What to know
- The Season 5 Battle Pass launches on July 23 alongside Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 5.
- There are over 100 standard Battle Pass rewards, plus exclusive BlackCell rewards and bonus pages.
- The FG42 Assault Rifle and Gremlin SMGs are the two free functional weapon unlocks available through Battle Pass progression.
- You can progress the Battle Pass by earning Battle Pass XP in Multiplayer, Zombies, Warzone, and Endgame, with tokens allowing you to choose unlock order.
Season 5 introduces another page-based Battle Pass packed with new Operators, weapon blueprints, cosmetics, finishing moves, vehicle skins, Double XP tokens, and COD Points. Like previous seasons, players can manually choose which page to complete first after unlocking connected sectors, while BlackCell owners receive additional exclusive variants for many rewards. According to Activision, the Battle Pass becomes available when Season 5 launches on July 23 at 9 AM PT.
| Quick overview | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 23, 2026 |
| Battle Pass Format | Page/Sector progression |
| Total Standard Rewards | 100+ |
| Premium Price | 1,100 COD Points |
| BlackCell | Premium upgrade with exclusive rewards |
| Free Weapons | FG42 Assault Rifle, Gremlin SMGs |
| Main Operator | Spectre |
| BlackCell Operator | Cipher |
What is included in the Season 5 Battle Pass?
Season 5 follows the familiar page-based progression system. Instead of unlocking rewards in a strict linear order, you earn Battle Pass Tokens through gameplay and spend them on individual rewards inside each page. Once enough items are unlocked, you can move to connected pages.
The Battle Pass includes:
| Reward Type | Available |
|---|---|
| Operator Skins | Yes |
| New Operators | Spectre |
| Weapon Blueprints | Multiple |
| Calling Cards | Yes |
| Emblems | Yes |
| Weapon Charms | Yes |
| Stickers | Yes |
| Loading Screens | Yes |
| Double XP Tokens | Yes |
| COD Points | Yes |
| Weapon Reticles | Yes |
| Vehicle Skins | Yes |
| Finishing Moves | Yes |
Most cosmetic rewards have BlackCell-exclusive variants if you purchase the premium upgrade.
Every major gameplay unlock
Unlike cosmetics, these functional gameplay items are available to every player through free Battle Pass tiers:
FG42 Assault Rifle
The FG42 is a fully automatic assault rifle built around high damage, excellent accuracy, and relatively low recoil. It also features an exclusive Prestige attachment called the Ambilateral Stock, which increases fire rate while slightly increasing vertical recoil. It is expected to become one of the strongest mid-range rifles at launch.
Gremlin SMGs
The Gremlin SMGs are dual-wield submachine guns designed for aggressive close-range combat. They trade long-range effectiveness for exceptional mobility and extremely fast time-to-kill inside buildings and tight corridors.
BlackCell exclusive rewards
Players upgrading to BlackCell receive much more than cosmetic recolors.
| Category | Standard Pass | BlackCell |
|---|---|---|
| New Weapons | 2 | 2 |
| New Operator | Spectre | Cipher + Spectre |
| Weapon Blueprints | Yes | Exclusive variants included |
| COD Points | Yes | More included |
| Operator Skins | Multiple | Additional exclusive styles |
| Mastercraft Blueprint | No | Yes |
| Bonus Pages | Yes | Expanded |
The headline reward is Cipher, a brand-new Guild Operator available instantly with BlackCell ownership. Throughout the season, completing challenges unlocks additional exclusive styles for Cipher and several premium weapon blueprints.
How Battle Pass progression works in CoD Season 5
Battle Pass progression is entirely based on Battle Pass XP rather than regular player level.
Step 1
Purchase the Premium Battle Pass if you want immediate access to premium rewards. Players who do not purchase it can still unlock all free items, including the new weapons.
Step 2
Play any supported mode.
Battle Pass XP is earned from:
- Multiplayer
- Warzone
- Zombies
- Endgame
Time played and completed matches generally provide the most consistent progression.
Step 3
Earn Battle Pass Tokens.
Each completed Battle Pass Token allows you to unlock one reward from your current page.
Step 4
Finish enough rewards on a page.
Once the required number of rewards is claimed, adjacent pages become available.
Step 5
Complete all pages.
After reaching 100% completion, Bonus Rewards and BlackCell-exclusive pages become available if eligible.
Fastest ways to complete the Season 5 Battle Pass
Players looking to finish before the season ends should focus on maximizing Battle Pass XP rather than regular XP.
| Method | Efficiency |
|---|---|
| Double Battle Pass XP Events | Excellent |
| Long Zombies sessions | Excellent |
| Warzone Resurgence | Very Good |
| Multiplayer objective playlists | Very Good |
| Endgame runs | Very Good |
Objective-heavy playlists consistently outperform short Team Deathmatch games because matches last longer while continuously awarding XP.
Saving Double Battle Pass XP Tokens for weekends or longer gaming sessions also provides significantly better value.
Is BlackCell worth buying?
Whether BlackCell is worthwhile depends on how much you play throughout the season. Seven BlackCell-exclusive Weapon Blueprints:
Page 1: “Sonic Plate” BlackCell Blueprint for the CBRS-3 SMG
Page 4: “Dead End” BlackCell Blueprint for the Hawker HX Sniper Rifle
Page 8: “Breakaway” BlackCell Blueprint for the MK35 ISR Assault Rifle
Page 10: “Coercion” BlackCell Blueprint for the SG-12 Shotgun
Page 12: “Adoptosis” BlackCell Blueprint for the new Gremlin SMG
Page 14: “Dead Flip” BlackCell Blueprint for the VST SMG
Page 15: “Odium” BlackCell Blueprint for the new FG42 Assault Rifle
Players who upgrade to BlackCell after purchasing the Battle Pass will also receive 1,100 COD Points back.
It offers immediate access to the new Cipher Operator, exclusive Mastercraft weapon blueprints, premium variants, additional COD Points, and extra cosmetics unavailable elsewhere. Players who typically complete every Battle Pass will receive the most value, while casual players who only want the new weapons can safely stick with the standard Battle Pass since both functional weapons are free unlocks.
Everything you should prioritize first
If your primary goal is improving gameplay rather than collecting cosmetics, the FG42 Assault Rifle should be your first priority because it is expected to be one of Season 5’s strongest all-around weapons. After that, unlock the Gremlin SMGs for close-range loadouts. Once both weapons are secured, you can freely focus on Operators, premium blueprints, COD Points, and bonus cosmetic pages without missing any gameplay content.
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