Black Ops 6 Season 4 is rolling out with a solid batch of new content bound to stir up the multiplayer and Zombies scenes. From fresh maps and weapons to the comeback of the fan-favorite Grief mode, there’s plenty to unpack for players eager to jump back in.
Treyarch confirmed the return of Fringe, the iconic map from Black Ops 3, but it won’t arrive until the mid-season update. This map was built around wall running and jetpacks, which fans hoped would make a comeback this season. However, those movement mechanics seem reserved for Black Ops 7, so patience will be required.
Black Ops 6 Zombies Season 4 Patch Notes Explained
Activision detailed the roadmap in a recent blog post, highlighting new weapons, maps, modes, and the return of Grief.
New Weapons
- LC10 SMG (Launch): A full-auto submachine gun with excellent accuracy and range, moderate fire rate, average mobility, and slow handling.
- FFAR 1 AR (Launch): Full-auto assault rifle boasting a very high rate of fire and strong close-quarters power, but slower handling and mobility.
- Essex Model 07 (In-Season): Lever-action marksman rifle with high damage potential, balanced by a slower rate of fire and handling.
The Olympia Shotgun and Picaxe melee weapon will arrive later in Season 4 Reloaded.
Three New Multiplayer Maps
- Shutdown 6v6 (Launch): A small map set in a hydroelectric power plant on Iceland’s volcanic terrain.
- Fugitive 6v6 (Launch): Medium-sized map located at a secret CIA black site in Iceland, where the character Stitch was once imprisoned.
- Blitz 6v6/2v2 (Launch): Small map set in the Icelandic mountainside featuring a bridge on top.
Team Elimination & One in The Chamber Explained
- Team Elimination: A twist on Kill Confirmed where teams have limited lives each round. Players drop dog tags on death that enemies can pick up to confirm kills or teammates can grab to deny points. The goal is to outlast or have more lives than the opposing team when time runs out.
- One in The Chamber: A free-for-all mode where each player has one pistol, one bullet, a knife, and three lives. Bullets kill on impact, and you earn another bullet by scoring an elimination.
Grim Reaper Scorestreak
The Grim Reaper rocket launcher returns for the first time since Black Ops 1 (2010). It fires up to four rockets before reloading. In multiplayer, it locks onto aircraft but fires freely against enemies. In the original, a direct hit dealt 500 damage and 150 damage in the explosion radius. It’s unclear if Black Ops 6 will match these stats.
Grief Mode Returns to Zombies
Grief, a 4v4 mode from Black Ops 2, is back in Season 4. Two teams compete to survive longer against zombies while capturing zones that debuff the opposing team. Direct damage to the enemy team isn’t allowed, but body blocking and slowing them down with melee, guns, or projectiles is fair game.
Maps supporting Grief include Liberty Falls, Terminus, Citadelle des Morts, The Tomb, and Shattered Veil. Certain Wonder Weapons and GobbleGums (Idle Eyes, Wonderbar, Time Out, Flavor Hex) are restricted to keep matches balanced.
Grief Gameplay Features
- Open Environment: Arenas have very important doors open and power turned on. Other doors are inactive. Teams spawn on opposite sides in groups of four.
- Player Respawning: Downed teammates can be revived if others remain alive. A Wave Respawner revives eliminated players every third round. Rival teams, zombies, and Shock Charges can interfere.
- Join In Progress: Players can join until Round 10 with a grace period. If a team wins consecutive Capture Zones, join-in-progress is disabled.
- Essence and Salvage: Salvage pickups are worth 100 and visible to all, but only the first to grab it gets it.
- Zombies: Rounds progress faster with more zombies to account for eight players. All undead types except bosses appear. Failure to kill zombies causes the round to turn.
- Core Mechanics: Arsenal, Pack-a-Punch, Mystery Box, Crafting Tables, Perk machines, GobbleGum machine (with some restrictions), Armor Wall Buys, and Der Wunderfizz machine are available in Grief Arenas.
- Capture Zones: Players must stand in these smaller areas to earn kills that trigger Grief effects on the enemy team.
Grief Effects Explained
- Weapon Nerf: Enemy players deal much less damage to zombies.
- Ammo Drain: Ammo is constantly removed from all weapons, including stowed ones.
- Zombie Ambush: An Elite zombie targets the opposing team until defeated or timer ends.
- Weapon Carousel: Enemy weapons randomly swap every few seconds.
- Frozen: Enemy movement is slowed with frost and ice effects.
While the Fringe map and wall-running wait for Black Ops 7, Season 4 of Black Ops 6 still packs plenty of action with new maps, weapons, modes, and the return of Grief. It’s eager up to be a solid season for fans of both multiplayer and Zombies.
What do you think about the new Season 4 content? Are you pumped for Grief’s return or the new maps? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
