If you’ve started grinding for mastery camos in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, you’ve probably noticed Treyarch threw a curveball this year. Instead of the traditional headshot requirements for shotguns, you’re now tasked with racking up Point Blank kills to unlock those military camos. It’s a refreshing change that actually makes sense—shotguns are meant for close encounters, after all.
The problem? Getting within touching distance of enemies without getting melted is easier said than done. Let me break down exactly what counts as a Point Blank kill and share the strategies that’ll help you complete these challenges without losing your sanity.
What Actually Counts as a Point Blank Kill?
A Point Blank kill happens when you eliminate an enemy at melee range—basically close enough that your weapon barrel could poke them. We’re talking uncomfortably close, the kind of distance where you can see every detail on their operator skin.
The tricky part isn’t understanding the requirement; it’s surviving long enough to get that close. In a game where most engagements happen at medium range, deliberately rushing into melee distance feels counterintuitive. But with the right approach, you can turn this challenge from frustrating to surprisingly manageable.
Master the Sprint-Slide Technique
Your movement mechanics are the foundation of Point Blank success. Standing upright and casually walking toward an enemy is a guaranteed trip to the respawn screen.
Here’s the proper sequence:
- Build momentum with tactical sprint – Hold down your sprint button to enter tactical sprint (faster movement with your weapon held differently)
- Slide at the perfect moment – As you close the final gap, hit your slide button (B on Xbox, Circle on PlayStation)
- Fire immediately out of the slide – The moment you’re in range, pull the trigger
Why this works: The slide compresses your hitbox dramatically, making you significantly harder to hit. It also carries forward momentum that closes distance faster than regular movement. You’re essentially making yourself a smaller, faster-moving target during the most vulnerable moment—that final approach.
Advanced tip: Practice the timing in private matches first. You want to slide just early enough to benefit from the evasion but not so early that you slide past your target or lose too much momentum. The sweet spot varies by map terrain and enemy positioning.
For players working through multiple weapon categories, you might also want to check out our longshot kills guide for when you switch to different camo challenges.
Build a Point Blank-Optimized Loadout
Your perk selection can make or break your Point Blank grinding efficiency. Here are the perks that genuinely matter for this specific challenge:
Top-tier choices:
- Lightweight – The speed boost helps you close gaps faster, and the extended slide distance is perfect for your sprint-slide approach. The faster recovery from sliding means you can chain multiple aggressive pushes.
- Ghost – Staying off enemy radar when moving is crucial. You can’t get Point Blank kills if enemies know you’re coming. This perk lets you sneak into favorable positions without broadcasting your location.
- Ninja – Reduces your audio footprint significantly. Good players listen for footsteps, and you need every advantage when attempting these high-risk rushes.
Strong secondary options:
- Hunter’s Instinct – After each kill, you’ll see the direction of the nearest enemy. This creates chain-kill opportunities where you can immediately push toward your next target.
- Tracker – Seeing enemy positions on your minimap and physical footsteps in the world helps you hunt down isolated targets—your ideal Point Blank candidates.
- Tac Sprinter – Enables tactical sprint by default, though it reduces normal sprint speed. This is situational; some players love it, others find the trade-off not worth it.
Important note: Some of these perks occupy the same slot, so you’ll need to experiment with combinations. I recommend starting with Lightweight + Ghost + Ninja as your core setup, then adjusting based on your playstyle.
Want to optimize your entire setup? Our best settings optimization guide covers everything from sensitivity to graphics configurations that can improve your performance.
Tactical Equipment: Your Secret Weapon
Never underestimate the power of well-placed tactical equipment. These tools can turn impossible situations into easy double or triple Point Blank kills.
Flashbangs – The Point Blank MVPs:
Flashbangs are absurdly effective for this challenge. When enemies are blinded, they literally cannot fight back. Here’s how to maximize their potential:
- Identify clusters of enemies (objective points, common camping spots)
- Toss your flashbang into the center of the group
- Immediately sprint-slide in during the blindness window
- Systematically eliminate the disoriented enemies
Timing is critical: Don’t wait to see if your flash worked—commit to the push immediately. The blindness duration is limited, and hesitation wastes your opportunity.
Smoke Grenades – The Underrated Alternative:
Smoke creates chaos and obscures enemy vision without requiring precise throws. Toss smoke onto an objective, push through it, and enemies won’t see you coming until you’re already in Point Blank range. This works exceptionally well in objective-focused game modes.
Game Mode Selection: Where to Hunt for Point Blanks
Not all game modes are created equal for Point Blank grinding. You want environments that naturally force close-quarters engagements.
Hardpoint – The Point Blank Paradise:
Hardpoint is arguably the best mode for this challenge. The rotating hill mechanic forces enemies to cluster in predictable locations. You know exactly where they’ll be, and they’re often focused on defending or capturing the point rather than watching for flankers.
Strategy: Let your team engage on the point first, drawing enemy attention. Flank around, throw your tactical, and slide in for multiple Point Blanks while enemies are distracted.
Domination – Consistent Objective Pressure:
The static nature of capture points makes Domination excellent for Point Blanks. B flag especially becomes a constant battle zone where close-quarters chaos is the norm.
Strategy: Focus on B flag fights. Use your tactical equipment to clear the point, then clean up with Point Blank kills on disoriented enemies.
Why avoid Team Deathmatch? TDM encourages spread-out, mid-range combat. Players have no reason to cluster or hold specific positions, making Point Blank opportunities much rarer. The matches also end quickly, giving you fewer total opportunities.
Playing with friends? Our split-screen multiplayer guide explains how to set up local co-op sessions for practice.
Map Knowledge: Finding Your Point Blank Hotspots
Certain areas on every map naturally facilitate close-quarters combat. Learning these spots accelerates your progress dramatically.
What to look for:
- Tight corridors and doorways – Choke points where enemies must pass through narrow spaces
- Enclosed objective rooms – Indoor hardpoint locations or flag rooms in Domination
- Multi-level structures – Buildings with stairs where you can surprise enemies from different angles
- High-traffic corners – Popular rotation paths where you can wait and ambush
Pro approach: Spend a few matches just learning where enemies consistently appear in close-quarters scenarios. Once you’ve identified 3-4 reliable spots per map, you can rotate between them for consistent Point Blank opportunities.
If you’re also working on other challenges, check out our complete level unlocks guide to see what weapons and equipment unlock at each level.
Weapon-Specific Considerations for Shotguns
Since Point Blank kills are primarily required for shotgun camos, let’s talk weapon selection:
Pump-action shotguns: These require precise timing since you get one shot before rechambering. Miss at Point Blank range, and you’re probably dead. The upside is they’re typically one-shot kills at this distance.
Semi-automatic shotguns: More forgiving thanks to faster follow-up shots. Even if your first shot doesn’t secure the kill, you can quickly fire again.
Attachment recommendations:
- Laser sights improve hip-fire accuracy (essential since you’ll rarely ADS at Point Blank range)
- Extended magazines mean fewer reloads during multi-kill opportunities
- Movement speed attachments complement your aggressive playstyle
Looking to optimize specific weapons? We have detailed loadout guides for various weapon types, including our best shotgun configurations.
Hardcore Mode: Worth It or Not?
You might be wondering if Hardcore mode’s reduced health makes Point Blank kills easier. The answer is… complicated.
Advantages:
- One-shot kills are virtually guaranteed at Point Blank range
- Faster overall time-to-kill means quicker challenge completion
- Works great for headshot challenges and longshots simultaneously
Disadvantages:
- You also die extremely quickly, making aggressive rushes riskier
- No HUD means no minimap (unless you use perks that provide it)
- Friendly fire can interrupt your pushes
My recommendation: Try a few Hardcore matches to see if you prefer it. Some players thrive in the high-risk environment; others find the constant deaths frustrating. Core modes are generally more forgiving for learning Point Blank strategies.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Running the same approach repeatedly: If you keep dying on the same flank route, change your angle. Enemies will start anticipating your pushes.
Forgetting about enemy teammates: You might successfully close distance on one enemy only to be killed by their nearby teammate. Always check your surroundings before committing to a push.
Poor timing on objective pushes: Rushing onto a Hardpoint the moment it’s captured by the enemy team means you’re running into 4-5 enemies ready for you. Wait for your team to engage, then flank.
Neglecting your tactical equipment: Every life without using your flashbang or smoke is a missed opportunity. These tools exist specifically for situations like Point Blank grinding.
Alternative Strategies for Variety
The corner camping approach: Sometimes it’s smarter to let enemies come to you. Find a high-traffic corner near an objective, wait for footsteps, and surprise them as they round the corner. It’s less exciting than aggressive rushing but often more consistent.
The revenge kills: When you die, note where the enemy was positioned. Respawn, immediately return to that location, and catch them off-guard. Players often stay in positions where they just succeeded, making them predictable.
The chaos method: Wait for major streaks to be called in—especially on your own team. When everyone’s distracted by the scorestreak, enemies are easier to sneak up on.
Tracking Your Progress
Black Ops 7’s camo progression system shows exactly how many Point Blanks you need and how many you’ve completed. Check this regularly to:
- Celebrate milestones (every 10 Point Blanks is progress!)
- Identify which weapons need the most work
- Plan which weapon to tackle next
For players who’ve already reached Prestige, remember that you can use permanent unlock tokens on weapons you’re still grinding camos for.
Cross-Training With Other Challenges
The skills you develop while grinding Point Blanks transfer to other aspects of Black Ops 7:
- Movement mechanics improve your overall survivability
- Map knowledge helps with objective play and general performance
- Tactical equipment usage becomes second nature
- Situational awareness gets dramatically better
You’re not just completing a challenge—you’re becoming a better player overall.
The Mental Game: Staying Motivated
Point Blank kills can be frustrating, especially when you’re getting killed repeatedly while attempting aggressive pushes. Here’s how to maintain your sanity:
Set realistic session goals: Aim for 15-20 Point Blanks per gaming session rather than trying to complete an entire weapon in one sitting.
Take breaks between weapons: After finishing Point Blanks on one shotgun, switch to Zombies mode or try different camo challenges to avoid burnout.
Play with friends: Having teammates on voice chat makes the grind more enjoyable and can create better opportunities through coordinated pushes.
Remember why you’re doing this: Those mastery camos look incredible and represent significant dedication. Every Point Blank brings you closer to flexing those rare weapon skins.
Ending Note: Embrace the Chaos
Point Blank challenges force you to play aggressively and take risks you might normally avoid. While this feels uncomfortable initially, it’s actually refreshing compared to the usual headshot grind we’ve had in previous Call of Duty titles.
The key is accepting that you’ll die frequently. Your K/D ratio might suffer temporarily, but that’s a small price to pay for those beautiful mastery camos. Focus on maximizing Point Blanks per match rather than maintaining a perfect killstreak.
With the right perks, tactical equipment, game mode selection, and movement techniques, you’ll find that Point Blank kills become almost routine. What seemed impossible at first becomes second nature after 50-100 attempts. Your sprint-slide timing will improve, your equipment usage will become instinctive, and you’ll develop an intuition for when to push aggressively versus when to play patiently.
Now grab your favorite shotgun, load up some Hardpoint, and start closing that distance. Those Point Blank kills won’t earn themselves, but with these strategies, they won’t feel like an impossible grind either.
For more Black Ops 7 strategies, check out the official game hub or learn more about the game’s development on Wikipedia.
Happy hunting!
