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The Toughest Trials: Unmasking the Hardest Missions in Call of Duty Campaigns

Determining the absolute hardest mission in the Call of Duty franchise is a daunting task, sparking endless debates among seasoned players. However, one mission consistently emerges as a frontrunner in the realm of brutal difficulty: “Heart of the Reich” from Call of Duty: World at War. This mission, particularly on Veteran difficulty, is notorious for its relentless enemy waves, unforgiving checkpoint system, and the sheer chaos of urban warfare. It embodies everything that makes a Call of Duty campaign challenging and is arguably the pinnacle of difficulty within the series.

Why “Heart of the Reich” Reigns Supreme

“Heart of the Reich” throws players into the thick of the Battle of Berlin, with the Soviet forces pressing deep into the German capital. You’re tasked with pushing through heavily fortified streets, scaling bombed-out buildings, and facing a seemingly endless stream of German soldiers. The mission’s difficulty stems from several key factors:

Relentless Enemy Presence: The game throws wave after wave of enemies at you, often from multiple directions. This isn’t just a handful of soldiers; it’s a constant barrage, requiring impeccable reaction time and tactical awareness.
Aggressive AI: The enemy AI in World at War is particularly aggressive. They’re adept at flanking, using grenades effectively, and pushing you out of cover. They are not pushovers and demand absolute focus to overcome.
Brutal Checkpoints: The checkpoint system, especially on Veteran difficulty, is unforgiving. Dying often means restarting a significant portion of the mission, adding a layer of frustration that tests players’ patience and skill.
Urban Warfare Chaos: The dense, destructible environment provides numerous vantage points for enemies, making it hard to establish a strong defensive position. You’re constantly being assaulted from unexpected angles, requiring a dynamic and adaptable approach to combat.
Limited Cover: Effective cover can be scarce, and what is available often gets shredded by enemy fire. You can’t sit behind a wall forever, you will be forced to move.

These factors combine to create a mission that’s not just challenging but also incredibly intense and memorable. “Heart of the Reich” forces players to use every skill they’ve acquired throughout the campaign, making it a true test of their Call of Duty prowess.

Other Challenging Contenders

While “Heart of the Reich” often takes the crown, several other missions throughout the series also stand out for their difficulty:

“Vendetta” (Call of Duty: World at War): This sniper mission requires precise aiming and strategic patience amidst a chaotic battleground. The slow pace and reliance on accuracy make this a difficult challenge for some.
“No Man’s Land” (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3): This brutal mission throws you into a war-torn version of New York, where you must navigate a heavily defended area with few resources. It has a similar “us against the world” feel to “Heart of the Reich.”
“All Ghillied Up” (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare): While a favorite for many, this stealth-based mission can be frustrating on higher difficulties due to the strict requirements of remaining undetected. Failing means you start over.
“Alone” (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II): This mission forces players to navigate without their usual gear, requiring stealth and improvisation. It’s a stark change of pace and adds a different type of difficulty into the mix.
Various missions in Call of Duty: Black Ops games on Realistic difficulty: With Realistic difficulty comes a severe handicap to the player and a boost to the enemy. Any missions in these games can become brutal experiences.

These missions showcase the variety of challenging scenarios that the Call of Duty series has to offer, from intense firefights to stealth-based operations and moments of complete improvisation.

Factors Contributing to Campaign Difficulty

Several factors contribute to the perceived difficulty of a Call of Duty campaign mission:

Difficulty Settings: The most obvious factor is the chosen difficulty setting. Veteran is the standard high-difficulty mode, known for its punishing damage models and aggressive AI.
Enemy AI: The aggressiveness and intelligence of enemy AI can dramatically affect difficulty. Some games are known for having more aggressive AI compared to others.
Level Design: Complex or claustrophobic environments, multiple enemy entry points, and limited cover can make missions much more challenging.
Checkpoint System: Unforgiving checkpoint systems can punish players severely for mistakes, forcing them to repeat large sections of the mission.
Mission Objectives: Some missions have complex objectives that demand a strategic approach, often with specific limitations. These are often more challenging than just a standard “shoot everyone” mission.

Ultimately, the “hardest” mission is subjective and depends on a player’s individual strengths and weaknesses. However, “Heart of the Reich” remains a benchmark for challenging campaign design in the Call of Duty franchise and is one that players often refer back to as the most difficult.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Call of Duty has the hardest campaign overall?

Call of Duty: World at War is widely regarded as having the hardest campaign due to its unforgiving difficulty settings, brutal enemy AI, and challenging mission design, especially on Veteran difficulty.

What is the hardest difficulty in a Call of Duty campaign?

Generally, Veteran difficulty is considered the most challenging across most Call of Duty games. However, some games like Call of Duty: Black Ops III and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare introduced even more challenging modes like Realistic or Specialist.

What is the most challenging Call of Duty campaign mission for most players?

Many players find “Heart of the Reich” from Call of Duty: World at War to be the most challenging campaign mission, thanks to its relentless enemy waves, unforgiving checkpoints, and intense urban warfare setting.

Which Call of Duty game has the shortest campaign?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is known for having one of the shortest campaigns in the series, clocking in at around 3-4 hours, which is shorter than the standard 5-7 hour range.

What is the most realistic Call of Duty campaign?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is often praised for its realism, utilizing photogrammetry and performance capture to create a more immersive and authentic experience.

Which Call of Duty game does not have a traditional single-player campaign?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is the first entry in the series without a traditional single-player campaign. It features only Multiplayer, Zombies, and a battle royale mode called Blackout.

Which Call of Duty mission has you go it “Alone”?

The mission called “Alone” in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II puts players in a situation where they must navigate without their typical gear, emphasizing stealth and survival.

How many missions are typically included in a Call of Duty campaign?

Campaign lengths can vary, but typically Call of Duty campaigns have around 12-16 missions.

What is considered the easiest Call of Duty game for campaign completion?

Call of Duty: Ghosts is often cited as one of the easiest Call of Duty games to complete on Veteran difficulty, owing to mechanics like sliding past enemies and leaning from cover.

Is Battlefield or Call of Duty harder?

Generally, Battlefield is considered more challenging to master due to its emphasis on team-based gameplay and complex mechanics, while Call of Duty is often seen as more accessible and easier to learn.

What is the most forgettable Call of Duty game?

Call of Duty: Vanguard is often cited as one of the more forgettable entries in the series due to its reception and overall lack of impact.

Which Call of Duty game has the hardest Zombies mode?

Call of Duty: World at War‘s original Nacht Der Untoten map is often considered among the hardest Zombies experiences, along with later maps like Shangri-La and Verruckt.

Who is considered the biggest “badass” character in Call of Duty?

Frank Woods from the Black Ops series is often considered one of the biggest “badass” characters in the franchise.

What motivates Graves to betray Task Force 141 in Modern Warfare II?

Graves betrays Task Force 141 on Shepherd’s orders after they get too close to uncovering the truth about American ballistic missiles. He is trying to cover up their wrongdoings.

Will there be a Zombies mode in Modern Warfare III (2023)?

Yes, Modern Warfare III (2023) will feature a Zombies mode, marking the first time that Zombies is included in a Modern Warfare title.

What is the hardest mission in Call of Duty campaign?