Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Campaign Story Choices & Consequences

Navigate Call of Duty: Black Ops II's branching campaign. This walkthrough details critical story choices and their consequences on character fates and endings.

·Multi-source verified (94/94)

Campaign Story Choices & Consequences

Black Ops II introduces a branching storyline, a first for the Call of Duty series. Your decisions, both major and minor, will directly impact character fates, mission outcomes, and ultimately, the game's ending. This section details key choice points and their ramifications.

Mission: Pyrrhic Victory

Choice: Save Woods or Let Him Die

  • Location: Panama, 1986.
  • Action: After the initial firefight and the chase sequence, you'll find Woods cornered by Raul Menendez.
  • Option 1: Save Woods:
    • Walkthrough: Immediately target and eliminate the two Nicaraguan soldiers holding Woods. Prioritize headshots with your M16A2 to ensure a quick kill. Woods will then assist you in the subsequent firefight.
    • Consequence: Woods survives the mission and will appear in future 2025 timeline missions, offering unique dialogue and tactical support. This path is crucial for achieving the "Good" ending.
  • Option 2: Let Woods Die:
    • Walkthrough: Delay engaging the soldiers holding Woods, or focus fire on other targets. Woods will be killed by Menendez's forces.
    • Consequence: Woods is permanently removed from the storyline. His absence will be noted in later missions, and certain dialogue options will be unavailable. This contributes to a "Neutral" or "Bad" ending, depending on other choices.

Mission: Celerium

Choice: Retrieve Celerium Device or Destroy It

  • Location: Myanmar, 2025.
  • Action: After infiltrating the Celerium facility, you'll reach the main lab where the Celerium device is housed.
  • Option 1: Retrieve Celerium Device:
    • Walkthrough: Interact with the Celerium device to extract it. You'll then need to fight your way out with the device. Be prepared for heavier resistance from Menendez's forces.
    • Consequence: The Celerium device is secured by the US. This provides a tactical advantage in later missions and can influence the overall outcome of the war against Menendez.
  • Option 2: Destroy Celerium Device:
    • Walkthrough: Locate the explosive charges (usually found in a nearby crate) and plant them on the Celerium device. Detonate the charges and then exfiltrate. This path might involve fewer direct engagements but could lead to different strategic challenges later.
    • Consequence: The Celerium device is destroyed, preventing Menendez from acquiring it, but also denying the US its potential benefits. This can lead to a more challenging final confrontation.

Mission: Karma

Choice: Save Karma or Let DeFalco Escape

  • Location: Cayman Islands, 2025.
  • Action: During the club infiltration, you'll encounter DeFalco attempting to abduct Karma.
  • Option 1: Save Karma:
    • Walkthrough: Immediately engage DeFalco and his men. Prioritize DeFalco to prevent him from escaping with Karma. Use your SCAR-H for effective close-quarters combat. You must eliminate DeFalco before he reaches the extraction point.
    • Consequence: Karma is rescued and will provide crucial intelligence and assistance in later missions. This is vital for unlocking certain Strike Force missions and achieving the "Good" ending.
  • Option 2: Let DeFalco Escape:
    • Walkthrough: Fail to stop DeFalco before he reaches his escape vehicle, or focus on other enemies. DeFalco will successfully abduct Karma.
    • Consequence: Karma is captured by Menendez. This will significantly impact the narrative, potentially leading to the failure of certain Strike Force missions and making the final confrontation more difficult.

Mission: Suffer With Me

Choice: Shoot Mason in the Leg or Head

  • Location: Nicaragua, 1986.
  • Action: During the chaotic final moments of the mission, you will be forced to shoot a figure you believe to be Menendez, but is actually Mason.
  • Option 1: Shoot Mason in the Leg:
    • Walkthrough: Aim carefully and fire at the lower extremities of the figure. This requires precision under pressure.
    • Consequence: Mason is wounded but survives. He will appear in the 2025 timeline, albeit injured, and his presence is critical for achieving the "Good" ending.
  • Option 2: Shoot Mason in the Head:
    • Walkthrough: Aim for the head or upper torso of the figure. This is the more natural reaction in a high-stress situation.
    • Consequence: Mason is killed. This permanently removes him from the 2025 timeline, leading to a significantly darker narrative and making the "Good" ending impossible.

Strike Force Missions: Success or Failure

The outcome of each Strike Force mission (e.g., "FOB Spectre," "Shipwreck," "I.E.D.") has direct consequences on the main campaign:

  • Successful Completion:
    • Consequence: Provides tactical advantages in later main story missions (e.g., additional drone support, intel, weakened enemy forces). Contributes to a stronger position against Menendez and increases the likelihood of a "Good" ending.
  • Failure or Skipping:
    • Consequence: Results in tactical disadvantages in subsequent main story missions (e.g., stronger enemy resistance, fewer allied resources). Can lead to a more challenging experience and push the narrative towards "Neutral" or "Bad" endings.

Mission: Judgment Day

Choice: Kill Menendez or Capture Him

  • Location: Los Angeles, 2025.
  • Action: The final confrontation with Raul Menendez.
  • Option 1: Kill Menendez:
    • Walkthrough: During the final QTE (Quick Time Event) or direct engagement, choose to deliver a lethal blow to Menendez.
    • Consequence: Menendez dies. The specific ending you receive will depend on all previous choices, but killing him generally leads to a more definitive, albeit potentially less satisfying, conclusion to his reign of terror.
  • Option 2: Capture Menendez:
    • Walkthrough: During the final QTE, choose the non-lethal option to subdue and capture Menendez.
    • Consequence: Menendez is captured and imprisoned. This opens up additional ending variations, particularly if you've made choices that lead to a "Good" ending, as his capture can lead to his public trial and exposure.

Pro-Tip: To experience all possible endings and story branches, consider multiple playthroughs. The game's narrative depth is best appreciated by seeing how different decisions cascade through the timeline.