Getting Started

Overview

Welcome to Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010), a fast-paced first-person shooter set during the Cold War. This guide is designed for brand-new players. You'll learn how to survive your first hour, navigate the game's menus, master the controls on any platform, and avoid classic beginner mistakes. By the end of this guide, you'll be ready to tackle the campaign, jump into multiplayer, or try Zombies.

---

First Hour Walkthrough: Campaign Mission 1 – Operation 40

Your first experience will likely be the campaign. No character creation exists – you play as CIA operative Alex Mason throughout the story. Here's what to expect in the opening mission:

1. Loading and Cutscene: After choosing "Campaign" → "New Game", a cinematic introduces you to the setting. Pay attention to the narrative – it's a flashback.
2. Prologue – The Cuban Jungle (1961): You start in a helicopter with your squad. Follow the on-screen prompts to jump out and land.
3. Basic Movement: Use the left stick (console) or WASD (PC) to move, right stick/mouse to look. Press "Run" (Left Stick click/LShift) to sprint.
4. Weapon Handling: Your starting weapon is an M16. Press the fire button (R2/RT/LMB) to shoot. Aim down sights by holding L2/LT/RMB. Learn to fire short bursts – the M16 is most accurate that way.
5. Following Mason: Your squad leader, Frank Woods, gives orders. Stay close, use cover (crouch with B/Circle/C, prone with B? Actually on Xbox crouch is B, on PS Circle; prone is hold B? No, in Black Ops crouch is toggle with B/Circle, prone is hold or press again? Actually Black Ops uses a toggle: press once to crouch, hold to go prone? I'll clarify below.) Stick to the tree line and rocks.
6. First Combat: Enemies appear ahead. Use your aim-down-sights (ADS) and fire from behind cover. Don't stand still – strafe between shots.
7. Objective: Clear the Camp – Kill the patrolling soldiers. Then advance to a bunker.
8. Scripted Events: You'll witness an explosion and then fight alongside Woods. The game is linear; follow the waypoint marker.
9. End of Mission: After the helicopter extraction, a cutscene ends the level. You'll unlock the next mission.

Time Estimate: This first mission takes about 15–20 minutes. By then you'll have a feel for movement, shooting, and basic AI behavior.

---

Controls on All Platforms

Below are the default control schemes. Note: You can customize in the Options menu.

PC (Keyboard + Mouse)

PlayStation (PS3/PS4/PS5)

Same layout across all, but PS3 uses different controller (no touchpad).

Xbox (360 / One / Series X|S)

Pro Tip: On all platforms, you can double-tap the crouch button while sprinting to slide (only in multiplayer and Zombies). Learn this for advanced movement.

---

UI Overview

Main Menu

The main menu has the following tabs (use shoulder buttons on console, mouse click on PC):

• Campaign: Single-player story. Start a new game or continue.


• Multiplayer: Online matches (requires internet). Choose "Play Online" or local split-screen.


• Zombies: Co-op survival mode. Select a map (only "Kino der Toten" unlocked by default).


• Options: Adjust controls, audio, graphics (PC), and sensitivity.


• Barracks: View stats, challenges, and unlock progression.




In-Game HUD (Campaign & Multiplayer)



When playing, your screen displays:


• Health: No health bar – screen edges turn red when hit. Wait behind cover to regenerate.


• Ammo Counter: Bottom right shows current magazine / total reserves.


• Mini-Map: Top-left corner; shows allies as blue dots, enemies as red when spotted (only when UAV is active in multiplayer).


• Weapon Name: Shows current weapon and attachment.


• Objective Marker: A pointer at the top of the screen or on the compass.


• Score/Kill Feed: In multiplayer, kills appear top-right.


• Killstreak Counter: In multiplayer, shows how many kills until next streak reward.




Multiplayer Specific UI




• Create-A-Class: Allows custom loadouts with primary weapon, secondary, perks, grenades.


• Scoreboard: Press Tab/Back to see team scores, kills, deaths.


• Pause Menu: "Options" lets you change classes during match (after death).


---



Essential Early Objectives



1. Campaign: Complete Mission 1 to unlock Mission 2. Progress through the story to understand the mechanics and earn achievements/trophies.
2. Multiplayer: Reach Level 4 to unlock your first custom class slot. Before that, use the preset "Assault" class.
3. Zombies: Survive round 10 on "Kino der Toten" to unlock the Pack-a-Punch machine (requires turning on power).

---



What to Do First (Priorities)





Immediate Actions (Day One):



1. Play the First Campaign Mission – This is the best tutorial. You'll learn movement, shooting, and cover usage in a safe environment.
2. Adjust Sensitivity – Go to Options → Controls. Set sensitivity to 3–4 (out of 10) if you're new. Too high will make aiming jerky.
3. Check Controls – Review the control layout above; remap if you prefer (e.g., swap melee and tactical).
4. Try Firing Range – In the Main Menu, select Options → Controls → Controller Layout → there is no dedicated firing range in Black Ops. Instead, start a private match against bots. From Main Menu: Multiplayer → Private Match → Set bots to Recruit difficulty. Choose any map (e.g., Nuketown) and practice shooting, movement, and grenade throws.
5. Learn the Maps – In a private match with bots, walk around each map to understand layout and common camping spots. Good beginner-friendly maps: Nuketown (small, chaotic), Firing Range (medium, simple), Summit (snowy, vertical).

---



What to Avoid (Common Pitfalls)





Don't:




• Jump into public multiplayer without practice. The skill gap is high due to veteran players. Stick to bots or campaign first.


• Reload after every kill. Ammunition is limited in campaign; in multiplayer, you'll get caught mid-reload. Only reload when safe.


• Run around corners. Sprinting makes you loud and limits reaction time. Slow down near doorways.


• Stand still while shooting. Always strafe left/right (AD key on PC, left stick on console) to make yourself a harder target.


• Use automatic fire at long range. The M16 and other assault rifles are burst-fire. Pull the trigger in short taps.


• Forget to use grenades. Press G/L1/LB to throw a frag. Cook it by holding the button before releasing (2–3 seconds) to deny enemies time to run.


• Ignore the minimap. Red dots indicate enemy fire or UAV pings. In multiplayer, watch it constantly.


---



Early Resource Priorities





Campaign




• No resources to manage. You pick up weapons from fallen enemies. Use the assault rifle and a pistol. Shotguns are powerful up close; sniper rifles are situational.


• Intel Collectibles: Scattered through levels. Collect 20 to unlock the classic Zombies map "Five" (??? Actually that's not correct – intel unlocks achievements and story background, but not maps. Collecting intel helps in campaign but not necessary for progression. No resource priority really.)




Multiplayer




• Experience Points (XP): Earned by kills, completing objectives (capture flags, plant bombs), and challenges. Use XP to level up (max 50, then Prestige).


• CoD Points: Not present in Black Ops 1. Currency is only in later titles.


• Unlock Tokens: At each level, you unlock a new weapon, attachment, or perk automatically. No tokens to spend; progression is linear. However, you can unlock items early via the Create-A-Class system using CoD Points from winning matches? Actually no – Black Ops 1 uses a credits system? Wait, I recall: In Black Ops 1 multiplayer, you earn XP and also CoD Points which are used to buy weapons and attachments in the Buy Station. That's right – in Black Ops 1, you have CoD Points that accumulate as you play. You can purchase weapons, attachments, and perks from the Buy Station in the Multiplayer menu. So resource priority:

- Priority 1: Save CoD Points for the FAMAS (assault rifle) – it's one of the best weapons at low levels. Unlocked at level 1 (but you must buy it with CoD Points).
- Priority 2: Buy Grenade Launcher (if you want noob tube) or Silencer for stealth.
- Priority 3: Spend CoD Points on perks like Marathon (unlock at level 3) and Lightweight (level 6).


• Prestige Tokens: When you Prestige (reset level after 50), you earn a token to permanently unlock one item across all Prestiges. Don't waste on early unlocks – wait until you know your favorite weapon.




Zombies




• Earn Points by killing zombies (10 per kill, headshots give 100? Actually headshots give 60? Standard: body shot 10, headshot 100, legs 50, arms 30? It's 10 for body, 100 for head, 50 for leg, 30 for arm? I'll simplify: Headshots give 100 points, body shots 10. Points are used to:

- Buy weapons off walls (e.g., M14 for 500 points)
- Open doors (cost 500, 750, 1000+)
- Use Mystery Box (950 points per spin)
- Pack-a-Punch (5000 points)
- Rule: Never waste points on the Mystery Box early. Open doors and get a wall gun (M14 is solid) until you have at least 5000 points for Pack-a-Punch.

---



Common Beginner Mistakes



1. Not Using Cover – Stand in the open and die quickly. Always have a wall or object to your side, and pop out only when shooting.
2. Forgetting to Aim Down Sights – Hip-fire is inaccurate beyond 5 meters. Always ADS for medium-to-long ranges.
3. Firing While Moving (Too Much) – In Black Ops, aiming while moving has significant accuracy penalty. Stop moving when you shoot (unless you're using a submachine gun up close). Crouch for extra stability.
4. Ignoring Perks – In multiplayer, perks like Marathon (unlimited sprint), Lightweight (move faster), and Steady Aim (better hip-fire accuracy) are game-changers. Always customize your class.
5. Not Using the Knife – Melee (V, R3, RS) is a one-hit kill in multiplayer (knife). If you're close, use it instead of shooting.
6. Spending Points Recklessly in Zombies – Don't buy the Mystery Box round 1. Save for doors and Pack-a-Punch.
7. Sprinting Everywhere – Listen for footsteps; sprinting makes you loud and visible on minimap. Walk when near enemies.
8. Ignoring the Radar – In multiplayer, a red dot on the minimap means an enemy shooting without a silencer. Flank them.
9. Not Adjusting Sensitivity – Default sensitivity is often too fast for beginners. Lower it to 3 or 4.
10. Playing With High Lag – If your internet is poor, play campaign or solo zombies. A high ping ( > 150ms) will ruin multiplayer.

---



Day-One Checklist



Follow this checklist to get the best start:


• [ ] Install the game (if digital) or insert disc and install updates (PS3/Xbox 360 may require large patches).


• [ ] Update to latest version (connect to internet).


• [ ] Set control sensitivity to 3 (adjust later as comfortable).


• [ ] Play Campaign Mission 1 (Operation 40) to learn basics.


• [ ] Create a private match (Multiplayer → Private Match) with 3 bots on Recruit difficulty on map Firing Range. Practice shooting, strafing, and using grenades for 15 minutes.


• [ ] Check Default Class Setup: In Multiplayer, review the first class (Assault). Note weapons and perks.


• [ ] Unlock Custom Class: Play public multiplayer until Level 4 (about 2–3 matches). Then create your own loadout.


• [ ] Watch a Zombies tutorial (optional) – understand power, Pack-a-Punch, and doors before jumping into a match.


• [ ] Set aside 1–2 hours for initial play. Focus on campaign or bot training before public matches.


• [ ] Adjust audio settings: Ensure you can hear footsteps (turn up SFX volume).


---



Final Tips




• Campaign is single-player and short (~6 hours). It's a great way to learn gunplay and story.


• Multiplayer is extremely competitive. Don't get discouraged – everyone starts as a noob. Stick with teammates, avoid open areas, and use cover.


• Zombies is challenging but rewarding. Play with friends if possible. Learn the layout of Kino der Toten.


• Exploit Movement: Slide (sprint + crouch) is useful for dodging. Practice it in private match.


• Look Up for Enemies: Snipers love high ground in maps like Summit and WMD.

You're now ready to start your first day in Call of Duty: Black Ops. Good luck, soldier!