This article contains spoilers for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Reckoning Zombies Map.
The final map for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Zombies mode has arrived. The latest map, Reckoning, added alongside the release of Season 5, is a sprawling, three-pronged maze built around vertical combat, and it contains what could be the hardest boss encounter in the game so far. In fact, much to the surprise of many Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 players, it actually contains two of them.
Reckoning is the first Black Ops 6 map with a two-sided Easter egg, similar to some of Black Ops 2’s Zombies maps. Those sides each offer a unique boss, S.A.M. Or Richtofen, depending on which version of the Easter egg they choose. Since each boss has distinct attack patterns, vulnerabilities, and supporting enemies, clearing either of Reckoning’s Easter egg bosses is going to come down to the builds players bring to each fight.
Black Ops 6 Zombies: 13 Best Weapons, Ranked
There is a wide arsenal of weapons to wield in Black Ops 6 Zombies. From fast-firing SMGs to powerful Wonder Weapons, here are the best ones.
Two COD Black Ops 6 Zombies Bosses, Two Loadouts
The path to overcoming either of Reckoning’s bosses should start on the loadout screen. Tons of loadouts can handle regular rounds, but Reckoning's S.A.M. And Richtofen both require tools that match each boss’s weaknesses. Those tools will naturally look different depending on who players are looking to take down.
That said, Zombies players should make sure to stock up on the best Gobblegums and perk augments. They’re great quality-of-life tools, but the impactful choices come from within the arsenal. For struggling players, or those simply not so sure what to choose, the following loadouts are fine-tuned for damage output, utility, and maximum survivability against either of Reckoning’s final foes, and should make the choice of weaponry a little bit easier.
S.A.M. Boss Fight Best Loadout
S.A.M. Is a large, mobile boss supported by relentless zombie reinforcements. Its most dangerous attacks are area-of-effect blasts that force near-constant movement, making mobility-focused firepower essential. An automatic shotgun like the ASG or the Maelstrom, enhanced with attachments that increase movement speed, provides the close-range stopping power needed to shred through both the boss and its minions.
Additionally, the Deadwire ammo mod, with the Big Game and Extension augments, is ideal for this encounter. The parasites that appear during the fight can evolve into Doppleghasts and Amalgams, and Deadwire excels at eliminating them while also delivering powerful crowd control. Its chain-lightning effect turns dense zombie waves into manageable clusters, making it a top-tier choice for train conducting.
ASG Shotgun Build
- Monolithic Suppressor – Muzzle
- CHF Barrel – Barrel
- Ranger Foregrip – Underbarrel
- Extended Mag 2 – Magazine
- Commando Grip – Rear Grip
- Light Stock – Stock
- Steady Aim Laser – Laser
- Rapid Fire – Fire Mods
Similar attachments can be applied to the Maelstrom, with performance differences between the two weapons being minimal enough to leave the choice up to preference. As a second, the new Gorgofex Wonder Weapon (particularly the Gorgofex N variant) rounds out the arsenal with strong elemental area-of-effect damage. Aether Shroud is the safest field upgrade for the S.A.M. Fight, in both solo and co-op, and pairing it with Burst Dash and Extension augments ensures maximum survivability.
Richtofen Boss Fight Best Loadout
Richtofen is a harder, more agile boss with smaller weak spots and an arena that's constantly restocked with Kommando Klaus mobs. Maintaining distance is paramount, and weapons that combine precision with mobility excel here. The ABR A1 assault rifle, released alongside the map in Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Season 5, stands out for its ability to hit Richtofen’s vulnerable shoulder areas with good damage while retaining SMG-like movement speed.
The AS-VAL and CR-56 AMAX also make solid alternatives, though the former trades power for speed and the latter sacrifices mobility for raw damage. Cryofreeze with Big Game and Extension augments is the optimal ammo mod for this battle, as Cryofreeze deals increased damage to the Uber Klaus and Kommando Klaus enemies while slowing them for better map control.
ABR A1 Build
- Monolithic Suppressor – Muzzle
- CHF Barrel – Barrel
- Ranger Foregrip – Underbarrel
- Extended Mag 2 – Magazine
- Ergonomic Riser – Comb
- Balance Pad – Stock
- Fast Motion Laser – Laser
- Rapid Fire – Fire Mods
For the second slot, the Gorgofex Wonder Weapon, this time in its Gorgofex C variant, delivers exceptional boss damage while offering emergency crowd control. Aether Shroud again proves invaluable, but because of Richtofen’s punishing difficulty spike, the Extra Charge augment maximizes uptime and allows for more frequent escapes from high-pressure situations.
All Reckoning Wall Buy Locations in Black Ops 6 Zombies
Looking for a particular Wall Buy on the latest map? Here is a quick guide on where to find every Wall Buy on the Reckoning for Black Ops 6 Zombies.
Required For Reckoning: Stims, Semtex, and Spin
Regardless of which build or boss is chosen, there are a few universally essential tools for tackling Reckoning’s Easter egg. Stim shots are invaluable for restoring health during the chaos of either boss fight, allowing for quick recovery after a close call or one of either boss’s devastating AOE attacks. Semtex grenades offer excellent burst damage and are particularly effective against dangerous priority targets like Amalgams or Uber Klaus units.
Additionally, players have the opportunity to craft a scorestreak to bring into the arena with them for either fight. Usually, the Chopper Gunner scorestreak would be the go-to pick, but in Black Ops 6’s Reckoning, either boss can actually shoot down the chopper gunner, complete with a new animation. The Death Machine scorestreak can fill in the Chopper Gunner-shaped hole in players’ hearts, however, and it earns its place as a last-resort option by melting through hordes in seconds when the fight threatens to spin out of control.
Reckoning’s bosses are definitely tough, but players should feel confident knowing it’s less about raw skill and more about preparation. The key is in knowing that Richtofen and S.A.M. Represent two different types of challenge, meaning it’s all the more important to know beforehand what tools are needed to take them down. With these loadouts, the toughest bosses in Black Ops 6 Zombies can be a surmountable (and repeatable) achievement.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- October 25, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
WHERE TO PLAY
Forced to go rogue. Hunted from within. This is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Developed by Treyarch and Raven, Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller set in the early 90s, a period of transition and upheaval in global politics, characterized by the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a single superpower. With a mind-bending narrative, and unbound by the rules of engagement, this is signature Black Ops.
The Black Ops 6 Campaign provides dynamic moment-to-moment gameplay that includes a variety of play spaces with blockbuster set pieces and action-packed moments, high-stakes heists, and cloak-and-dagger spy activity.
In a best-in-class Multiplayer experience, players will test their skills across 16 new maps at launch, including 12 core 6v6 maps and 4 Strike maps that can be played 2v2 or 6v6.
Black Ops 6 also marks the epic return of Round-Based Zombies, the fan-favorite mode where players will take down hordes of the undead in two brand-new maps at launch. Post-launch, players can look forward to even more exciting maps and groundbreaking experiences dropping into both Multiplayer and Zombies.
- Engine
- IW 9.0
- Genre(s)
- FPS
