The Squid Game Event Pass that originally awarded the Cleaver has ended. To unlock it now, select it in the Black Ops 6 Armory and earn XP; you can progress in Black Ops 6 or Warzone. The Armory opens at Player Level 24, and a community wiki reports a 250,000 XP requirement, which you should verify against the in-game display.
Unlock the Cleaver through the Armory
- Reach Player Level 24. Call of Duty says the Armory unlocks at Player Level 24. Its purpose is to let players pursue missed event and Battle Pass content. See Call of Duty’s Season 01 announcement.
- Open the Armory. In Black Ops 6, go to Barracks > Challenges > Armory. Find the Cleaver and set it as your active unlock. Menu labels and item availability can change, so use the Armory’s current in-game listing if your screen differs.
- Earn XP with the Cleaver selected. The Call of Duty Wiki reports a 250,000 XP Armory requirement for the Cleaver. Activision’s official Season 01 information does not publish an item-specific XP cost, so treat that number as secondary reporting and check the challenge display in your game.
- Claim the weapon when the challenge completes. Follow the Armory prompt to finish the unlock. The Cleaver is an in-game melee weapon, not a physical item.
Where you can earn the XP
Warzone is a valid option; you do not have to own Black Ops 6 just to pursue the unlock if you can earn progression XP in Warzone. Activision says compatible Black Ops 6 unlocks become available in Warzone, and its support page explains progression XP sources: Black Ops 6 progression support.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 - PlayStation 5 | $29.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Call of Duty Black Ops 6 | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Call of Duty Black Ops 6 | $51.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - Cross-Gen Bundle - Xbox [Digital Code] | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Mode | Use it if | What is established |
|---|---|---|
| Black Ops 6 Multiplayer | You have access to Black Ops 6 and prefer its multiplayer matches. | Activision’s event announcement listed Multiplayer as an eligible XP mode. |
| Black Ops 6 Zombies | You have access to Black Ops 6 and prefer Zombies. | Activision’s event announcement listed Zombies as an eligible XP mode. |
| Warzone | You play Warzone, including if you do not own Black Ops 6. | The event announcement listed Warzone for XP, and Activision Support says compatible Black Ops 6 unlocks become available there. |
No cited source establishes that one of these modes earns the Cleaver XP faster. Choose the mode where you can make steady progress, and confirm the selected unlock remains active in the Armory.
Why older guides mention the Squid Game Event Pass
The Cleaver originally appeared as the free mastery reward on the Squid Game Event Pass. The event ran from January 3, 2025, at 10 a.m. PT through January 24, 2025, at 10 a.m. PT, and those dates have passed. The official event announcement says the free pass was available to all players; the Cleaver was not a paid premium-track reward. The Armory is the post-event route for missed content.
#1 Best Overall
- Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower.
- This is signature Black Ops across a cinematic single-player Campaign, a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, and the epic return of Round-Based Zombies.
- The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
- In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
- Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
What the weapon description confirms
Call of Duty describes the Cleaver as a melee weapon with a “devastating heavy attack.” The event announcement does not give numeric damage, range, or attack-speed statistics, so those should not be assumed from the description alone.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- This is signature Black Ops across a cinematic single-player Campaign, a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, and the epic return of Round-Based Zombies.
- The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
- In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
- Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
- The Cross-Gen Bundle of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will also be available on select Game Pass plans at launch.*
Rank #3
- Kampania Black Ops 6 oferuje dynamiczną rozgrywkę z różnymi obszarami gry z pięknym tłem, intensywą akcją i fantastycznymi aktywnościami szpiegowskimi
- In the top-class multiplayer gameplay, players can check their skills on 16 new maps at the time of release, including 12 standard 6 on 6 and 4 battle maps that can be played in 2 on 2 or 6 out of 7
- Black Ops 6 also means the epic return of your fan-favorite Zombies mode
Rank #2
- Cross Gen-Bundle of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 includes Xbox Series X and Xbox One versions of the game.
- The Black Ops 6 promotion brings dynamic play moment to moment containing a variety of playing spaces with big buster set pieces and action-packed moments, high stakes wedges and spy activity mantle and dagger.
- In a premium multiplayer experience, players will test their skills over 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
- Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand new maps at launch.
- Cross-Gen Bundle of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will also be available on select game pass plans at launch. *
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