Campaign Missions Overview

Campaign Missions Overview

Welcome, Black Ops Operative, to the definitive guide for navigating the intricate and often brutal campaign of Call of Duty: Black Ops III. This section provides a detailed, mission-by-mission breakdown, offering actionable strategies, key item locations, and tactical advice to ensure your success on the battlefield. Prepare to delve deep into the psychological warfare and advanced combat scenarios that define this epic journey.

Mission 1: Black Ops

Your initiation into the world of Black Ops begins with a bang. This mission serves as a crucial introduction to core gameplay mechanics and the narrative's dark undertones. Pay close attention to the tutorial prompts for movement, weapon handling, and the initial deployment of your Cybernetic Core abilities.

• Objective: Secure the Data Packet.
  • Upon deployment, you'll be equipped with a standard issue KN-44 Assault Rifle and a RK5 Pistol. Conserve your ammunition early on.
  • Navigate through the war-torn streets, utilizing cover effectively. Enemies will primarily be standard Warlord Militia.
  • Key Item: Data Packet. This is located within the fortified building at the mission's midpoint. Expect heavy resistance, including a P.A.A.P. Unit (Personal Armored Assault Platform). Focus fire on its weak points (glowing red areas) with your assault rifle.
  • After securing the Data Packet, you'll need to exfiltrate. A new weapon, the KRM-262 Shotgun, can be found near the exfil point, useful for close-quarters engagements against the final wave of hostiles.
• Tactical Tip: Practice your sliding and wall-running maneuvers during quieter moments. These will be invaluable for future missions.

Mission 2: New World

This mission thrusts you into a more urban combat environment, introducing new enemy types and showcasing the expanded capabilities of your DNI (Direct Neural Interface).

• Objective: Infiltrate the NRC Research Facility.
  • The mission starts with a stealth segment. Utilize your Active Camo Cyber Core ability to bypass initial patrols of NRC Soldiers.
  • Item Location: XM-53 Launcher. A powerful rocket launcher can be found in a hidden alcove to the left of the main entrance to the facility. This is crucial for dealing with armored vehicles later.
  • Inside the facility, you'll encounter Robotic Sentries. Use your Remote Hijack Cyber Core to turn them against their allies, creating diversions and reducing enemy numbers.
  • Strategy: When confronting the heavy resistance in the main lab, prioritize taking out the Annihilator wielding enemies first, as their high-damage output can quickly overwhelm you.
• Tactical Tip: Look for opportunities to use environmental hazards, such as exploding barrels or collapsing structures, to your advantage.

Intermission

The Intermission isn't a combat mission but a crucial hub for character progression and narrative development. You'll return to your safe house to interact with your team and access the Data Vault.

• Objective: Access the Data Vault.
  • The Data Vault allows you to review mission intel, character dossiers, and unlock new Cyber Core abilities and weapon attachments using Fabrication Kits earned from previous missions.
  • Recommendation: Prioritize unlocking the Tactical Rig upgrades that complement your preferred playstyle. For aggressive players, consider Overdrive; for more tactical approaches, Rejack can be a lifesaver.
  • Engage in conversations with your squadmates. These interactions often reveal crucial lore and sometimes unlock side objectives or challenges for future missions.
• Key Item: Fabrication Kits. These are your currency for upgrades. Always check mission summaries for any missed Kits.

Mission 3: In Darkness

This mission takes a darker turn, focusing on psychological elements and introducing new environmental challenges. Expect low visibility and unsettling encounters.

• Objective: Investigate the Abandoned Research Outpost.
  • The outpost is shrouded in fog and features limited lighting. Equip a weapon with a good scope or thermal optics if available from your loadout. The Dingo LMG with a thermal sight can be highly effective here.
  • You'll face new, agile enemies known as Stalkers. These foes move quickly and prefer close-quarters combat. Use your Concussive Wave Cyber Core to stun them and create openings for headshots.
  • Hidden Collectible: Data Log. A crucial piece of lore can be found in the main laboratory, on a desk near a flickering computer monitor.
  • The mission culminates in a confrontation with a corrupted AI. Focus fire on the glowing conduits that power it, while avoiding its area-of-effect attacks.
• Tactical Tip: Stick close to your squadmates. Their combined firepower and DNI abilities can help you overcome the psychological challenges of this mission.

Mission 4: Provocation

Prepare for intense, large-scale engagements in this mission, featuring combined arms combat and multiple objectives.

• Objective: Disrupt NRC Supply Lines.
  • You'll start in a vehicle section, piloting a Wraith Tank. Utilize its main cannon for armored targets and its machine gun for infantry. Remember to use its defensive smoke screen when under heavy fire.
  • Upon dismounting, you'll need to secure several supply caches. Each cache is heavily guarded by NRC Heavy Troopers and automated turrets.
  • Weapon Recommendation: Gorgon LMG. This high-capacity, high-damage LMG is excellent for suppressing enemy positions and taking down armored foes. You can often find one dropped by Heavy Troopers.
  • Strategy: Use your Firefly Swarm Cyber Core to distract and damage groups of enemies, allowing your team to push forward.
• Tactical Tip: Prioritize destroying enemy anti-vehicle turrets when on foot, as they can quickly deplete your health.

Mission 5: Hypocenter

This mission is a test of endurance and tactical precision, featuring confined spaces and relentless enemy waves.

• Objective: Activate the Seismic Stabilizers.
  • The mission takes place deep within an underground facility. Expect tight corridors and ambush points. The Vesper SMG is highly effective in these close-quarters scenarios.
  • You'll encounter new robotic enemies, the P.A.A.P. Sentinels, which are faster and more heavily armored than standard P.A.A.P. Units. Target their leg joints to cripple their movement.
  • Item Location: Black Hat. A useful tactical grenade that can hack enemy equipment and turrets can be found in a storage room just before the first stabilizer.
  • Activating each stabilizer triggers a defensive sequence. Position yourself strategically and utilize your Electrostatic Burst Cyber Core to incapacitate large groups of incoming enemies.
• Tactical Tip: Always be aware of your surroundings. Enemies will often try to flank you from side passages.

Mission 6: Vengeance

A high-stakes mission focused on retribution, featuring intense firefights and a memorable boss encounter.

• Objective: Eliminate the Target.
  • You'll be dropped into a fortified enemy compound. The initial assault requires coordinated team effort. Use your Mass Overload Cyber Core to disable enemy defenses and open pathways.
  • Weapon Recommendation: Drakon Sniper Rifle. For long-range engagements across the compound, the Drakon is invaluable for picking off high-value targets like enemy snipers and Heavy Troopers.
  • The mission culminates in a confrontation with a powerful enemy operative, equipped with advanced DNI abilities and a custom weapon.
  • Boss Strategy: The operative is highly mobile. Use your Mimicry Cyber Core to confuse them and create openings. Exploit the environment for cover and aim for headshots when they are vulnerable.
• Tactical Tip: Collect any available Ammo Packs before the boss fight, as it can be a prolonged engagement.

Mission 7: Rise and Fall

This mission marks a significant turning point in the narrative, featuring a blend of open-area combat and complex objective management.

• Objective: Secure the Data Core.
  • You'll be fighting through a collapsing city environment. Be mindful of falling debris and environmental hazards.
  • New enemy types, including Warlord Enforcers with heavy armor and energy shields, will challenge your tactical approach. Use grenades or your Remote Hijack on their shields to expose them.
  • Key Item: Specialist Weapon Upgrade. A hidden upgrade for your chosen specialist weapon can be found in a partially destroyed building near the central plaza. This significantly boosts its power.
  • Securing the Data Core involves defending a position against multiple waves of enemies, including several P.A.A.P. Units and Robotic Sentinels. Deploy your Gravity Spikes or Kinetic Armor specialist abilities strategically to clear out large groups or absorb damage.
• Tactical Tip: Maintain situational awareness. Enemies will attack from all directions, including from above.