Finishing Moves are a player mechanic featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Warzone, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Call of Duty: Vanguard. They allow a player to enter a third-person view and perform an elaborate kill animation on an enemy. Finishing Moves are not available in the Campaign or Zombies modes.
Finishing Moves are executed by holding down the melee button while facing behind a player or AI enemy. They will be cancelled if either person dies, and anyone victim to a Finishing Move may remain alive if the attacker is killed before the Finishing Move is completed. Each Finishing Move has different variations when used on either standing, prone, or downed enemies.
Included in several Finishing Moves are additional characters or objects known as "pets" or "companions", which will carry out the kill animation instead of the player, including zombies, hyenas, and an RC-XD. Additionally, "pets" will travel alongside the player's selected operator in the lobby menu.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
After a Finishing Move is completed, the Operators, except for Mil-Sim, will say a line specific to them that may be chosen in the Quips menu.
Most Modern Warfare Finishing Moves are unique to specific Operators while some can be applied to any of them. Finishing Moves are unlocked via Missions, the Battle Pass, and various store items. Performing 25 Finishing Moves will unlock the operator Krueger.
List of Finishing Moves
| Name | Rarity | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Achilles Heel | Base | Base for Wyatt |
| Axe You Nicely | Base | Base for Alice |
| Axe and Receive | Base | Base for Raines |
| Baton Dispatch | Base | Base for Charly |
| Cranial Carnage | Base | Base for Otter |
| Death Pirouette | Base | Base for Rodion |
| Disable and Decimate | Base | Base for Domino |
| Disable and Kill | Base | Base for Azur |
| Disdainful Destruction | Base | Base for Golem |
| Face the End | Base | Base for Minotaur |
| Foul Play | Base | Base for Syd |
| Hatchet Hitman | Base | Base for D-Day |
| Head to Head | Base | Base for Bale |
| Hobble and Slay | Base | Base for Yegor |
| Infiltration | Base | Base for Grinch |
| Knee Deep | Base | Base for Zane |
| Pierce the Jug | Base | Base for Mil-Sim (Coalition) |
| Riot Control | Base | Base for Thorne |
| Shanks A Lot | Base | Base for Mil-Sim (Allegiance) |
| Slideshot | Base | Base for Ghost |
| Take Down | Base | Base for Krueger |
| 1, 2, 3 | Epic | Base for Alex |
| Belly Flop | Epic | Bundle Ghost Pack: Oil Rig |
| Between The Ribs | Epic | Bundle Deathbringer |
| Brass Boxer | Epic | Bundle Emerald Ranger |
| Brass Tactics | Epic | Bundle Mother Russia |
| Brassed Off | Epic | Bundle Lone Marauder |
| Brick by Brick | Epic | Base for Lerch |
| Carver | Epic | Bundle Iskra Operator Bundle |
| Chest Pains | Epic | Base for Mara |
| Close and Personal | Epic | Bundle Night Operations |
| Clubbed | Epic | Bundle Arms Dealer |
| Cold Blooded | Epic | Bundle Nightstalker |
| Counterplay | Epic | Bundle The Huntsman |
| Deft Dispatch | Epic | Bundle Battle-Ready |
| Do The Spadework | Epic | Base for Nikolai |
| Down to Size | Epic | Bundle Out in the Bush |
| Electrifying End | Epic | Bundle Full Metal |
| Face the Adze | Epic | Bundle WMD |
| First Degree | Epic | Bundle Amphibious |
| Go Clubbing | Epic | Bundle The Unseen |
| Grave Digger | Epic | Bundle The Bodyguard |
| Herding | Epic | Season One Battle Pass Tier 100 Operator Mission (3/4) |
| Hold This | Epic | Bundle Enlisted |
| Ice Breaker | Epic | Bundle Cleanup Crew |
| Ice To Meet You | Epic | Bundle Gaz Operator Bundle |
| Icy Veins | Epic | Bundle Air Assault |
| Join the Club | Epic | Bundle Cloak And Dagger |
| Knife To Meet You | Epic | Bundle Mad Chemist |
| Laid To Rest | Epic | Bundle Urban Avenger |
| Leg Sweep | Epic | Bundle Tactical Human IV |
| Lined Up | Epic | Bundle Infiltrator |
| Lose By A Neck | Epic | Base for Farah |
| Mace to the Face | Epic | Bundle Mace Operator Bundle |
| Martial Law | Epic | Bundle Heavy Hitter |
| Misdirection | Epic | Bundle Chill Confirmed |
| Payback | Epic | Pre-order a digital copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (Universal) |
| Pew Pew Pew | Epic | Bundle Fourth of July Pack (Universal) |
| Pinned | Epic | Bundle Guerilla |
| Precision Point | Epic | Bundle Tactical Human III |
| Queen of Spades | Epic | Bundle Mara: Kawaii Cat |
| Run Through | Epic | Bundle Mace: Guns Blazing |
| Say Watt | Epic | Bundle Cold Blood |
| Sick 'Em | Epic | Bundle Talon Operator Bundle |
| Slice and Dice | Epic | Bundle Ronin Operator Bundle |
| Spine Snapper | Epic | Bundle The Texan |
| Staying Frosty | Epic | Base for Price |
| Step Aside | Epic | Bundle Sgt. Griggs Operator Bundle |
| Stick 'n' Knife | Epic | Bundle Outback Relief |
| Take a Bow | Epic | Bundle Velikan Operator Bundle |
| The Fix | Epic | Bundle Nikto Operator Bundle |
| Trick Shot | Epic | Bundle Stone Warrior |
| Turnover | Epic | Bundle Tactical Human II |
| Walk Into It | Epic | Bundle Snow Cover |
| Wall Breaker | Epic | Bundle Close Quarters |
| Bush League | Legendary | Battle Pass Season Four Tier 19 (Universal) |
| Chip Shot | Legendary | Bundle Lumbertactical (Universal) |
| Crick in The Neck | Legendary | Bundle Pyromaniac (Universal) |
| Edward | Legendary | Battle Pass Season Six Tier 18 (Universal) |
| Fangs Out | Legendary | Bundle Arachnid (Universal) |
| Gutted | Legendary | Bundle The Kodiak (Universal) |
| Hellhound | Legendary | Bundle Undead Forces (Universal) |
| Hello Stranger | Legendary | Bundle Ghost Pack: Contingency (Universal) |
| Low Rise | Legendary | Bundle Asanbosam (Universal) |
| Nevermore | Legendary | Battle Pass Season Five Tier 20 (Universal) |
| Perforate | Legendary | Bundle Lights Out (Universal) |
| Riley | Legendary | Battle Pass Season Three Tier 20 (Universal) |
| Sasquatch | Legendary | Bundle Wendigo (Universal) |
| Snafu | Legendary | Bundle Roze Operator Bundle (Universal) |
| Spin Cycle | Legendary | Bundle Covert Operations (Universal) |
| Sputnik | Legendary | Bundle Nikto: Take No Prisoners (Universal) |
| Three Strikes | Legendary | Bundle Wasteland (Universal) |
| Toto | Legendary | Bundle Mara: No Place Like Home (Universal) |
| Tuco | Legendary | Bundle Morte Operator Bundle (Universal) |
| Watch This | Legendary | Battle Pass Season Two Tier 100 (Universal) |
Gallery
"Head to Head" Finishing Move in Modern Warfare
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Unlike Modern Warfare, Finishing Moves in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War are not tied to any specific operator, and instead are all universal. The only Finishing Move that is available by default is "Sneak Attack", while additional Finishing Moves are available in various store items and the Battle Pass. Instead of Quips, each Finishing Move has a specific line to be said after completion, regardless of operator choice. Performing 15 Finishing Moves will unlock the Operator Stone.
List of Finishing Moves
| Name | Rarity | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Sneak Attack | Base | Unlocked by default |
| Back Up Plan | Epic | Bundle Hot Gothic |
| Body Snatcher | Epic | Bundle Fatal Frostbite |
| Bow Breaker | Epic | Bundle Rookie Mistake |
| Bow Strike | Epic | Tracer Pack: Yokai Bundle |
| Caught Staring | Epic | Bundle Tracer Pack: Tropical |
| Cheap Shot | Epic | Bundle Big Joke |
| Deep Cuts | Epic | Bundle Tracer Pack: Runic Demise |
| Defective Joints | Epic | Bundle Test Dummy |
| Double Tap | Epic | Battle Pass Season Three Tier 19 |
| Devastating Blow | Epic | Bundle Brawler |
| Disarmament | Epic | Bundle Young & Gifted |
| Down & Dirty | Epic | Bundle Torqued Up |
| Drop Shot | Epic | Bundle Winter Sniper |
| Fall of Achilles | Epic | Bundle Nightshade |
| Full Barrage | Epic | Bundle Flight School |
| Guillotine Roll | Epic | Bundle Hot Shot |
| Hack Job | Epic | Bundle Lumber Jacked |
| Had Enough | Epic | Bundle Shamrocked |
| Heart Ache | Epic | Bundle Dockside Killer |
| Half Guard | Epic | Bundle Bank Heist |
| Helping Hand | Epic | Bundle Warthog Warrior |
| Internal Damage | Epic | Bundle Terminal Failure |
| Lost & Found | Epic | Bundle Carnival Captain |
| Low Praise | Epic | Bundle Debt Collector |
| No Mercy | Epic | Bundle Valkyrie Rising |
| Pound for Pound | Epic | Bundle Full Stop |
| Rear Mount | Epic | Bundle Winter Assassin |
| Rock-a-bye-bye | Epic | Bundle Rescue Mission |
| Roll Up | Epic | Bundle Top Secret Admirer |
| Sidearm Dispatch | Epic | Bundle Power Play |
| Stomping Ground | Epic | Bundle Demon Dog |
| Struggle Bust | Epic | Bundle River Slasher |
| Swift Kick | Epic | Bundle Photo Finish |
| Throat Chop | Epic | Bundle Miami Nights |
| Throat Cut | Epic | Bundle Cavalry's Finest |
| Tight Squeeze | Epic | Bundle City Ripper |
| Ultimate Takedown | Epic | Bundle Striking Distance |
| Above the Neck | Legendary | Bundle Quickscope Sniper |
| Absolute Blast | Legendary | Bundle Tagger |
| Between the Legs | Legendary | Bundle Rivas Operator Bundle |
| Big Stick | Legendary | Bundle Zeyna Operator Bundle |
| Bird of Prey | Legendary | Bundle Knight Operator Bundle |
| Cap & Tap | Legendary | Bundle Take Charge! |
| Club Thumper | Legendary | Bundle Marked For Death |
| Dangerous Approach | Legendary | Bundle Disavowed Assassin |
| Dog of War | Legendary | Bundle Wolf Operator Bundle |
| Frontier Finisher | Legendary | Bundle Most Wanted |
| Hammer Uppercut | Legendary | Bundle Tracer Pack: Bulldozer Operator Bundle |
| Jump Shot | Legendary | Bundle SHRP: Special Hazard Response Protocol |
| Maim & Tame | Legendary | Samantha Maxis Reactive Bundle |
| Nail Driver | Legendary | Bundle Full Assault |
| Overpower | Legendary | Bundle Zombie Dozer |
| Pain In The Neck | Legendary | Battle Pass Season One Tier 19 |
| Plague Hound | Legendary | Bundle Corpse Collector |
| Rearranged Thoughts | Legendary | Bundle Stitch Sentinel |
| Shortcut | Legendary | Bundle Deadly Grip |
| Splitting Hairs | Legendary | Bundle In the Sticks |
| Tactical Roll | Legendary | Battle Pass Season Two Tier 19 |
| Tight Rope | Legendary | Bundle Scar Tissue |
| Wrap Around | Legendary | Bundle Soul Reaper |
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Like in Modern Warfare, Finishing Moves in Call of Duty: Vanguard can be unique to specific operators while some are available universally. Unlike the previous two games however, operators will not say anything after the finisher is completed. Performing 25 Finishing Moves will unlock Shigenori.
List of Finishing Moves
| Name | Rarity | Preview | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rack It | Base | 
|
Unlocked by default |
| Angler's Hook | Common | 
|
Lewis - Operator Level 17 |
| Arnis Assault | Common | 
|
Isabella - Operator Level 17 |
| Barrel It Up | Common | 
|
Wade - Operator Level 17 |
| Butcher's Cut | Common | 
|
Beatrice - Operator Level 17 |
| Big Time Operator | Common | 
|
Butcher - Operator Level 17 |
| Capoeira Carnage | Common | 
|
Gustavo - Operator Level 17 |
| Dig Deep | Common | 
|
Daniel - Operator Level 17 |
| Few Screws Loose | Common | 
|
Thomas - Operator Level 17 |
| Hammered | Common | 
|
Lucas - Operator Level 17 |
| Hamstrung | Common | 
|
Halima - Operator Level 17 |
| Hapkido | Common | 
|
Kim Tae Young - Operator Level 17 |
| Highlander Hello | Common | 
|
Callum - Operator Level 17 |
| Iaijutsu | Common | 
|
Shigenori - Operator Level 17 |
| Kidney Cutter | Common | 
|
Solange - Operator Level 17 |
| Maced | Common | 
|
Constanze - Operator Level 17 |
| Machete Magic | Common | 
|
Padmavati - Operator Level 17 |
| Neck Adjustment | Common | 
|
Florence - Operator Level 17 |
| No Escape | Common | 
|
Mateo - Operator Level 17 |
| Picked Off | Common | 
|
Anna - Operator Level 17 |
| Pressure Points | Common | 
|
Roland - Operator Level 17 |
| Silent Ambush | Common | 
|
Ikenna - Operator Level 17 |
| Suplex | Common | 
|
Francis - Operator Level 17 |
| Takedown | Common | 
|
Arthur - Operator Level 17 |
| Vicious | Common | 
|
Polina - Operator Level 17 |
| Hanging The Lights | Epic | 
|
Secret Santa Bundle |
| Pop Bottles | Epic | 
|
Broken Resolutions Bundle |
| Blocker Remover | Legendary | 
|
T-1000 - Tracer Pack: Terminator T-1000 Ultra Operator - Limited Time Bundle |
| Blowin' Smoke | Legendary | 
|
Tracer Pack: Blunt Force Drama Bundle |
| Caught By Surprise | Legendary | 
|
Ancient Hunter Mastercraft Bundle |
| Elegant Precision | Legendary | 
|
Moon Forged Bundle |
| Elfsecution | Legendary | 
|
Santa's Slay Bundle |
| Eternal Hunger | Legendary | 
|
Lucas - Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Famine Bundle |
| Extinction Event | Legendary | 
|
Tracer Pack: Fossil Maker Mastercraft Bundle |
| Fenrir Unchained | Legendary | 
|
Pack Leader Ultra Bundle |
| Finishizzle Movizzle | Legendary | 
|
Snoop - Tracer Pack: Snoop Dogg Operator Bundle |
| Gojira Stomp | Legendary | 
|
Tracer Pack: Godzilla Reactive Mastercraft Limited Time Bundle |
| Gravity Inversion | Legendary | 
|
Tracer Pack: Kong Limited Time Bundle |
| Laying On The Lumber | Legendary | 
|
Icebreaker Bundle |
| Main Squeeze | Legendary | 
|
Heart Breaker Bundle |
| Radioactive Shower | Legendary | 
|
Toxic Valkyrie Bundle |
| Raptor Rage | Legendary | 
|
Battle Pass Season One Tier 19 |
| Reindog Rampage | Legendary | 
|
Krampus Unleashed Bundle |
| Spine Shatterer | Legendary | 
|
Battle Pass Season Two Tier 19 |
| Steel Cut | Legendary | 
|
Tracer Pack: Attack on Titan — Levi Edition Bundle |
| Terminated | Legendary | 
|
T-800 - Tracer Pack: Terminator T-800 Mastercraft Ultra Operator - Limited Time Bundle |
| Threshing Strike | Legendary | 
|
Battle Pass Season Four Tier 49 |
| Violent Declaration | Legendary | 
|
Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War Ultra Skin Bundle |
Trivia
General
- It is possible to perform a Finishing Move on a player who is already performing one. The victim of the initial Finishing Move will not die in this case.
- Any Finishing Move that involves a firearm will produce blips on an enemy's compass, despite not being normal use of the gun.
- Prior to a patch in Modern Warfare, a player with any one of these Finishing Moves equipped would be able to use the weapon while on a ladder.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- Operators of the same faction tend to share the same forms of combat in their Finishing Moves.
- The preview images for Finishing Moves may show versions of Operators that do not reflect their default appearance.
- The "Hello Stranger" Finishing Move is a direct reference to Roach's death at the hands of Shepherd in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
- The prone version of Krueger's "Knife To Meet You" Finishing Move is a direct reference to an action scene in the film John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- During Finishing Moves that utilize a Sledgehammer, some of the the victim's teeth can be observed flying out.
- Prior to Season Three, the Finishin Moves preview icon was featuring Woods performing them on Vargas while the preview videos showcased Stone attacking Hunter. After Season Three, both preview icons and videos were changed to feature the season's Battle Pass operator attacking Hunter.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
- Certain finishing moves such as "Steel Cut" or "Eternal Hunger" come with special dismemberment effects on the victim. Strangely, these are not displayed in the preview for the finishing move.
