Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s Zombies mode takes inspiration from Cold War in terms of item and loot mechanics. There are various item rarities and upgrade paths, which apply to dropped items as well.
One of the rare items you’ll encounter from tougher zombies is the loot key—a consumable that unlocks valuable loot caches scattered throughout the map. If you find a rare key, head over to a designated area to unlock a container and score powerful weapons, perks, or essential consumables. Before diving into how loot keys function in Black Ops 6 and their locations, let’s clarify what they are.
Loot keys are single-use consumables that drop from special and elite zombies. These keys open specific loot caches on the map, rewarding players with high-tier weapons, perks, and killstreaks. You can only carry one key at a time, so make sure to use it wisely.
Similar to weapon tiers, loot keys also have varying rarities that affect the quality of the loot you receive:
Loot keys are infrequent drops from special and elite zombies, such as Manglers, Abominations, and Amalgams. Tougher enemies appear to have a greater likelihood of dropping a loot key, though this isn’t guaranteed.
The current round you’re in may also affect the rarity of the keys you find—higher rounds tend to yield more Epic and Legendary loot keys. While it’s possible to find a yellow-tier key early in the game, they become more common as the game progresses.
Using a loot key is quite simple. You can unlock a loot cache located somewhere on the map, usually in specific places like a vault or armory. Each map has unique areas where loot keys can be redeemed, so here’s a breakdown of those locations.
In Liberty Falls, you can find two types of loot keys:
The bank is situated near the center of Liberty Falls, not far from the bowling alley. You’ll need to break into the vault inside that bank to use your key. For details on how to open the vault, check out our Liberty Falls vault guide. Once you’re inside, open any container to claim your rewards.
In Terminus, redeeming loot keys is more straightforward. After obtaining a key, head to the armor and open any locker. The armory is located not far from the spawn point. Go to the first power generator, step outside, and enter the building next to the Gobblegum machine. The armory is at the bottom of the stairs on your left.
