What Happens When You Finish a Call of Duty Campaign?

Completing a Call of Duty campaign is more than just reaching the end credits; it’s a culmination of intense battles, strategic gameplay, and often, a deep dive into a narrative-rich world. Beyond the satisfaction of finishing the story, players are typically rewarded with a variety of in-game unlocks, contributing to the overall Call of Duty experience, particularly within the multiplayer modes. Essentially, finishing the campaign unlocks content that enriches other facets of the game, providing both bragging rights and practical benefits. The specific rewards vary from game to game, but common items include exclusive Calling Cards, unique Operator skins, Double XP Tokens, and Weapon Blueprints. These rewards are designed to incentivize players to engage with the single-player campaign and provide additional content for the multiplayer portion of the game. Let’s delve deeper into what these rewards can mean for your Call of Duty experience.

Campaign Completion Rewards: Beyond the Story

The Rewards You Earn

Generally, upon completing a Call of Duty campaign, you can expect to receive an assortment of in-game items that enhance your multiplayer profile and gameplay. These rewards are not just aesthetic; they often offer practical advantages or opportunities for customization. Here’s a breakdown of common rewards:

• Calling Cards: These are cosmetic items that appear on your in-game profile, showcasing your achievements and style. Completing the campaign often unlocks exclusive Calling Cards, unavailable through other means, allowing you to signal your dedication to the game’s storyline.
• Operator Skins: Operator skins change the appearance of the characters you play as in multiplayer. Campaign completion frequently unlocks unique Operator skins, adding another layer of personalization to your multiplayer experience.
• Double XP Tokens: These tokens temporarily boost the experience you earn in multiplayer matches. This can be a significant boon for leveling up faster and unlocking more gear and options quickly, giving a competitive edge.
• Weapon Blueprints: Perhaps one of the most sought-after rewards, Weapon Blueprints are pre-configured weapon loadouts with unique attachments and designs. Completing the campaign often unlocks a special Weapon Blueprint, giving you a powerful head start in multiplayer.

Why Are These Rewards Important?

These rewards aren’t just trinkets; they serve as an incentive to fully experience the campaign narrative. They help extend the lifespan of the game by providing tangible goals for players beyond completing the story. These rewards connect the single-player and multiplayer experiences, encouraging players to explore all aspects of the game. Furthermore, these items are often exclusive to campaign completion, making them a form of prestige within the Call of Duty community.

What Happens Story-Wise at the End of a Campaign?

While rewards are a significant draw, the core experience of any Call of Duty campaign is its narrative. The ending varies drastically between games, from the solemn remembrance of fallen comrades to a tense cliffhanger that sets up the sequel. Here are some of the typical scenarios you might encounter at the end of a campaign:

• Resolution and Closure: Many Call of Duty campaigns aim to provide a sense of closure, tying up loose ends and giving characters a sense of finality. This might involve the defeat of a major antagonist or a peaceful resolution for the protagonist and their team.
• Cliffhangers and Teasers: Some campaigns leave the player with unresolved storylines, setting the stage for future sequels. These endings can be shocking or thought-provoking, designed to generate excitement for the next installment.
• Emotional Endings: Many Call of Duty games try to resonate emotionally with the player, featuring moments of grief, triumph, and sacrifice. These emotional endings often involve the deaths of beloved characters, highlighting the human cost of war.
• Setup for Next Installment: A common occurrence in the series, many campaigns often conclude with an indication of an ongoing threat or future conflict, preparing the narrative landscape for the following game. This often involves characters like Makarov, whose actions continue to have a lasting impact on the storyline.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do all Call of Duty campaigns offer multiplayer rewards upon completion?

Most mainline Call of Duty titles offer multiplayer rewards for completing the campaign, but the specifics can vary. It’s always best to check the game’s specific details or official announcements for what will be unlocked for completing the campaign. Some older titles may not offer these kinds of rewards.

2. Are the rewards exclusive to campaign completion?

Generally, yes. Most rewards like exclusive Calling Cards, Operator skins, and special Weapon Blueprints are often only available by completing the campaign. This exclusivity adds to their appeal and provides a reason to play through the campaign even if you are primarily a multiplayer fan.

3. Can I replay the campaign to earn the rewards if I missed them the first time?

Yes, usually you can replay the campaign and all missions to earn any missed rewards. You can typically choose your difficulty level when replaying missions to match your skill level.

4. How long does a typical Call of Duty campaign last?

The length of a Call of Duty campaign can vary, but most average around 7 hours. However, some, like Black Ops III, may take approximately 9 hours to complete, while others, such as the Modern Warfare 3 campaign, have been criticized for being much shorter.

5. What are the hardest Call of Duty campaigns?

Some of the hardest campaigns include Call of Duty: World at War, renowned for its brutal difficulty on Veteran mode, with enemies relentlessly throwing grenades and respawning constantly, and the final mission in the game, “Heart of the Reich” being particularly challenging.

6. What is the shortest Call of Duty campaign?

The shortest campaign in the series is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023), which has received criticism for its brevity.

7. Is there a Call of Duty game without a campaign?

Yes, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is the first mainline title that does not have a traditional single-player campaign mode.

8. Who are some of the recurring antagonists in the series?

Antagonists like General Shepherd (Modern Warfare 2) and Vladimir Makarov are recurring figures, known for their complex motivations and betrayals.

9. What does “Task Force 141” signify in the Modern Warfare series?

Task Force 141, also known as “The One-Four-One”, is a multinational special operations unit, featuring prominently in the Modern Warfare series.

10. Why did Shepherd betray Task Force 141?

Shepherd betrayed Task Force 141 because he wanted to start a war between the United States and Russia. He saw Task Force 141 as a threat to his plan.

11. What are the different endings in Call of Duty?

The endings can range from bittersweet and emotionally resonant to cliffhangers. Some campaigns, like Black Ops II, even feature multiple endings, based on choices you make in-game.

12. What happens if you shoot the baby in the COD Modern Warfare campaign?

If you shoot the baby in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare campaign, it results in a game over, and you’ll have to start from the last checkpoint.

13. Are there moral choices in Call of Duty campaigns?

Some Call of Duty campaigns, particularly Black Ops II, include moral choices that affect the game’s outcome, adding an extra layer of complexity to the single-player narrative. In MW2 there are choices you can make that are not related to the overall outcome of the story. For example, in the interrogation of Valeria, lying too much will result in being killed and a game over.

14. Is the Modern Warfare series a reboot or continuation of the originals?

The recent Modern Warfare series, beginning with 2019’s Modern Warfare, is a reboot of the franchise, completely separate from the original trilogy. This means characters like Ghost who were killed in the original Modern Warfare 2 are alive in this new timeline.

15. Why is the Call of Duty campaign experience valuable?

The campaign offers a rich narrative, character development, and action-packed missions that add to the overall depth of the Call of Duty experience. It also provides rewards that enhance the multiplayer side of the game, connecting both aspects into a cohesive whole. The narrative storytelling is a large draw for a large player base.