Top 7 tips to master Outbreak in Black Ops Cold War

Andrew Highton

Outbreak is the newest take on the popular Call of Duty Zombies mode. We’ve come up with 7 must-have tips to help you survive longer and perform better in it.

When the initial announcement for Season 2 of Black Ops Cold War was announced, no one was quite sure what to expect from the new Outbreak mode. Treyarch promoted it as the biggest take on Zombies yet.

The expansive Zombies mode is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before and incorporates elements of the expansive nature of Warzone’s sprawling maps with their new Zombies addition. Outbreak is a welcome change of pace that can be a lot of fun to play, and here are the seven best tips to get you rolling.

1. Do all side activities

In addition to the main objectives you’ll be presented with in Outbreak, the round you’re on will usually have two or three extracurricular activities for you to do.

Reoccurring side missions will include the hungry dragon that requires you to kill zombies inside of a specially-designated ring. There is also a recording that, when triggered, teleports in a couple of Megatons or other tough enemies, requiring you to kill them. Both of these usually appear in every round and are a consistent way to boost your points.

cod bocw outbreak side missions dragon

2. Find Floating Essence

Players that engage in the Fireteam modes will already be quite familiar with the maps used in Outbreak as they are exactly the same.

Lots of the maps have buildings and towers and what you need to know is that in Outbreak they contain a lot of valuable Essence to find. You can usually find vials of Essence around the map which give you 100 points, but the larger floating ones will net you a whopping 500 points. Make sure you seek them out.

3. Listen out for loot drop audio cues

We don’t need to tell you the importance of regularly finding loot chests in Outbreak. Legendary weapons, free armor/damage upgrades, materials, and a lot more can be found in these necessities.

You’ll know when you’re close to one as they make a distinctive beep-boop sound – sometimes accompanied by a child’s laugh. Don’t worry about hogging them as they’re scattered all-around the map you’re on and there’s plenty to go around.

cod bocw outbreak zombies loot chest

4. Maximize your total points

It goes without saying that your best chances of survival are predicated on you earning many points and investing them wisely.

As well as side activities and finding essence, there are also some other things you can do to kep your score rising. Killing at long-range will earn extra longshot points, stun grenades hurled into large groups of zombies will do wonders, and the “Ring of Fire” equipment can reward lots of bonus points for kills and assists.

5. Pack-a-Punch your gun

With all those extra points in the bag, you need to make sure you’re not wasting them. Above all else, Pack-a-Punching your weapon is an absolute must if you want to survive as Zombies get stronger, and get stronger quickly.

Now, which weapon you select is obviously up to you, but it has to be said that certain weapons are better equipped to cope with the rigorous demands of the later rounds, such as LMGs.

cod bocw outbreak zombies mode

6. Collect materials and make sure you use them

It’s so easy to dismiss materials when you’re in the middle of Outbreak, but you should never underestimate how much they are actually needed.

Materials can upgrade your weapon’s damage, the sturdiness of your armor, and buy you super-powerful scorestreaks like a Chopper Gunner.

7. Pick up items

One final reminder is to make sure you’re vigilant and constantly check the surrounding area to see what items have been left as a present by the undead.

They can drop all kinds of useful gear that should never be scoffed at. Aside from the obvious fact they can inflict copious amount of damage, as we’ve said, they can also warrant additional points too. Frag Grenades, Semtex, and C4 are great for crowd control, and if you’re lucky enough to get a Cymbal Monkey, then you should feel safer.

cod bocw zombies outbreak cymbal monkey

Those are our seven best tips to survive Outbreak and if you’re also kitted out with three teammates to go through this journey together, then you should hopefully enjoy a longer experience.

Image credits: Treyarch