How To Complete Black Ops 6 Tribute Event And Earn Rewards

The Black Ops 6 Tribute Event has officially gone live, and if you're a fan of grinding XP for high-tier cosmetics, new weapons, and powerful operators, this is the event to jump into. The Tribute Event marks a celebration of the Black Ops legacy and offers a stacked list of unlockables spread across multiplayer, Warzone, and Zombies. To get your hands on everything, you’ll need to rack up a serious amount of XP across all modes.

The Tribute is at the core of this update, bringing both nostalgia and new firepower into one of the biggest seasonal events to date.

Event Duration and Basic Requirements

The Tribute Event runs from April 17 to May 1 and covers all three major modes: multiplayer, Warzone, and Zombies. There are no specialized challenges to worry about. This is a straightforward XP-based progression event. The total requirement is 617,000 XP, and you’ll need to go the full distance if you want the exclusive mastery rewards.

The progression system is simple: earn XP in any match, and you’ll unlock rewards at set milestones. You can play however you like. Just make sure you're gaining consistent XP in every session.

What You Unlock and When

You’re not just earning cosmetics here. The Tribute Event includes new weapons, perks, scorestreaks, and even an exclusive operator. Here’s a breakdown of the XP milestones and what each tier offers.

Early Tier Rewards

• 15,000 XP: Intimidation Tactics weapon sticker (all modes)
• 40,000 XP: Bomb on Wheels spray (all modes)
• 40,000 XP: Striped Beauty weapon charm (Black Ops 6 only)

Mid-Tier Progression

• 76,000 XP: Liberating Air loading screen (available to all players)
• 76,000 XP: On the House Gobblegum (Black Ops 6 only)
• 123,000 XP: Operatives large decal (available in all modes)
• 180,000 XP: Thermite lethal equipment (Warzone exclusive)
• 180,000 XP: Close Shave perk (Black Ops 6 only)

The Close Shave perk activates your equipped melee weapon automatically during a butt-stock attack. It’s a niche perk, great for players who favor quick melee tactics.

High-Tier Rewards

• 248,000 XP: C9 10mm Auto 30 Round Mag attachment. This mod increases damage and range but slightly reduces fire rate and adds recoil.
• 326,000 XP: Call It In emblem (all players)
• 326,000 XP: Violet Sight reticle (Black Ops 6 only)
• 414,000 XP: 45-minute double weapon XP token
• 414,000 XP: Crate Power Gobblegum (Black Ops 6 only)
• 511,000 XP: Blazing Win animated calling card

Final Stretch Rewards

• 617,000 XP: Steer Melee Weapon Blueprint (multiplayer and Warzone)
• 617,000 XP: Death Machine scorestreak (Black Ops 6 only)

Once you've hit the final XP cap, you unlock the mastery rewards:

• Nail Gun: A returning favorite from Cold War. It lacks attachments but still packs a punch.
• John Black Ops Operator Skin: A sleek, tactical design exclusive to Black Ops 6 owners.

Access Restrictions and Version Differences

While most of the rewards are accessible across all platforms, some are locked behind Black Ops 6 ownership. Every Black Ops 6-exclusive reward is labeled as "BO6 Reward" in-game. This means Warzone-only players will miss out on specific perks, Gobblegums, reticles, and the John Black Ops operator.

That said, even Warzone players can unlock the Nail Gun and several of the XP-based cosmetic items. So, there’s still value in participating if you’re not playing on Black Ops 6.

How to Earn XP Fast

Grinding XP is the only thing that matters in this event. Here’s how to do it efficiently across all three game modes.

Multiplayer

• Play Domination or Hardpoint. Objective-based modes offer more XP through captures and assists.
• Avoid mini maps like Stakeout. These often reduce XP gain intentionally.
• Use Double XP Tokens. Stack weapon and standard XP boosts for maximum efficiency.

Zombies

• Aim for short sessions. End your run at round 16 or 21 for fast extraction bonuses.
• Complete SAM Trials. These offer major XP rewards without dragging on the session.
• Use the Rampage modifier. Only if you're comfortable handling high aggression.

Warzone

• Choose Resurgence or Plunder. Traditional Battle Royale offers less XP per minute.
• Play with a squad. More kills and revives boost XP significantly.
• Focus on contracts. Complete as many as possible in a single match.

Exclusive Content: What’s Worth Grinding For

While XP tokens and calling cards are great, the big draw here is the content exclusive to this event. The Nail Gun and the John Black Ops operator are two of the best incentives we've seen all season.

• Nail Gun: A solid SMG alternative with no attachment options. It’s simple but effective.
• John Black Ops: A sleek operator skin that brings a professional, black-ops look to your loadout.
• Death Machine Scorestreak: Requires 825 score to activate and can melt through enemies just like in previous titles.

These rewards will not return in future events. However, the Nail Gun will eventually be available via armory challenges. John Black Ops, on the other hand, is likely to remain exclusive to Tribute Event completion.

Skip The Grind With DamnModz

Grinding through the Black Ops 6 Tribute Event takes time, especially with over 600,000 XP standing between you and the John Black Ops skin. If you’re running out of time or patience, buy BO6 Prestige Rank Boost and get a solid shortcut. This service gets you straight to Prestige 10 while unlocking every exclusive milestone reward on the way. It’s legit, platform-ready, and perfect for players who want the Tribute Event’s best cosmetics without the daily grind. When the event ends, those rewards won’t come back.

A Must-Play Event?

If you're a longtime fan of the franchise or just someone who enjoys high-value cosmetics and meta-changing weapons, the Tribute Event is a must-play. Even if you don’t own Black Ops 6, there are still enough free rewards to make the grind worth it.

Black Ops 6 owners get the most value here. The exclusive perks, weapons, and operator make this one of the most stacked seasonal events Call of Duty has rolled out.

Don’t wait too long to start grinding. Two weeks might sound like plenty, but 617,000 XP is no joke. Load up, hit the objective modes, and knock out those rounds in Zombies or Warzone.

This Tribute Event is a proper sendoff to everything Black Ops represents, stealth, firepower, and style.

So load in, rack up that XP, and unlock everything before the timer runs out.