Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is returning to the classic Prestige system, but how exactly does the mechanic work, and what do you keep after the reset?
Treyarch is bringing back one of the most iconic Call of Duty mechanics in Black Ops 6, and long-term fans of the franchise are excited to see it return.
In recent years, Prestige has become less important, as Activision has allowed players to achieve all the benefits of hitting max level without any of the drawbacks.
However, now, users will need to think carefully before confirming that they’d like to start fresh.
How Does the Black Ops 6 Prestige Work?
The Black Ops 6 Prestige system is a return to the classic Call of Duty Prestige, in which players will reset their level back to 1 and, in doing so, lose all of their unlocked weapons and attachments.
After hitting the maximum player level of 55, users have the option to enter Prestige.
A player who chooses to Prestige will earn exclusive rewards, which they can show off in-game. However, they’ll also reset all their unlocked gear, effectively starting their grind over.
How Many Times Can You Prestige?
Black Ops 6 will allow players to Prestige 10 times initially, with each reset unlocking new rewards to showcase.
After that, Prestige 10 will graduate into Prestige Master, which is the final phase of Black Ops 6 Career Progression.
As a Prestige Master, players will be able to increase their Level from 55 all the way to 1000.
And there are even some unique rewards for hitting Prestige Master, including unlocking the ‘Sitting Bull Reborn’ skin for Marshall – giving the Operator a new look, inspired by the Black Ops 6 cover art.
For every 100 levels of Prestige Master reached, players will also gain access to Legacy Prestige Icons, which they can equip to their profile for ultimate bragging rights.
Everything You Keep And Lose
Activision has now officially revealed the specifics of what you keep and what you lose with the Black Ops 6 Prestige system:
Everything That Resets:
- Player Level
- Most Player Level Unlocks
- Weapon Unlocks & Attachments
- Loadouts
- Killstreaks & Equipment Unlocks
- Current Prestige Combat Record Stats
Everything You Keep:
- Emblems & Calling Cards
- Store Purchases
- Vault Edition Bonuses
- Prestige Rewards
- Blueprints
- Base Operators & Skins
- Emotes
- Zombies GobbleGums
- Challenge Progress
- Camos
- Lifetime Combat Record Stats
- Anything You Choose to Permanently Unlock
Prestige Rewards
Players who choose to Prestige for the first time will receive an exclusive Prestige 1 icon.
They’ll also gain access to a Zombified ‘Nacht Raider’ Operator skin for Weaver, showing off their progress in-game. Here are all the immediate rewards for hitting Prestige 1 in Black Ops 6:
- Prestige 1 Icon
- Nacht Raider Weaver Operator Skin
- Access to Prestige 1 Multiplayer and Zombies Calling Card Challenges
- One Permanent Unlock
Players will also be able to unlock the following rewards while beginning their Player Level grind anew:
- Level 10 – ‘Der Riese’ Loading Screen
- Level 20 – ‘Perk-a-Cola’ GobbleGum Pack
- Level 30 – ‘Zombie Breach’ Animated Emblem
- Level 40 – ‘Insta-Kill Power-Up’ Charm
- Level 50 – ‘Teddy Is a Liar’ C9 Blueprint
The GobbleGum Pack and Blueprint rewards are only available for Black Ops 6 owners, whereas the others can be unlocked in Call of Duty: Warzone without purchasing Treyarch’s premium release.
And it’s not just Prestige 1 that has rewards on offer! Players who reach Level 50 in various Prestiges will unlock some incredible rewards such as the following:
- Prestige 3, Level 50 – ‘My Name Is…’ Payne Operator Skin
- Prestige 4, Level 50 – ‘Atomic Commando’ XM4 Assault Rifle Blueprint
- Prestige 5, Level 50 – ‘Absolute Loss’ Toro Operator Skin
- Prestige 6, Level 50 – ‘Robot Abomination’ SWAT 556 Marksman Rifle Blueprint
- Prestige 7, Level 50 – ‘Specialist Fan’ Maya Operator Skin
How Do Permanent Unlocks Work in Black Ops 6 Prestige?
Every time a player hits Prestige in Black Ops 6, they will acquire a ‘Permanent Unlock’ which can only be used once.
With a Permanent Unlock, players can choose to unlock a single item of their choice from within the Player Level unlocks, meaning you won’t have to grind to unlock your favorite gun every time you reset.
Players can earn up to 10 Permanent Unlocks, with the final one being granted at Prestige 10. However, after completing Prestige 10 and reaching Prestige Master, all your Player Level unlocks will become fully available anyway.
What Happens to Warzone Unlocks?
Given the fact that Black Ops 6 and Warzone feature shared progression, all Black Ops 6 weapons will be reset in the Battle Royale, just like they are in your Multiplayer loadouts.
However, all MW2 and MW3 weapons shouldn’t be affected by Prestige.
Therefore, be sure to keep your favorite weapons safe by using Permanent Unlock tokens every time you Prestige.
Alternatively, if you want to keep your meta loadout safe, you may choose not to Prestige, remaining at Level 55 forever. After all, there’s no harm in doing so!