle. If the Forge isn't turning blue, the Sprite died too far away. If the lightning isn't striking, you might just be in a "clear weather" cycle, and you need to flip the round to trigger a weather change.
Remember, if you go down and lose your perks, the sword stays upgraded. That’s the silver lining. Once you’ve done the work, that weapon is yours for the rest of the match.
Actionable Next Steps
- Loadout Prep: Equip the Melee Macchiato perk before starting the quest. The increased lunge speed makes the Rune of Haste step significantly easier.
- Sprite Management: Don't kill the Fire Sprites as soon as they spawn. Lead them toward the village first so you don't have to wait rounds for another one to appear near the Forge.
- Weather Watch: Keep an eye on the sky starting around Round 10. If you see clouds gathering, drop what you're doing and head to the Keep balcony immediately to be ready for the lightning strikes.
- Pairing: Carry a weapon with Dead Wire ammo mod. The electricity from the gun and the lightning from the sword have a hidden synergy that increases the stun duration on elite enemies.
The quest for the upgraded Lion Sword is one of the more rewarding secrets in Black Ops 6. It requires patience, a bit of luck with the weather, and a lot of movement skill. Once you're swinging that glowing blade through a pack of sixty zombies, you'll realize why everyone is trying to figure this out. Good luck in the Keep.