Dark Matter Camo is the ultimate flex in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. It’s not just a skin; it’s a badge of honor. This high-tier mastery camo shows that you’ve pushed every weapon to its limit. To unlock it, you’ll need to complete every camo challenge for every gun class. It’s a serious grind—no shortcuts, no cheats—just raw skill, patience, and commitment.

Why Go After Dark Matter?

Aside from looking insane on your weapons, Dark Matter signals you’re one of the top players in the game. You’ve mastered every gun, adapted to every playstyle, and put in the time most players won’t. It’s also a great way to stay engaged with the game long-term. If you want to get better at BO6, chasing will force you to expand your skill set across the board.

Plan Your Route from Day One

Don’t wait until halfway through the grind to get organized. As soon as you start BO6, think about your plan for Dark Matter. Look at the weapon categories and start working through them strategically. Some weapons are easier to max out early, while others are better saved for later once you’ve got momentum. Create a checklist, track your progress, and be smart about your order.

Start with the Easier Categories

Shotguns, SMGs, and pistols are usually faster to level up and complete challenges for. Knock these out first to build momentum. You’ll not only get some early camo completions, but you’ll also start refining your aiming and movement. These weapons reward aggression and fast reflexes—skills that transfer well to the rest of the grind.

Master Weapon Challenges Early

Each weapon has its own set of challenges: headshots, kills while ADS, double kills, longshots, and more. Before even hitting level max on a weapon, check out what the camo requirements are. Some challenges can be completed while you’re leveling up the gun. For example, if you need 50 headshots, focus on those while grinding XP. Don’t wait until you unlock all attachments—get efficient early.

Use the Right Loadouts for the Grind

Camo challenges aren’t about winning every match—they’re about hitting specific stats. Tailor your loadout to match the challenge. Need longshots with an LMG? Equip a 4x scope, go prone, and find a power position. Going for hipfire kills with an SMG? Stack attachments that boost hipfire accuracy. Play smart and don’t be afraid to sacrifice meta builds for camo-specific setups.

Abuse Hardcore Mode (But Know When to Switch)

Hardcore mode is a godsend for a lot of camo challenges. One-shot kills are easier, especially for guns like pistols or shotguns. You can get headshots and longshots faster since time-to-kill is super low. But it’s not ideal for everything. Explosive kills, rapid kills, or ADS streaks may be easier in Core where you have more time to react. Know when to hop between the two.

Play Objective Modes for Chaos

If you’re chasing multi-kills or kills while defending objectives, modes like Domination, Hardpoint, and Kill Confirmed are your best friends. These modes force players into predictable lanes and hot zones. Use that chaos to your advantage. Set up near flags or objectives and farm the kills. The more action-packed the match, the faster your challenges progress.

Don’t Sleep on Tactical Equipment

Tactical gear can be a massive help during camo grinds. Flashbangs and stun grenades give you the edge in tight gunfights. Smoke grenades help with survival when going for longshots or mounted kills. Field upgrades like Trophy Systems or Ammo Caches can also keep you in the fight longer. Don’t just run perks—use every tool the game gives you.

Mix Up Your Playstyle

Going for camo forces you to get uncomfortable. That’s part of the journey. You can’t just run and gun with an AR all day. One day you’re camping for longshots with a sniper; the next, you’re running around with akimbo pistols. Embrace the switch-ups. They’ll make you a better all-around player and keep the grind from getting stale.

Track Progress Relentlessly

Keep a close eye on your camo progress. Most guns will have multiple layers of challenges—base, gold, diamond, and finally, Dark Matter. Use the in-game tracker or keep a personal spreadsheet. Tracking gives you that hit of satisfaction after every step completed, and it makes the overall grind feel less overwhelming. One box at a time.

Use Double XP and Double Weapon XP Events

Don’t waste time. When Double XP or Double Weapon XP events hit, go all-in. Focus on the weapons you dread the most during these times. You can shave hours off the grind if you plan around these events. If you have XP tokens, save them for tougher categories like launchers or melee weapons.

Launchers and Melee: Tackle These Last

There’s no sugarcoating it—launchers and melee weapons are usually the most painful part of the grind. You’ll need to shoot down streaks, destroy field equipment, and get kills with weapons that aren’t meant for consistent combat. Save these categories for when your camo momentum is strong. You’ll be more patient, more focused, and less likely to rage-quit halfway.

Stay Calm Through the Frustration

You’re going to hit roadblocks. Sometimes it feels like you’re not making any progress. Maybe you can’t land headshots for a whole day. Maybe you’re stuck with a clunky marksman rifle and sweaty lobbies. That’s part of the process. Walk away if needed, take breaks, but always come back. The grind is mental as much as mechanical.

Find Your Daily Goal

Trying to unlock Dark Matter in a week will burn you out. Set daily or weekly targets—something like “Finish SMG kills today” or “Get 20 launcher streaks this week.” Breaking it into manageable chunks helps you stay focused without feeling overwhelmed. Consistency beats burnout every time.

Squad Up for Certain Challenges

Some challenges get easier with teammates who know what you’re doing. If you need assists, bait kills, or coordinated pushes, run with a squad. They can help create distractions, call out targets, or drop field upgrades for you. You don’t need to go solo unless you want to. Teamwork turns tough challenges into manageable missions.

Use Bots for Practice

Struggling with a certain challenge? Load into a bot match. It’s not just for noobs—it’s a legit way to practice tough challenges like quickscope kills or melee streaks. Set the bots to a moderate level and grind out the muscle memory. Then take that muscle memory into real matches with more confidence.

Customize Your HUD for Precision

If you’re serious about the grind, tweak your HUD and settings. Adjust your FOV, crosshair color, mini-map size, and sensitivity for maximum precision. Even minor changes can help you line up headshots or track enemies better. The more in control you feel, the smoother your challenge grind will be.

Celebrate Every Milestone

Every Gold camo is a win. Every Diamond category is a milestone. Don’t wait until Dark Matter Camo BO6 to feel good about your progress. Post your milestones, flex your camos, and use each achievement as fuel to keep pushing. If you treat it like a mountain, you’ll burn out. If you treat it like a staircase, you’ll get to the top.

Final Push: All or Nothing

The last stretch of the grind is where most players give up. Don’t. When you’re one category away from Dark Matter, double down. Clear your schedule, tune out distractions, and go full beast mode. You’ve already come this far—don’t let launcher kills or riot shields be your downfall. This is your endgame. Lock in and finish strong.