Campaign Story & Plot Summary

Welcome, Black Ops III initiate! This section will guide you through the intricate and often mind-bending narrative of the campaign, providing a detailed breakdown of each mission's objectives, key plot points, and crucial strategies to ensure your success. Prepare for a journey into a future where technology blurs the lines between humanity and machinery, and reality itself is a fragile construct.

Mission 1: Black Ops

The campaign kicks off in 2065, with your customizable character, a Black Ops soldier, participating in a covert mission in Ethiopia alongside Commander John Taylor and his team. Your initial objective is to rescue an Egyptian minister from the NRC (Northern Republican Coalition) forces.

Initial Engagement: Upon deployment, immediately take cover behind the overturned vehicle. use your XR-2 Assault Rifle for medium-range engagements and the KRM-262 Shotgun for close quarters. Prioritize targets with visible armor plating.
Data Retrieval: After clearing the initial courtyard, proceed to the data terminal marked on your HUD. Be wary of flanking enemies from the left corridor. Activate your Tactical Rig's DNI (Direct Neural Interface) to download critical intelligence.
Extraction Point: Push through the marketplace, using environmental cover like stalls and debris. A key strategy here is to use your Cyber Core abilities (once unlocked) to disable enemy turrets or hack hostile robots, turning them against their allies. The Remote Hijack ability is particularly effective.
The Attack: During extraction, your character is critically wounded by a Corvus robot. This event is pivotal, leading to your extensive cybernetic enhancements.

Mission 2: New World

Following your traumatic experience, you undergo a radical cybernetic augmentation procedure, receiving a DNI and a new set of limbs. This mission serves as your tutorial for the new abilities and introduces you to your new partner, Jacob Hendricks.

Cyber Core Training: In the virtual training simulation, follow the prompts to familiarize yourself with your new Cyber Core abilities. Practice using Remote Hijack on the simulated robots and Tactical Mode to highlight enemy positions.
Combat Simulation: Engage the holographic enemies. Experiment with different weapon loadouts. The Man-O-War Assault Rifle and VMP SMG are excellent choices for this phase. Focus on headshots to conserve ammunition.
First Field Mission: You and Hendricks are deployed to Singapore to investigate a CIA black site. Your primary objective is to locate and extract a missing data chip.
Navigating the Slums: The environment is dense with cover. Use your Tactical Mode frequently to identify enemy patrols and plan your approach. There are several hidden weapon caches containing Locus Sniper Rifles if you prefer a stealthier approach.
Encountering Taylor's Team: You'll eventually link up with Taylor's team, who are also investigating the black site. Pay attention to the dialogue; it provides crucial context for the unfolding mystery.

Intermission

This brief interlude takes place in your safehouse, allowing you to customize your loadout, upgrade your Cyber Cores, and review intel. It's highly recommended to spend your Fabrication Kits on upgrading your preferred Cyber Core abilities, such as increasing the duration of Immolation or reducing the cooldown of Remote Hijack. Explore the safehouse thoroughly for hidden lore and character interactions.

Mission 3: In Darkness

The team travels to a quarantined zone in Singapore, a city ravaged by a catastrophic DNI-induced event. Your mission is to investigate the source of the anomaly and search for survivors.

Navigating the Quarantined Zone: The environment is dark and claustrophobic. Equip a weapon with a flashlight attachment, like the ICR-1 Assault Rifle. Be prepared for close-quarters combat against corrupted DNI users and hostile robots.
The Frozen Forest: You'll encounter a surreal "frozen forest" within the city, a manifestation of the DNI anomaly. This area is heavily guarded by advanced P.A.W.S. (Programmable Autonomous Weapons System) units. use EMP Grenades to temporarily disable them, allowing you to flank and destroy their weak points.
Uncovering the Truth: As you delve deeper, you'll begin to uncover fragments of information about Project Prometheus and the true nature of the DNI. Keep an eye out for data pads and audio logs; they provide invaluable lore.

Mission 4: Provocation

Following the events in Singapore, the team heads to Egypt to confront the NRC, who are believed to be behind recent attacks. This mission involves large-scale engagements and vehicle combat.

Tank Combat: You'll be tasked with operating a Gorgon Tank. Focus on targeting enemy vehicles and heavy infantry. use the tank's secondary weapon for anti-personnel.
Urban Warfare: After dismounting the tank, navigate the war-torn city streets. The Dingo LMG is highly effective for suppressing enemy positions and clearing out fortified areas.
Confronting the NRC Leader: Your objective is to capture or eliminate the NRC leader. This encounter will test your combat skills and strategic use of Cyber Core abilities. Consider using Firefly Swarm to distract and damage groups of enemies, creating openings for a direct assault.

Mission 5: Hypocenter

The plot thickens as the team investigates a mysterious CIA black site in Zurich. This mission delves deeper into the psychological aspects of the DNI and the nature of reality.

Infiltrating the Black Site: Stealth is often the best approach here. use your Active Camo Cyber Core to bypass patrols or get into advantageous positions. Suppressed weapons like the Weevil SMG are ideal.
Psychological Warfare: The black site is designed to disorient and confuse. Expect hallucinations and reality distortions. Trust your DNI, but be aware that it can be manipulated.
The Frozen Forest Returns: You'll encounter another manifestation of the frozen forest, indicating a deeper connection to the events in Singapore. This time, the threats are more abstract and psychological.

Mission 6: Vengeance

The team tracks Taylor to a secure facility, believing he has gone rogue. This mission is a direct confrontation with former allies, forcing difficult choices.

Facing Former Allies: Taylor's team, now under the influence of Corvus, will be formidable opponents. They possess similar Cyber Core abilities to your own. Adapt your strategies accordingly; using Disperse to break their formations can be effective.
Navigating the Facility: The facility is a labyrinth of corridors and open areas. Use cover effectively and be prepared for ambushes. The HVK-30 Assault Rifle offers a good balance of range and stopping power.
The Confrontation: The climactic encounter with Taylor will challenge your understanding of the narrative. Pay close attention to the dialogue and environmental clues.

Mission 7: Rise and Fall

With the truth about Corvus and the DNI beginning to unravel, the team races against time to prevent a global catastrophe. This mission involves high-stakes combat and critical plot revelations.

Stopping Corvus: Your primary objective is to reach the source of Corvus's influence. Expect heavy resistance from advanced robotic units and corrupted DNI soldiers.
Environmental Hazards: The environment itself will be a threat, with collapsing structures and energy surges. Use your DNI to identify safe paths and avoid hazards.
The Final Confrontation: The ultimate showdown with Corvus will test every skill and ability you've acquired. use all your Cyber Core abilities strategically. The War Machine specialist weapon can be devastating against large groups of enemies.