The Blackout mode in Black Ops 4 allows players to play as one of the many different characters that appeared previously in the Black Ops series.
There are around 37 different characters in this Battle Royale mode, and each of them is unlocked in a specific way. Since you aren’t familiarized well with how to unlock each of these Blackout characters in COD BO4, we’ve come up with this guide to help you out.
How to unlock characters in Black Ops 4 Blackout
Generally, the Blackout characters are unlocked by completing a set of tasks or objectives known as “Character Missions” within the Blackout mode.
Character Missions first need to be acquired. To obtain a mission, you will need to collect a unique Character Item that will be placed inside Supply Drops, Supply Boxes, etc.
Sometimes, you may also acquire these items as a result of looting the corpses of enemy players and the undead. Once you get the character-specific item, you can get on with completing the objective.
It is necessary to complete the mission within the same match you found the item in, as you are required to keep it in your inventory during the mission. Do note that winning the match itself is not required to get the character skin in most missions unless they specifically require it.
Merits and Eschelon Levels
Simply put, the Meris are Black Ops 4’s version of experience points, and the Eschelon levels are the Player levels. Your Eschelon levels increase as you earn more and more Merits, which can either be earned by getting kills, ranking high in a match, or completing challenges.
Now that we’ve got the general method of unlocking the COD BO4 Characters out of the way, we can move on to how to unlock each of these characters specifically.
In the tables below, you will find a list of the character unlock requirements under each game mode of Black Ops 4. Before you start, note, once again, that you need to have the character items in your inventory while doing the missions.
Black Ops 4 Blackout Character Missions and Items
| Character/Skin | Item to Obtain | Character Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Reznov | Ushanka Hat – found within the Asylum or the Estates | Get a long-range kill (above 200m) and place either top 2, top 3, or top 5 in squads, duos, or solos respectively. |
| Mason | Stained White T-shirt – found within Supply Stashes | Activate the Array’s Emergency Broadcast to wake the Sleeper Agent and place either the top 4, top 8, or top 15 in squads, duos, or solos respectively. |
| Woods | Bandana –found adjacent to the Firing Range helicopter spawn | Mount a helicopter within 1 minute after landing. Win the match |
| Menedez | Locket – found within Supply Drops. | Use a Shotgun to get 2 kills and finish the match. |
| Ranger | N/A | Reach Echelon Level 20 |
| Frogman | N/A | Reach Echelon Level 40 |
| Airborne | N/A | Reach Echelon Level 60 |
| Seal | N/A | Reach Echelon Level 80 |
| Battle Hardened | N/A | Reach Echelon 80 Prestige |
| Hudson | N/A | Unlocked from the Tier 200 Black Market Contraband in Operations: First Strike |
| Uncle Frank | N/A | Unlocked from the Black Ops Pass |
Black Ops 4 Zombies Character Unlocks
| Character/Skin | Item to Obtain | Character Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow Man | N/A | This character is unlocked by owning the Black Ops 4 Blackout Pass. |
| Dempsey | Juggernog Bottle – found within Nuketown, Mystery Boxes, or the Blightfather Special Event | Get a kill with a grenade and finish the match. |
| Nikolai | Russian Tanker Hat – found within the Graveyard by throwing cymbal monkey on the mausoleum door | Place either the top 3, top 5, or top 10 in squads, duos, or solos respectively. |
| Richtofen | Blood Vial – Play as either Dempsey, Nikolai, or Takeo (next column), having their items in your inventory, interact with the Blood Fountain in the Asylum | Place either the top 2, top 3, or top 5 in squads, duos, or solos respectively. |
| Takeo | Letter to the Emperor – found within the Typewriter in the Blightfather event in either the Asylum, Boxing Gym, or Lighthouse | Finish the match without using any equipment and place either the top 3, top 8, or top 15 in squads, duos, or solos respectively. |
| Bruno | Mug Shot – found within Supply Drops or in the Blightfather Event | Use a melee attack to down an enemy and finish the match. |
| Diego | Pulp Magazine – found by killing zombies or in the Blightfather Event | Down an enemy with a headshot and finish the match. |
| Scarlett | Racing Goggles and Scarf – found by killing zombies or in the Blightfather Event | Use a vehicle to kill an enemy and finish the match. |
| Shaw | Alchemical Set – found within Mystery Boxes or in the Blightfather Event | Use a Wraith Fire or an Acid Bomb to kill an enemy and finish the match. |
| Ultimis Nikolai | N/A | Unlocked from the Tier 45 Black Market Contraband in Operations: Absolute Zero. |
| Ultimis Dempsey | N/A | Unlocked from the Tier 90 Black Market Contraband in Operations: Absolute Zero. |
| IX Bruno | Lion Pauldron – found within Mystery Boxes | Down an enemy with a Combat Axe and then finish him – finish the match. |
| IX Diego | Mayan Crest – found within Equipment Stashes | Down an enemy with a Bowie Knife and then finish him – finish the match. |
| IX Scarlett | Steel Bracer – found by killing zombies | Open a Supply Drop and finish the match. |
| IX Shaw | Ritual Bowl – found by killing zombies | Use 5 Perks and place either the top 7, top 15, or top 30 in squads, duos, or solos respectively. |
Multiplayer Character Unlocks
| Character/Skin | Item to Obtain | Character Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | War Machine – found within Supply Drops | Perform 2 eliminations with the War Machine. |
| Firebreak | Burned Doll – found within Supply Stashes | Either kill or finish a downed player with fire damage. |
| Nomad | Juneau’s Tags – found within Supply Stashes | Finish the match by killing 2 enemies without taking damage. |
| Prophet | Ocular Prosthetic – found within Supply Drops | Win the match while you have 3 perks active. |
| Ruin | Punching Mitts – found in the Lighthouse, Turbine Hangar 2, or Asylum Roof | Kill an enemy in close-quarter combat. |
| Seraph | The Annihilator | Acquire a kill with the Annihilator and finish in the Top 15 of the player rankings. |
| Ajax | Destroyed Armor Plating – found on dead enemies | Get three pieces of Destroyed Armor Plating and finish the match. |
| Crash | Poker Chips – found within Medical Stashes | Finish the match with 15 Healing items and place either the top 3, top 8, or top 15 in squads, duos, or solos respectively. |
| Recon | Ching Coin – found within Supply Stashes. | Avoid damage from any collapse situations or circle damage and place either the top 7, top 15, or top 30 in squads, duos, or solos respectively. |
| Torque | Torque’s Note – found within Supply Drops. | Deploy 2 Razor Wires and a Barricade and place either the top 5, top 7, or top 15 in squads, duos, or solos respectively. |
| Zero | N/A | Unlocked from the Tier 1 Black Market Contraband in Operations: Absolute Zero. |
