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Black Ops 6 Prestige explained

Grind through the levels and show your mastery with Black Ops 6 Prestige as the FPS game reverts to a fondly-remembered, classic system.

What is the Black Ops 6 Prestige system? Getting the psychological edge over your opponents in Call of Duty can go a long way in winning a multiplayer match. Sure, your aim, loadouts, and general skill are huge factors in securing victory, but if you can put your enemies on the back foot before a single shot has been fired, you’re in a great spot to dominate. Your Black Ops 6 Prestige level shows the world that you’re experienced and bloodthirsty.

The Black Ops 6 release date isn’t until later this year, but we know plenty about the upcoming FPS game thanks to the Call of Duty Direct presentation and the recent beta. One big piece of news, especially for long-time fans, is that the Black Ops 6 Prestige system will revert to a classic state, no longer tied to live service seasons.

Black Ops 6 prestige: a cerberus logo

Black Ops 6 Prestige explained

Prestige in Call of Duty is essentially your player level – it shows how experienced you are and, in a way, how much time you have in the game. You begin at the bottom: no Prestige, level one. Once you hit level 55 you have the option to “Prestige,” resetting all your equipment – and your level – back to the beginning, albeit with the fancy new Prestige badge next to your name. Prestige progression is global, spanning Black Ops 6 multiplayer, Warzone, and Zombies.

You can Prestige ten times in total, where you’ll then have the option to graduate to ‘Prestige Master’, unlocking an additional 1,000 levels to grind through. There are plenty of spicy cosmetic unlockables to be had, both in the Prestige system and throughout the 1,000 levels, including operator skins, blueprints, and more. Each Prestige has themed rewards based on iconic CoD games or their zombies content – Prestige One is inspired by CoD World at War, for example.

It should be noted that, while you can receive rewards as a Warzone-only player seeing as it’s a free PC game you don’t need Black Ops 6 to play, you will receive fewer rewards than those who own BO6. However, if you pick up the game later, any reward tiers you have missed while grinding Warzone will automatically be unlocked – phew.

Black Ops 6 Prestige: beta rewards

With each level, you’ll also unlock new weapons, perks, and other equipment necessary to build out the best Black Ops 6 loadouts the game has to offer. While you may lose access to this gear when you Prestige, don’t worry, because your weapon levels, operators, challenge progress, loadouts, and customizations are kept ready for you when you unlock them again. What’s more, you earn a ‘permanent unlock’ token each time you prestige, allowing you to circumvent the process for whichever item you choose – we’re eyeing the Jackal PDW for our first one.

When you Prestige, your combat stats – including your elimination/death record – will also be reset. Considering how different Black Ops 6 feels thanks to Omnimovement, it’s probably a blessing that your KDA from the first few weeks of play won’t be a permanent fixture. That being said, you can keep tabs on your record over time in the Combat Record menu.

If you see someone with a high Prestige level, take care, as they are battle-hardened and have seen it all before. We’ll add more information on the specific unlockables once we know more, but for now, all you can do is prepare mentally for the long journey ahead. Check out the Black Ops 6 system requirements guide to make sure your rig is up to the task.