Summary
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6has some of the most intense gunplay the series has seen in recent years. With quick movement and time-to-kill, every bullet counts, and the deciding factor between life and death is how instinctively you react. That said, success hinges on more than just your weapon—your entire loadout matters, especially lethal equipment.
These combat explosives provide a secondary source of damage and can be devastating with the right setup. Covering wide areas and capable of wiping out multiple opponents at once, lethals are the perfect tool for crowd control. And, with ten options currently available, knowing which one’s best can help you garner tons of kills with minimal effort.
Every explosive lethal equipment can cause self-damage, so you’ll need to stay at a safe distance before they detonate!
9Drill Charge
Unlock Requirement: Level 50
With Recon perks or other intel-providing gear, the Drill Charge can certainly lead to some impressive plays. Having a device that explodes through walls and floors is extremely powerful; thus,in crowded modes like Domination and Hardpoint, this lethal equipment can be devastating.
Unfortunately,the maps that can even remotely utilize the Drill Charge’s unique ability are simply too few.Aside from Nuketown and Strike Maps like Stakeout, there’s barely any other environment that makes this device viable. Besides that,knowing the enemy’s exact position is a major prerequisite, so players prefer using easier alternatives like the Frag and Semtex, leaving the Drill Charge niche and obsolete.
8Impact Grenade
Unlock Requirement: Level 26
On paper, the Impact Grenade seems promising—an item that explodes on contact without warning should be powerful.Unfortunately, the sacrifices made to get that surprise factor sour the whole deal. For starters,the Impact Grenade has arguably the worst blast radius in Black Ops 6,making it practically unusable on larger mapslike Red Card.
Additionally, its damage output is so low thatyou can only guarantee a one-shot kill if you hit the enemy directly.While the throwing animation matches the speed of the standard frag grenade, its inconsistent effectiveness often meansyou’ll need to rely on your gun to finish the job.
7C4
Unlock Requirement: Level 14
The C4 is plausibly the most complex lethal equipment in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 since, unlike ordinary lethal equipment,it has two steps: planting and detonating.Because of its nature,this explosive isn’t as plug-and-playas its other lethal companions, but there’s enough incentive and uniqueness that you can give it a shot.
With its extremely high detonating range and blast radius,the C4 is designed to be used in loadouts for Zombies and Search and Destroy.You can remotely protect an objective either as a defender or as an attacker upon planting the bomb. However,in other game modes,this equipment is significantly tougher to justify because it’s just not as flexible.
To make the C4 a formidable threat in Search and Destroy, equip theDanger Close wildcardto carry two charges. Keep in mind that you must plant both C4s before detonation, and, once triggered, they’ll explode at the same time.
6Combat Axe
Unlock Requirement: Level 53
Bringing a knife to a gunfight may be foolish, but the Combat Axe disproves that notion. Similar to prior Call of Duty titles,you essentially get a heavier throwing knifethat can kill enemies in one hit, making it highly favorable for playerswho can aim their lethals precisely.
Of course,using the Combat Axe requires a lot of skilland instinctive movement, and its throwing range feels tamer than previous throwable melee gear in the series. Still, it’s one of its kind, and being reusable meansyou can round up dozens of kills if you’re accurate and quick.
5Blast Trap
Unlock Requirement: Level 41
The Blast Trap replaces the fan-favorite Proximity Mine in this Call of Duty, and, in most cases,it feels much more responsive.The detonation time is slightly faster, and considering thatits danger zone is roughly the same as its predecessor, you’re more likely to eliminate the targets before they escape.
However, compared to the Claymore,which detonated instantly with a larger blast, the Blast Trap is a considerable downgrade. The only advantage it has is the fact thatit remains active for a very short period after you die, so if you’re defending an objective, you might catch the opponent off-guard and get an unsuspecting kill.
4Thermo Grenade
Unlock Requirement: Level 21
Combining the longevity of a Molotov,the bounce of a Frag Grenade, and the impact of a Semtex, the Thermo Grenade is a lethal powerhouse anda top-tier pick for Team Deathmatch and Hardpoint.Its initial smoke can deceive opponents,mistaking it for a simple smoke grenade—only to be caught off-guard by a sudden, devastating explosion.
Its only drawback is the audio and visual cues, which can alert enemies beforehand. Fortunately, though, the follow-up blast is usually quick and massive enough to catch fleeing targets. With all its abilities, the Thermo Grenade is a beast when it comes torecapturing vital positions on the map.
3Molotov
Unlock Requirement: Level 32
When you need to watch two sides at once, the Molotov is your best bet. By lighting a pit of fire beneath your enemy’s feet,this lethal equipment can block off a blindspotthat opponents would otherwise use to flank you.
The Molotov can be absolutely brutal in game modeslike Domination and Hardpoint, where you know the points of interest and, therefore, where most enemies will be.You can easily cut off an entranceand buy yourself time to gather enough points for your team.
2Frag
Unlock Requirement: None
Despite being the series' oldest, the Frag Grenade remains one of the most reliable and versatile lethals in the game.The damage output and AoE make it a powerhousein almost any game mode and map. Additionally, it can sniff out nearby hostilessince the grenade’s HUD indicator is an instant alert to run.
The Frag’s compact size makes it incredibly bouncy, perfect for creative, angled throws to flush out opponents hiding in adjacent rooms. This strategic advantage cements its status as an essential tool for any player’s arsenal, and since it’s the first lethal equipment you unlock,you can develop effective strategies and learn a few lineups.
1Semtex
Unlock Requirement: Level 9
In some cases, you’d want a device thatsticks to a surface instead of bouncing offuntil it hits the ground. For those engagements, the Semtex has no competition, allowing it to bethe ideal throwable in narrow alleys and rooms.
Compared to the Frag Grenade,the Semtex detonates much quickerwith relatively the same damage output. However,the rather loud audio cuelets opponents pinpoint where it is, allowing them to escape and reach a safe distance. Therefore, you need to be more precise and predict where the enemy will go.
