How AUGMENTS and XP Work in BO6 Zombies

When it comes to Black Ops 6 Zombies, the intricate mechanics behind earning XP and progressing augments are more complex than they seem. Many players might assume these systems are straightforward, but after a full day of rigorous testing, one player, Doughnuts, has revealed a detailed breakdown that might change how we approach these mechanics. This breakdown delves into how AUGMENTS and XP Work in BO6 Zombies.

We’ll explore Doughnuts‘ findings on XP progression strategies and the intricacies of augment development, challenging some commonly held assumptions within the Zombies community.

The Spreadsheet and Initial Findings

Doughnuts spent an extensive amount of time testing various rounds and setups, compiling his results in a spreadsheet to closely track the mechanics. The testing began with an experiment to understand XP accumulation across different game stages. Previous Call of Duty Zombies titles like Cold War implemented XP drop-offs as players progressed beyond certain rounds. A well-known strategy involved exfiltrating around Round 15 or 20, restarting the game repeatedly to avoid the XP decrease associated with longer matches. However, Doughnuts‘ testing in Black Ops 6 suggests a possible change in this mechanic.

To investigate further, he tracked several key elements for each match:

• The round reached and whether he exfiltrated or died.
• The total XP gained and the total points accumulated.
• The length of each match, broken down to provide an “XP per minute” metric.
• Additional factors like player level and weapon level.

His detailed recordings allowed him to compare XP across various matches and reveal how specific actions, such as completing challenges or using certain weapons, impacted the XP gained per minute.

Check out the spreedsheet for yourself here

Discovering How Weapon XP Works

One of the primary focuses of Doughnuts‘ research was to debunk common misconceptions surrounding weapon XP. In the Zombies community, many players believe that there’s an optimal strategy involving short games with repeated exfils after around 15 or 20 rounds. This theory hinges on the idea that XP drops off significantly in later rounds, making these shorter runs more efficient for levelling up.

However, Doughnuts’ findings contradicted this belief. Across his numerous games, he observed that the XP per minute remained fairly consistent up to Round 35. For example, in Round 15 games, his XP per minute fluctuated between 600 and 1,200 XP. This range was similar even in his longer runs to Rounds 20, 25, and 30, where he earned between 700 and 1,200 XP per minute. This consistency across different game lengths suggests that XP does not drop off dramatically as rounds progress. In fact, the game appears to maintain a stable XP reward system throughout the match, which allows players to keep earning significant XP even in longer games.

This revelation is a game-changer for those who may have been following the conventional Round 15 exfil strategy. Doughnuts’ research suggests that instead of restarting the game repeatedly, players can simply continue playing through higher rounds without a severe penalty in XP.

Challenges and Weapon-Level Progression

Another critical discovery was the influence of challenges and weapon-level progression on XP gain. In many of Doughnuts’ matches, he noticed that using new weapons or completing weapon-specific challenges significantly increased his overall XP. For example, when he used a fresh weapon (one that hadn’t been levelled up much), he frequently completed early challenges—such as reaching a specific kill count or unlocking new attachments. These challenges awarded extra XP, boosting his XP per minute in those games.

This insight led Doughnuts to conclude that the most effective way to maximize XP in Zombies isn’t just based on the round number but on frequently switching weapons and attachments to unlock new challenges. Grinding for reticle and weapon-specific challenges, or using attachments that open new XP opportunities, consistently boosted his XP in each match. For players looking to speed up their XP gain, switching up weapons and aiming for different in-game challenges may be a key factor.

The Role of the Rampage Inducer

The Rampage Inducer, a mechanic that speeds up the pace of each round, also came under Doughnuts‘ scrutiny. While there wasn’t a large sample size of tests involving the Rampage Inducer, Doughnuts observed that it didn’t negatively impact XP gain in any substantial way. This differs from past games like Cold War, where the Rampage Inducer could result in lower weapon XP rewards due to fewer zombies appearing in each round.

Understanding AUGMENTS and Their Progression

Beyond XP, the augment system in Black Ops 6 Zombies plays a crucial role in customizing gameplay and building stronger characters. Augments add unique abilities and bonuses, ranging from faster reloads to increased melee damage, which can turn the tide in challenging rounds. However, unlike traditional XP or weapon XP, the process of leveling augments follows its own specific mechanics, and Doughnuts’ analysis sheds light on how players can best optimize their augment progression.

According to Doughnuts’ testing, augment XP is influenced primarily by the type and number of kills a player earns rather than round progression alone. For example, kills made with headshots or special weapons tend to yield more augment XP than regular kills. Additionally, progressing through specific milestones—such as completing a certain number of kills without taking damage or achieving a kill streak—grants a larger chunk of augment XP. This suggests that augments are designed to reward skilled play and encourage varied tactics rather than simply grinding through rounds.

A surprising finding was that augment XP didn’t drop off or slow down as much as expected in higher rounds. Unlike player and weapon XP, which can appear to stabilize, augment XP continued to increase steadily in Doughnuts‘ tests. This indicates that playing through higher rounds can be especially beneficial for augment progression, as long as players focus on more challenging kill types and keep an eye on objectives that grant extra augment XP.

Optimizing Augment Builds

An important takeaway from Doughnuts’ research is the advantage of frequently switching augment builds to suit specific game phases. As augments level up and reach higher tiers, they unlock more potent abilities, but certain augments work better in early rounds, while others are crucial for survival in higher rounds. For instance:

• Early Rounds: In the initial rounds (up to around Round 15), it may be beneficial to equip augments that focus on kill efficiency and points collection, such as those that increase melee damage or reward extra points per kill. These abilities help players quickly gain resources and set up for later rounds.
• Mid to Late Rounds: As rounds progress, players should switch to defensive or survival-oriented augments, like faster health regeneration or improved reload speed, which become vital when zombie counts and difficulty spike. Doughnuts noted that players who adapted their augment builds in response to the game phase had better survival rates and scored higher XP.

The Effects of Multiplayer on XP and Augment Progression

Doughnuts‘ testing included both solo and multiplayer games, and the findings revealed some interesting differences. In multiplayer mode, XP gain seemed slightly higher overall, likely due to more zombies spawning per round, which allowed for more kill opportunities. Augment XP was also boosted slightly, though this depended on how the kills were divided among players and whether teammates assisted with challenges or kill streaks.

Interestingly, multiplayer matches also seemed to benefit augment progression due to the diversity of zombie types and tougher enemy variants, which yield more augment XP than standard zombies. For players looking to speed up their augment progression, teaming up with friends could be a strategic choice, provided they coordinate well to maximize kill types and tackle shared challenges.

Key Takeaways for Efficient Levelling in Zombies

After hours of rigorous testing, Doughnuts’ findings provide a more refined approach to XP and augment progression in Black Ops 6 Zombies:

1. Consistency Over Restarting: Rather than restarting games at Round 15 or 20, players can continue through higher rounds without facing a significant XP drop-off. This change allows players to focus more on skill and strategy rather than constantly resetting.
2. Switch Up Weapons and Aim for Challenges: Rotating through different weapons and targeting specific challenges greatly boosts XP gain. Prioritize weapons that offer new attachments or reticle challenges to keep XP rates high.
3. Focus on Specific Kill Types for Augment XP: Augments level up faster with challenging kill types and objective completion. Headshots, melee kills, and other skillful techniques yield higher augment XP, especially in higher rounds.
4. Adapt Augments to Game Phases: Early on, choose augments that maximize kill efficiency and resource gain. As the game progresses, switch to defensive augments that support survival and crowd control.

In essence, Black Ops 6 Zombies rewards players who engage in diverse, skilled gameplay rather than repetitive grinding. By balancing both XP and augment strategies, players can level up efficiently while adapting to each phase of the game. Doughnuts‘ findings provide a new perspective on how to master Zombies, transforming the grind into a balanced, strategic experience that rewards players for skilled performance across all rounds.

Following these insights, players can expect a smoother progression curve, making Zombies more rewarding for both solo runs and multiplayer sessions alike.

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Zachary Skinner

Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.