Call of Duty: World at War (2008)

World at War Walther P38

PistolsUnlocked at Level 2No weapon camos
PistolsWalther P38 — Call of Duty: World at War (2008) weapon render

How do you unlock the Walther P38?

The Walther P38 unlocks at Level 2 in Call of Duty: World at War (2008). It has the same eight-round capacity and standard pistol damage profile as the Nambu, Colt and Tokarev. Lower visual recoil and a readable sight picture make follow-up shots easy to judge, but its partial reload is slower than the Nambu and Colt. World at War multiplayer has no selectable weapon camos; Expert headshot challenges award XP only.

UnlockLevel 2
Weapon camosNot in this game

Reviewed July 26, 2026. Weapon ranks and Marksman requirements were checked against original World at War multiplayer rank and challenge tables plus contemporaneous platform guides; historical models were cross-checked against museum and firearm-reference records. Loadout advice is editorial. Multiplayer only — not Campaign, Zombies, Call of Duty: WWII (2017), or later games.

Sources: Official World at War manual · Prima official game guide sample · Contemporaneous multiplayer guide · World at War challenge reference · Weapon camouflage reference

How does the Walther P38 play in World at War?

RoleLow-visual-recoil standard sidearm
Real-world basisGerman Walther P38 9x19mm service pistol
StrengthsLow visual recoil keeps repeated shots readable; Unlocks at Level 2
TradeoffsSlower partial reload than the Nambu and Colt; No statistical power upgrade over the other standard pistols
Setup notesNone. World at War pistols do not have individual attachment tracks
Challenge noteClass-wide Pistol Marksman requires 25, 50 and 100 kills; Pistol Expert requires 5, 15 and 35 headshots. These challenges award XP only, with no attachments or camos.
Use tipPick it for the sight picture and visual control, not because the later selection changes its damage.
Compared withThe Nambu reloads a partial magazine faster; the .357 Magnum hits harder but holds two fewer rounds.

No multiplayer weapon camos — Expert headshot challenges award XP, not skins. See the camo, perk and Pack-a-Punch distinctions.

Read the camo explainer

Walther P38 — common questions

What level does the Walther P38 unlock at in World at War?

The Walther P38 unlocks at Level 2 in Call of Duty: World at War (2008) multiplayer. The level cap is 65, and prestige is up to 10 on all main multiplayer platforms.

Does the Walther P38 take camos?

No — the Walther P38 cannot equip weapon camouflage in Call of Duty: World at War (2008). It has no individual attachment unlock track. Class-wide Pistol Marksman requires 25, 50 and 100 kills; Pistol Expert requires 5, 15 and 35 headshots. These challenges award XP only, with no attachments or camos.

Can you unlock the Walther P38 for me?

Yes — our World at War Unlock All service covers prestige 1-10, max level 65, every weapon, attachment, perk and challenge unlocked, plus colored classes (Xbox 360), from $9.99. See the service.

More Pistols

All Call of Duty: World at War (2008) weapons →
Nambu — Call of Duty: World at War (2008)NambuLevel 1 · PistolsColt M1911 — Call of Duty: World at War (2008)Colt M1911Level 3 · PistolsTokarev TT-33 — Call of Duty: World at War (2008)Tokarev TT-33Level 21 · Pistols.357 Magnum — Call of Duty: World at War (2008).357 MagnumLevel 49 · Pistols

Skip the grind

Our World at War Unlock All service includes prestige 1-10, max level 65, every weapon, attachment, perk and challenge unlocked, plus colored classes (Xbox 360), from $9.99.

See World at War servicesSee exact inclusions on the service page