Call of Duty: Black Ops

Black Ops 1 Stakeout

ShotgunsUnlocked at Level 82,000 CoD PointsTakes camo
ShotgunsStakeout — Call of Duty: Black Ops weapon render

How do you unlock the Stakeout?

The Stakeout unlocks at Level 8 in Call of Duty: Black Ops. It is a four-shell pump-action shotgun for deliberate close-range hits. Each shot is followed by a pump cycle, so centering and cover use are more important than trying to overwhelm several targets with fire rate. 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 8
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 Stakeout play in Black Ops 1?

Also written asIthaca 37 Stakeout
RoleFour-shell pump-action shotgun
Real-world basisIthaca Model 37 Stakeout short shotgun
StrengthsDeliberate close-range stopping role with readable shot timing; Grip is available to improve weapon control
TradeoffsPump delay punishes a missed opening shot; Four shells provide little room for several consecutive fights
Attachments and setupGrip is the Stakeout's only attachment; Because there is no magazine or suppressor choice, the rest of the class should support close routing and safe reloads
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 tipShoot from cover, move during the pump cycle and re-peek only after the weapon is ready. Chasing a damaged target in the open gives faster weapons the advantage.
Compared withIt is more deliberate than the semi-auto SPAS-12 and HS10; the Olympia offers a faster second shot but must reload after two shells.

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

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Stakeout — common questions

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

The Stakeout unlocks at Level 8 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 Stakeout?

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 Stakeout only unlocks it there.

Can you unlock the Stakeout 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 Shotguns

All Call of Duty: Black Ops weapons →
Olympia — Call of Duty: Black OpsOlympiaDefault · ShotgunsSPAS-12 — Call of Duty: Black OpsSPAS-12Level 24 · ShotgunsHS10 — Call of Duty: Black OpsHS10Classified · Shotguns

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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.

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