CoD Black Ops 4 Blackout character guide: How to unlock

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 is out now, and we’ve a handy guide that tells you how to unlock characters inside Blackout. Let’s get to it!

You can unlock a host of characters, including Blackout-, Zombies- and multiplayer-themed characters.

Blackout characters

There are a total of 9 characters that can be used in Blackout — some require you to simply level up in the mode, and others require the collection of items and completion of challenges. We’ve detailed how each character can be unlocked, below.

Echelon Blackout characters

If you want to get these guys (apart from Ranger, that is), you’ll need to level up. That’s done through kills, top placements, wins and the completion of in-game challenges.

• Ranger: Unlocks at Echelon 1
• Frogman: Unlocks at Echelon 20
• Airborne: Unlocks at Echelon 41
• Seal: Unlocks at Echelon 61
• Battle Hardened: Unlocks at Echelon 80

Collection and Challenge Blackout characters

These ones are a bit tougher — you’ll need to first find a collectible and then meet a challenge too.

• Woods
  • Obtain the Bandanna item (thought to drop from zombies or players who’ve collected it).
  • Fly (or be a passenger) in a Helicopter during a match.
  • Win a match.
• Menendez
  • Obtain the Locket item.
  • Kill an enemy with a shotgun.
  • Kill an enemy with a melee attack.
  • Finish the match with the Locket in your possession.

Unknown Blackout characters

We’ve not figured out to unlock these characters as yet. Stay tuned!

• Reznov: Unknown
• Mason: Unknown

Zombies characters

Not feeling the Blackout characters? You can use Zombies mode characters instead… providing you can unlock each of the 9 characters, that is.

Paid Zombies characters

• Shadow Man: Available through the game’s Black Ops Pass.

Collectible and Challenge Zombies characters

• Dempsey
  • Collect the Death Machine weapon (from zombies).
  • Kill zombies with Death Machine.
  • Finish the match in the top 10.
• Nikoli
  • Collect the Cymbal Monkey weapon (from zombies).
  • Kill zombies with the Cymbal Monkey.
  • Finish the match in the top 10.
• Richtofen
  • Collect the Ray Gun (from zombies).
  • Kill zombies with the Ray Gun.
  • Finish the match in the top 10.
• Takeo
  • Collect the Katana (from zombies).
  • Kill zombies with the Katana.
  • Finish the match in the top 10.
• Scarlett
  • Collect the Racing Goggles and Scarf.

Unknown Zombies characters

• Bruno: Unknown
• Diego: Unknown
• Shaw: Unknown

Multiplayer characters

Feeling like playing with your favourites from multiplayer? Same deal. Good luck with the challenges, though — you’re going to need it.

Collectible and Challenge Multiplayer characters

• Firebreak
  • Collect the Burned Doll.
  • With the Burned Doll, kill a player with fire.
  • Finish the match with the Burned Doll and place in the top 15.
• Ruin
  • Collect the Grapple Gun.
  • Further steps unknown.
• Seraph
  • Collect the Annihilator.
  • With the Annihilator, kill other players.
  • Finish in the Top 15.
• Ajax
  • Collect Broken Armor Plating from fallen players.
  • Find three total plates in total and finish with those in your inventory.
• Crash
  • Collect Poker Chips (usually bundled with a Trauma Case).
  • End the match with 15 healing items.
  • Finish with the Poker Chips in your inventory and in the top 15.
• Recon
  • Collect the I Ching Coins.
  • Avoid collapse damage.
  • Finish a match with the I Ching Coins and in the top 7.
• Torque
  • Collect the Note From Torque (found in supply drops).
  • Deploy 2 Razor wires and 1 barricade.
  • Finish a match with Note From Torque and place in the top 7.
• Battery
  • Collect the War Machine weapon.
  • Get kills with War Machine.
  • Finish with the War Machine and place in the top 15.

Unknown Multiplayer characters

• Nomad: Unknown
• Prophet: Unknown

We’ll update this guide as more is learned.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is available now on Windows PC, Xbox One and PS4.

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 guides

• Blackout full map
• Blackout tips and tricks
• Blackout mystery boxes explained
• Blackout character guide