There are two main parts to the multiplayer in Call of Duty Black Ops – Local Play and Online Multiplayer.
In Local Play you can play offline by yourself or with friends on the same xbox. There are two more modes in local play called split screen and system link. Split screen allows you to play by yourself or with a friend on the same xbox using the same screen. System Link is when you hook up your xbox with another xbox and play games offline. While playing offline, you have the ability to choose any map, any game mode, any perks, any killstreaks, any guns, any attachments, any camo, and any equipment.
In online multiplayer you play online only. Just like local play, you have the option of playing by yourself or with a friend via split screen. Plug in another controller and sign them in as a guest or as an existing gamertag/ID. Once they sign off they will lose all progress they earned. This is if it’s only a guest and not an existing gamertag/ID. The online multiplayer is separated into 5 seconds: Player Match, Private Match, Wager Match, Combat Training, and Theater.
Player Match is the regular online experience. Here you can find a variety of matches online. Some playlists must be unlocked after you rank up. There are leaderboards, challenges, and everything else you are used to in a Call of Duty online experience.
Private Match is similar to local play. The difference is you use the things you’ve unlocked in player match. You have the ability to play with anyone online but you must invite them, you cannot search online for a match. You also have the ability to edit game mode options for custom matches. Private Matches will not allow you to rank up.
Wager Match allows you to gamble your COD Points against other players in certain game modes. You must put up a certain amount of COD Points first in order to gain more.
Combat Training allows you to play against computerized enemies. You can play alone or with friends using everything You’ve unlocked in player match. There are four difficulties just like campaign – Recruit, Regular, Hardened, and Veteran. While playing combat training you can rank up and earn COD Points; however, everything you unlock will not carry over to player matches.
Theater allows you to view and save films or clips from online multiplayer matches. You can save and upload up to 6 clips in your file share.
Reporting Players
Treyarch made it a lot easier to report players for cheating, boosting, using offensive language, or offensive emblems. Simply click on their name in between matches to view their COD Playercard, go down to report, and click one of the four options. If they left during the game, you can view your recent players to find their COD Playercard from that menu. If you’re in the middle of a game, press Y/Triangle on the player’s name to view their COD Playercard, Report a Player, or view their gamertag/ID.
Multiplayer Playlists
There are tons of playlists in Call of Duty Black Ops. Many are unlocked through ranking up. Some are unlocked only after prestige mode. All the playlists are separated into 5 categories: Core, Hardcore, Barebones, Prestige, and Wager Match.
Core
Core game modes are regular rules and stats. This is the first and only category open to players when you first start.
Team Deathmatch
8-12 Players. 10 Minute Time Limit. 100 XP per kill.
6 Players vs 6 Players face each other to reach the score limit. First team to reach 7500 Points (75 Kills) wins the game.
Mercenary
Mercenary is the same as Team Deathmatch. The only difference is there are no parties allowed. Every person you’re matched with is random.
Free For All
4-8 Players. 10 Minute Time Limit. 50 XP per kill, no assists.
Free For All is a deathmatch type game. Everyone vs everyone with up to 8 players in a game. Tactical Insertions are not allowed. First person to 30 kills (1500 points) wins the game.
Maps Playable: Array, Firing Range, Grid, Hanoi, Launch, Nuketown, Radiation, Summit, Villa, and WMD
Domination
6-12 players. 50 XP Per Kill. 150 XP for Capturing a flag.
3 flags in the level must be captured. Your team gets points for having control of a flag. The more flags your team holds, the more points you gain. Points are added to the score every 5 seconds, 1 point per flag captured. It takes 10 seconds to capture a flag alone, it captures faster with more team mates on the flag. First team to 200 points wins.
Ground War
Big Team Games – Team Deathmatch (first to 100 kills/1000 points) and Domination (first to 200 points). 12-18 players.
Demolition
6-12 players. 50 XP Per Kill, 25 XP Per Assist. 100XP for planting and destroying bomb site + Medals. 500XP for Defusing. 2 rounds.
Attackers must destroy the 2 bomb sites within the time limit. Each player on offense carries a bomb automatically. After both bomb sites are destroyed or time runs out, teams switch sides. First team to win two round wins the game. If the teams tie then you go to overtime, attack or defend (randomly chosen). 5 Seconds to plant and defuse the bomb. 2:30 for each round. Plant the bomb to replace the round timer with the bomb timer. If the bomb goes off you get a Time Extension. Time Extension adds another 3:00. Killstreaks roll over through the rounds.
Sabotage
6-12 players. 10 Minute Time Limit. 100 XP Per Kill. 500 XP to plant/defuse the bomb.
Grab the neutral bomb and plant it on the enemy’s bomb site. First to detonate wins! One bomb site per team. The enemy bomb site is only visible on your HUD and map if your team has the bomb. You must wait the entire kill cam time to respawn, 7 Second Respawn. Everyone can see where the bomb is after it is taken. The bomb tracker isn’t in real time so you may have to predetermine where the enemy will go. 2.5 seconds to plant the bomb, 5 seconds to defuse. Bomb timer is 30 seconds. If the game timer runs out (10 Minutes) then there’s a 90 second sudden death match. If nobody plants the bomb, or the other team has people alive at the end of the 90 seconds, the match is a draw.
Headquarters
6-12 players. 15 Minute Time Limit. 50 XP Perk Kill 150XP (200 total with medal) for Capturing/Destroying HQ.
A target HQ is marked and activates in 45 seconds, capture it and defend it. You gain points the longer you hold it. 150 XP for capturing/destroying HQ, 50 XP for each 5 seconds (for up to 60 seconds) you hold the headquarter and the initial capture making it 200XP. 5 Points are given to the team every 5 seconds the HQ is held. 250 Points to win the game. Anyone around the headquarters while it’s being captured will earn the XP for capturing. The first person around the headquarters while it’s being destroyed will earn the XP, but no one else around will. While holding the HQ you cannot respawn. Teams cannot destroy the HQ unless the team that holds the HQ is away from the capture point. 20 Seconds to capture the HQ by yourself, 10 seconds to destroy the HQ by yourself. HQ Captures/Destroys faster with more friendlies near it and doesn’t at all with enemies near it.
Capture the Flag
6-12 Players. 100 XP Per Kill. 100 XP to Grab/Return Flag. 250 XP To Capture Flag. 2 Rounds
Bring the enemy flag back to your team’s base while your flag is there to score points. 10 Minutes per round. 1 round and you switch sides. 3 Flag Captures per round is the limit. The team with the most flag captures at the end of the two rounds wins. If there’s a tie you go into overtime and switch sides or stay on the same side (chosen at random) and first team to capture the flag wins. If nobody touches the flag for 30 seconds, it will be sent back to it’s base. Respawn could be instant or take 12 seconds. You can see where you flag is taken on the radar, but not on your screen like on sabotage.
Search and Destroy
6-12 Players. 500XP Perk Kill and Plant/Defuse bomb. Almost everything gives an extra 10x XP bonus (Killstreaks, Headshots, etc). Best of 4 Rounds.
No respawning, one bomb for offense, two bomb sites. Defend or destroy the objective. Offense plants the bomb in one of two sites with a 45 second timer or eliminate the entire enemy team to win the round. Defense eliminates the entire enemy team or defends the bombs until the round time limit is up. After two rounds, teams switch sides. Win 3 out of 4 rounds to win the game. Each round is 2:30. If a bomb is planted, the match timer is replaced by the bomb timer. The bomb takes 5 seconds to plant and defuse.
Team Tactical
6-8 Players.
Small team based games with Team Deathmatch, Domination, Capture the Flag, Demolition, and Search and Destroy.
Barebones
Barebones is a special playlist that changes the rules for killstreaks and perks.
Pure
6-12 Players.
Team Deathmatch on every map. No Perks, Killstreaks, Attachments, Equipment, or Contracts.
Classic
6-12 Players.
Team Deathmatch with killstreaks at 3, 5, and 7. Spy Plane, Napalm, Attack Helicopter. No attachments, perks still active.
Team Tactical
6-8 Players.
Objective based modes with No Perks, Killstreaks, Attachments, Equipment, or Contracts.
Hardcore
Hardcore is a playlist under “Hardcore” rules. Those rules include limited HUD (no radar, crosshairs, score, XP Bar, or time limit), No Health Regeneration, Lower Health (Around 35 instead of 100), Friendly Fire, No Killcams, and some game modes give a delay on respawns. If you team kill 2-3 times, you will be kicked from the match.
Team Deathmatch
8-12 Players. 10 Minute Time Limit. 100 XP per kill.
6 Players vs 6 Players face each other to reach the score limit. First team to reach 7500 Points (75 Kills) wins the game.
Search and Destroy
6-12 Players. 500XP Perk Kill and Plant/Defuse bomb. Destroying killstreaks gives an extra 10x XP bonus. Best of 4 Rounds.
No respawning, one bomb for offense, two bomb sites. Defend or destroy the objective. Offense plants the bomb in one of two sites with a 45 second timer or eliminate the entire enemy team to win the round. Defense eliminates the entire enemy team or defends the bombs until the round time limit is up. After two rounds, teams switch sides. Win 3 out of 4 rounds to win the game. Each round is 2:30. If a bomb is planted, the match timer is replaced by the bomb timer. The bomb takes 6 seconds to plant and defuse.
Free For All
4-8 Players. 10 Minute Time Limit. 50 XP per kill, no assists.
Free For All is a deathmatch type game. Everyone vs everyone with up to 8 players in a game. Tactical Insertions are not allowed. First person to 30 kills (1500 points) wins the game. Hardcore gives you a 7 second respawn delay. While you’re waiting to respawn you can spectate the other players.
Maps Playable: Array, Firing Range, Grid, Hanoi, Launch, Nuketown, Radiation, Summit, Villa, and WMD
Headquarters
6-12 Players. 15 Minute Time Limit. 50 XP Perk Kill 150XP (200 total with medal) for Capturing/Destroying HQ.
A target HQ is marked and activates in 45 seconds, capture it and defend it. You gain points the longer you hold it. 150 XP for capturing/destroying HQ, 50 XP for each 5 seconds (for up to 60 seconds) you hold the headquarter and the initial capture making it 200XP. 5 Points are given to the team every 5 seconds the HQ is held. 250 Points to win the game. Anyone around the headquarters while it’s being captured will earn the XP for capturing. The first person around the headquarters while it’s being destroyed will earn the XP, but no one else around will. While holding the HQ you cannot respawn. Teams cannot destroy the HQ unless the team that holds the HQ is away from the capture point. 20 Seconds to capture the HQ by yourself, 10 seconds to destroy the HQ by yourself. HQ Captures/Destroys faster with more friendlies near it and doesn’t at all with enemies near it.
Capture the Flag
6-12 Players. 100 XP Per Kill. 100 XP to Grab/Return Flag. 250 XP To Capture Flag. 2 Rounds
Bring the enemy flag back to your team’s base while your flag is there to score points. 10 Minutes per round. 1 round and you switch sides. 3 Flag Captures per round is the limit. The team with the most flag captures at the end of the two rounds wins. If there’s a tie you go into overtime and switch sides or stay on the same side (chosen at random) and first team to capture the flag wins. If nobody touches the flag for 30 seconds, it will be sent back to it’s base. Respawn could be instant or take 12 seconds. You can see where you flag is taken on the radar, but not on your screen like on sabotage.
Prestige
Prestige is a playlist that unlocks only after you prestige.
Prestige TDM
Unlocked at 1st Prestige. Team Deathmatch with prestige players only.
Prestige Hardcore
Unlocked at 10th Prestige
Prestige Pure
Unlocked at 15th Prestige
Wager Match
Wager Match mode is a section of online multiplayer where you pay COD Points to play one of four game modes. You will not earn any XP, only COD Points. All game modes are FFA type modes with special rules. They are separated into three sections for higher bet/win ratios. The three sections are:
Ante Up
A variety of Wager Match game modes with a low buy-in entry fee. Parties allowed. C10 Required to Play. Top three winners will earn C30, C18, and C12. If there is a tie between any of the other two winners, they will split the money equally.
Weekend Gambler
A variety of Wager match game modes with a medium buy-in fee. No parties allowed. C1000 Required to Play. Top three winners will earn C3000, C1800, and C1200. If there is a tie between any of the other two winners, they will split the money equally.
High Roller
For the big spenders only. You can still vote, but don’t get to pick a specific Wager Match game mode. No parties allowed. C10000 Required to Play. Top three winners will earn C30000, C18000, and C12000. If there is a tie between any of the other two winners, they will split the money equally.
There are four game modes in each of these three sections. All are free for all like game modes with special rules. There are never perks or killstreaks active. The maps are smaller versions of the maps you can find in FFA. They are:
One in the Chamber
6 Players. 10 Minute Time Limit.
One bullet in the chamber (M1911 or Makarov), a knife, three lives, and instant kills. Players receive a bullet after each kill. When it’s down to the last two men a spy plane will appear. If you lose all your lives you can spectate the survivors. The person with the most points wins.
Sticks and Stones
6 Players. 5 Minute Time Limit.
You get a Crossbow, a Ballistic Knife, and a Tomahawk. Kill players to score points. Get Tomahawk kills to reset enemy scores to zero. The person with the most points at the end of the 5 Minute time limit wins. You can pick up enemy tomahawks and ballistics knives on the ground. There is constant radar during the game.
Crossbow Kill = 100XP
Ballistics Knife Shot = 100XP
Ballistics Knife Melee = 25XP
Tomahawk = 10XP
Gun Game
6 Players. 10 Minute Time Limit.
Kill players with your weapon to advance to the next weapon. Fire to get a kill with each weapon wins. All weapons have infinite ammo. If you commit suicide you will be set back a tier, even if you scored a kill in the process. If you are killed by a melee attack you will be set back a tier. If you kill someone with a melee attack you will not advance a tier.
Tier 1: Python w/ Speed Reloader
Tier 2: Makarov w/Dual Wield
Tier 3: SPAS-12
Tier 4: Stakeout
Tier 5: MP5K
Tier 6: Skorpion w/Dual Wield
Tier 7: AK74u
Tier 8: M14
Tier 9: M16
Tier 10: Famas
Tier 11: AUG
Tier 12: HK21
Tier 13: M60
Tier 14: L96A1
Tier 15: WA2000
Tier 16: Grim Reaper
Tier 17: M72 LAW
Tier 18: China Lake
Tier 19: Crossbow
Tier 20: Ballistic Knife
Sharpshooter
6 Players. 5:15 Time limit.
Weapons cycle every 45 seconds. Kill players to score points. Gain perks for getting killstreaks. The person with the most points at the end of the game wins. There will be 7 random weapons throughout the game.
1 Killstreak: Sleight of Hand Pro.
2 Killstreak: Lightweight Pro.
3 Killstreak: Steady Aim Pro.
4 Killstreak: Double Points
Kill: 100 Points
Melee Kill: 25 Points
Final Round/Sharpshooter Round: 2x Points