How to Unlock the Nail Gun in Black Ops 6 & Warzone – Full Event & Loadout Guide
Season 3 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone has unleashed a wave of fan-favorite content with the return of Verdansk, remastered 6v6 maps, and throwback weapons. Among the biggest highlights is the return of the Nail Gun, a quirky yet powerful Special Weapon that originally made waves in Black Ops Cold War. Now, it’s back—and this time, players can unlock it for free during the Black Ops Tribute Event.
This guide breaks down how to unlock the Nail Gun in Black Ops 6 and Warzone, what makes it such a unique weapon, and how GladiatorBoost can help you claim it quickly before the event ends.
Table of Contents
🔧 How to Unlock the Nail Gun in Black Ops 6 & Warzone

The Nail Gun is one of two Mastery Rewards in the Black Ops Tribute Event, alongside the exclusive John Black Ops Operator Skin.
🎯 Unlock Requirements:
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Earn 617,000 XP during the Black Ops Tribute Event
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Claim all other Tribute rewards before the event ends
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Available in both Black Ops 6 & Warzone
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Event Ends: May 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM PT
Once you complete all XP milestones, the Nail Gun will be unlocked and automatically added to your Special Weapon loadout tab across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone.
✅ Don’t own Black Ops 6? You can still unlock the Nail Gun in Warzone, as it’s not gated behind game ownership.
⚠️ What Happens If You Miss the Event?
If you don’t manage to earn the Nail Gun during the event window, it will become available as an Armory Unlock in Black Ops 6 after May 1. This means you’ll need to complete weapon-based challenges to access it post-event.
However, the John Black Ops Operator and several cosmetics will remain exclusive to the event, so it’s best to complete everything before the deadline if you want full access.
🔫 How Good Is the Nail Gun?
The Nail Gun is a full-auto Special Weapon that functions like an SMG with low bullet velocity but high damage at close range. Its stats vary slightly between Multiplayer and Warzone, but its overall niche remains the same: a fun, high-damage Secondary that dominates in tight quarters.
🔍 Black Ops 6 Nail Gun Stats:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Damage (H/T/L) | 44 / 34 / 34 |
| Fire Rate | 517 RPM |
| Magazine Size | 15 rounds |
| Bullet Velocity | 100 m/s |
| ADS Speed | 180 ms |
| Sprint-to-Fire Speed | 100 ms |
| Mobility (Walk/Sprint) | 5.0 / 6.6 m/s |
🔍 Warzone Nail Gun Stats:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Damage (H/T/L) | 58 / 55 / 55 |
| Fire Rate | 517 RPM |
| Magazine Size | 30 rounds |
| Bullet Velocity | 100 m/s |
| ADS Speed | 180 ms |
| Sprint-to-Fire Speed | 100 ms |
| Mobility (Walk/Sprint) | 5.0 / 6.4 m/s |
💡 Strengths:
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Extremely fast TTK at close range
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High mobility and handling
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Excellent ADS and sprint-to-fire times
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Fun and nostalgic to use
⚠️ Weaknesses:
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Low bullet velocity – players must lead shots
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Poor iron sights
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Small magazine (Multiplayer)
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Not viable at long range
The Nail Gun is best used in close-quarters combat, where its punchy damage and snappy responsiveness shine. It’s not a meta breaker, but it’s perfect for players looking to spice up their loadout or relive classic Black Ops moments.
🎮 Where You Can Use the Nail Gun
Once unlocked, the Nail Gun becomes available in the following modes:
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Black Ops 6 Multiplayer: Equip as your Secondary
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Black Ops 6 Zombies: Can be equipped as a starter weapon
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Warzone: Slot it as your Secondary or use it in your custom loadouts
Its handling makes it a strong close-range backup, particularly in Resurgence or small-map playlists.
🚀 Need Help Unlocking It Fast? Use GladiatorBoost!
Grinding 617,000 XP within a limited event window is no easy feat—especially if you’re short on time. That’s where GladiatorBoost’s Black Ops 6 Bot Lobby services come in.
With GladiatorBoost, you can:
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Farm XP faster through safe and optimized bot lobbies
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Complete Tribute milestones quickly before the event ends
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Unlock the Nail Gun and John Black Ops Operator with ease
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Avoid frustrating public lobbies and save hours of grind time
Check out GladiatorBoost’s BO6 Bot Lobby services here and make sure you don’t miss out on this exclusive reward.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Should You Get the Nail Gun?
Absolutely. While the Nail Gun isn’t a top-tier meta weapon, it offers an extremely fun and satisfying gameplay experience, especially for close-range encounters. Its uniqueness, combined with its limited-time unlock status, makes it a must-have for collectors and casual slayers alike.
Whether you’re taking on Rebirth-style maps in Warzone or storming 6v6 lanes in Black Ops 6, this returning fan-favorite delivers just the right amount of chaos.
But time is ticking—earn those XP milestones, or grab a boost from GladiatorBoost to make sure the Nail Gun doesn’t slip through your fingers.
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