The Proving Grounds event in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a short, multiplayer-only leaderboard race that hands out exclusive cosmetics and a weapon blueprint to anyone who can put up enough score before it ends.
It runs from November 25 to December 1 at 10AM PT, and once it’s over, none of its rewards can be earned again.
How the Black Ops 7 Proving Grounds event works
Proving Grounds is built entirely around score in core Multiplayer modes:
- When you play your first Multiplayer match during the event, you are placed into a fixed group of 30 players on a shared leaderboard.
- Every point of match score you earn across Multiplayer playlists is added to your event total: kills, assists, objective captures and defends, destroying streaks, and other normal score events all count.
- Only Multiplayer counts. Zombies, Endgame, and Warzone do not affect the event.
- XP and Double XP tokens do not influence your event score; they still help you level, but they do not move the leaderboard.
- When the event ends, your final rank on that 30‑player table determines which placement rewards you get.
On top of the leaderboard, the event tracks your cumulative Multiplayer score against four fixed thresholds. Hitting each threshold once unlocks a separate “challenge” reward immediately, regardless of how you are placing against the other 29 players.
Black Ops 7 Proving Grounds leaderboard rewards
Placement rewards are cumulative. Finishing first unlocks every reward from the lower tiers; finishing in the top 5, for example, grants the top 5 reward plus everything from top 10, top 15, and top 30.
| Final placement | Reward | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st place | “Proving Grounds: Champion” animated calling card | Includes all rewards from top 5, top 10, top 15, and top 30 |
| Top 5 | “Proving Grounds: Top 5” calling card, “Reverence” animated universal weapon camo | Camo is event‑exclusive and requires finishing 5th or better |
| Top 10 | “Proving Grounds: Top 10” calling card | Stacks with top 15 and top 30 rewards |
| Top 15 | “Proving Grounds” loading screen, “Burial Grounds” universal weapon camo | Burial Grounds is a static event camo |
| Top 30 | “Proving Grounds” calling card | Baseline reward for everyone who finishes on the board |
Both event camos are universal, so once unlocked they can be equipped on any compatible weapon. Reverence is a gold, animated treatment that cycles in and out on the weapon surface; Burial Grounds is a non‑animated skull‑and‑bones style pattern.
Black Ops 7 Proving Grounds score challenge rewards
The challenge track is separate from placement. As soon as you cross each total score milestone in Multiplayer during the event window, you receive the corresponding reward, even if you are sitting at the bottom of your 30‑player leaderboard.
| Total Multiplayer score | Challenge | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | Earn 10,000 score in Multiplayer | One hour Double XP token |
| 20,000 | Earn 20,000 score in Multiplayer | “Mad Peace” weapon charm |
| 40,000 | Earn 40,000 score in Multiplayer | One hour Double Weapon XP token |
| 80,000 | Earn 80,000 score in Multiplayer | “Drop ’Em” M15 Mod 0 weapon blueprint |
These four unlocks are the accessible side of Proving Grounds. Hitting 80,000 score over roughly a week of play is a grind, but it does not require beating other players on your board; you simply have to keep queuing into Multiplayer and accumulating score.
Event timing and where to find it in-game
Proving Grounds is a preseason event tied to the run‑up to Season 1. The schedule is straightforward:
- Start: November 25, 10AM PT
- End: December 1, 10AM PT
During that window:
- The event tile appears in the in‑game Events tab with a countdown and your current leaderboard placement.
- Your two event camos, once earned, live under the Universal > Event tab in the camo menu for each weapon.
After 10AM PT on December 1, leaderboard positions are locked, placement rewards are distributed, and none of the cosmetics or the Drop ’Em blueprint can be earned again.
How score is generated for Proving Grounds
The event uses the same score values you see at the end of every core Multiplayer match. A few key behaviors matter if you care about climbing your 30‑player board efficiently:
- Every standard kill and assist adds score.
- Objective actions add a lot: capturing, defending, and contesting flags or points, planting or defusing bombs, and similar actions all pay out.
- Utility plays count. Destroying enemy scorestreaks, landing disruption assists, or using certain tactical equipment to set up kills will add to your total.
- Only in‑match score matters. Match wins, XP gains, and performance bonuses do not create extra Proving Grounds score on their own.
Because of that mix, objective‑dense modes are usually more efficient than pure slayer playlists if you are chasing 80,000 score or trying to defend a top‑five position.
Modes and strategies that favor fast event progress
The event doesn’t lock you to any specific playlist, but some modes naturally generate more score per minute than others.
Score‑heavy playlists
- Nuketown 24/7 (objective variants) – On a small map with Hardpoint, Domination, or similar modes, the combination of constant engagements and rapidly flipping objectives makes 8,000–10,000 score in a single match realistic if you live on the hill and keep streaks rolling.
- 20v20 Skirmish – Longer games, more targets, and multiple objectives on a larger playspace make this a consistent option. Hack Station objectives can create zones that pay double score for kills, and care packages sometimes drop Grapple Guns that speed up your rotations. Hitting 7,000–11,000 score in a match here without sweaty 6v6 lobbies is common.
Loadout priorities
| Slot | Recommended choice | Why it helps score |
|---|---|---|
| Primary weapons | Assault rifle for close/mid, sniper for Skirmish | Flexible engagements and long‑range picks create more reliable kill chains |
| Secondary | Launcher | Shooting down UAVs and other streaks adds repeatable score |
| Field Upgrade | Squad Link or Assault Pack | Squad Link feeds constant assist score; Assault Pack supports longer streaks |
| Tactical/Lethal | EMP grenades or decoys, clusters, point turret | EMPs and decoys create assist and disruption score; damage equipment stacks more points |
| Perks | Gearhead, Bankroll, three green perks for Tactician, Looper | Faster Field Upgrade uptime and cheaper streaks mean more UAVs and assists per match |
| Scorestreaks | Scout Pulse, UAV, Counter UAV | Low‑cost recon streaks constantly generate assist score from your team’s kills |
In Nuketown‑style lobbies, spamming UAV and Counter UAV while throwing EMPs into hot zones and sitting on objectives is enough to push your match scores into the upper range. In 20v20 Skirmish, prioritizing fast‑moving objective caps, fighting inside double‑score zones, and dropping a Hellstorm into those zones when available will do similar work, without the constant pressure of tight 6v6 maps.
Practical approach to hitting your target tier
Because you are only racing 29 other players, not the full Black Ops 7 population, the target for each tier will look different on every board. The structure of the event still encourages a simple rhythm:
- Early days (1–2): Play your highest‑score modes heavily to build an early cushion on the leaderboard.
- Middle window (3–4): Check the event tab once a day. If your placement is sliding, plan an extra session in objective playlists.
- Late push (5–6): If you are within range of the next placement tier, favor the most consistent score playlist (often 20v20 Skirmish) to inch upward.
- Final day: Aim to end at least several thousand score ahead of the player directly behind you to avoid being sniped in the last few hours.
For most players, the realistic goals are:
- Hitting 80,000 cumulative score for the Drop ’Em M15 Mod 0 blueprint, regardless of placement.
- Finishing top 15 for the Burial Grounds camo and loading screen, or top 5 if you want Reverence and are prepared to grind.
Once the event closes on December 1, Proving Grounds becomes a snapshot of how much score you managed to squeeze out of Black Ops 7’s Multiplayer in a single week — and a quiet flex every time you equip those camos or calling cards in future seasons.
