The Call of Duty player base wanted the Prestige back to how it used to be, and Treyarch and Activision have delivered. The old-school setup is back, but you need to reach a certain level to hit Prestige 1 in Black Ops 6—and we know which one.
I fall into the boomer category when it comes to CoD. I miss having fewer attachments, need an abundance of intricately woven three-lane maps, and yearn for the classic Prestige system. Leveling up and earning a new Prestige icon was a joy, and the challenge of unlocking all weapons and equipment again was special.
Activision heard our cries, and the Prestige system many of us grew up with is back with a triumphant bang. For many of you, this way of Prestiging is probably foreign. So, I’m going to run through the level you need to reach to hit Prestige 1—and beyond—and give you a quick run-through of what happens.
How to Prestige in Black Ops 6
You must complete Level 55 to unlock the ability to Prestige in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Here’s a clear set of instructions in case you missed the in-game prompts:
- Go to the Black Ops 6 main multiplayer menu.
- Click on Barracks.
- Press on Progression.
- Now choose Prestige.
- Hold the Triangle on PlayStation, Y on Xbox, or the applicable button on other formats to see Prestige Details.
- When it gives you the option, press Continue.
- Press Continue again.
- Finally, hold the required button for several seconds to officially Prestige.
To be clear, if you reach Level 55, this isn’t enough—you need to get to the end of Level 55 to gain access to the Prestige option. Once you do this, BLOPS 6 informs you, and you’re left with a difficult decision, do you stay, or do you go on?
What Happens When You Prestige in Black Ops 6?
If you choose to Prestige, your player level resets to one, your player icon changes to a universal symbol that remains through your Prestige 1 run, and you can unlock a heap of goodies for hitting certain milestones.
Player Level
Yes, even though you’ve spent hours increasing your player rank, enabling the Prestige function resets the number straight back to one. Effectively, you start again, and it means you need to re-unlock everything—save for one weapon, piece of equipment, or Perk of your choosing.
Icon Change
Your first run through Black Ops 6’s online multiplayer gives you a fresh icon for hitting new levels, However, with Prestige, each time you do it, you’re given a fixed icon from levels 1-55. Per Activision, Black Ops 6 Prestige icons are special though as they are “themed around a title in Black Ops history.”
Rewards
Prestiging gives you instant Prestige rewards but also offers incentives throughout the entire Prestige journey. For example, you can earn Calling Cards, Emblems, Charms, and even Blueprints. Think of Prestige less like a daunting endeavor, and more challenging and replayable journey to carry you to the ultimate glory—the final Prestige icon!
Are you happy to see the classic Prestige system back in Black Ops 6 like I am? Please let us know your thoughts. After you’ve done this, check out how to get Dragon’s Breath, plus, how to unlock new guns: Saug, Sirin 9mm, and Maelstrom.
