Black Ops Cold War Season 5 update: patch notes, Slums returns, Zombies, new guns

Jaret Kappelman
Cold War Season 5 update: patch notes, Slums returns, new guns, Zombies, more

The Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Season 5 patch notes are here and full of new content. From classic multiplayer maps returning, fan-favorite game modes, to new Zombies’ perks, here is everything that you need to know for this action-packed season. 

Black Ops Cold War Season 5 has arrived as the August 13 update is now available, bringing loads of new content for the game.

This patch is a great addition for both Multiplayer and Zombies, we’ve seen Demolition return to Call of Duty as well as a fan-favorite map: Slums. Also, Zombies has a new Perk and Field Upgrade, along with updates to Outbreak.

Here’s everything there is to know about the Season 5 update.

Cold War Season 5 modes: Demolition and Double Agent

Fan-favorite game mode and Call of Duty staple, Demolition, is making a return to CoD, but “later” in Cold War Season 5. This is the first time since the mode has appeared since Call of Duty: WWII.

New this season is Double Agent which is very similar to how Among Us works. At the start of each match players are given the roles of Double Agents, Investigator, or Operatives. Double Agents need to try to wipe out the Investigator and Operatives to successfully win this game mode.

The role of the Double Agents can either eliminate everyone else or successfully set off explosive charges around the map. The Investigators can use insight and clues to target suspected Double Agents as Wanted criminals. Operatives must work together to identify and eliminate the Double Agents.

Four new Weapons include AR and SMG

The new EM2 is the AR for Season 5 that has a low fire rate and low recoil.

Season 5 AR: EM2 (Launch)

This new assault rifle is described as a well-rounded fully automatic with good recoil control. It also notes that it has a slower fire rate so it could be easier to aim and control your shots. It is free to get the EM2 players just need to reach Tier 15 in the Season 5 Battle Pass.

Season 5 SMG: TEC-9 (Launch)

The TEC-9 has been teased for a couple days now but fans were unsure if it would be a SMG or handgun. Turns out it is a sub-machine gun with low recoil, fire rate and can do some damage from range. This is free to obtain, players need to reach Tier 31 of the Battle Pass.

Season 5 Melee Weapon: Cane (Launch)

There’s a new way to beat down your opponents in Cold War. You’ll feel like an old man chasing people down with this Cane and beating them to death, all you need to do is complete an in-game challenge to unlock this.

Season 5 Secondary: Marshal (In-Season)

The final weapon gracing Cold War this season is a sidearm but this packs a different punch than classic ones. The double-barrel pistol has 12-gauge shells and has a high chance to 1-shot enemies from up close. This weapon is similar to the Marshal from Black Ops 3 but players can test out this new one by completing an in-game challenge.

Cold War Season 5 bringing five maps and new scorestreak

New map Echelon is also known as “Devil’s Mountain.”

With Season 5 there are five new maps that arrived in Multiplayer with the launch of the season. Three of these maps Slums, Drive-In, and Zoo are remakes from previous Black Ops titles and Echelon, which was the name of a DLC pack back in Black Ops is now a map that is set in Berlin. Also, there is a new Gunfight map to boot, here is a list of all the maps that are releasing at launch.

  • Echelon (6v6, Launch)
  • Slums (6v6, Launch)
  • Drive-In (6v6, Launch)
  • Zoo (6v6, Launch)
  • Showroom (2v2 and 3v3 Launch)

The new Gunfight and Face Off map, Showroom, is designed for close-quarter engagements — but players must be aware of objects that can be used to block bullets or take cover. Showroom is set to be location of a future Gunfight tournament later on in the season.

Things are heating up with this new Scorestreak, the Flamethrower. This is a low-point scorestreak weapon that shoots out flames burning enemies at close range.

Fan-favorite map Slums coming to Cold War

Black Ops 2 map, Slums returned with the launch of Season 5.

Leaks back in early January teased a lot of maps that could be returning from previous Black Ops titles. Now, we finally have Slums back in CoD. The map was last seen in Black Ops 4.

This will make a great pair with Demolition, the classic CoD game mode that also returned with the launch of Season 5.

New Zombies Perk, Field Upgrade, and Support Weapon

New Death Perception Perk

Zombies now has its ninth Perk in a new one called Death Perception, this is certain to give you a new look on the zombies. Players that drink this perk will now see that enemy zombies are outlined in a bright color.

As expected, this perk can be upgraded five times with Aetherium Crystals.

Tesla Storm Field Upgrade

Field Upgrades also received a boost with the all-new Tesla Storm. This combines many aspects from previous CoD Zombies titles, once activated lightning shoots out between the player and allies damaging and stunning normal enemies, this too can be upgraded with Aetherium Crystals and can stun Elite and Special zombies.

Zombies Flamethrower and Dead Ops Arcade

As previously stated that Multiplayer now has the Flamethrower as a scorestreak, Zombies fans should not be concerned because they too get their hands on this gun. This can be purchased with Rare Salvage at any operating work benches

As Season 5 goes on fans can also expect the new Ikari EggXit bonus map in Dead Ops Arcade 3 and new narrative Intel to be found across Outbreak and Onslaught.

New Zombies Outbreak Region, Objective, Tank, and Grapple Gun

Outbreak has a ton of fresh content at the release of Season 5, here is a list of everything that is now available to players.

  • Region: Collateral (Launch)
  • Objective: Transport (Launch)
  • Vehicle: Tank (Launch)
  • Crafting Item: Grapple Gun (Launch)

The new region, Collateral also comes with a new objective, Transport. Here players are tasked with getting a drivable Requiem machine across the Outbreak Zone.

There is also a Tank and this is certain to bring the boom this season. Equipped with a minigun this tank is a slow but drivable vehicle that can withstand many hits enemies.

Finally a Grapple Gun is now craftable in Outbreak. This will allow players to travel around a lot quicker and get up close and personal with zombies.

PlayStation exclusive content

Later this season, PlayStation players should expect another limited-time mode to arrive in Onslaught, new Weapon Blueprint and other surprises that Activision has not yet released.

Cold War Season 5 update: full patch notes

Global

Battle Pass

  • Season Five
    • New 100-Tier Battle Pass available.
  • Operators
    • Kitsune
      • New “Kitsune” Operator available at Tier 0 in the Season Five Battle Pass.
      • “Kyubi” Operator Skin for Kitsune included with Battle Pass Bundle purchase before August 31, 2021.
  • Weapons
    • EM2
      • EM2 assault rifle available for free at Tier 15 of the Battle Pass System.
    • TEC-9
      • TEC-9 SMG available for free at Tier 31 of the Battle Pass System.
  • War Tracks
    • Four Treyarch music tracks available for the Music Player in the free “World at War Mixtape” War Tracks in the Battle Pass System:
      • “Black Cats”
      • “Dog Fire”
      • “Hell’s Gate”
      • “Wild Card”

Weapon Unlock Challenges

  • Cane
    • New Cane melee weapon available via in-game challenge in Multiplayer or Zombies, or via unique Blueprint version in the Store at the start of Season Five.
  • C58
    • Unlock Challenge available for the C58 assault rifle in Multiplayer and Zombies.
  • MG 82
    • Unlock Challenge available for the MG 82 LMG in Multiplayer and Zombies.

Features

  • Challenge Tracker
    • Pause menu now displays and tracks Operator Mission Challenges in Multiplayer and Zombies.

Operator Missions

  • New Season Five Operator Missions available in Multiplayer and Zombies.

Challenges

  • Addressed an issue where previous season Weapon Unlock Challenges could stop progressing.
  • Addressed an issue where certain hacked Field Upgrades would not contribute to Season Challenges.
  • Addressed an issue where previously unlocked Weapon Challenges would continue to display in the Challenges section of the After-Action Report.

Prestige Levels and Rewards

  • Added four new Prestige Levels (20-23) and Prestige Rewards:
    • Level 50: New Prestige, Emblem, Prestige Key, Weapon Blueprint, and Battle Pass Tier Skip
    • Level 100: New Prestige, Emblem, Prestige Key, and Battle Pass Tier Skip
    • Level 150: New Prestige, Emblem, Prestige Key, and Battle Pass Tier Skip
    • Level 190: All Season Challenges Available
    • Level 200: New Prestige, Emblem, Prestige Key, Battle Pass Tier Skip, Master Prestige Calling Card
    • Levels 250 – 1,000: New Prestige Key every 50 levels

Prestige Shop

  • New “Dream Crasher” Pistol Weapon Blueprint added to the Prestige Shop.
  • New Legacy Calling Cards added to the Prestige Shop, including the Level 50 Animated Calling Card from .

Barracks

  • Added information to unlocked Calling Cards and Emblems in the Player Identity section of the Barracks that lets players know how the item was unlocked.

Main Lobby

  • Updated main lobby theming for Season Five.

PC

  • Addressed an issue where PlayStation 5 controller haptics would not be disabled when setting Trigger Haptics to Disabled on PC.

Weapon Tuning

  • New Season Five weapon tuning includes changes for a selection of assault rifles, SMGs, and Dual Wield pistols. Starting with assault rifles, we’ve reduced Suppressor attachment Bullet Velocity penalties for all ARs to better focus on their potential for damage at long ranges.
  • Assault Rifles (All)
    • Reduced Bullet Velocity penalty on Agency Suppressor attachment from -30% to -15%. 
    • Reduced Bullet Velocity penalty on Suppressor attachment from -15% to -8%.
  • XM4
    • Increased Reload Quickness from 2.6 sec to 2.5 sec.
    • Increased Vertical Recoil Control bonus on Infantry Compensator from +12% to +15%.
    • Reduced Horizontal Recoil Control penalty on Infantry Compensator from -8% to -5%.
    • Increased Reload Quickness on Jungle-Style Mag from +20% to +30%.
    • Removed ADS Time penalty from 40 Rnd Speed Mag.
    • Reduced extra ammo of 40 Rnd Speed Mag from +10 to +5.
    • Changed Salvo 50 Rnd Fast Mag attachment to 45 Rnd Fast Mag.
    • Reduced ADS Time penalty on 45 Rnd Fast Mag from -25% to -12%.
    • Replaced SAS Mag Clamp with unique “B-Ops Mini Clamp” attachment. This attachment increases Reload Quickness by 50%, improves ADS Time by 10%, and provides an additional starting magazine, but reduces magazine ammo from 30 to 25.

 

  • QBZ-83
    • Reduced vertical recoil by 10%.
  • FFAR 1
    • Now deals 30 damage out to 12.7 meters for higher damage at short range.
    • Increased Hip Fire Accuracy by 14%.
    • Reduced Sprint to Fire Time penalty on Tiger Team Spotlight from -10% to -5%.
    • Reduced Aim Walking Movement Speed penalty on 21.2” Ranger Barrel from -20% to -5%.
    • Reduced Effective Damage Range bonus on 19.5” Reinforced Heavy Barrel from +100% to +40%.
    • Reduced Effective Damage Range bonus on 19.5” Task Force Barrel from +50% to +20%.
    • Reduced Effective Damage Range bonus on 20.3” Takedown Barrel from +150% to +80%.
  • Groza
    • Reduced vertical recoil by 15%.
    • Reduced weapon movement when walking in ADS.
    • Moved Iron Sights view farther away from the player camera.
    • Increased Horizontal Recoil Control bonus on Spetsnaz Grip from +17% to +25%.
    • Increased Vertical Recoil Control bonus on Spetsnaz Grip from +7% to +15%.
    • Increased ADS Time bonus on Spetsnaz Field Grip from +15% to +30%.
    • Reduced Flinch Resistance mitigation on Spetsnaz Field Grip from +80% to +70%.
    • Increased Sprint to Fire Time bonus on KGB Pad from +30% to +50%.
    • Reduced Hip Fire Accuracy penalty on KGB Pad from -30% to -20%. 
  • FARA 83
    • Reduced initial recoil when firing the weapon.
    • Moved Iron Sights view farther away from the player camera.
  • C58
    • Overhauled recoil system.
    • Improved weapon visibility when initially firing.
    • Increased Effective Damage Range from 25.4m to 30.48m.
    • Reduced Effective Damage Range penalty on Suppressor attachment from -15% to -8%.
  • KSP 45
    • Reduced Effective Damage Range from 25.4m to 22.86m.
    • Slowed burst fire delay from 0.066 to 0.083.
  • LC10
    • Reduced medium damage range from 50.8m to 45.72m.
    • Increased recoil on the first and 12th bullets.
  • Pistols (All)
    • Dual Wield
      • Reduced movement speed by 5%.
      • Reduced strafe speed by 5%.

MULTIPLAYER

Maps

  • Echelon (6v6)
    • New map added to Multiplayer rotation in 6v6 modes.
  • Slums (6v6)
    • New map added to Multiplayer rotation in 6v6 modes.
  • Showroom (2v2, 3v3)
    • New map added to Multiplayer rotation in Gunfight and Face Off modes

Modes

  • Double Agent
    • New mode added to Multiplayer.
    • Operatives and the Investigator must find clues and eliminate all Double Agents to win. Double Agents must eliminate all Operatives and the Investigator, or detonate all bombs to win.
  • Gunfight
    • Addressed an issue where health could show as 0 for all players while spectating.
  • Search & Destroy
    • Addressed an issue where the player could not consistently plant the bomb.
  • Multi-Team: Elimination
    • The party host can now bring their party back to the lobby if the team has been eliminated from the match.

Scorestreaks

  • Flamethrower
    • New Scorestreak available in Multiplayer.

Season Challenges

  • 20 new Multiplayer Season Challenges available to be revealed and unlocked with exclusive Calling Card and XP rewards.
  • Reveal a new Challenge every 10 Season Levels. Complete all 20 Season Challenges to unlock the Season Five Multiplayer Master Animated Calling Card.

Vehicles

  • Dirt Bike
    • Wheelie mechanic added in Combined Arms and Multi-Team modes.

Best Play

  • Fade to black before Best Plays will now only occur in Multi-Team modes.

 

Featured Playlists

  • Double Agent [NEW]
  • Echelon 24/7 [NEW]
  • Showroom Gunfight [NEW]
  • NukeJacked 24/7
  • Gunfight (Now includes Showroom)
  • Face Off 6v6 (Now includes Showroom)
  • Snipers Only Moshpit
  • Party Games
  • Multi-Team

LEAGUE PLAY

UI

  • Map and mode will now only be shown once all players have been found and the lobby has been locked in. Our intention is to show the map and mode that you will be playing and not to provide this info earlier to allow for “lobby shopping.”

ZOMBIES

Perks

  • Death Perception
    • New upgradeable Perk now available in the Der Wunderfizz machine in all round-based maps and Outbreak.
    • Obscured enemies are keylined.
      • Skill Tier I – Mini-map update rate is increased.
      • Skill Tier II – Enemies give danger indicators when behind the player.
      • Skill Tier III – Gain 20% more looted Salvage and High-Grade Salvage.
      • Skill Tier IV – Increase armor penetration damage by 25%.
      • Skill Tier V – Nearby chests, resources, and item drops are keylined through walls.
  • Tombstone
    • Players now take 25% less damage in shadow form.
    • Cost has been removed from the Tombstone stash.

Field Upgrades

  • Tesla Storm
    • New Field Upgrade now available in all round-based maps and Outbreak.
    • For 10 seconds, lightning connects to other players, stunning and damaging normal enemies.
      • Skill Tier I – Double the damage dealt to enemies stunned by Tesla Storm.
      • Skill Tier II – Increase the duration to 15 seconds.
      • Skill Tier III – Special enemies can be stunned and damaged by Tesla Storm.
      • Skill Tier IV – Players generating a field gain 25% increased movement speed.
      • Skill Tier V – Elite enemies can be stunned and damaged by Tesla Storm.

Support

  • Flamethrower
    • New Flamethrower Support Weapon available in all round-based maps and Outbreak.

Outbreak

  • Regions
    • Collateral Region now available.
  • Objectives
    • Transport Objective added.
  • Vehicles
    • Tank vehicle added to several Regions.
  • Equipment
    • Grapple Gun added as new Equipment available at the Crafting Table.
  • Enemies
    • Disciple added to Outbreak.
    • Addressed an issue where fire FX were not being applied to Special enemies when using Napalm Burst.
    • Addressed an issue where the Mimic could appear to have two overlapping heads.
  • Intel
    • New Season Five story Intel added throughout Outbreak.
  • Gameplay
    • Omega Helicopter added.
  • Playlists
    • Endless
      • Standard Outbreak experience with the option to Warp or Exfil in all Regions.
    • 3 Region
      • New playlist added. The first two Regions only have the option to Warp, while the third Region will only have the Exfil option.

Round-Based Maps

  • “Mauer Der Toten”
    • Gameplay
      • Added a couple of hidden surprises. 😉
    • Main Quest
      • Addressed an issue where the boss could become stuck when players quickly moved to the next arena during the Main Quest boss fight.
      • Closed an exploit that allowed infinitely charging and activating the Field Upgrade for the canister during the Main Quest.
    • Support
      • Addressed an issue where the screen was too dark when using the Cruise Missile Support, making it difficult to aim.
    • Stability
      • Fixed various stability issues related to Klaus, the Main Quest, and Ammo Caches.
    • PC
      • Addressed an issue where the dials on the safe were not legible when playing at Low or Lowest texture quality settings on PC.
  • General
    • Reduced max Essence for respawning players in round-based maps to 25,000. This will now cap out at Round 25 instead of Round 50.

Dead Ops Arcade 3

  • Bonus Map
    • Added Ikari EggXit bonus map to The Wild.

Onslaught (PlayStation)

  • Maps
    • Echelon added to Onslaught map rotation.
  • Intel
    • Added new Dark Aether story Intel to discover in Onslaught.
  • Modes
    • Onslaught maps can now be selected when playing in Local.

Season Challenges

  • 20 new Zombies Season Challenges available to be revealed and unlocked with exclusive Calling Card and XP rewards.
  • Reveal a new Challenge every 10 Season Levels. Complete all 20 Season Challenges to unlock the Season Five Zombies Master Animated Calling Card.

Blueprints

  • Addressed an issue where applying a Blueprint to a weapon that had been Pack-a-Punched to Tier II or III would reset it to Pack-a-Punch Tier I camo.
  • Addressed an issue where Blueprint weapon skins were not retained when warping to the next Region in Outbreak.
  • Addressed an issue where attachments were being removed from weapons when applying Blueprints with Mule Kick.

Featured Playlists

  • Outbreak (Endless and 3 Region) [NEW]
  • Mauer der Toten
  • Firebase Z
  • Die Maschine
  • Dead Ops Arcade: First Person
  • Dead Ops Arcade
  • Onslaught (PlayStation)
  • Onslaught Echelon (PlayStation) [NEW]
  • Onslaught Accelerated (PlayStation)
  • Onslaught Containment (PlayStation)
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