Call of Duty: Black Ops

Black Ops 1 RPK

Light Machine GunsUnlocked at Level 62,000 CoD PointsTakes camo
Light Machine GunsRPK — Call of Duty: Black Ops weapon render

How do you unlock the RPK?

The RPK unlocks at Level 6 in Call of Duty: Black Ops. It is a 40-round automatic LMG that sits between the HK21's rifle-like 30-round setup and the M60's heavy 100-round belt. Its extra capacity helps with lane defense, but sustained fire still needs recoil control. Buying it costs 2,000 CoD Points after the unlock condition is met. It accepts all 14 standard store camos plus Gold from 14th Prestige.

UnlockLevel 6
Purchase2,000 CoD Points
Takes camoYes

Reviewed July 27, 2026. Sources include Activision's original Black Ops overview, the official Xbox 360 manual, official PlayStation release and Treyarch-authored Prestige documentation, contemporaneous multiplayer tables, and a specialist identification reference for the in-game firearm models. Play advice is editorial. Scope: original 2010 multiplayer progression, not Campaign, Zombies, Black Ops Cold War, later games or mods; the 2026 PlayStation port is only described where official platform information is available.

Sources: Activision — Black Ops · Official Xbox 360 manual · PlayStation Store release listing · PlayStation.Blog — Treyarch Prestige reset facts · Contemporaneous multiplayer weapon table · GameFAQs — purchasable-item Prestige reset · IMFDB — in-game firearm identifications

How does the RPK play in Black Ops 1?

RoleForty-round mobile support LMG
Real-world basisSoviet RPK-pattern light machine gun; the in-game model mixes features rather than depicting one literal production variant
StrengthsTen more standard rounds than the HK21 and Stoner63; Dual Mags and Extended Mags offer two ammunition-management paths
TradeoffsSustained fire becomes harder to keep centered; It does not approach the M60's 100-round capacity
Attachments and setupThe RPK supports optics, Extended Mags and Dual Mags but no Grip; Dual Mags helps the first reload; Extended Mags is better when staying on the lane matters more
Challenge noteBO1 weapon challenges are separate from camouflage. Camos are bought per eligible primary with earned CoD Points rather than unlocked through a weapon challenge.
Camo tipMount your fight around cover and fire bursts long enough to stop a push, not empty the whole magazine. Reposition during the reload instead of watching the same exposed angle.
Compared withIt carries more than the HK21 and Stoner63; the M60 carries far more but reloads and handles like a heavier support gun.

Every camo, exact unlocks — see the full Black Ops 1 camo directory.

Browse camos

RPK — common questions

What level does the RPK unlock at in Black Ops 1?

The RPK unlocks at Level 6 in Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer. It then costs 2,000 CoD Points. The level cap is 50, and prestige is up to 15.

How do camos work on the RPK?

Camos here are bought, not earned: every standard camo costs 250 CoD Points per weapon once camo purchases unlock at level 22, with no challenges or headshots attached. Gold is the exception — it unlocks for purchase at 14th Prestige and costs 50,000 CoD Points per weapon. These are earned multiplayer CoD Points from BO1's economy, not the premium COD Points used in newer games. Each camo is bought per weapon, so buying one for the RPK only unlocks it there.

Can you unlock the RPK for me?

Yes — our Black Ops 1 Unlock All service covers any prestige 1-15, max level 50, max CoD Points and every weapon unlocked (Xbox 360), from $19.99. See the service.

More Light Machine Guns

All Call of Duty: Black Ops weapons →
HK21 — Call of Duty: Black OpsHK21Default · Light Machine GunsM60 — Call of Duty: Black OpsM60Level 21 · Light Machine GunsStoner63 — Call of Duty: Black OpsStoner63Classified · Light Machine Guns

Skip the grind

Our Black Ops 1 Unlock All service includes any prestige 1-15, max level 50, max CoD Points and every weapon unlocked (Xbox 360), from $19.99.

See Black Ops 1 servicesSee exact inclusions on the service page