If you're trying to enjoy the early access of Fortnite's Ballistic mode and are unable to find any games - worry not, for you're not the only one having the problem.

As of writing, the online services of multiple Fortnite game modes are having issues on the server side. Due to the problems caused by them, players have been unable to matchmake as expected, and this spans across multiple game modes. Ballistic's early access has also been affected by it, unfortunately, but there are a few tips and tricks to ensure, which will allow you to jump in once the problems are resolved.

How to solve Fortnite Ballistic's matchmaking errors

Usually, matchmaking errors take place in Fortnite when there are either issues at your end, or the end of the servers. As of writing, it has been confirmed that the servers aren't working as intended. Epic Games has officially acknowledged the issue, and the developers are currently looking at the problems.

The best solution right now is to just wait patiently. As this is a problem at the server end, there's nothing you can do. As long as you have the updated client, you should be able to enjoy Ballistic when the servers go online. An ETA isn't available since Epic Games hasn't given a timeline about how long it will take to fix the problems.

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind if you get matchmaking errors even after the servers are fixed.

• Using a cabled internet connection will be smoother compared to WiFi, and it will also reduce instances of packet bursts.
• If you have a Strict NAT-type connection, you'll occasionally run into problems trying to matchmake in Ballistic.
• Make sure that you don't have any background service that is consuming a large bandwidth of your allotted data.

As long as these steps are ensured, enjoying Fortnite Ballistic will be a piece of cake once Epic fixes its servers. Till then, make sure to check out our guide about what the new mode is and how it will work in Epic's battle royale universe.

The post Fortnite Ballistic matchmaking errors, explained appeared first on Destructoid.

Christmas has arrived early in Destiny 2 in the form of the Dawning event, and the Mistral Lift Linear Fusion rifle is certainly one of the best rewards you can get for your grind.

The latest weapon holds high potential to become top tier in its own archetype, and especially so, if the player knows how to compliment it well with a good build and top-tier rolls. It's an Adaptive Burst Void Linear Fusion rifle that shoots in three-burst rounds and offers some amazing perks. But before we get into that, let's take a look at how you can unlock this gun in the first place.

How to get Mistral Lift in Destiny 2

The Mistral Lift is available exclusively during the Dawning event. To get the first copy of the gun, you'll have to complete event card challenges and eliminate targets with any form of Void damage. This includes your weapons and abilities, as long as they do the required type of damage.

Next, you'll have to get Dawning Essence to create gifts for the festive season. When you deliver the gifts, you'll get A gift in Return that can be used at Eva Levante to get specific weapons. Make sure to purchase all the required items to unlock weapon focusing. While this takes care of getting the gun, let's take a look at the best possible builds for it.

Best Mistral Lift Perks and God Rolls in Destiny 2

The Mistral Lift is reportedly becoming a new darling of the community when it comes to PvE. It's a far more limited choice when it comes to PvP. Nevertheless, here are the god rolls of the gun for both game modes.

Mistral Lift PvE God Roll

Fluted Barrel and Enhanced Battery offer a bigger magazine size and greater stability that can combine extremely well with the two perks. Bait and Switch will provide a 30% boost to damage, and Envious Assassin also amplifies the damage. Their trigger factors are also similar, making it easy for you to activate both of them by basically doing the same activity.

When it comes to content like Nightfall raids, Withering Gaze can be a good alternative as well. If you have aimed at an enemy for 1.5 seconds, your shot will weaken the enemy you hit. It's a good choice, but you'll have longer reload times.

Mistral Lift PvP God Roll

In PvP, you'll want to to avoid using Linear Fusion Rifles, as weapons with faster shooting rate will be far more beneficial. Do note that there is no other way to get the Mistral Lift apart from completing events that are currently available on the Dawning event card.

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The Citadelle des Morts location in Call of Duty Black Ops 6 has plenty of easter eggs that are hidden from plain view, and one of them involves a secret Maya cutscene.

Maya has already played an important role in Zombies lore, and she has a noticeable presence in the two older regions - Terminus Island and Liberty Falls. The secret cutscene that's found in Citadelle des Morts can be unlocked pretty easily once you know where to look. This cutscene also helps to expand on the lore of Maya and her relationship with her brother from what happened on Terminus.

Black Ops 6 Citadelle des Morts secret Maya cutscene explained

There are certain requirements that have to be taken care of if you want to unlock the cutscene. You'll have to equip Maya from the loadout screen if you want to access the cutscene. Next, start a new match from Zombies and make sure to equip the Citadelle des Morts map. You can play with a squad, but playing solo will let you focus more on the task at hand.

The exact location you have to find is inside the castle. Head to the F0 coordinates, where you'll find the Vulture Aid machine. This spot is found on the eastern side of the map. Near the machine, you'll find a table with a radio sitting on top of it.

If you reach the spot too early, I likely won't work, and you'll have to wait till the radio is active. Once it's active, interact with it, and the nearby door (right beside it) will stay unlocked. Go inside it to access a secret region.

First, you'll encounter a few vermin in this location, so go ahead and eliminate them. Next, you'll come across a mini-boss, whom you'll need to defeat as well. This mini-boss will drop a key - pick it up, and take the path that leads straight ahead. This will activate the special cutscene involving Maya in Black Ops 6. It's a really cool easter egg, even if you don't get any in-game advantages out of it.

The post How to unlock the secret Maya cutscene on Citadelle des Morts in Black Ops 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Season 1 Reloaded update has brought a host of new content to Black Ops 6 Zombies mode, and one aspect of it involves finding Lightning Rods at Citadelle des Morts.

In case you're still unfamiliar with the new spot, there's a brand new Wonder Weapon in the form of the Bastard Sword. While this sword is incredibly powerful on its own, you can change it to four different elemental versions to amplify its potential. One of those four versions requires you to find three Lightning Rods.

This task can be pretty hard, as you'll have to stay clear of the undead, but here's the detailed process.

Black Ops 6 Zombies Lightning Rods locations explained

Before you start your adventure of finding the Lightning Rods, you'll first need to have the Stag Bastard Sword. If you're unsure as to how to get it, check out this guide.

Once you've found the base version, the task now is to find three rods that are located at different spots. The first one is perhaps the easiest, which is situated at the D6 coordinates. This place has a Dead Shot Daquiri Perk machine, and you'll get what you're looking for near the machine to its left.

After you've found the first one, purchase the Dead Shot Ammo Mod from any Arsenal Machine. Make sure to make a mistake at this step unless you want to waste your Salvage. Once you've got the mod, soot down an electrical box that you'll find at the G5 coordinates.

The box is situated right next to the Speed Cola Perk machine near a set of stairs. If you shoot it with a weapon loaded with Dead Shot, the second Lightning Rod will spawn.

The third and final could be a hard one to find as it's completely random. Both my colleague and I found it after killing an Armored Zombie, and reportedly, your chances of getting it might be higher in the Pack-a-Punch machine room on the lower floor of E2 coordinates.

Whether that's the case or not remains for you to be explored. But it's best to reach that spot and try to find the third rod since I don't see any harm in doing that. The Armored Zombie will have a Lightning Rod sticking out of its body, and that's your cue. Once you kill it, the third and final rod will be available to be picked up.

How to use the Lightning Rods in Black Ops 6 Zombies

Once you've found all three rods, take the pathway toward the cannon at D4. You'll come across a mechanism that can hold all three rods. Upon interaction, the mechanism will light up. Now equip your Stag Bastard Sword, and keep eliminating zombies till a lightning effect is produced. Once you've done so, hit the mechanism with your Stag Bastard Sword.

This process has to be repeated three times, and then your Stag Bastard Sword must be placed inside. It can get quite challenging if you're not playing in a squad, and stepping away from the mechanism will remove the Rods. Hence, you'll need to repeat the process. Once complete, your Stag Bastard Sword will be consumed and you'll be getting the Lightning Stag Sword Durendal in return.

The post How to find the Lightning Rods in Black Ops 6 Zombies appeared first on Destructoid.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 has a vast assortment of guns and weapons, and you can personalize them with unique camos/skins.

While you'll be able to unlock new camos from the upcoming battle pass, you can unlock more by grinding kills and completing different achievements. The multiplayer mode has four Mastery camos for every available weapon, but there's more. Let's first take a look at the nine Military camos to unlock.

All Black Ops 6 multiplayer military camos to unlock

Every weapon in Black Ops 6 has nine military camos and two special camos to unlock in the multiplayer mode. These camos are separate from the four Mastery camos (we'll get to that later in this article).

• Granite: Five Headshots.
• Woodland: 10 Headshots.
• Savanna: 15 Headshots.
• Splinter: 20 Headshots.
• Moss: 30 Headshots.
• Shade: 40 Headshots.
• Digital: 50 Headshots.
• Tide: 75 Headshots.
• Red Tiger: 100 Headshots.

The two special camos and their unlock conditions vary across the weapons, while the Mastery camos are Gold, Diamond, Dark Spine, and Dark Matter.

Before we jump further into unlocking the Special and Mastery camos, do note the following conditions.

• Diamond Mastery camo: Requires you to have Gold camos on all of those weapon types. So, if you're looking to unlock the Diamond Mastery camo for the XM4, you'll need a Gold camo for all assault rifles.
• Dark Spine Mastery camo: Requires Diamond camo on 33 weapons.
• Dark Matter Mastery camo: Requires Dark Spine camo on 33 weapons.

With that clear, let's take a look at the individual conditions needed to unlock all the camos.

Black Ops 6 Assault Rifles multiplayer camo challenges

Black Ops 6 SMGs multiplayer camo challenges

Black Ops 6 LMGs multiplayer camo challenges

Black Ops 6 Shotguns multiplayer camo challenges

Black Ops 6 Sniper Rifles multiplayer camo challenges

Black Ops 6 Marksman Rifles multiplayer camo challenges

Black Ops 6 Pistols multiplayer camo challenges

Black Ops 6 Launchers multiplayer camo challenges

Black Ops 6 Melee weapons multiplayer camo challenges

Do note that this article will be a work in-progress, as new weapons are likely to be added every season. While unlocking all the camos is certainly a grind, it's certainly worth your effort, if you care about personalizing your weapons and how they look.

The post All Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Camo challenges: How to get all BO6 camos? appeared first on Destructoid.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 will have plenty of scope for you to unlock different personalization items for your guns as part of the Zombies campaign.

Similar to Mastery camos, the Zombies camos can be unlocked by completing different challenges. This year, there are plenty of different skins to unlock if you're up for the grind. Let's take a look at all the confirmed details we have so far.

All Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Zombies camo camos and challenges

The Zombies mode has 11 different camos to earn - nine Military and two Special. Here are all nine military camos that you can unlock, along with the required conditions.

• Slate: 100 Critical Kills
• Desert: 200 Critical Kills
• Evergreen: 300 Critical Kills
• Rugged: 400 Critical Kills
• Grim: 600 Critical Kills
• Stripe: 800 Critical Kills
• Oceanic: 1000 Critical Kills
• Whiteout: 1500 Critical Kills
• Purple Tiger: 2000 Critical Kills

You can also unlock two special camos for each weapon in Call of Duty Black Ops 6 by completing individual challenges. These camos can be used on all available weapons, and getting the skins is pretty easy - just obtain all Military camos in a game mode.

As mentioned earlier, there are four Mastery camos to unlock: Mystic Gold, Opal, Afterlife, and Nebula. Let's take a look at how you can unlock them. You'll always begin with Mystic, which gets unlocked when you find both special camos for a given weapon.

Disclaimer: List will be updated.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Assault Rifle camo challenges

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 LMG camo challenges

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 SMG camo challenges

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Sniper Rifle camo challenges

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Marksman Rifle camo challenges

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Shotgun camo challenges

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Pistol camo challenges

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Launcher camo challenges

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Melee weapons camo challenges

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Special weapons camo challenges

That's all weapons that are available at launch. We will be updating the special camos for the remaining weapons once we uncover them during our grind.

The post Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Zombies camo challenges and rewards: How to get all skins appeared first on Destructoid.

Activision has finally revealed official information regarding the upcoming Season 1 Reloaded in Black Ops 6, and there's plenty in store for the players and fans.

This will be the first mid-season refresh, going live on December 5. Players can expect new game modes, weapons, and more along the way. Let's first look at the game modes that will soon be available.

Black Ops 6 Season 1 Reloaded game modes

With the festive season coming soon, you can indulge in the Ran-Snack mode. This multiplayer-based mode will require you to trade gold for sweets. You and your team will have to grab cookies from rotating crates, and your enemy team, and the one with the best score, wins.

Infectious Holiday is going to be available later in the season, and it will be a twist on the popular Infected mode. Players and the undead will be dressed in the Yuletide colors, but it's safe to expect more twists.

In Warzone, you'll be able to enjoy Holiday Rush on Area 99. The Slay Ride Resurgence mode will come later in the season, where you'll have to save the train from Undead Santa, who has hijacked all the goodies.

Apart from special modes, unique events will run throughout the season across all the game modes.

• Event: GobbleGum Mania (ZM only, December  5 – 19)
• Event: Merry Mayhem (MP, ZM, WZ, December 5 – 19)
• Merry Mayhem MP LTM: Ran-Snack (December 5)
• Merry Mayhem ZM LTM: Jingle Hells: Liberty Falls (In-Season)
• Merry Mayhem WZ LTM: Holiday Rush (December 5)
• Event: Archie's Festival Frenzy (MP, ZM, WZ, December 19 – January 3)
• Archie's Festival Frenzy MP LTM: Ran-Snack, Infectious Holiday
• Archie's Festival Frenzy ZM LTM: Jingle Hells: Liberty Falls (In-Season)
• Archie's Festival Frenzy WZ LTM: Slay Ride Resurgence

Black Ops 6 Season 1 Reloaded maps

The new seasonal refresh brings new maps, and you can find two of them in the multiplayer mode. The remastered version of Hacienda returns once again, and it will be available in 6v6 modes. Racket is a brand new map that will be available in 2v2/6v6 options.

If you loved Nuketown in the first part of November, fear not - the map will be available as a special-themed offering, as the compounds and all the mannequins will deck up to celebrate Christmas. If you love Zombies, Citadelle des Morts will be the perfect getaway. Established in the 1300s, the location will completely differ from Terminus and Liberty Falls.

Black Ops 6 Season 1 Reloaded guns

Season 1 Reloaded has plenty when it comes to weapons and guns. The Maelstrom shotgun will be available from the Merry Mayhem event, while the AMR Mod 4 will be making its debut in the following weeks. You'll be able to obtain it from Archie's Festival Frenzy. The collection of melee weapons gets a great addition in the form of Cleaver, which is also going to be an in-season event reward.

In case you're bored with the Wonder Weapons of Zombies, Citadelle des Morts has something new in store. You'll be able to find four elemental weapons, along with a claymore called The Bastard Sword. This sword will have two useful abilities - one offensive and one defensive, but you can get more out of it to form elemental weapons in the game.

Additionally, there will be new gameplay content available during Season 1 Reloaded.

• Vulture Aid perk-a-cola
• Light Mend ammo mod
• Tesla Storm field upgrade
• New GobbleGums
• Hand Cannon support

There's plenty more waiting for the players over the next one and a half months. Additionally, Ranked mode will also go live in Warzone, which will be a treat for the competitive lot.

The post Black Ops 6 Season 1 Reloaded: New guns, modes, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

The Unpretentious Stash is one of many resource spots you can find in the very first region in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

The Zone is a fairly difficult place to survive, but it can feel excruciating when you're just getting started. Resources are scarce, and it can be difficult to complete the earlier quests without having better weapons, consumables, and ammo. The Unpretentious Stash will be immensely helpful in this regard, but for that, you'll have to find it first.

Stalker 2 Unpretentious Stash location explained

The Unpretentious Stash is located in a destroyed building, and finding it is relatively easy. It's located in the Lesser Zone and right beside the Levitating Silo. In fact, there are two stashes situated in this region if you have access to the Journalist Stashes. You need to own the Deluxe/Ultimate Edition and must have completed the Seek, and You Shall Find quest.

The Unpretentious Stash is available for all - you don't need to own the Deluxe/Ultimate Edition. The Levitating Silo is situated towards the southern part of Zalissya, so you may have to backtrack a bit if you've missed out on opening the stash on your first pass. You can find it at the marked location in the image below.

The stash will be hanging from the ceiling, but there are no stairs to get to it. Go around the house, and you'll find a broken wall onto which you can jump. Use it to hop your way to the second floor and then balance your way on the beam. Use the beams to reach the stash and open it to loot all the available items.

Make sure to loot the second stash that's available near the Silo. If you're looking for the locations of every Journalist Stash located in Stalker 2, check out this detailed guide.

The post How to find the Unpretentious Stash in Stalker 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Operator Exoskeleton is one of the toughest armor kits you can come across, and it will be important for your progression in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

As you approach the late game, self-preservation becomes key, and the enemies that you encounter can be deadly. Naturally, getting better armor is almost mandatory, and the Operator Exoskeleton is a great choice. That said, finding it can be a bit troublesome if you don't know where you need to look.

Stalker 2 Operator Exoskeleton location explained

To reach the Operator Exoskeleton, you'll need to be a bit patient. This armor set is located at Fluoridation Station in Jupiter. To be more specific, this location can be found close to Pripyat's border. To find it easily, just go to the marked location on the map, and you'll come across the building.

In fact, it's quite easy to get lost in this complex, and there are anomalies and enemies present as well. It's better to take a stealth-based approach to find your exoskeleton. The first job is to find a truck located at the side of the main building. Get on the hood of the truck, and you'll come across pipes.

If you look forward, these pipes will lead you all the way to the other end of the building. Get on top of these pipes and travel to the point where they end. On the way, you'll come across electric anomalies, so be careful as you go past them.

Once the pipe ends, jump to the second floor of the building. Go inside, and you'll find the Operator Exoskeleton suit waiting for you. There's a stash as well located at this location. Make sure to get it if you want to get more resources for your inventory.

Apart from offering better protection, this armor provides +6.4 KG to maximum weight. This bonus weight capacity will solve some of the issues you could get by carrying too many things at once. There are four artifact slots available on the suit, which is another big benefit. All things considered, it's certainly an armor set that's worth your time and effort.

The post How to find the Operator Exoskeleton in Stalker 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Stalker 2 has its fair share of unique weapons that you can unlock, and the Trophy rifle is certainly one that can easily remain hidden throughout your entire save.

Typically, you can unlock extra weapons if you've purchased the Deluxe/Ultimate Edition. These weapons can be found in different Journalist Stashes, and you'll get them gradually. That said, the Trophy gun is available even if you've purchased the Standard Edition.

As I said, finding it can be a bit tricky, and there are high chances that you might have gone past the place without knowing that there's a secret gun for you to discover.

How to get the Trophy gun in Stalker 2

To find this weapon, you'll have to play a bit to unlock the Chemical Plant region. This place has plenty of POIs, including the Army Warehouses, which itself has some great resources. If you've purchased the Ultimate Edition of the game, you can also find the Lullaby assault rifle from this spot. To get the Trophy gun, you'll have to travel west from where the Army Warehouses location. To simplify matters, I have marked the location on the screenshot below.

Once you reach the spot, you'll notice a broken structure. I am not sure what exactly it is (it looks like a broken incubator), and you'll find a corpse lying in front of it. If you look carefully on the map, you'll find two other structures located close to this spot. All three structures are actually connected, and all you have to do is throw a grenade through the opening of the structure (the one with the corpse).

Just wait, and there will be three explosions. The third explosion will open a structure similar to the one where you threw the grenade. Once cracked open, you'll find a stash waiting for you to be unlocked. This stash contains the Trophy gun (an assault rifle, rather) and a bunch of useful items like ammo, consumables, and grenades.

The post How to find Trophy gun in Stalker 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 might already have its fair share of amazing operator skins lined up for the players, but the newly released Shark skin is definitely on the crazier side of things.

The skin is what its name suggests - it turns you into a half-human and half-shark character. Titled the Bloke Biter, the skin is one of the several items present in the G'Day Bait Tracer pack. If you want to get your hands on it, here's the process.

How to play with the Shark skin in Black Ops 6

On one hand, there's no grind associated with unlocking the Bloke Biter camo skin. It's not part of the battle pass, and you can get immediate access to it during Season 1. However, it's also a skin that's exclusively reserved for those who spend real-life money inside Black Ops 6.

To unlock this camo, you'll have to buy the G'Day Bait Tracer Pack. The skin isn't a standalone purchase, and the Tracer Pack costs 2,400 COD Points. So it's neither available for free, and it's going to cost you a pretty few dollars. You can reduce the price of the pack by using the COD Points available on the battle pass.

Once purchased, you'll have to equip Carver as your chosen operator from the settings. You'll then be able to equip the skin and load it up on any mode of your choice.

As with any operator skin, this camo has no in-game advantages.

All G'Day Bait Tracer Pack contents in Black Ops 6

The G'Day Bait Tracer Pack isn't all about the Shark skin. While the camo might be the shining star, there are more interesting items you can obtain with a purchase.

• Bloke Biter (Operator)
• Bloody Water (XMG Blueprint)
• Fair Dinkum (KSV Blueprint)
• It Bites (Emote)
• Mechano-Shark (Weapon Charm)
• Perfection (Calling Card)
• Making Waves (Spray)
• Aussie Forever (Large Decal)

If you're short on cash but located in the UK, there's a Hella Chill operator skin that can be unlocked for free. It allows you to apply a different style on Nazir in Black Ops 6.

The post How to get the Shark skin in Black Ops 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

Radiations of all kinds can be dangerous in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, but getting radiation poisoning from your artifacts becomes a major issue.

Artifacts are highly useful, and using them becomes mandatory as you start exploring the later parts of the campaign. Each of them offers certain benefits, but they have a negative aspect as well — in the form of radiation. If left unchecked, the resulting radiation can spike up pretty quickly and cause loss of life. So here's how you can manage the situation without having to sacrifice the use of artifacts.

How to negate artifact radiation in Stalker 2

You can find plenty of artifacts pretty early on in Stalker 2. For starters, you'll want to leave them in your inventory. The basic reason is simple — you don't have the tools to manage the radiation caused by these items. Secondly, the advantages of using them aren't required immediately when you begin your adventures in The Zone.

Incidentally, one of the best solutions for artifact radiation is the source itself. Certain artifacts, like Slug, for example, offer "Radio Protection," which reduces the negative effects of all kinds of radiation. However, that will only work if the strength of the effects of the two artifacts is identical—"weak" will counter "weak," and so on.

Make sure to always use a detector when you're not roaming around with a gun. The detector will help you locate artifacts, as they can be quite easy to miss. While artifacts with "Radio Protection" can be useful, I prefer gear. There are certain suits and helmets that also have Radiation Protection. You can even check the strength of their in-game effect by hovering over the gear when it's in your inventory.

You can also improve the neutralization effects of your gear by equipping artifacts with "Radio Protection." This will make your radiation protection a lot more effective. This will also negate a lot of radiation from the environment if you find yourself in such a zone. That said, it will take some time for you to find these specific gear pieces in Stalker 2. Till then, the best option is to be proactive and be wary of places that have high radiation.

The post How to manage artifact radiation in Stalker 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Lullaby assault rifle is certainly one of the better guns you can yield in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and it's a reward locked exclusively for those who have purchased the Ultimate Edition.

But simply spending the extra dollars (or whatever currency that applies to you) isn't enough, for you'll have to obtain the gun by solving the mission. As in this case, there's a specific Journalist Stash that you'll need to find, which unlocks the gun for any use inside the game.

Lullaby Assault Rifle location in Stalker 2

To get this gun, you'll have to reach a location called Army Warehouses. This POI is situated in the Central Plant region, and there are plenty of things to loot over here. You'll find a locked room at this location, which can be unlocked with a code. Make sure to check out our guide to know more about how to get the loot.

If you have the Ultimate Edition (Deluxe Edition isn't enough), you will have an additional pop-up on your map when you reach the Army Warehouses location. Instead of having to settle with one set of rewards, you can actually double your yield.

How to extract the Lullaby Assault Rifle in Stalker 2

Once you've reached the spot, you'll notice a truck parked around the exterior wall. Jump on top of it to reach a metal overhang. From there, you can crawl to enter the building. This will lead you to the Lullaby assault rifle stash and the key that enables you to get the Army Warehouses code.

To get the code, you'll have to put in some extra effort, and you can read that in your guide as mentioned above. If you're a Deluxe Edition owner, you can get the Monolith AR416. This is another handy rifle to use, and it can be obtained quite easily by following the steps mentioned in this guide.

The post How to get the Lullaby Assault Rifle in Stalker 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Stalker 2 might be an excellent release if you consider the story and gameplay, but there are certain performance issues, to say the least.

The situation may have improved a bit, but I have experienced plenty of stutters and random frame drops. If the internet is to be believed, I am not the only one. Thankfully, there are a few tweaks you can make to the graphical side of things to smoothen the overall experience. While they might not magically make the game lag-free, the incidents of stutters and FPS drops will be minimal.

Best Stalker 2 graphic settings

Stalker 2 allows you to make plenty of tweaks to the available settings to get the best out of your hardware. In general, the requirements might be high, but you can make the necessary changes to smoothen your gameplay experience.

First, let's check out the optimal Display settings.

Stalker 2 Display settings

• Graphics Card - Primary GPU
• Display - Primary Monitor
• Screen Mode - Fullscreen (Exclusive)
• Display Resolution - Native
• Aspect Ratio - Auto
• Field of View - Personal Preference, but avoid setting it too high
• V-Sync - Off
• Framerate - 60 FPS (You can change this to No Limit once we have better in-game optimization)
• Nvidia Reflex - Enabled (It's better to turn it on from the Nvidia control panel)
• Sharpness - Personal Choice (20% feels like a sweet spot)

Graphics Settings

• Overall Quality - Custom
• Texture Quality - Medium/High
• Hair - High
• Object Details - Medium
• Effects Quality - Medium
• Materials - High
• Post Processing - High
• Anti-aliasing - Medium
• Motion Blur Strength - 0%
• Dept of Field - High
• Light Shafts - Enabled
• Upscaling Method - DLSS/FSR
• Upscaling Quality - Balanced
• Resolution Scale - 100%
• FSR 3 Frame Generation - Disabled (The input lag isn't worth the hassle)
• Shading Quality - Medium
• Global Illumination - Medium
• Reflections - Low
• Shadow Quality - Low
• Clouds - Medium
• Fog - High
• Sky - Low
• Foliage Quality - Medium
• Environment Draw Distance - Far

While these settings will help you to improve your Stalker 2 performance, there are existing fundamental issues with the current version of the game. Developer GSC Game World has already announced that they're looking to solve the existing problems, and a couple of upcoming patches will likely remove the optimizing issues that are currently plaguing the players.

The post Best graphic settings for Stalker 2 to prevent stutters and FPS-drops appeared first on Destructoid.

The Army Warehouses is one of the many POIs you will come across in Stalker 2, and it has some great resources waiting for you if you can crack the code.

You'll unlock the region where it's located gradually as you keep completing parts of the main quest. Unlike open stashes, you'll need a code to reach a room where the stash is kept in this location. Figuring out this code might be tricky, and you'll actually need to retrieve a key at first. Let's take a look at how you can obtain it all in Stalker 2.

Stalker 2 Army Warehouses location

The warehouse is located in the Chemical Plant region. This place requires a bit of time to unlock, but don't try to fast-track it, as the rewards are not going anywhere. You can check the location marked in the image below to know about the exact spot (where the journalist stash is being shown).

Don't try to enter from the front; instead, get on top of the truck right next to the exterior wall. Use it to jump onto the metal extension and crouch inside through the window. This will help you enter the second floor of the building and where the key is located.

Stalker 2 Army Warehouses key and code location

Once you have entered through the window, go to the right and then into the room to your left. You'll find a table, and the key is on top of it. Once you've retrieved it, escape using the same method you used (by jumping on top of the truck).

Next, go to the building located in the northwest part of the compound (marked on the map with a marker). You'll find a building with a tank at its corners. Head inside by using the key, and take the door to the south. The Army Warehouses code is scribbled on the wall, and it is 0690. You'll find a corpse at the bottom of where the code is, so you can't miss it.

As far as threats are concerned, the region can have enemies, so it's better to take them down. Additionally, the room with the code will have a mutant, but you can skip that phase since you already got the code.

Go through the front of the main building, and you'll be able to find a locked gate and a keypad. Enter the four digits in the order mentioned here, and you'll unlock all the available rewards and add them to your inventory in Stalker 2.

The post All Army Warehouses key and code locations in Stalker 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

PDAs are something you'll come across frequently in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and they can become a small headache in the long run.

These digital devices contain vital information, and some of those can be related to a quest, making them quite important. While that's the positive, they occupy inventory space, and they also have a certain weight. Stack a few of them, and you might end up having a weight issue with your inventory. While the game doesn't do a very good job of explaining what to do with them, here's how you can solve the problem.

Do you need to pick up every PDA in Stalker 2?

PDAs in Stalker 2 are of two types. The first type is related to quests, and a brown tick on them usually highlights them. This allows you to distinguish these devices and also ensures that you don't end up ignoring such PDAs in the first place. Then, there are basic PDAs that have additional information on them.

Once retrieved, they will automatically transmit the information to your personal PDA. They can feature vital data like the location of Stashes. If you've bought the Deluxe/Ultimate Edition, you can also find the location of all the Journalist Stashes from these PDAs.

If a PDA isn't part of a quest, you'll be able to store them in your storage. Alternatively, you can also sell them in exchange for Coupons or make them part of a barter. This way, you can earn some useful resources and open up space in your in-game inventory.

How to manage Quest PDAs in Stalker 2

So you can't sell PDAs that are tied with quests, and you can't move them to storage either. The best solution is to complete the quest as quickly as possible. Once you do so, that specific PDA will automatically disappear from your inventory, freeing you space and weight capacity.

That said, PDAs are important as far as gameplay content is concerned. If you are having issues with them, it's better to focus on improving your maximum inventory carry capacity as a permanent solution.

The post What to do with PDAs in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl appeared first on Destructoid.

The Monolith AR416 is a wonderful assault rifle that can do immense damage to all forms of enemies, and you can obtain it if you've purchased the Digital/Ultimate Edition of Stalker 2.

The bonus content includes special suits and weapons spread all over The Zone. To gather them, you'll have to solve a side mission to uncover the Journalist Stashes. Once discovered, you'll be able to find this assault rifle and much more by simply exploring the different regions inside The Zone.

Stalker 2 Monolith AR416 assault rifle location explained

This gun can be found inside a Journalist Stash, but the location can be extremely dangerous. It's better to start your journey by finding the Mercenary's Suit, which is located in the settlement of Zalissya. To get the Monolith assault rifle, you'll need to travel to the IPSF base.

The stash is located right where the little icon is shown on the map. It's on top of a roof with protruding pipes. Do note that you'll be open to enemy fire, as the region is part of the main quest. You'll have to enter The Sphere to interrogate Solder, and there will be guards patrolling the region.

First, take out the guards on the ground from outside the gate. It's best to enter by following the road rather than going in from the front. Next, go up the watchtower to take down the guard there. You can also loot a mini stash on the watch tower to get some resources.

Get down from the tower and proceed to the location. Get on the top of the roof from the side, and you'll be able to find the Monolith AR416. You'll also get some ammo for the gun from the same stash but try to conserve them. The specific ammo required for the Monolith assault rifle isn't widely available at the location, so it's better to rely on other weapons to dispose of the remaining guards.

The post How to get the Monolith AR416 in Stalker 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Having good armor in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl will help you survive the horrors of The Zone, and you'll want to upgrade over the Leather suit as soon as possible.

If you've bought the Deluxe Edition (or the Ultimate Edition), you're entitled to three amazing suits spread all over The Zone. These items can be found in Journalist Stashes, and their locations are marked once you've completed the Seek, and Your Shall See side quest. But what if you went with the Standard Edition of the game? Thankfully, the Debut suit can save your life on certain occasions, and it can be obtained pretty early.

How to find the Debut suit in Stalker 2

For starters, you'll have to complete the prolog and reach Zalissya, which will serve as your first location of sorts. Once done, travel to the location marked on the map. I went there during the daytime to reduce the spookiness that surrounds The Zone, and it's always easier to avoid getting lost.

The Old Mill is the location for the Debut suit, which is easily the best armor for early game. You'll find a house right by the walking path and directly in front of the old mill. The door will be boarded, so use a melee attack to open it up. Then, go inside the living room, and you'll find your armor on the corner of the table.

Compared to the Leather Jacket, the Debut suit is a big upgrade. It also offers protection against all elemental damages except Psi, but you won't meet such an enemy in the early game.

Stalker 2 Mercenary's Light Suit location

If you have spent a bit more to get the Deluxe/Ultimate Edition, it's only right that you get to enjoy the bonus content. There's a Mercenary's Light Suit to grab in Zalissya, and it's pretty easy. Go to the location marked on the map, and you'll find a barn. Go around it, and you'll find a truck.

Get on the hood of the truck (from the front), go to the roof, and then drop down to enter the attic on top. You'll find a stash inside with the suit and the Monolith Pistol as well. Do note that Standard Edition owners are not entitled to this specific armor, but they can do equally well with Debut.

The post Best early armor locations in Stalker 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

If you've purchased either the Deluxe or the Ultimate Edition of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, you might be wondering where those bonus weapons are.

Paying extra for those editions entitles you to certain benefits unavailable with the Standard Edition. Some of those feature special weapons, and some can be carried over to the multiplayer side (where they become skin). But unlike so many video games and their bonus content, you'll have to earn them in The Zone.

How to unlock Stalker 2 Deluxe Edition content

While the DLC bonuses are added to your game, you'll have to unlock them first. To do so, you'll need to trigger the Seek, and You Shall Receive quest. This side mission will give you the locations of something called Journalist Stashes.

This side mission is activated automatically once you've completed A Needle in a Haystack. This is part of the main storyline, and you'll have to reach Zalissya to trigger this quest. Once you've gained access to Seek, and You Shall Receive (after finishing A Needle in a Haystack), you'll come across a flash drive in your stash.

Opening the drive will help you gain the locations of all the Journalist Stashes spread all over The Zone. Each of these stashes consists of the DLC content you're entitled to from your Deluxe/Ultimate Edition purchase. These stashes also include all your pre-order bonuses. Once you've gone through the drive, the location of all the Journalist Stashes will be marked.

However, you shouldn't automatically start trying to go for those stashes. Most are in locked zones where you're not supposed to travel in your first few hours. For example, the Reinmann, located north of Rostok, is relatively easy to get.

For the rest, it's best to just let the game play out. You'll be getting some great weapons by completing the missions, and they can be upgraded with suitable tools to make them even more powerful. It's better to treat the DLC weapons as elite rewards that can be retrieved once you've powered up to clear content across all the locations of The Zone in Stalker 2.

The post How to get your Stalker 2 DLC weapons in-game? appeared first on Destructoid.

Ranked has returned to Black Ops 6 Season 1, and it's important to go through all the changes that have been made to the playlists and available loadouts.

In some ways, Ranked is similar to the standard multiplayer content, but there are greater restrictions. You can't use whatever weapon and attachments you want, and the same applies to the available game modes as well.

All Black Ops 6 Season 1 Ranked maps and modes

Three specific modes will be available in Ranked, along with their own set of maps.

All Black Ops 6 Season 1 Ranked weapon and attachment restrictions

The following restrictions will apply across all game modes and maps regarding the available weapons and their attachments.

Finally, there will be loadout restrictions as well.

Ranked will be following skill-based matchmaking but Treyarch has claimed that the restrictions will be tightened once Season 1 is a few days old. Ranks will be divided into eight tiers.

• Bronze – Starting Rank
• Silver – 900 SR 
• Gold – 2,100 SR 
• Platinum – 3,600 SR 
• Diamond – 5,400 SR 
• Crimson – 7,500 SR 
• Iridescent – 10,000 SR 
• Top 250 – 10,000+ SR

Doing well in the season will help you get different rewards, including special Decals and Calling Cards.

The post All Black Ops 6 Season 1 Ranked modes, weapon restrictions, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

A new update has been released during Season 1 of Call of Duty Black Ops 6, and this one contains some major changes.

This is, in fact, the second update that has been pushed out during Season 1, and the patch notes are shorter than the previous one. However, it includes a huge change - players will be able to use the legacy XP tokens across all available game modes. Additionally, more changes include some major bug fixes and gameplay optimizations.

Black Ops 6 Season 1 patch notes (November 19): Zombies and Multiplayer

Legacy XP Tokens 

• Updated Black Ops 6 to support legacy XP token functionality  

Gameplay 

• Improved hitmarker UI to help identify individual shots more easily. 

Cosmetics 

• Addressed an issue where weapon sights would be misaligned with the Weaver Repairman Operator Skin equipped. 

Store 

• Improved the loading of Tracer and Inspect preview videos for weapons. 

MULTIPLAYER

Gunsmith  

• Added several missing language translations when swapping attachments. 

Scorestreaks 

• Improved steering in reverse with View-Based vehicle controls. 

UI 

• Addressed an unintentional bug where MWII and MWIII camos could be applied to Black Ops 6 weapons. Camos from previous titles were not designed for Black Ops 6 weapons and attachments and are not supported due to visual inconsistencies.
• Addressed an issue where some Perk bags were not displaying when creating loadouts. 

Stability 

• Various stability fixes. 

ZOMBIES

GobbleGums 

• Addressed an issue that allowed GobbleGums to persist indefinitely. 

UI 

• Added additional information for the current saved game in the map selection menu. 

Stability 

• Various stability improvements. 

Black Ops 6 Season 1 patch notes (November 19): Warzone

GENERAL

• Legacy XP Tokens 

  • Updated Black Ops 6 to support legacy XP token functionality.
     

• Hitmarkers 

  • Improved hitmarker UI to help identify individual shots more easily.

• Store 

  • Improved the loading of Tracer and Inspect preview videos for weapons.

BUG FIXES

• Fixed an issue that caused shotguns to have longer damage ranges than intended. 
• Fixed an issue allowing players to earn more XP in Battle Royale than intended. 
• Fixed an issue where weapon sights would be misaligned with the Weaver Repairman Operator Skin equipped.
• Fixed an unintentional bug where MWII and MWIII camos could be applied to Black Ops 6 weapons. 

The latest change also confirms that you won't be able to use camos from the older games on any weapon that has been ported over from Black Ops 6. This could be disappointing news for many, but players can unlock new camos by completing achievements, season passes, and more.

The post Black Ops 6 Season 1 patch notes (November 19): Legacy XP token fix and more appeared first on Destructoid.

When kitting out your weapon in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, it's important to understand the difference between two core stats: Bullet Velocity and Damage Range. On the surface, these two stats may imply improvement in the same area, but what they alter on your gun is completely different.

Should you use Bullet Velocity or Damage Range in Black Ops 6?

Before answering the question in the headline, it is imperative that you understand exactly what Bullet Velocity and Damage Range additions do to your gun. This way, when I give you the answer, you understand the nuance behind it. Let's start by defining both these terms.

Bullet Velocity

When you equip attachments that increase the Bullet Velocity of your weapon, you are effectively increasing the speed at which your bullets will hit your crosshair. In Black Ops 6, your bullets are fully subject to standard physics. Bullet drop is the main determinant for a slow Bullet Velocity, but, additionally, in the midst of a gunfight, you typically want a fast Bullet Velocity so your bullets hit your target before your opponent's.

Since Bullet Velocity governs the speed of your bullets, at close ranges, your Bullet Velocity rarely matters. Instead, Bullet Velocity matters significantly more in longer range engagements. This is something to consider if you're heavily into playing Warzone, but even in Multiplayer, a faster Bullet Velocity may outright win you firefights simply because your bullets flat out faster.

Damage Range

On the other hand, Damage Range increases your weapon's effective range, sometimes even reducing the amount of bullets needed to kill a target. All weapons in Black Ops 6 have an inherent effective Damage Range, and firing at a target outside of that range tends to put you at a disadvantage. This is why SMGs are so dominant in CQC, but often fall flat at mid-ranges and above.

Just like Bullet Velocity, Damage Range doesn’t really matter much in close-range fights since most weapons already perform well within their ideal range at those distances. Where it does come into play, and this, is far more important, is at longer ranges. But here’s the catch: if an attachment doesn’t push your target into your weapon’s effective range, it's not doing anything for you.

Bullet Velocity vs Damage Range

When combined, both Bullet Velocity and Damage Range will improve your overall weapon's effective engagement distance. However, if you had to pick just one stat to improve, Bullet Velocity is far more important in a majority of cases. Regardless of the range, Bullet Velocity is always affecting your weapon performance, which is not the case with Damage Range. Having your bullets hit your target first means less time needed to fire at target, which equates to more kills and fewer 1v1 losses.

The post What’s the difference between Bullet Velocity and Damage Range in Black Ops 6? appeared first on Destructoid.

Black Ops 6 Zombies has been my favorite mode in this year's Call of Duty title, and it's an amazing area to test out all the available guns in the game.

While Wonder Weapons are certainly the best options, you won't always find them. In simpler words, the normal guns will have to do on most days, and like Warzone and Multiplayer, Zombies also has its tier mode. Some weapons will shine more when it comes to killing the undead, while the rest might not be as effective.

Disclaimer: Includes the new weapons, but more time is required for proper testing.

Complete Black Ops 6 Zombies weapons tier list

The weapons have been grouped into four different tiers based on their effectiveness when played alone or in a group.

• S-tier weapons: Absolutely shreds the zombies into pieces, and they can only get better with suitable perks and upgrades.
• A-tier weapons: Good weapons that can match the S-tier weapons in the right hands and Pack-A-Punch level 3 upgrade.
• B-tier weapons: They are decent weapons, but could get you into trouble in the later waves.
• C-tier weapons: Only play with these guns if you're looking to level them up, complete Prestige challenges, or love to watch the undead chewing on your legs.

Black Ops 6 Zombies S-tier weapons

• XM4
• GS45 Akimbo
• ASG-89
• C9
• AK-74
• XMG
• Marine SP (with Dragon's Breath)

My personal favorites are the XM4 and the GS45 Akimbo, but you can't go wrong with any of the guns mentioned here.

Black Ops 6 Zombies A-tier weapons

• AEK-973
• Model L
• PP-919
• SVD
• PU-21
• Krig C

Black Ops 6 Zombies B-tier weapons

• SVD
• LW3A1 Frostline
• Tanto .22
• AS Val
• Saug
• DM-10
• Jackal PDW
• PU-21
• Tsarkov 7.62
• KSV
• CIGMA 28

Both the SVD and LW3A1 can also be included in the A-tier, but I seem to struggle with both of them. The CIGMA 28 is crucial for late-game waves as it can take down the elite zombies and Patient 13.

Black Ops 6 Zombies C-tier weapons

• GPR 91
• Swat 5.56
• Ames 85
• Goblin Mk.2
• 9mm PM
• HE-1
• Kompakt 92
• Grekhova
• Stryder .22

Ultimately, always pay attention to the respective strengths and weaknesses of your guns, and make sure to adapt as the situation calls for. For example, elite enemies will have higher hit points, and they won't be taken down easily with standard guns. If you haven't found wonder weapons, I will focus on using the launchers on them.

Similarly, shotguns are extremely useful against the undead. With the correct attachments, they can clear waves easily and more efficiently than assault rifles. Ideally, a loadout of an SMG/assault rifle and a shotgun is a great choice in most situations.

The post Black Ops 6 Zombies weapons tier list: All guns ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

The Directed mode of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Zombies might be your new best friend when it comes to gaining XP during the first season.

The Directed mode is pretty different from the Standard Zombies mode, and it emphasizes completing the objectives. There's also a cap on the zombies wave, making it a good choice for relative beginners. Whether you're new or a veteran, Directed is the place to be if you want to unlock new camos and level up your weapons quickly.

Black Ops 6 Zombies Directed mode XP farm guide

The beauty of the method is the simple fact that it's extremely easy. You can definitely make the entire process a lot more efficient and fine-tune it to satisfy specific requirements. However, playing the Directed mode itself involves completing different objectives, which makes it a lot more rewarding than the Standard variant. You can go with either map, and I prefer playing on Terminus Island. (If you play more on Liberty Falls, select it at the beginning of a match).

For starters, you're going to carry on completing the objectives until you're in the round cap 11 or 12. 11 is better if you're playing multiplayer, as it will enable the spawn of Manglers. If you're playing solo, you'll want to proceed till round cap 12.

After that, forget the objectives and keep killing as many zombies as possible. Of course, you'll want to make the process far more efficient, which makes it essential for your weapons to get the Pack-A-Punch upgrades.

Second, you'll also want to use the perks, and my favorite is Deadshot Daiquiri. This specific perk makes critical shots far more efficient, and you'll be able to shred through most zombies. The PHD Flopper is a good choice as well, but you'll want to use a weapon that does explosive damage.

If you want to level up weapons, I'd advise you to carry two of them. This can be a great way to obtain two types of rewards. As you level them up, you'll be able to unlock new attachments to use. Additionally, you'll be able to unlock plenty of Prestige level-related camos by completing specific objectives.

The post How to farm XP and unlock camos fast in Black Ops 6 Zombies appeared first on Destructoid.

There are always a few issues present in Call of Duty Black Ops 6, and the Dragon's Breath attachment seems to be having certain problems with the players.

The attachment, meant to be used with the Marine SP shotgun, has an evident bug that makes it really confusing for players to unlock it in the first place. In fact, the unlock condition seen on the item is completely wrong, but you'll be able to access it once you have made fair progression into Season 1 content.

How to get Dragon's Breath in Black Ops 6

The main bug associated with this attachment is related to its unlock condition, which can sometimes show up as "Unlock at None Level 1". You won't need to bother with this, as the attachment can be unlocked from page 7 of the battle pass. That's how the Dragon's Breath is supposed to be unlocked in the first place.

It's unclear when the bug, which looks like a visual one as of now, will be fixed. It's certainly not something that the players themselves can change, and Treyarch is planning an update to fix the use of legacy XP tokens. That update could also potentially fix this confusion and make it easier for everyone who has yet to get their hands on the unique attachment.

Incidentally, there were at least a couple of reported instances where players reported that the attachment apparently doesn't do anything in Zombies. This might be due to a second bug, which could be triggered in some cases, or it might be due to incorrect use.

In my case, the "Unlock at None Level 1" bug was there from the start but became redundant upon reaching the required page on the battle pass. The attachment seems to be tailor-made for the Zombies mode and does a lot of damage. In my brief experience, it's best not to be used in the multiplayer mode, where it doesn't do much.

The post How to fix the Dragon’s Breath bug in Black Ops 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

With over two decades of classic maps to choose from, is it really a surprise that the Call of Duty series keeps looking to its past when it comes to making new additions? As the seasonal content for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 begins to roll out, I'm taking a look at 10 classic maps that I think should return in the new game.

I've kept all of these maps as Treyarch-exclusive. The studio doesn't have a history of taking maps from previous games it didn't develop, and there's no reason to think it will start now. No Shipment here - sorry.

10. Kowloon

• First appearance: Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

Originally released as part of the First Strike map pack for the original Black Ops, Kowloon is a map that has kind of been resigned to Call of Duty history. It's not a map you hear players mention often, that's for sure.

Set on the rooftops of the night city of Kowloon, Hong Kong, this map is notable for featuring ziplines for the first time in series history. For the original Black Ops, this was a little ahead of its time, and the map felt too big as a result. But with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's speedy movement, Kowloon could prove to be a great addition.

9. Battery

• First appearance: Call of Duty: World at War (2008)

Battery is yet another DLC map that has been forgotten over the years, this time from Call of Duty: World at War. Not by us - Battery would be perfect for any playstyle in Black Ops 6, with its exterior spaces a sniper's playground and its interior areas perfect for close-quarters combat.

Battery is a pretty small map, but the two towers attached to the side of the main playing area make it feel much bigger than it is. There's no doubt it'd go down a treat among the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 community.

8. Carrier

• First appearance: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)

If chaos is what Treyarch wants in a Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, it needn't look any further than Carrier. It's probably one of the most close-quarters maps ever in the series, despite being relatively large in size.

The obstacles littered around the map essentially force you into constant close-range duels, meaning your next fight is always around the next corner. I just know the Black Ops 6 community would have a ball with this classic Call of Duty map.

7. Raid

• First appearance: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)

When looking at the criteria for a new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 map, playstyle variety must be high on the agenda. That's why Black Ops 2's Hollywood Hills mansion map, Raid, would be a perfect candidate.

Snipers can enjoy the long sightlines from either side of the center lane, although moving centrally rewards that run-and-gun playstyle that Black Ops 6 players love. In terms of game modes, Raid is unique in that it suits just about everything, too. It's a real Swiss Army map in its versatility.

6. Launch

• First appearance: Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

Launch's mid-map rocket launch was awesome back in 2010, and guess what? It still rules now. It was a great way to add a dynamic element to this classic Call of Duty map, even if the layout itself usually turned into an all-out brawl in the center.

If Launch was to return in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, it could take the dynamic effects of that rocket launch even further. There's untapped potential here, and it'd be cool to see Treyarch take a crack at it.

5. Summit

• First appearance: Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is in dire need of some great Search and Destroy maps. May I present Summit, which almost feels purpose-built for the popular Black Ops 6 game mode.

Every area in Summit feels extremely narrow. One misstep can spell doom. Diligent clearing of every corner is required. Bringing such a tactical map into Black Ops 6 could provide a breath of fresh air from the game's typical run-and-gun gameplay loop.

4. Castle

• First appearance: Call of Duty: World at War (2008)

The birds-eye-view layout of Call of Duty: World at War's Castle suggests a map that shouldn't work. Yet, it does. There's lots of dead space on the map where very little happens, but Castle does such a great job of naturally drawing players to the center that it simply doesn't matter.

Lore-wise, Castle doesn't make much sense for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. If you can ignore that, I'd love to see how this one plays in the new game's meta.

3. Firing Range

• First appearance: Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

Firing Range is about as perfect as the three-lane layout gets. Long-range encounters take place on the outer lanes, while the middle becomes a stirring pot of absolute chaos. Objective matches on Firing Range are an absolute blast.

If Firing Range returned in Black Ops 6, it would mark a fifth appearance in the series for the map. There's a reason it keeps coming back.

2. Standoff

• First appearance: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)

If we're talking classic Treyarch Call of Duty maps, you have to include Standoff. It's one of the best objective maps ever, with tons of verticality allowing engagements to come from just about anywhere.

We last saw Standoff in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, but if Treyarch does decide to delve into its back pocket for an old favorite, don't be surprised to see it make another appearance.

1. Hijacked

• First appearance: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)

Hijacked is one of the best Call of Duty multiplayer maps ever, and it's a surprise that it hasn't featured in every Treyarch title since its debut in Black Ops 2. It came back in Black Ops Cold War, and should make one more appearance in Black Ops 6.

Hijacked is symmetrical map design at its finest - two main structures on the yacht opposite one another, with close-quarters mayhem happening in between. This was already an extremely fast-paced Call of Duty map, and Black Ops 6's omnimovement would only amplify this.

The post 10 classic Call of Duty maps that should return in Black Ops 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Call of Duty Black Ops 6 community has almost managed to do the unthinkable by forcing a AAA developer to reverse a decision that was deemed a nuisance by all.

In a major change of heart, developers Treyarch Studios have informed that all legacy XP tokens will be useable across all applicable game modes. This is a massive change from what was announced after November 14, when players realized that their legacy XP tokens were lost forever. Thankfully, an upcoming update will fix this situation shortly.

Black Ops 6 community proves that some developers still care

The modern days of AAA gaming haven't seen too many wins, but Treyarch and Activision might have ended up doing something wonderful for a change. Nobody knew that we would no longer have access to the legacy XP tokens. There are several players who have shared screenshots of their saved tokens, which instantly became useless.

However, the upcoming update will change that situation, and it will be highly beneficial for all. Whether you have a few or too many tokens from Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone, they can be helpful to accelerate your grind for unlocking Black Ops 6 content.

Additionally, the developers have also admitted that the plan to remove the use of legacy XP tokens is related to game stability and will be solved soon. We don't yet have an ETA on when the issue will be fixed, but there's a ray of hope.

In the meantime, some users seem to have figured out a way around it, which requires them to enter the Warzone game mode to activate the tokens. Doing so keeps the tokens active, and you can gain the extra XP/applicable items by playing Multiplayer and Zombies. However, the upcoming fix will no longer require you to hop into Warzone if you don't want to do that.

All things considered, the community did a good job. Irrespective of Treyarch's claims on their X profile, the backlash might have played the biggest role in this huge U-turn.

The post Black Ops 6 players will be able to use legacy XP tokens following community backlash appeared first on Destructoid.

With Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's rapid progression system, it can be hard to keep track of all your stats as you swiftly rise through the Prestiges.

You can find all the information you need about your multiplayer stats in the Combat Record. If you're not sure we're to find this, I've got you covered - here's how you can view all your Combat Record stats in Black Ops 6.

How to view Combat Record stats in Black Ops 6

Viewing your Combat Record stats in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is simple. Follow these steps to keep track:

• Open Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Multiplayer
• Head to the "Barracks" tab along the top of the screen
• Press "Stats" then "Combat Record"

Voila! You're in the Black Ops 6 Combat Record. You can also go straight there by pressing the "Launcher Menu" button in the top-right corner of your screen and pressing "Combat Record." This is represented by six small rectangles - you can't miss it.

Once in the Black Ops 6 Combat Record, you can keep track of all the following stats:

• Time played
• Games played
• Average Eliminations per game
• Score per minute
• Win/Loss ratio
• Elimination/Death ratio
• Total wins and losses
• Total Eliminations and deaths
• Highest Elimination streak
• Highest Eliminations in one game
• Best weapons by total Eliminations and Eliminations/Death ratio
• Recent matches (stats for last ten matches)
• Total Victories by game mode

Every time you Prestige in Black Ops 6, a new tab is added to your Combat Record stats. This shows you all of the above stats per Prestige, allowing you to see the improvements (or decline) in your performance over time. Don't worry - you can still view your lifetime stats on the main tab.

Can I check K/D ratio in Black Ops 6?

Sadly not - K/D ratio has been replaced with Elim/D ratio in Black Ops 6, which adds any assists to your total tally. There's no way to check classic K/D like back in the day.

Does the Black Ops 6 Combat Record track Zombies stats?

No. You can track your Zombies stats by heading to the "Leaderboards" tab in the "Barracks." From there, select "Zombies" to track tons of different stats across these categories:

• Career
• Eliminations
• Rounds
• Critical Damage
• Maps

You can filter these stats by Friends or Global to see where you stack up in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 rankings.

The post How to view all your Combat Record stats in Black Ops 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

With the release of Black Op 6 Season 1, many weapons in the roster received a significant balance pass to better suit the game state. Here's a list of every weapon balance change made in Season 1.

All Balance Changes in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 1

Despite having many of the same weapons available, the balance passes for Multiplayer and Zombie modes are treated differently, so I'll provide the changes for each mode separately.

Multiplayer Balance Changes

Multiplayer received the largest assortment of changes across most weapon types despite the relatively decent balance and usage rates since release. All weapons received the following changes:

• Adjusted weapon motion while moving and changing stances to improve aiming feel and centering (especially with optics). 
• Hold Breath focus state will now be maintained while firing if applicable.
• Improved Weapon depth of field settings when performing a Weapon Inspect.

Assault Rifles

XM4

• Maximum Damage increased from 21 to 23
• Medium Damage increased from 20 to 22
• Minimum Damage increased from 17 to 19
• Headshot multiplier reduced from 1.3 to 1.15
• CHF Barrel Attachment

  • Headshot multiplier reduced from 1.42 to 1.25

AMES 85

• Maximum Damage increased from 21 to 23
• Minimum Damage increased from 17 to 19
• Headshot multiplier reduced from 1.25 to 1.12
• CHF Barrel Attachment

  • Headshot multiplier reduced from 1.4 to 1.25

GPR 91

• Maximum Damage increased from 21 to 23
• Medium Damage increased from 20 to 22
• Minimum Damage increased from 17 to 19
• Headshot multiplier reduced from 1.3 to 1.15 
• Sprint to Fire time improved from 165ms to 160ms 
• Tactical Sprint to Fire time improved from 275ms to 270ms 
• Slide to Fire time improved from 0.37s to 0.33s 
• Dive to Fire time improved from 0.45s to 0.42s
• CHF Barrel Attachment

  • Headshot multiplier reduced from 1.4 to 1.2 

Goblin Mk2

• All movement speeds improved by 0.01m/s
• Sprint to Fire time improved from 180ms to 175ms 
• Tactical Sprint to Fire time improved from 290ms to 285ms 

SMGs

Kompakt 92

• Minimum Damage decreased from 11 to 10
• Headshot multiplier improved from 1.05 to 1.1

Shotguns

• Strelok Laser Attachment -

  • Increased the time it takes to reach ADS spread from 20% of Aim Down Sight Speed to 70% of Aim Down Sight Speed 

• Slug Attachment

  • Slugs allow players to run shotguns as mid-range precision weapons. As a tradeoff, they have limited short-range effectiveness if you are not carefully hitting headshots.

Marine SP (Slugs)

• Maximum Damage increased from 92 to 102
• Maximum Damage Range decreased from 9.7m to 2m
• Medium Damage 1 increased from 84 to 96
• Medium Damage Range 1 decreased from 9.8 - 15.2m to 2.1 - 12.7m
• Medium Damage 2 increased from 60 to 70
• Medium Damage Range 2 increased from 15.3 - 18.2m to 12.8 - 25.4m
• Medium Damage 3 increased from 49 to 50
• Medium Damage Range 3 increased from 18.3 - 20.7m to 25.5 - 33m
• Minimum Damage Range increased from 20.7m to 33m
• Headshot multiplier increased from 1 to 1.5 
• Upper Torso and Upper Arm multipliers increased from 1 to 1.1 
• Now increases hip spread by 15% 

ASG-80 (Slugs)

• Maximum Damage increased from 92 to 102
• Maximum Damage Range decreased from 0 - 3.8m to 0 - 1.3m
• Medium Damage decreased from 84 to 70
• Medium Damage Range increased from 3.9 - 5.3m to 1.4 - 15.2m
• Medium Damage 2 increased from 49 to 50
• Medium Damage Range 2 increased from 5.4 - 12.1m to 15.3 - 21.6m
• Medium Damage 3 increased from 33 to 40
• Medium Damage Range 3 increased from 12.2 - 19.1m to 21.7 - 29.2m
• Minimum Damage increased from 24 to 30
• Minimum Damage Range increased from >19.1m to >29.2m
• Headshot multiplier increased from 1 to 1.5 
• Upper Torso and Upper Arm multipliers increased from 1 to 1.1 
• Now increases hip spread by 20% 

Marksmen Rifles

Swat 5.56

• Aim Down Sight Speed improved from 340ms to 315ms 
• Sprint to Fire time improved from 215ms to 205ms 
• Tactical Sprint to Fire time improved from 325ms to 315ms
• Rapid Fire Attachment:

  • Recoil Gun Kick penalty increased from 25% to 30% 
  • Vertical Recoil penalty increased from 25% to 30% 
  • Horizontal Recoil penalty increased from 25% to 30% 

AEK-973

• Sprint to Fire time increased from 205ms to 215ms 
• Tactical Sprint to Fire time increased from 315ms to 325ms 
• Rapid Fire Attachment:

  • Rate of Fire benefit reduced from 10% to 5% 
  • Burst Fire Delay increased from 115ms to 295ms 
  • Recoil Gun Kick penalty increased from 25% to 50% 
  • Vertical Recoil penalty increased from 20% to 50% 
  • Horizontal Recoil penalty increased from 25% to 50% 

Sniper Rifles

• All snipers now have 1 second of 50% Idle Sway scaling at the beginning of Aim Down Sight 
• All snipers have had base Flinch Resistance improved by 17% 

LW3A1 Frostline

• Aim Down Sight Speed improved from 550ms to 535ms 
• Sprint to Fire time improved from 300ms to 290ms 
• Tactical Sprint to Fire time improved from 450ms to 430ms 
• ADS Idle Sway reduced (improved) by about 10%
• Infiltrator Stock Attachment 

  • Aim Walking Movement Speed improvement increased from 0.48m/s to 0.58m/s 

• Heavy Stock Attachment

  • Flinch Resistance decreased from 60% to 53% 

• CHF Barrel Attachment

  • Recoil Gun Kick penalty improved from 75% to 50% 
  • Vertical Recoil penalty improved from 65% to 50% 

• Combat Stock Attachment

  • Aim Walking Movement Speed improvement increased from 0.25m/s to 0.33m/s 
  • Flinch Resistance decreased from 35% to 23% 

SVD

• Introduced a delay after firing before a new shot can be queued. This does not change the rate of fire, but prevents accidentally firing extra unintended shots when repeatedly pulling the trigger. 
• Sprint to Fire time improved from 310ms to 300ms 
• Tactical Sprint to Fire time improved from 460ms to 450ms 
• Infiltrator Stock Attachment

  • Aim Walking Movement Speed improvement increased from 0.5m/s to 0.56m/s 

• Heavy Stock Attachment

  • Flinch Resistance decreased from 50% to 42.5% 

• CHF Barrel Attachment

  • Recoil Gun Kick penalty improved from 75% to 50% 
  • Vertical Recoil penalty improved from 65% to 50% 

• Combat Stock Attachment

  • Aim Walking Movement Speed improvement increased from 0.27m/s to 0.3m/s 
  • Flinch Resistance decreased from 25% to 12.5% 

LR 7.62

• Tactical Sprint to Fire time improved from 470ms to 460ms
• Infiltrator Stock Attachment

  • Aim Walking Movement Speed improvement increased from 0.43m/s to 0.51m/s 

• Heavy Stock Attachment

  • Flinch Resistance decreased from 55% to 48% 

• CHF Barrel Attachment

  • Recoil Gun Kick penalty improved from 75% to 50% 
  • Vertical Recoil penalty improved from 65% to 50% 

• Combat Stock Attachment

  • Aim Walking Movement Speed improvement increased from 0.2m/s to 0.25m/s 
  • Flinch Resistance decreased from 30% to 18% 

Zombies Balance Changes

Assault Rifles

AMES 85 (Pack-a-Punch)

• Bullet Damage increased from 27 to 31.6
• Crit Damage increased from 130 to 153

AK-74 (Pack-a-Punch)

• Bullet Damage increased from 27 to 31.6
• Crit Damage increased from 130 to 153

AS Val (Pack-a-Punch)

• Bullet Damage increased from 20 to 23
• Crit Multiplier decreased from 5.55x to 5.35x
• Crit Damage increased from 111 to 123

Model L (Pack-a-Punch)

• Bullet Damage increased from 27 to 30.5
• Crit Multiplier increased from 4.25x to 4.85x
• Crit Damage increased from 114 to 141

XM4 (Pack-a-Punch)

• Bullet Damage increased from 23 to 25
• Crit Damage increased from 106 to 116

GPR-91 (Pack-a-Punch)

• Bullet Damage increased from 23 to 34.5
• Crit Multiplier decreased from 4.6x to 3.75x
• Crit Damage increased from 105 to 129

Launchers

HE-1

• Increased Stock Ammo from 5 to 11
• Increased Inner Explosion Radius from .4 meters to 3.25 meters
• Increased Mid Explosion Radius 1.6 meters to 4.1 meters
• Increased Outer Explosion Radius 3.26 meters to 5 meters
• Lowered Inner Explosion Damage from 1045 to 800
• Increased Mid Explosion Damage from 475 to 600
• Increased Outer Explosion Damage from 220 to 400

The post All Black Ops 6 Season 1 weapon balance changes appeared first on Destructoid.

The Halo series is as well known for its epic campaign missions as it is for its awesome selection of multiplayer maps. For well over two decades, both Bungie and 343 Industries have crafted unforgettable campaign experiences, which are (mostly) centered around the story of the Master Chief.

We know Halo levels are great, but which ones are the cream of the crop? I've whittled them down to the 10 best Halo campaign missions of all time - I reckon there are some surprising choices you won't expect here.

10. Midnight

• Game: Halo 4

It should come as no surprise to learn that Halo 4's Midnight is the only 343 Industries mission on this list. The mission begins with a Star Wars-esque trench run unlike anything the series has seen before, almost resembling Star Fox in its gameplay approach.

It then moves to an intense, non-stop combat sequence as Halo 4 hurtles towards its conclusion. Combined with Neil Davidge's thundering track, "Arrival," this sequence arguably does a better job of making you feel like an unstoppable Spartan than anything else in the series. It's 343's best work in the series' campaigns, topped off with an emotional climax involving Cortana.

9. Mombasa Streets

• Game: Halo 3: ODST

It's a little cheeky to call Halo 3: ODST's Mombasa Streets a mission. It's more of a hub for you to wander and get lost in the streets of New Mombasa, solving the mystery of the rookie's missing squadmates.

Mombasa Streets oozes atmosphere at every turn, more so than any level in the Halo series. Marty O'Donnell's piercing saxophone soundtrack creates an overwhelming feeling of loneliness, while the dark of the night makes it feel as though danger awaits around every corner (and it does). There's even an AI embedded into the city's technology, which directs you away from danger by lighting up street signs.

8. Assault on the Control Room

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

By far Halo: Combat Evolved's longest mission, Assault on the Control Room is proof that variety is the spice of life. This level allows you to use every single vehicle in the game, including the Scorpion for the first and only time. Every weapon, too, except for the shotgun.

It's this variety that makes Assault on the Control Room stand out among other Halo missions. Like it or not, you're forced to take part in every different combat style here - vehicular, long-ranged, and close-quarters. It finds a delicate balance perfectly.

7. Halo

• Game: Halo 3

Halo 3's final mission, Halo, earns its spot here based on the thrilling Warthog finale alone. As the game (and Bungie's entire trilogy) comes to an end, you must commandeer a Warthog through an epic run of obstacles.

Moving through the level, the entire Halo installation is collapsing around you. Explosions, falling floors - go too slow, and you're doomed. It's a perfect throwback to Halo: Combat Evolved's own Warthog run in The Maw, but better in every way.

6. Coastal Highway

• Game: Halo 3: ODST

Bungie really nails a final mission, huh? Halo 3: ODST's Coastal Highway largely takes place on the titular highway. Throughout, you protect the slow-moving Elephant from defending Covenant forces, while the chaos of the Battle of Earth erupts around you, perfectly capturing the sense of impending doom.

It culminates in one final standoff at the entrance of the Uplift Nature Reserve. You and your squad face waves of incoming Covenant forces, like an intense game of Firefight. It's one final stand while awaiting rescue, capping off a near-perfect Halo mission.

5. Halo

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

It's another level called Halo. In another Halo game. It makes sense, I promise. Halo set the standard for what the series' level design looks like at its best, with a vast open mission that sees you rescuing marines from various structures across the map. It's a great mix of Warthog gameplay and close-quarters combat, introducing you to various Halo: Combat Evolved mechanics early.

If the previous mission, The Pillar of Autumn, set the expectation that Halo: Combat Evolved was going to be yet another corridor shooter (as was prevalent in early 2000s FPS games), then Halo shattered it immediately. It represents a near-series best for Halo campaign missions right at the very beginning.

4. The Silent Cartographer

• Game: Halo: Combat Evolved

The Silent Cartographer opens with a blast. An iconic beach scene that, I promise, felt more impressive then than it does now. For many players, The Silent Cartographer's opening was the moment they realized they were playing something truly special.

The rest of the level rules, too, offer great variety between short outdoor vehicle sections and well-designed interior combat encounters. But the opening assault on the beach as you storm out of the Warthog is the centerpiece here.

3. Metropolis

• Game: Halo 2

Metropolis is the only Halo 2 mission on this list, but it's number 3 for a reason. It's a short level, but one so action-packed you can't ignore it. You start Metropolis on a bridge with a Scorpion, blasting your way across it with ease. Is it challenging? No. But it's awesome, and isn't that what really matters?

After the bridge section, you find yourself in the inner city, the Metropolis, if you will. Most players make their way through the city in the provided Gauss Warthog, emphasizing Metropolis' vehicle-heavy gameplay. Then you board a Scarab! It's the definition of "short and sweet."

2. The Ark

• Game: Halo 3

The Ark is Halo 3 at its best. Starting out with a sniping sequence, it then moves from one chaotic vehicle setpiece to another. Not to mention the epic Scarab fight, which, by the end of this colossal mission, feels more like a reward than a challenge.

The highlight of The Ark is the landing of the enormous Forward Unto Dawn frigate, which descends upon you while blowing away everything in its path. As it casts its massive shadow over you, it's immediately clear you're witnessing one of the coolest video game moments ever. If you know, you know.

1. The Covenant

• Game: Halo 3

That the two mission run of The Ark and The Covenant make up the top two spots on this list is a miracle. The latter half of Halo 3's campaign is remarkable, and The Covenant is where it all peaks.

From Warthog gameplay, Hornet combat, and a great mix of tight hallway gunplay and open battlefields to fight on, The Covenant has it all. It all culminates in that fight against two Scarabs simultaneously, resulting in the best setpiece the series has ever produced. Forget the Halo series - The Covenant is one of the best FPS missions ever made.

The post 10 best Halo campaign missions of all time appeared first on Destructoid.