Black Ops 7: Mastering Perks and Combat Specialties

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 returns with another batch of thrilling updates, particularly in the perks department. Building on last year’s foundation, Black Ops 7 features an expanded roster of perks available at the game’s launch, offering even greater flexibility and strategic depth.

Perks continue to be a foundational element, enabling players to select up to three from an extensive list. This year sees the introduction of “hybrid specialities,” offering players the ability to blend different perk types, adding a new layer of strategy for those who like to mix and match perks beyond the standard three main combat specialities.

Perk Types and Innovations

With the launch of Black Ops 7, players can access 27 perks right from the start, compared to the previous game’s 21. Some perks have shifted across tiers, but seasoned players will find their favorite combinations from Black Ops 6 still largely applicable. The new system categorizes perks into three distinct types: Offense (Red), Stealth (Blue), and Support (Green), a shift from last year’s Enforcer, Recon, and Strategist names due to the integration of hybrid specialities. Below is the current known list of perks available during the open beta, with the understanding that Treyarch will fine-tune these based on player feedback for the final release in November.

Exploring Black Ops 7 Perks

Tier 1 Perks

• Scavenger (Offense): Replenish ammo and gear from defeated foes.
• Lightweight (Offense): Accelerated movement, with enhanced abilities in jumping, sliding, and recovery.
• Gung Ho (Offense): Fire weapons while sprinting and enjoy improved reloading and equipment usage speed.
• Cold-Blooded (Stealth): Remain invisible to AI targeting and thermal optics.
• Ghost (Stealth): Avoid detection from enemy Scout Pulse and UAV during crucial moments.
• Ninja (Stealth): Move silently to escape enemy notice.
• Tech Mask (Support): Resist against enemy flash, concussion, and gas attacks.
• Flak Jacket (Support): Mitigates explosive and fire damage.
• Shadow (Support): Elude enemy traps and mines.

Tier 2 Perks

•  Assassin (Offense): Mark enemies on a kill streak and reap additional rewards.
•  Close Shave (Offense): Automatically perform a dedicated melee attack during combat.
•  Hunter’s Instinct (Offense): Use enemy kills to track nearby foes via the minimap.
•  Looper (Offense): Build score streaks within the same life span.
•  Vigilance (Stealth): Notify when visible on enemy minimaps, providing immunity to certain locators.
•  Blast Link (Stealth): Share explosive damage location intel and score from teammates’ explosive damage.
•  Engineer (Stealth): Spot enemy equipment and scorestreaks through walls.
•  Fast Hands (Support): Speed up reloads and equipment swaps.
•  Gearhead (Support): Equip dual Field Upgrade charges with booby-trapping capabilities.

Tier 3 Perks

•  Dexterity (Offense): Minimize weapon motion and improve mobility with less fall damage.
•  Tac Sprinter (Offense): Tactical sprint with adjusted normal sprint speed.
•  Bankroll (Offense): Start with an added score bonus towards score streaks.
•  Bruiser (Offense): Health replenishment and extra score from melee kills.
•  Tracker (Stealth): Track enemy movements on the minimap.
•  Vendetta (Stealth): Track your attacker post-respawn for a short time.
•  Quartermaster (Support): Recharge gear over time.
•  Charge Link (Support): Boost field upgrade charge rates for allies.
•  Guardian (Support): Accelerate healing during objective defense and teammate revivals.

Combat Specialties and Hybrid Options

The core combat specialties—Enforcer, Recon, and Strategist—return with minimal changes, automatically granting bonus perks when players equip three perks of the same type. Hybrid specialities now diversify playstyles, allowing for inventive combinations that create unique gameplay opportunities. These hybrid perks encourage blending perk types, offering benefits without confining players to one combat speciality.

For Offense and Support perk users, the Tactician speciality offers bonus scores from assists. Scout offers stealthy advantages by helping players disappear from enemy minimaps briefly after each bullet kill. Stealth and Support preferences unlock Operative, where field upgrade acquisition is enhanced through covert kills.

Embrace the strategic possibilities and discover the right balance of perks in Black Ops 7 to suit your preferred playstyle. With an enriched perk system and strategic combat specialities, every game can unfold with new tactics and maneuvers.