If you’ve spent any time in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies mode, you already know the real grind isn’t just survival—it’s the camo chase. Weapon camos in BO6 Zombies aren’t just flashy skins; they’re a testament to your skill, endurance and sheer stubborn commitment to slaying endless waves of undead.
Among all the customizable progression systems in BO6, the Zombies camo challenges stand out as one of the most rewarding (and occasionally rage-inducing) experiences. This guide digs into everything you need to know about bo6 zombies camo challenges—from the base Military camos to the weapon-specific Special camos, all the way up to the ultimate reward: the Nebula Mastery camo.
Let’s break down how the entire system works and how you can grind smarter, not harder.
The Structure of BO6 Zombies Camo Challenges
BO6 Zombies uses a three-tier camo system:
- Military Camos – The foundational grind, identical for every weapon.
- Special Camos – Weapon-unique challenges that require different mechanics.
- Mastery Camos – The rarest and flashiest skins, requiring high-level consistency and full class completion.
This layered system is designed to progressively increase in difficulty. By the time you’re chasing Nebula, you’ll have committed many hours, mastered weapon handling, and battled through dozens of different challenge types.
Military Camos – Your First Big Step
Military camos are consistent across all weapons. Each one is unlocked based on achieving specific numbers of critical kills—headshots or weak-spot hits that count as higher-value eliminations.
Here’s the universal structure for every weapon:
- 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 – 1,000 critical kills
- Whiteout – 1,500 critical kills
- Purple Tiger – 2,000 critical kills
These tasks rarely change from weapon to weapon. This makes Military camos the perfect place to start, because the grind is predictable and lets you learn a weapon’s recoil pattern, fire rate, ammo efficiency, and ideal range.
Tips for Military Camo Grinding
- Aim for the head consistently; crit multipliers boost progress fast.
- Use weapons with easy recoil control to reduce misses.
- Funnel zombies into straight lines or choke points.
- Apply Pack-a-Punch early to make critical kills more efficient.
- Stay mobile—crit farming is smoother when you control the flow of zombies.
Once these nine Military camos are unlocked for a weapon, you gain access to the next tier: Special camos.
Special Camos – Unique Challenges per Weapon
This is where things get interesting. Every weapon has two Special camo challenges, and they are totally unique per weapon. They require specific ammo mods, Pack-a-Punch kills, certain zombie types, or particular play styles.
Below are examples of how varied Special challenges can get:
Assault Rifles
XM4
- 300 kills using the Napalm Burst ammo mod
- 30 kills on Vermin enemies
AK-74
- Earn repeated fast critical kills
- Get 300 Pack-a-Punch kills
GPR 91
- 300 Cryo Freeze kills
- 100 kills on enemies affected by your tactical equipment
SMGs
C9
- Kill 30 Parasites
- Earn 300 kills while Pack-a-Punched
KSV
- 300 Dead Wire kills
- 300 hip-fire kills
Shotguns
Marine SP
- Kill 300 Rare-variant zombies
- Earn 300 hip-fire kills
Melee Weapons
Bo Staff
- 300 Dead Wire kills
- 30 Parasite kills
Each weapon’s Special camos push you to adapt—sometimes dramatically. You’ll swap mods, swap maps, change tactics, and even adjust perks depending on what the challenge demands.
This variation keeps the grind from feeling repetitive.
Mastery Camos – Mystic Gold, Opal, Afterlife & Nebula
Mastery camos are the final step, and they’re the reason so many players commit to this grind. They’re flashy, rare, and show everyone in the lobby you’ve put in serious work.
Here are the universal Mastery challenges applied to all weapons:
Mystic Gold
- Get 10 rapid kills (rapid multikills) 15 times with that weapon.
Opal
- Get 30 Special Zombie kills with that weapon.
Afterlife
- Achieve 20 consecutive kills without taking damage, 10 times.
Nebula
- Kill 10 Elite Zombies with that weapon.
But there’s a twist…
The Weapon-Class “Gating” System
You don’t unlock Opal or Afterlife just by doing Mystic Gold on one gun. You must complete Mystic Gold for all weapons in that class.
Example:
If your class has five weapons and you complete Mystic Gold for only one, Opal remains locked. You must finish all five to begin Opal challenges.
This continues upward:
- Mystic Gold for all weapons → unlock Opal
- Opal for all weapons → unlock Afterlife
- Afterlife for all weapons → unlock Nebula
Nebula is the ultimate Zombies flex camo, and only dedicated players ever reach it.
Efficient Grinding Strategies for BO6 Zombies Camos
Grinding smarter will save you dozens of hours. Use these tips:
1. Optimize for Critical Kills Early
To clear Military camos efficiently:
- Equip recoil-reducing attachments
- Use head-level chokepoints
- Utilize Pack-a-Punch upgrades early
- Choose maps with long sightlines
2. Special Camos Require Tailored Load-outs
Each Special challenge needs a specific mod or requirement. Create preset builds:
- Cryo Freeze build
- Dead Wire build
- Hip-fire build
- Pack-a-Punch spam build
- Tactical equipment build
Switch between them for faster completion.
3. Farm Special Zombie Types Smartly
Certain enemies spawn more frequently on specific maps or at certain rounds.
For example:
- Manglers spawn later in the game.
- Parasites and Vermin spawn in specific regions or events.
- Armored Zombies appear more often in higher rounds or special objectives.
Knowing spawn cycles reduces RNG headaches.
4. Mastery Camo Preparation
Mastery tiers are much easier when:
- You maintain survivability perks
- You use crowd-control mods
- You run circular routes to avoid corner pressure
- You practice consistent kill timing
The “no damage” streaks for Afterlife can be the most frustrating. Slow down and play methodically.
5. Use Progress Trackers
Players often use spreadsheets or third-party trackers to stay motivated. Seeing progression visually helps keep the grind manageable and organized.
Suggested Weapon-Class Grind Order
Here’s a recommended grind path to minimize burnout:
- Choose one weapon class (e.g., SMGs).
- Grind all Military camos for every weapon in that class.
- Work through Special camos per weapon.
- Complete Mystic Gold for the entire class.
- Move on to the Opal challenges.
- Finish the Afterlife streaks.
- Finally, tackle Nebula.
This keeps you from constantly switching classes and helps maintain consistent gameplay flow.
Why the Camo Grind Is Actually Worth It
Yes, it’s long. Yes, it can be tiring. But players keep coming back for a few key reasons:
1. Prestige & Respect
Showing off Nebula or Afterlife camos instantly communicates your skill and dedication.
2. Gameplay Mastery
You end up learning every weapon, every mod, every enemy type, and every map rhythm.
3. Replay Value
Instead of running the same routes endlessly, each challenge forces you to experiment.
4. Long-Term Goals Feel Rewarding
BO6 Zombies’ tiered camo system is one of the best forms of progression the mode has seen.
Common Pain Points & How to Deal With Them
• Grind Fatigue
Solution: Switch weapons or take short breaks between tiers.
• RNG-Based Challenges
Solution: Change maps or objective types—don’t force bad RNG.
• Losing “No Damage” Streaks
Solution: Slow down. Treat Afterlife streaks like mini survival challenges.
• Class-Wide Requirements
Solution: Do not complete only one weapon at a time. Batch classes together.
Conclusion
The bo6 zombies camo challenges system is layered, challenging, and rewarding in a way few other COD systems are. From early critical-kill grinds to intense Mastery streaks and Elite zombie takedowns, each step pushes you further as a player.
Whether you’re grinding for bragging rights, personal satisfaction, or building mastery across weapon classes, the camo system transforms Zombies into a deeply strategic progression experience.
As you chase Mystic Gold, Opal, Afterlife, and finally Nebula, remember: this grind isn’t just about color patterns—it’s about proving your dominance over the undead.
Thanks for reading this complete guide here on Buz Vista, your go-to destination for gaming insights, strategies, and deep-dive content.
1. What are camo challenges in BO6 Zombies?
Camo challenges are tasks you complete using specific weapons in Zombies mode to unlock unique weapon skins. They range from simple critical-kill requirements to elite zombie eliminations and no-damage streaks.
2. How many camo tiers are there in BO6 Zombies?
There are three main tiers: Military, Special, and Mastery camos. Mastery is the toughest tier and includes Mystic Gold, Opal, Afterlife and Nebula.
3. Do Military camo requirements change per weapon?
No. Military camos are identical for all weapons and require a series of critical-kill milestones from 100 to 2,000.
4. Are Special camo challenges different for each weapon?
Yes. Every weapon has two unique Special challenges that can involve ammo mods, Pack-a-Punch kills, hip-fire kills, special enemies, and more.
5. What is the hardest Mastery camo to unlock?
Nebula is the hardest because you must complete all other tiers (Military, Special, Mystic Gold, Opal, Afterlife) across an entire weapon class before you can finish it.
6. What counts as a “Special Zombie”?
Special Zombies include enemies like Manglers, Vermin, Parasites, Armored Zombies and other enhanced variants that spawn in higher rounds or through certain events.
7. What is the best way to get critical kills for Military camos?
Use recoil-controlled weapons, aim for head-height chokepoints, and Pack-a-Punch early. Controlling zombie funnels makes crit farming much faster.
8. How do I complete Afterlife camo challenges more easily?
Use defensive perks, mods with crowd control, and wide circular training routes. Avoid tight spaces and slow down your pacing—survival is the priority.
9. Can I unlock Mastery camos weapon-by-weapon?
Not for Opal, Afterlife or Nebula. These require class-wide completion, meaning every weapon in that class must first earn Mystic Gold.
10. How long does it take to unlock Nebula?
It varies by skill and efficiency, but for most players it takes dozens of hours per weapon class, since Nebula is the final tier.
11. Which weapon class should I start with?
Most players start with SMGs or Assault Rifles, because they’re strong and flexible for both Special and Mastery challenges.
12. Do camo challenges work in any Zombies mode?
Yes — your progress counts regardless of map or objective type, as long as kills are made with the weapon and conditions the challenge requires.