Summary
The release ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 6will soon be upon fans, and its zombies mode is getting itself a great deal of promotion. Among the mode’s new features, one stands out as having incredible potential forBlack Ops 6and future games.
Black Ops 6’s long development cycle, the longest inCall of Duty’s history, will soon be coming to a close. After four years in the oven, the seventh title in theBlack Opsseries will hit shelves on Jun 05, 2025. Alongside the return of zombies mode, the game will feature a new spy-thriller campaign and multiplayer with overhauled, omnidirectional movement allowing players greater freedom to dash and dive than ever before.
Black Ops 6’s Mangler Transformation Could Be Taken Further
In addition to a recent trailerforBlack Ops 6’s zombie mode, an in-depth blog breakdown of its gameplay has just been released. This trailer offered a further explanation of the game’s plot and mechanics, detailing the ins and outs of the new Terminus map, as well as showing off a new support item. Players were shown the raw, bloody power of transforming into a mangler — described in the blog post as being the result of using a Mutant Injection. The mangler is a bruiser zombie clad in advanced armor, first introduced to the series in 2015’sBlack Ops 3. This new transformation power-up looks like great fun, and would make for a solid addition to Liberty Falls and any other future maps.
How The Mangler Transformation Works
Black Ops 6’s mangler transformation is accessible through a new support item called the Mutant Injection. To create this item, players will need some of the Salvage currency, one of two currencies that can be used to craft useful itemsinBlack Ops 6’s zombies mode(the other being Essence). Salvage is now one unified currency, as opposed to the separate tiers found inBlack Ops Cold War, and it can be looted from the bodies of slain zombies.
Once in mangler form, the player can mow down hordes with ease — albeit temporarily. The transformation isanotherBlack Ops 6melee buff, as its swipe attack and barraging sprint can easily turn mobs into buckets of bones and viscera, and it has the health pool to back this playstyle up. The form’s ranged cannon attack is similarly potent, able to blast back the undead waves. Such a vicious power naturally comes with a big Salvage cost, so players may want to save the ability for when they’re stuck in a bind.
The Mangler Transformation Should Be A Feature Of Future Maps
Everything revealed for this zombies mode so far has centered onBlack Ops 6’s Terminus map, but by no means should this transformation ability be limited to Terminus. Playing as a zombie isn’t new territory for the series, but other examples of it, such asBlack Ops 2’s exclusive Turned mode, are of a very different spirit. Playing on the zombies' team is another beast compared to using zombie powers to aid survivors. Turning into a mangler not only lets fans cut loose and wreck shop, but it’s a format that could easily translate to other series mini-bosses.
Perhaps the special zombies that joined the mangler’s ranks inModern Warfare 3, the disciple and the mimic, could make for fitting transformations. Both would present interesting playstyles that could really make for impactfulBlack Ops 6moments; the mimic could make for a unique ambusher, while the disciple could throw out powerful buffs to fellow survivors. However, when more details are revealed for Liberty Falls, the map’s own specialized bestiary could present some other great candidates for transformations.
