Campaign Challenges & Accolades
Beyond simply completing missions, Black Ops III's campaign offers a wealth of challenges and accolades to earn, rewarding observant players and those who master its combat systems. This section details how to achieve some of the more elusive and rewarding feats, pushing your skills and understanding of the game to their limits.
Mission 1: Black Ops - "No Stone Unturned" Accolade
This accolade requires you to locate and interact with all three data logs hidden within the first mission. These logs provide crucial backstory and lore, making them a worthwhile pursuit for any dedicated player.
- Data Log 1:
- Data Log 2:
- Data Log 3:
After the initial combat sequence in the ruined city, you'll enter a building with a large, circular hole in the floor. Instead of dropping down immediately, look to your right. The first data log is on a desk in a small office area, tucked away from the main path.
Following the encounter with the first set of Warlords and their robotic forces, you'll proceed through a series of corridors. Keep an eye out for a side room to your left, just before you reach the exterior courtyard where you first encounter the large, armored P.A.W.N. units. The data log is on a console within this room.
Once you've cleared the courtyard and are moving towards the extraction point, you'll pass through a final building before reaching the landing zone. In one of the last rooms, before exiting to the extraction point, look for a desk or terminal against the far wall. The final data log will be prominently displayed there.
Mission 2: New World - "Pacifist" Challenge
The "Pacifist" challenge in "New World" requires you to complete the mission without directly killing any human enemies. This is a test of your tactical prowess and your ability to utilize non-lethal takedowns and environmental hazards.
- Strategy Overview:
- Early Section (Marketplace):
- Mid-Section (Train Station):
- Late Section (Laboratory):
- Key Abilities:
- Remote Hijack: Essential for turning enemy tech against them.
- Immolation: For indirect environmental kills.
- Active Camo: For stealth and bypassing enemies.
- Tactical Rigs (e.g., Smoke Grenades, Flashbangs): For disorienting and bypassing enemies.
Focus on stealth and the use of your Cyber Core abilities. The Remote Hijack and Immolation abilities are your best friends here. Avoid direct confrontations whenever possible.
When you first enter the marketplace, utilize the environment to your advantage. Use Remote Hijack on enemy drones and turrets to turn them against their allies. For human enemies, prioritize stealth takedowns from behind. If a direct confrontation is unavoidable, use Immolation on explosive barrels or vehicles near enemies to take them out indirectly. Remember, you cannot be the one to deal the killing blow.
The train station presents a greater challenge due to tighter spaces. Again, prioritize Remote Hijack on any robotic units. For human patrols, use the environment to create distractions or lure them into areas where you can perform a stealth takedown. The Active Camo ability can be invaluable here for getting into position undetected.
In the laboratory, you'll encounter more advanced robotic enemies. Focus on disabling them with Remote Hijack or by targeting their weak points (if you can do so without causing collateral damage to humans). For the final human encounters, use gas grenades or flashbangs to disorient them, allowing you to bypass them without engaging directly.
Mission 3: In Darkness - "Untouched" Accolade
Achieving the "Untouched" accolade in "In Darkness" means completing the mission without taking any damage whatsoever. This is an extreme test of your reflexes, map knowledge, and ability to avoid all incoming fire and environmental hazards.
- Preparation is Key:
- Early Section (Forest Path):
- Mid-Section (Ruined Village):
- Late Section (Temple Entrance):
- General Tips:
- Constant Movement: Never stay in one place for too long, even behind cover.
- Headshots: Prioritize headshots for quick enemy elimination, reducing the time they have to fire back.
- Cyber Core Usage: Use your abilities defensively and offensively to control the battlefield and minimize exposure.
- Listen for Audio Cues: Enemy callouts and weapon fire can alert you to threats before they appear on screen.
- Restart Checkpoints: Don't be afraid to restart from the last checkpoint if you take even a single hit.
Before attempting this, ensure you have a strong understanding of enemy spawn points and attack patterns. Consider equipping weapons with high accuracy and range, such as the Drakon sniper rifle or the Man-O-War assault rifle, to eliminate threats from a distance.
The initial forest path is deceptively dangerous. Stay behind cover at all times. Utilize your Tactical Mode to spot enemies through foliage. Prioritize taking out snipers and enemies with rocket launchers first. Use your Overdrive Cyber Core ability to quickly move between cover points during enemy lulls.
The ruined village is a gauntlet of close-quarters combat and flanking maneuvers. Use the buildings for cover and always be aware of enemies attempting to push your flanks. The Firefly Swarm Cyber Core can be excellent for area denial and distracting enemies, allowing you to reposition without taking damage. Avoid standing in open areas for more than a second.
As you approach the temple entrance, you'll face heavier resistance, including armored P.A.W.N. units. Focus fire on their weak points (usually glowing red areas). Use Remote Hijack on any available turrets or drones to draw enemy fire. Maintain distance from explosive barrels and environmental hazards, as even splash damage will void the accolade.
Mission 4: Provocation - "No Man Left Behind" Accolade
This accolade requires you to rescue all civilian hostages during the "Provocation" mission. This involves careful navigation and quick action, as some hostages are in precarious situations or under immediate threat.
- Hostage Group 1 (Initial Building):
- Hostage Group 2 (Upper Floors):
- Hostage Group 3 (Rooftop/Extraction Zone):
- Key Considerations:
- Speed: Time is often of the essence, especially for the second hostage group.
- Situational Awareness: Always be scanning for civilians in distress, not just enemies.
- Lethal Efficiency: Use your most effective weapons and abilities to quickly neutralize threats around hostages.
- Friendly Fire: Be mindful of your grenades and area-of-effect abilities to avoid accidentally harming civilians.
After the initial breach into the building, you'll clear several rooms. The first group of hostages is typically found in a large open room on the ground floor, guarded by a few enemy soldiers. Eliminate the threats quickly and approach the hostages to secure them.
As you ascend through the building, you'll encounter another group of enemies attempting to execute hostages on an upper floor. This often occurs in a room with large windows overlooking the street. You need to react very quickly here. Use a powerful weapon or a Cyber Core ability like Firefly Swarm or Immolation to neutralize the threats before they harm the civilians. A well-placed grenade can also clear the room efficiently.
The final group of hostages is usually located near the extraction point on the rooftop or a high balcony. These are often under heavy fire from additional enemy reinforcements. Prioritize eliminating the snipers and heavy weapon specialists first, then clear the remaining threats around the hostages. Ensure all enemies in the immediate vicinity are neutralized before approaching the civilians.