Treyarch shipped Black Ops III in November 2015 with three games in one box: a four player co-op campaign, a Specialist driven multiplayer suite, and the Zombies arc that opens in Shadows of Evil. Movement is the through line, because thrust jumps, wall runs and power slides all stay available while you fire and reload. A decade later the PC version still fills lobbies, mostly for Zombies and the Workshop custom maps that came with the mod tools.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nuk3town | Any rank | Fast scorestreak chains, quick weapon camo grinding | Outrider |
| 2 | Combine | Any rank | Movement practice, balanced lane control | Outrider |
| 3 | Hunted | Any rank | Mixed range gunfights, flank route practice | Ruin |
| 4 | Shadows of Evil | Rounds 1 to 30 plus | Apothicon Servant, Pack-a-Punch access, Beast Mode shortcuts | Ruin |
| 5 | Der Eisendrache | Rounds 1 to 40 plus | Ragnarok DG-4, four upgraded bows, main Easter egg | Ruin |
Nuk3town: Starting Area
The small symmetrical two house map that returns in every Black Ops game. Spawns flip constantly, sightlines run straight down the middle, and every fight is decided in under two seconds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any rank |
| Key Rewards | Fast scorestreak chains, quick weapon camo grinding |
| Recommended Role | Outrider |
| Key Weapons | Man-O-War |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Chain based movement. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Combine.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Combine: Early Game
A three lane desert research map with wall run routes on the outer lanes and a covered middle. It is the map that teaches you why chaining a slide into a wall run beats sprinting in the open.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any rank |
| Key Rewards | Movement practice, balanced lane control |
| Recommended Role | Outrider |
| Key Weapons | Man-O-War |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Specialist weapons and abilities. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Man-O-War if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Hunted.
Hunted: Mid Game
A jungle lodge map with a waterfall on one flank and tight interiors on the other. Close and mid range weapons both work here, which makes it a good test bed for a new loadout.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any rank |
| Key Rewards | Mixed range gunfights, flank route practice |
| Recommended Role | Ruin |
| Key Weapons | Man-O-War |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- KN-44 becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Pick 10 Create-A-Class for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Shadows of Evil: Late Game
The launch Zombies map, set in Morg City, with Beast Mode transformation and a ritual chain that gates Pack-a-Punch behind four collected items. It is the most complex opening map in the game.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Rounds 1 to 30 plus |
| Key Rewards | Apothicon Servant, Pack-a-Punch access, Beast Mode shortcuts |
| Recommended Role | Ruin |
| Key Weapons | KN-44 |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- KN-44 should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Zombies GobbleGums mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Der Eisendrache.
Der Eisendrache: Endgame
The first season pass map and the community favourite. A castle layout with Wundersphere launch pads, the buildable Ragnarok DG-4, and four elemental bow upgrades built from the Wrath of the Ancients.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Rounds 1 to 40 plus |
| Key Rewards | Ragnarok DG-4, four upgraded bows, main Easter egg |
| Recommended Role | Ruin |
| Key Weapons | KN-44 |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Seraph for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Nuk3town → Combine → Hunted → Shadows of Evil → Der Eisendrache. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons: Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Call of Duty: Black Ops III Guides
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Call of Duty: Black Ops III Overview
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Best Builds
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Tier List
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Walkthrough
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Beginner's Guide
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Tips & Tricks
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Weapons Guide
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Combat Guide
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Boss Guide
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Crafting Guide
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III Classes & Characters
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