To unlock Blackout characters in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, most of the launch-era roster requires finding a character-specific item, completing an action or placement condition, and sometimes keeping the item until the match ends. Others unlock through Echelon progression or Black Ops Pass ownership. The detailed requirements below come from Liam Croft’s Push Square guide published October 16, 2018, so use your in-game character mission panel as the authority if a requirement or item differs.
How Blackout character missions work
Blackout is a battle royale in which the last person or team standing wins, and each player has one life per match. Activision’s October 26, 2018 overview explains that kills, Top 5 finishes, victories, and secret challenges grant Merits; earning Merits advances Echelons, which reward characters and calling cards. Activision Support: Blackout in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
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The character missions in the October 16, 2018 roster reference are match-bound. In general, locate the named item, complete the listed action and placement, and retain the item through the match when the requirement says to do so. Check the mission panel after picking up an item: its displayed objectives should guide your attempt if they differ from this launch-era list. Push Square’s October 16, 2018 unlock guide.
Original characters and Echelon unlocks
Reznov and Mason have mode-specific placement conditions in the dated guide. The other entries below use the placements or actions as stated there; do not assume an unstated Solo, Duos, or Quads equivalent.
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| Character | Item or progression | Required action and finish |
|---|---|---|
| Reznov | Find the Ushanka Hat at spawn points in Estates or Asylum. | Get a kill from 200m or farther; finish in the top five in Solo, top three in Duos, or top two in Quads. |
| Mason | Get the Stained White T-Shirt from a supply drop, then activate the emergency broadcast at Array to wake the Sleeper Agent. | Finish top three in Solo, top two in Duos, or win in Quads. |
| Woods | Get the Bandanna by killing zombies or looting enemies. | Get in a helicopter during the match and win. |
| Menendez | Obtain the Locket. | Kill one enemy with a shotgun and another with a melee attack; finish with the Locket in inventory. |
| Ranger | Reach Echelon 20. | Progression unlock; no mission item or match condition is listed. |
| Frogman | Reach Echelon 40. | Progression unlock; no mission item or match condition is listed. |
| Airborne | Reach Echelon 60. | Progression unlock; no mission item or match condition is listed. |
| Seal | Reach Echelon 80. | Progression unlock; no mission item or match condition is listed. |
| Battle Hardened | Reach Echelon 80 Prestige. | Progression unlock; no mission item or match condition is listed. |
Zombies characters
Several Zombies character missions pair a weapon or item with zombie kills and a placement. Others require a specific combat action and retaining the mission item.
| Character | Item or acquisition | Required action and finish |
|---|---|---|
| Dempsey | Find a Death Machine. | Kill zombies and finish in the top 10. |
| Nikolai | Find a Cymbal Monkey. | Kill zombies and finish in the top 10. |
| Richtofen | Find a Ray Gun. | Kill zombies and finish in the top five. |
| Takeo | Find the Katanas. | Kill zombies and finish in the top 10. |
| Bruno | Get the Mug Shot from a supply drop. | Get a melee kill and finish with the Mug Shot in inventory. |
| Diego | Get the Pulp Magazine from a supply drop or by looting zombies. | Get a headshot kill and finish with the magazine in inventory. |
| Scarlett | Get the Racing Goggles and Scarf by killing zombies or looting enemies. | Get a vehicle kill and finish with both items in inventory. |
| Shaw | Get the Alchemy Set by killing and looting zombies. | Collect Wraith Fire or Acid Bomb, get two kills with either, and finish with the set in inventory. |
Multiplayer specialist characters
These missions vary from gathering several items to deploying equipment or making a particular kill. Where the dated guide specifies that the item must remain in inventory, that condition is included below.
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| Character | Item or acquisition | Required action and finish |
|---|---|---|
| Ajax | Loot three Broken Armor Platings from enemies. | Finish with all three in inventory. |
| Battery | Obtain Battery’s War Machine. | Get kills with it and finish in the top 15. |
| Crash | Obtain Poker Chips. | End with 15 healing items, finish in the top three, and retain the chips in inventory. |
| Firebreak | Get the Burned Doll from a supply box or supply drop. | Kill or finish off a downed player with fire; finish with the doll in inventory. |
| Nomad | Get Juneau’s Tags from a supply box. | Kill three enemies with a Specialist skin equipped; finish with the tags in inventory. |
| Prophet | Get the Ocular Prosthetic from a supply drop. | Have three perks active when winning a match. |
| Recon | Get I Ching Coins from a supply box or supply drop. | Take no damage from being outside the circle; finish in the top seven with the coins in inventory. |
| Ruin | Craft the Grapple Gun from missing pieces. | Finish in the top 15. |
| Seraph | Find the Annihilator. | Get kills with it and finish in the top 15. |
| Torque | Get the Note From Torque from a supply box or supply drop. | Deploy two razor wires and one barricade; finish among the top seven players with the note in inventory. |
Pass-exclusive characters and historical availability
Shadowman
The October 2018 guide lists Shadowman as a Black Ops Pass character. It is not the only pass-associated Blackout character: Activision announced Cosmic Silverback for Black Ops Pass owners on February 19, 2019. Activision Blizzard Investor Relations, February 19, 2019.
Cosmic Silverback
Activision’s announcement says the Black Ops Pass was included with the Digital Deluxe, Digital Deluxe Enhanced, Pro, and Mystery Box editions, and could also be bought separately digitally or at participating retailers at that time. This is historical release information, not confirmation of present-day availability, price, or entitlement.
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- PREPARE FOR A LEVELED-UP MULTIPLAYER With Black Ops III, Treyarch premieres a new momentum-based chained-movement system, allowing players to fluidly move through the environment with finesse, using controlled thrust jumps, slides, and mantlin
- FIGHT THE UNDEAD IN AN ALL-NEW HORROR STORY No Treyarch title would be complete without its signature Zombies offering - a full-game experience with its own distinct storyline right out of the box. Black Ops 3 Zombies is the most immersive and
What to do if a mission does not match
- Open the character mission panel in your own game and compare its exact item and objectives with the dated list.
- Check whether the objective requires carrying the item at match end; dropping or using it may prevent completion where inventory retention is specified.
- For Reznov and Mason, follow the listed Solo, Duos, or Quads placement rather than translating it to another mode.
- If an item or requirement differs, rely on the in-game panel. The detailed roster cited here was published October 16, 2018 and was not independently verified across current platforms.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
