Grind and Barrage are now in Black Ops 6 ranked – here’s how to dominate ⇒ CODIntel

Black Ops 6 just added two brand new maps — Grind and Barrage — to its ranked play mode, shaking up the competitive scene. Each map brings a unique style of gameplay, from Grind’s tight close-quarters action to Barrage’s long-range sightlines and brutal spawn traps. Whether you’re grinding Hardpoint or trying to lock down Control zones, mastering these maps is key to winning more ranked matches. This guide breaks down the best tips, angles, and tricks to give you a serious edge.

Two new maps are heating up the Black Ops 6 ranked play rotation

Treyarch has officially added Grind and Barrage into Black Ops 6 ranked play, bringing a fresh challenge for competitive players grinding the ladder. These two maps require completely different playstyles, with Grind favoring fast rotations and spawn control, while Barrage leans toward power positions and spawn traps. Whether you’re playing Hardpoint, Control, or Search, understanding how to manipulate map flow, head glitches, and positioning will absolutely help you win more games.

Below is a full breakdown of each map, including hidden tricks, callouts, angles, and pro-level strategies used by top-tier players and content creators. These ranked play tips will help you gain the edge in fights, lock down hills, and master rotations.

Grind map strategy in Black Ops 6 ranked

Grind is a compact, high-momentum map that rewards coordination and timing. The first hardpoint (P1) is located in a central zone with multiple entry points. The most effective way to control P1 is by locking down both the bathroom side and ramp side. When both lanes are pushed out, enemies will be forced to spawn far behind, making it almost impossible for them to contest the hill effectively.

There’s a top platform that lets you grab time safely, but only from the left corner. Pushing too far forward removes you from the hill, so positioning is crucial. If you’re trying to contest P1 without a clear line of sight, hop on top of the ledge and pre-aim over. One standout angle is the crouch-height head glitch near the mid door, which is nasty for holding off pushes.

Movement is also a major part of this map. You can bunny hop off speaker boxes or walls to surprise players holding angles. One sneaky trick is to dive onto the door frame to watch either mid or the hill. This spot is hard to reach but completely unexpected.

Learn more about Grind and Barrage from Lunchtime on YouTube.

Control the hill with head glitches and off-angles

On P2, many players overlook the back bathroom head glitch. This spot lets you watch both flanks and control breaks from right or left. You can also hop on top of the ramp or counter to catch players rotating in. Keep an eye on the mid window if you’re holding the inside.

For P3, angles matter. Holding from the barrels lets you contest while staying mostly hidden. You can peek elbow or top blue from different head glitches on the railing. Just be careful not to slide too far forward, or you’ll lose hill time.

Grind movement tricks to remember:

Start jumps early to consistently hit railings and ledges.
Crouch walk-up ramps for cleaner head glitches.
Use dive mechanics to land on tight spots like door frames or high ledges.

Barrage adds long-range fights and trap potential

While Grind is close-quarters chaos, Barrage is all about power positions and spawn control. This map gives players plenty of elevated spots and deep lanes to lock down opponents. P1 starts inside the Tower, with key sightlines coming from Top Blue and the Shed.

If you’re holding from the right side of the map, there’s only one major angle enemies can hit — through Shed. This makes it easier to lock down. Contesting from the opposite side? Jump on the box outside P1 for a head glitch that lets you look at both the top and bottom windows.

One broken spawn trap on Barrage

In Control, Barrage has one of the nastiest spawn traps in Black Ops 6 so far. If you’re on the defending side, set up one player watching the left cross from the Mound, another on Top Window, and a third player behind the Truck Head Glitch near Yellow. This trio will completely lock down the attacking spawn, forcing them to funnel through small lanes or get picked off immediately.

If you’re being trapped on spawn, don’t panic. Swap to an AR, move methodically, and challenge one angle at a time. Don’t try to sprint out with a submachine gun or you’ll get beamed.

P3 and P5 on Barrage: use sandbags and off angles

For P3, climb onto the sandbags to hold angles on both left and right pushes. You can also crouch behind boxes or mount up on the truck for deep sightlines across the entire map. If you’re attacking or defending a control zone, lay down behind the crate in the back right corner. You’ll be almost invisible and still able to contest or cap.

P5 gives you more close-range action. You can use barrels and excavator covers to stay safe from Top Window pressure. If someone’s playing Top White, use the sandbag head glitches to challenge safely or bait shots before re-peeking.

Quick callouts to master for ranked comms

Callouts are the difference between solo queue chaos and clean, effective teamwork. These are the basic callouts to use for each map:

Grind Callouts

P1: Top Red
Mid connector
P2: Top Orange, Shop, Elbow
P3: News, Stands, P3 Ramp
P4: Tube, Plat
Extras: Godhead, Bathroom, Top Blue

Barrage Callouts

P1: Tower, Top Blue
P2: Artillery, Top White
P3: Barracks, Hole
P4: Yellow
P5: Excavator, X
Extras: Ammo, Green, Closed, Back American, Mound, Dirt

For a visual guide of these map callouts and angles, check out this ranked tips video on YouTube where each area is explained with examples.

Should you use an SMG or AR on these maps?

On Grind, SMGs dominate due to tight hallways, quick rotations, and close-range fights. But on Barrage, an AR is almost essential, especially when clearing control points or holding long sightlines like Top White or Tower.

If you’re spawning back in Control on Barrage, consider switching to an AR off the rip. The wide-open lanes and long lines of sight make it easier to clear out opponents, especially if you’re being spawn-trapped.

Little-known mechanics that give you the edge

Speaker boxes and ledges on Grind let you bunny hop and mess with enemy aim assist.
Door frame spots give high ground you wouldn’t expect.
On Barrage, sandbags allow you to hold head glitches while still capping control points.
Turret cover near P5 on Barrage lets you contest safely from the corner while avoiding Top Window lines of sight.

These two maps bring depth to the current ranked rotation and are worth mastering while they last. There’s a chance Grind may be removed later in the season, so now is the time to learn every spot, glitch, and timing.

For a full map tier list and updates on upcoming ranked rotations in Black Ops 6, keep an eye on CODIntel and the official CDL ruleset.