To Prestige or Not to Prestige? Complete Black Ops 7 Decision

You’ve finally hit level 55 in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Your loadouts are perfected, your pistol builds are optimized, and you’ve finally unlocked that weapon you’ve been grinding for. Now the game is asking you to throw it all away and start over. Wait… what?

Welcome to the age-old Call of Duty dilemma: to Prestige or not to Prestige? It’s a question that’s plagued COD players since the system’s inception, and Black Ops 7 doesn’t make the decision any easier. Whether you’re grinding multiplayer unlocks, surviving the Ashes of the Damned zombies map, or chasing prestige rewards, this decision impacts your entire Black Ops 7 experience.

Let me break down everything you need to know before you hit that Prestige button—because unlike your K/D ratio, this decision actually matters.

Table of Contents

What Exactly Is Prestige in Black Ops 7?

For newcomers to the franchise or those who skipped previous entries, here’s the quick rundown: Prestige is Call of Duty’s way of extending progression beyond the initial level cap. Once you max out at level 55 (technically 56, but we’ll get to that), you unlock the option to reset your progress, start back at level 1, and earn a shiny new Prestige icon to flex in lobbies.

Think of it like New Game+ in RPGs, except instead of keeping your gear, you lose everything and have to earn it back. Fun, right?

The Level 56 Mystery Explained

Here’s something that confuses many players: you don’t Prestige at level 55—you need to reach level 56. However, your level counter stays at 55 while you fill the XP bar one additional time. It’s a bit weird, but once that invisible level 56 XP bar is full, you’ll stop gaining progress and unlock the Prestige option.

According to the official Black Ops 7 page, this iteration continues the tradition while adding unique rewards at each Prestige tier, making the climb potentially more rewarding than previous installments.

Level Progression Rewards (The Guaranteed Path)

The Big Question: Should YOU Prestige?

Here’s the honest truth: it depends entirely on what type of player you are. This isn’t one of those “git gud” situations where there’s objectively a right answer. Your playstyle, available time, and personal goals all factor into this decision.

For Casual Players: Probably Not Worth It

Let’s start with the potentially unpopular opinion: if you’re a casual player who hops on for a few matches here and there, enjoys running your favorite loadouts, and doesn’t care about cosmetic rewards or bragging rights, then skip Prestige entirely.

Here’s why:

Time Investment Reality Check

You’ll lose access to all your unlocked weapons, perks, and equipment
Your perfectly crafted sniper loadouts? Gone.
Those best settings you configured? Still there, but your gear isn’t.
Every zombies strategy you’ve mastered gets harder without your preferred equipment

The Casual Player Experience

You play maybe 5-10 hours per week
You’ve found weapons you genuinely enjoy using
Your friends play at similar levels and you don’t want to be under-equipped
You’re more interested in gameplay than cosmetic progression

If this sounds like you, stay at level 55 and enjoy unrestricted access to everything you’ve unlocked. There’s zero shame in this approach—not everyone needs to be grinding for Prestige Master.

For Hardcore Players: Absolutely Prestige

On the flip side, if you’re a dedicated player who lives and breathes Call of Duty, Prestige is practically mandatory. Here’s why the grind is worth it:

Endless Progression Appeal

Each Prestige level offers unique cosmetic rewards that showcase your dedication
You’ll earn exclusive calling cards, emblems, and Prestige icons
The journey to Prestige Master gives you constant goals to work toward
You can track detailed statistics about each Prestige run

Strategic Advantages

Prestige Tokens let you permanently unlock crucial items (more on this below)
You learn to adapt with different weapon combinations during each climb
Forces you to experiment with guns you might have ignored
Keeps the game feeling fresh instead of stagnant

The Flex Factor

High Prestige icons genuinely intimidate opponents in pre-game lobbies
It’s a visible status symbol of your commitment and skill
You’ll stand out among the player base
Perfect for content creators and competitive players

The Complete Pros and Cons Breakdown

Let’s get methodical about this decision with a comprehensive look at both sides:

Why You SHOULD Prestige in Black Ops 7

Continuous Progression System The most compelling reason to Prestige is simple: it gives you something to work toward. Once you hit max level without Prestige, XP becomes meaningless. Every match, every kill, every objective capture no longer contributes to tangible progress. For many players, this saps motivation faster than anything else.

Prestige Tokens Are Game-Changers Each time you Prestige, you earn a Prestige Token that permanently unlocks one item of your choice. This is huge. You can immediately access:

Your favorite weapon regardless of level
Essential perks for your playstyle
Critical equipment or field upgrades
Augments that enhance your zombies experience

Smart players strategically use these tokens to make each Prestige run smoother than the last. Check out our guide on best permanent unlock token choices for optimal selections.

Exclusive Cosmetic Rewards Each Prestige level features unique cosmetics you literally cannot obtain any other way. These include:

Distinctive Prestige emblems
Special calling cards
Exclusive weapon blueprints
Unique operator skins at higher Prestige tiers

Statistical Tracking Black Ops 7 tracks comprehensive statistics for each Prestige run, including:

Time taken to complete each Prestige
Total kills and deaths during that Prestige
Favorite weapons and game modes
Challenge completion rates

For stat-nerds (like me), this data is fascinating and helps you identify areas for improvement.

Additional XP Challenges New challenges unlock with each Prestige level, offering fresh objectives and rewards. These aren’t just busywork—they provide calling cards, XP boosts, and other meaningful rewards that keep gameplay engaging.

Community Recognition Like it or not, high Prestige levels command respect in the Call of Duty community. That Prestige Master icon carries weight and signals you’re not someone to take lightly in a gunfight.

Why You SHOULDN’T Prestige in Black Ops 7

The Unlock Grind Returns This is the biggest drawback: you lose access to everything except items you’ve permanently unlocked with Prestige Tokens. That means:

Back to basic weapons until you level up
No access to your favorite perk augments
Starting over with ammo mod augments in zombies
Relearning wall buy locations with limited loadouts

Content You Already Had Here’s the paradox: Prestige Tokens permanently unlock content that… you already had unlocked before Prestiging. You’re essentially using rewards to regain what you voluntarily gave up. It’s circular logic that frustrates many players.

Starting from Square One Repeatedly Every single Prestige means going back to level 1. If you plan to reach Prestige Master, you’re looking at multiple complete level grinds. For players with limited time, this can feel overwhelming or even impossible.

Potential Lobby Issues High Prestige players sometimes face an unexpected problem: lobby dodging. When lower-level or casual players see a Prestige 10+ player in their lobby, they might immediately leave, assuming they’ll get destroyed. This can increase matchmaking times and create unbalanced teams.

Performance Without Progress If you already have your perfect loadouts and enjoy the game as-is, Prestige removes that stability. Some players genuinely prefer consistency over progression, and there’s nothing wrong with that approach.

Zombies Complexity For zombies enthusiasts, Prestige can complicate your exfil strategies and GobbleGum setups. Starting over means temporarily weaker loadouts during high-round attempts.

The Middle Ground: Strategic Prestiging

Here’s an approach many players overlook: you don’t have to Prestige immediately when it becomes available. You can:

Wait Until You’re Ready

Play at max level for as long as you want
The Prestige option doesn’t disappear or expire
Prestige during a double XP weekend for faster progression
Wait until a new season drops with fresh content

Prestige for Specific Rewards

Some players Prestige once or twice for specific unlock tokens
Then stay at that Prestige level permanently
You get the benefits without committing to the full Master grind

Seasonal Prestiging

Prestige at the start of each new season
Fresh content makes the level grind feel less repetitive
Aligns your progression with new maps and weapons

How to Actually Prestige in Black Ops 7

Alright, you’ve decided to take the plunge. Here’s the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Reach Max Level

Fill your XP bar completely after hitting level 55. You’ll notice XP gains stop registering—this means you’re ready.

Step 2: Access the Prestige Menu

Return to the main lobby (Multiplayer or Zombies)
Navigate to the Barracks section
Select the Progression tab
Open the Prestige tab (only unlocked at max level)

Step 3: Confirm Your Decision

Select your next Prestige level (starts with Prestige 1)
Hold Triangle (PlayStation) or Y (Xbox) to preview
Review what you’ll lose and what you’ll gain
Press Continue if you’re certain

Step 4: The Final Commitment

Hold X (PlayStation) or A (Xbox) to confirm the reset
Your level immediately drops to 1
Your new Prestige icon appears
You receive one Prestige Token

Step 5: Choose Your Permanent Unlock Wisely

Immediately spend your Prestige Token on something crucial to your playstyle. Our permanent unlock token guide offers detailed recommendations.

Pro Tip: If you get cold feet at any point during this process, you can select “Not Right Now” and come back later. The option remains available indefinitely.

Expert Tips for Prestiging Success

If you commit to the Prestige grind, here’s how to make each run more efficient:

Maximize XP Gains

Play objective modes (Hardpoint, Domination) for bonus XP
Complete daily and weekly challenges religiously
Use double XP tokens strategically during long play sessions
Zombies exfil rounds provide massive XP when successful

Smart Permanent Unlocks

Your first few Prestige Tokens should prioritize:

Your absolute favorite weapon (usually your main primary)
Essential perks for your playstyle
Critical equipment that enables your strategies
Augments that dramatically improve zombies runs

Adapt Your Playstyle

Early Prestige levels force you to use different weapons. Embrace this:

Experiment with guns you normally ignore
Learn new loadout strategies
Discover unexpected weapon synergies
Become a more versatile player overall

Technical Preparation

Before Prestiging, ensure your game runs smoothly:

Fix any lag or stuttering issues
Optimize your HUD settings
Confirm your best settings are configured

Zombies-Specific Strategies

For zombies players, Prestiging requires adjustment:

Memorize Pack-a-Punch locations on every map
Study perk locations before losing your preferred loadout
Master wall buy locations for reliable early-game weapons
Review beginner tips with fresh eyes

The Prestige Master Journey

For those who commit fully, the path to Prestige Master is long but rewarding. According to the Black Ops 7 information, reaching Prestige Master requires multiple complete level progressions, but the exclusive rewards and ultimate bragging rights make it the holy grail for dedicated players.

What Makes Prestige Master Special:

The most prestigious emblem in the game
Exclusive cosmetics unavailable anywhere else
Community recognition as an elite player
Complete mastery of the leveling system
Comprehensive collection of Prestige Tokens for perfect loadouts

Time Investment Reality: Be realistic about the time commitment. Reaching Prestige Master typically requires 200+ hours of focused gameplay. If you have a job, family, or other commitments, this might take several months of consistent play.

What Should YOU Do?

After all this information, here’s my straightforward recommendation:

Prestige if:

You play Black Ops 7 regularly (10+ hours per week)
You enjoy working toward long-term goals
Cosmetic rewards and status symbols motivate you
You want your gameplay time to always feel productive
You’re comfortable adapting to different loadouts

Skip Prestige if:

You’re a casual player with limited time
You’ve found your perfect loadouts and want to keep them
Cosmetic rewards don’t interest you
You prefer gameplay stability over progression systems
You mainly play zombies and need consistent loadouts

The Truth Nobody Tells You: You can always change your mind. If you skip Prestige now, the option remains available forever. If you Prestige and hate it, well… you can’t go back for that specific Prestige, but you can stop Prestiging after that and stay at your current level permanently.

Personally? I always Prestige. The progression system keeps me engaged, the exclusive rewards satisfy my completionist tendencies, and honestly, I get bored without clear goals. But I also play 15-20 hours per week, which isn’t realistic for everyone.

The beauty of Black Ops 7 is that both approaches are valid. Whether you’re grinding for Prestige Master or contentedly sitting at level 55 with your perfect loadouts, you’re playing the game correctly. Do what makes you enjoy the experience most.

Now stop overthinking it and get back to fragging. Those prestige rewards aren’t going to earn themselves. 🎮

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Should You Prestige in Black Ops 7? Everything You Need to Know Before Resetting