Image: callofduty.fandom.com / Activision
Black Ops Royale is a new battle royale mode arriving in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 as part of the Black Ops 7 Season Two Reloaded update. Initially teased as a "Blackout Experience," the mode was formally detailed in a March 2nd, 2026 Call of Duty blog post. It draws heavy inspiration from Black Ops 4's Blackout while incorporating modern Warzone elements.
How Black Ops Royale Works
Black Ops Royale takes place exclusively on the Avalon map, which was previously available in the Black Ops 7 Endgame mode. For this mode, the map has been adjusted with less water to improve traversal, and further geography updates are planned for future seasons.
At launch, matches consist of 100 players in 25 Quad teams. A shrinking electrified boundary appears on the Tac-Map, with its location shifting each match to keep the full map in play. The goal remains the same as any BR: be the last squad standing.
Omnimovement, including wall-jumping, is fully available, and vehicles are present on the map.
No Loadouts, No Buy Stations
One of the biggest departures from standard Warzone is the removal of loadouts. Every player drops in with just a pistol and a Wingsuit and must scavenge everything else from ground loot, Supply Boxes, or eliminated players. There are no Buy Stations, no Gulag, and no in-game cash system.
Instead of the Gulag, players start with a single Redeploy Token. If you're eliminated, the token is automatically used and you'll drop back in after a short delay. Additional tokens can be found as loot, but you can only carry one at a time. Redeploy Towers also exist as an activity that lets you bring back your entire squad.
Inventory System
The inventory has been expanded compared to standard Warzone. Players can carry:
- Two Lethals (must be different types)
- Two Tacticals (must be different types)
- Two Field Upgrades (must be different types)
- Two Killstreaks (must be different types)
Players can hot swap between items in their inventory. Several returning items from the original Blackout are in the ground loot pool, including the Grappling Hook, Sensor Dart, Cymbal Monkey, and Trauma Kit. The Trauma Kit and certain perks allow players to exceed their maximum health. A new killstreak called the Psych Bomb is also available.
Weapon Rarity and Archetypes
Weapons in Black Ops Royale are defined by two key properties: Rarity and Archetype.
Rarity
Each weapon can be found at one of five rarity levels. Higher rarity means more attachments and better stats. Attachments are pre-determined and cannot be swapped, but weapons can be upgraded using Attachment Kits found in the world.
- Common: 1 Attachment + Class Benefit
- Uncommon: 2 Attachments + Class Benefits
- Rare: 3 Attachments + Class Benefits
- Epic: 4 Attachments + Class Benefits
- Legendary: 5 Attachments + Class Benefits
Each weapon class receives specific Global Class Benefits as rarity increases. For example, Assault Rifles and SMGs gain improved recoil control and faster reload speed, while Sniper Rifles get faster rechambering, better idle sway, and flinch resistance.
Archetypes
Every weapon has a designated Archetype that reflects its intended playstyle. The Build Theme appears above the weapon name on the HUD and includes labels like "CQB," "Raider," "Covert," "Viper," "Heavy Metal," and "Stalker." These descriptors give players a quick read on what type of attachments and role the weapon is built for.
Activities Replace Contracts
Black Ops Royale replaces the traditional Contracts system with Activities. These aren't visible from the start but appear as players explore different areas of Avalon. Completing activities rewards high-level loot.
Here's a breakdown of the available activities:
| Activity | Summary | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Target Uplink Station | Search for player bounties | Bounty target and enemy loot |
| Surprise Shipment | Secure a Guild shipment guarded by robots | Armor Satchel and loot |
| Surveillance Drone | Destroy a Guild Drone and its defenses | Additional Activity reveals and loot |
| Strongbox Crack | Hack a safe using safecracking software | Level 2 Armor and loot |
| Relay Antenna | Activate Guild hardware | Temporary UAV and Redeploy Drone |
| Redeploy Tower | Activate to revive eliminated squadmates | Squadmate redeployment |
| Supply Drops | Care packages across Avalon | Randomized high-value loot |
| Cradle Breach | High-danger hallucinatory zone | Randomized Cradle Activity |
Cradle Breach Activities
Cradle Breach activities are the highest difficulty encounters and feature Zombies-related elements. Two specific Cradle activities are confirmed:
- Mangler: Defeat a tough Cradle Boss for Level 3 Armor and high-tier loot.
- Mystery Box: Fight zombie hordes to earn access to a mystery box that can grant Exotic Weapons, including the Ray Gun.
HUD Changes
The HUD has been updated to display health as white markers, with temporary bonus health (above maximum) shown in yellow markers. Weapon rarity, build type, and attachments are visible when picking up a weapon or accessing the Tac-Map Menu.
Progression
All standard Warzone and Global Progression systems are active in Black Ops Royale. The mode also features exclusive Daily, Weekly, and Calling Card challenges, as well as Operator Orders that can be completed during matches.