The Mystery Box is a random weapon generator featured in all Zombies maps in Call of Duty: World at War, Call of Duty: Black Ops (except Dead Ops Arcade) and Call of Duty: Black Ops II.
Overview
The Mystery Box (often referred to as the Random Box, Treasure Chest and the Box) is a wooden box but with another texture in Mob of the Dead with two flashing golden question marks, a blue beam emitting from the box (yellow beam on Shi No Numa, red beam in Mob of the Dead and none in Nacht der Untoten and Verrückt). In order to open the Mystery Box, the player must be next to the box and press and hold the 'use' button. When activated, the available weapons will randomize until a weapon is chosen. This process takes about four to five seconds. If the weapon is not picked up within 10 seconds, the box will reset and it will be able to be opened again in two seconds. It costs 950 points to use, regardless if the player takes the weapon or not. If the player receives the teddy bear or a lock in Mob of the Dead, the player will get a refund and the box will relocate somewhere else on the map.
The Mystery Box appears in all the Zombies maps except Dead Ops Arcade. In Nacht der Untoten, the Mystery Box is located in the "Help Room" and will never move. Verrückt is the first map to have the box move and is the only map for the empty box spawns to be rubble instead of three boxes with the teddy bear on top of them except for Mob of the Dead, which uses a small, raised platform.
In Verrückt, its original spawn is in the generator room. In Shi No Numa, its original spawn is located in the room below the spawn room. In Der Riese, it spawns in front of the generator. In Ascension, its original spawn is located the room with the power switch and the launch activation button.
In TranZit, its original spawn is inside the gas station at the diner. In Kino der Toten, "Five", Call of the Dead and Moon, it spawns in one of several set locations (specified in each levels' respective article). In Shangri-La, it spawns either at the waterfall, or next to one of the water geysers underground, near the pad.
In Shi No Numa, Der Riese, Kino der Toten (albeit less visible), Ascension, Call of the Dead, Shangri-La, Moon, Green Run, Nuketown Zombies, Die Rise, and Mob of the Dead, its location can be determined by a trail of light from the sky, showing where the box is located. In Kino der Toten, its location can be determined by a green light on the map above the box/box spawn point when the power is activated, which is mostly useful when it changes to another location. It is also possible to see the blue light above the box in Kino der Toten, but is nearly impossible to do so, as it can only be done in the alley, (which is also fairly tall, making it difficult to see over the main area) and as the map is very bright, making the blue light very transparent to the sunlight. However, inside it is a bit less difficult to find. If it is in the theater, then it can be seen through the balcony in the room just right from the starting room. If it is inside the room between the alleyway and the spawn, it can be seen through the window upstairs.
In "Five" and Ascension, the TV screens located near the box/box spawn point will display the location of the Mystery Box.
In Call of Duty: Black Ops (Nintendo DS), instead of a rectangular box, the Mystery Box is shaped like a locker and has a rusted metallic color rather than a brown wood color.
Using the Mystery Box is common due to its lower cost compared to most wall weapons and the chances of obtaining more powerful weapons than on the walls. Examples of the more powerful weapons include the Wonder Weapons, MG42, HK21 and PPSh-41. In Call of Duty: Black Ops, the Mystery Box can only give weapons which are not on the walls.
With the Fire Sale power-up, the Mystery Box only costs 10 points and is available at all spawn locations for 30 seconds.
Starting Spawn Locations
Normal Maps
- Nacht Der Untoten - In the Help Room.
- Verrückt - In the Power Room.
- Shi No Numa - In the main hut, downstairs.
- Der Riese - In the courtyard, at the Power Generator.
- Kino der Toten - Random, but never the starting room.
- "Five" - In one of the rooms of the labs.
- Ascension - On the top floor of the main building, opposite to the power switch.
- Call of the Dead - Random, but never the starting room.
- Shangri-La - Spawns randomly either in the lake under the waterfall, or in the AK74u's room.
- Moon - Random, but never the Receiving Area.
- Green Run- In the diner section, near the Zombie Shield workbench.
- Nuketown Zombies - Random, either behind the Green house or behind the Yellow house.
- Die Rise - In an upside down room, two floors below the starting point.
- Mob of the Dead - Random, it has 5 spawn points. The first is in the Cafeteria. The second is in the Warden's Office. The third is down on the docks, near the Fuel Tanks. The fourth is in the Infirmary near the Hellhound. The fifth is in the Citadel Tunnels, up the stairs from the spiral staircase.
- Buried - it is still unclear were the Mystery Box will spawn but is seen in the Trailer where it has a blue light coming from it, hinting that the Mystery box will be returning.
DS Maps
- The House - In the second room, can be seen from the first room.
- The Facility - On the second floor in the section to the left.
- The Temple - In the second room.
- Overlook - On the second floor near the blocked stairs.
Weapons Available
Call of Duty: World at War
- Arisaka (iOS only)
- .357 Magnum
- BAR (w/ unusable bipod)
- Browning M1919 (w/ bipod)
- Double-barreled shotgun (sometimes with Sawed-Off w/ Grip)
- FG42
- Gewehr 43
- Kar98k (with or without sniper scope)
- M1897 Trench Gun
- M1A1 Carbine
- M1 Garand (either with or without Rifle Grenade)
- M2 Flamethrower (only one player can have it)
- MG42 (w/ bipod)
- MP40
- Molotov Cocktail
- Panzerschreck
- PTRS-41
- Ray Gun
- Springfield
- STG-44
- PPSh-41 (iOS only)
- Type 100 (iOS only)
- Stielhandgranate (extremely small chance of obtaining)
Verrückt
- Arisaka (iOS only)
- .357 Magnum
- BAR (with or without bipod)
- Browning M1919 (with bipod)
- Double-Barreled Shotgun (sometimes Sawed-Off with Grip)
- FG42 (with bipod)
- Gewehr 43
- Kar98k
- M1897 Trench Gun
- M1A1 Carbine
- M1 Garand
- M2 Flamethrower (only one player can have it)
- MG42 (with bipod)
- MP40
- Molotov Cocktail
- Panzerschreck
- PPSh-41
- PTRS-41
- Springfield (un-scoped only)
- STG-44
- Thompson
- Type 100 (iOS only)
Shi No Numa
- .357 Magnum
- Arisaka (unscoped only)
- BAR
- Browning M1919
- Double-Barreled Shotgun (sometimes Sawed-Off w/ Grip)
- FG42
- Gewehr 43
- M1897 Trench Gun
- M1911 (extremely small chance of obtaining)
- M1A1 Carbine
- M1 Garand
- M2 Flamethrower
- MG42
- MP40
- Molotov Cocktail
- Panzerschreck
- PPSh-41
- PTRS-41
- Ray Gun
- STG-44
- Thompson
- Type 100
- Wunderwaffe DG-2 (only one player can have it)
Der Riese
- .357 Magnum
- BAR
- Browning M1919
- Double-Barreled Shotgun
- FG42
- Kar98k (unscoped)
- M1897 Trench Gun
- M1A1 Carbine
- M1 Garand Rifle Grenade
- M2 Flamethrower (only one player can have it)
- MG42
- MP40
- Molotov Cocktail
- Monkey Bomb
- Panzerschreck
- PPSh-41
- PTRS-41
- Ray Gun
- STG-44
- Thompson
- Type 100
- Wunderwaffe DG-2 (only one player can have it)
- Stielhandgranate (extremely small chance of obtaining)
Call of Duty: Black Ops
- AUG w/ Swarovski Scope
- Ballistic Knife (unavailable on iOS) (only one player can have it)
- China Lake (unavailable on Nintendo Wii)
- Commando
- Crossbow (only one player can have it)
- CZ75 (with or without Dual Wield, on Nintendo Wii, only Dual Wield) (only full-auto single pistol on iOS)
- Dragunov (unavailable on Nintendo Wii and iOS)
- Famas
- FN FAL (unavailable on Nintendo Wii)
- G11 w/ Low Power Scope (no scope on iOS)
- Galil
- HS-10
- HK21
- L96A1 (unavailable on Nintendo Wii) (unavailable on iOS)
- M72 LAW (unavailable on iOS)
- Monkey Bomb
- Python (unavailable on Nintendo Wii)
- Ray Gun
- RPK (unavailable on Nintendo Wii)
- SPAS-12
- Spectre (unavailable on Nintendo Wii)
- Thundergun (only one player can have it)
"Five"
- AUG w/ Swarovski Scope
- Ballistic Knife (only one player can have it)
- China Lake
- Commando
- Crossbow (only one player can have it)
- CZ75 (with or without Dual Wield)
- Dragunov
- FAMAS
- FN FAL
- G11 w/ Low Power Scope
- Galil
- HK21
- HS-10
- L96A1
- M72 LAW
- Monkey Bombs
- Python
- Ray Gun
- RPK
- SPAS-12
- Spectre
- Winter's Howl (only one player can have it)
Ascension
- AUG w/ Swarovski Scope
- Ballistic Knife (only one player can have it)
- China Lake
- Commando
- Crossbow (only one player can have it)
- CZ75 (with or without Dual Wield)
- Dragunov
- Famas
- FN FAL
- G11 w/ Low Power Scope
- Galil
- Gersch Device
- HK21
- HS-10
- L96A1
- Matryoshka Dolls
- M72 LAW
- Python
- Ray Gun
- RPK
- SPAS-12
- Spectre
- Thundergun (only one player can have it)
Call of the Dead
- AUG w/ Swarovski Scope
- Ballistic Knife (only one player can have it)
- China Lake
- Commando
- Crossbow (only one player can have it)
- CZ75 (with or without Dual Wield)
- Dragunov
- FN FAL
- Famas
- G11 w/ Low Power Scope
- Galil
- HK21
- HS-10
- L96A1
- M72 LAW
- Matryoshka Doll
- Python
- Ray Gun
- RPK
- Scavenger (only one player can have it)
- SPAS-12
- Spectre
- V-R11 (only one player can have it)
Shangri-La
- 31-79 JGb215 (only one person can have it)
- AUG w/ Swarovski Scope
- Ballistic Knife (only one person can have it)
- China Lake
- Commando
- Crossbow (only one person can have it)
- CZ75 (with or without Dual Wield)
- Dragunov
- Famas
- FN FAL
- G11 w/ Low Power Scope
- Galil
- HK21
- HS10
- L96A1
- M72 LAW
- Monkey Bomb
- Python
- Ray Gun
- RPK
- Spectre
- SPAS-12
Nacht Der Untoten
- AUG w/ Swarovski Scope
- Ballistic Knife (only one player can have it)
- China Lake
- Commando
- Crossbow (only one player can have it)
- CZ75 (with or without Dual Wield)
- Dragunov
- Famas
- FN FAL
- G11 w/ Low Power Scope
- Galil
- HS-10
- HK21
- L96A1
- M72 LAW
- Monkey Bomb
- Python
- Ray Gun
- RPK
- SPAS-12
- Spectre
- Thundergun (only one player can have it)
Verrückt
- AUG w/ Swarovski Scope
- Ballistic Knife (only one player can have it)
- China Lake
- Commando
- Crossbow (only one player can have it)
- CZ75 (with or without Dual Wield)
- Dragunov
- Famas
- FN FAL
- G11 w/ Low Power Scope
- Galil
- HS-10
- HK21
- L96A1
- M72 LAW
- Monkey Bomb
- Python
- Ray Gun
- RPK
- SPAS-12
- Spectre
- Winter's Howl (only one player can have it)
Shi No Numa
- AUG w/ Swarovski Scope
- Ballistic Knife (only one player can have it)
- China Lake
- Commando
- Crossbow (only one player can have it)
- CZ75 (with or without Dual Wield)
- Dragunov
- Famas
- FN FAL
- G11 w/ Low Power Scope
- Galil
- HS-10
- HK21
- L96A1
- M72 LAW
- Monkey Bomb
- Python
- Ray Gun
- RPK
- SPAS-12
- Spectre
- Wunderwaffe DG-2 (only one player can have it)
Der Riese
- AUG w/ Swarovski Scope
- Ballistic Knife (only one player can have it)
- China Lake
- Commando
- Crossbow (only one player can have it)
- CZ75 (with or without Dual Wield)
- Dragunov
- Famas
- FN FAL
- G11 w/ Low Power Scope
- Galil
- HS-10
- HK21
- L96A1
- M72 LAW
- Monkey Bomb
- Python
- Ray Gun
- RPK
- SPAS-12
- Spectre
- Wunderwaffe DG-2 (only one player can have it)
Moon
- AUG w/ Swarovski Scope
- Ballistic Knife (only one person can have it)
- China Lake
- Commando
- CZ75 (with or without Dual Wield)
- Dragunov
- Famas
- FN FAL
- G11 w/ Low Power Scope
- Galil
- Gersch Device
- HK21
- L96A1
- M72 LAW
- Python
- Quantum Entanglement Device
- Ray Gun
- RPK
- Spectre
- SPAS-12
- Wave Gun or Zap Gun (only one person can have it)
Black Ops (Nintendo DS)
The House
- M16A1 (with or without scope and Grenade launcher)
- AK-47 (with or without scope and Grenade launcher)
- M14 (with or without scope)
- SKS
- PPSh-41
- PPS-43
- M10
- MAT49
- M60
- XM22
- RPD
- M40
- M1891/59
- Dragunov
- Remington 870
- M79
The Facility
- M16A1 (with or without scope and Grenade launcher)
- AK-47 (with or without scope and Grenade launcher)
- M14 (with or without scope)
- SKS
- PPSh-41
- PPS-43
- M10
- MAT49
- M60
- XM22
- RPD
- M40
- M1891/59
- Dragunov
- Remington 870
- M79
The Temple
- M16A1 (with or without scope and Grenade launcher)
- AK-47 (with or without scope and Grenade launcher)
- M14 (with or without scope)
- SKS
- PPSh-41
- PPS-43
- M10
- MAT49
- M60
- XM22
- RPD
- M40
- M1891/59
- Dragunov
- Remington 870
- M79
Overlook
- M16A1 (with or without scope and Grenade Launcher)
- AK-47 (with or without scope and Grenade Launcher)
- M14 (with or without scope)
- SKS
- PPSh-41
- PPS-43
- M10
- MAT49
- M60
- XM22
- RPD
- M40
- M1891/59
- Dragunov
- Remington 870
- M79
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
The Mystery Box appears in Call of Duty: Black Ops II in all maps and game modes. In Green Run, the box has one spawn point at each bus stop or Survival map, with the exception of Town which has two spawn points. In TranZit, the box always spawns initially at the Diner.
TranZit
- Five-seven (single or Dual Wield)
- Executioner
- KAP-40
- Python
- S12
- M1216
- Chicom CQB
- MTAR
- Type 25
- SMR
- M8A1
- Galil
- FAL
- DSR 50
- Barrett M82A1
- HAMR
- RPD
- RPG
- Ballistic Knife
- War Machine
- Monkey Bomb
- EMP Grenade
- Ray Gun
Bus Depot
- Five-seven (single or Dual Wield)
- Executioner
- KAP-40
- Python
- S12
- M1216
- Chicom CQB
- MTAR
- Type 25
- SMR
- M8A1
- Galil
- FAL
- DSR 50
- Barrett M82A1
- HAMR
- RPD
- RPG
- Ballistic Knife
- War Machine
- Monkey Bomb
- EMP Grenade
- Ray Gun
Farm
- Five-seven (single or Dual Wield)
- Executioner
- KAP-40
- Python
- S12
- M1216
- Chicom CQB
- MTAR
- Type 25
- SMR
- M8A1
- Galil
- FAL
- DSR 50
- Barrett M82A1
- HAMR
- RPD
- RPG
- Ballistic Knife
- War Machine
- Monkey Bomb
- EMP Grenade
- Ray Gun
Town
- Five-seven (single or Dual Wield)
- Executioner
- KAP-40
- Python
- S12
- M1216
- Chicom CQB
- MTAR
- Type 25
- SMR
- M8A1
- Galil
- FAL
- DSR 50
- Barrett M82A1
- HAMR
- RPD
- RPG
- Ballistic Knife
- War Machine
- Monkey Bomb
- EMP Grenade
- Ray Gun
Nuketown Zombies
- Five-seven (single or Dual Wield)
- Executioner
- KAP-40
- Python
- S12
- M1216
- Chicom CQB
- MTAR
- Type 25
- SMR
- M8A1
- Galil
- FAL
- DSR 50
- Barrett M82A1
- HAMR
- RPD
- RPG
- Ballistic Knife
- War Machine
- Monkey Bomb
- Ray Gun
- LSAT
- M27
Die Rise
- Five-seven (single or Dual Wield)
- Executioner
- KAP-40
- Python
- S12
- M1216
- Chicom CQB
- MTAR
- Type 25
- SMR
- M8A1
- Galil
- FAL
- DSR 50
- Barrett M82A1
- HAMR
- RPD
- RPG
- Ballistic Knife
- War Machine
- Monkey Bomb
- Ray Gun
- Sliquifier (After being built and lost)
Mob of the Dead
- M1911 (Rare)
- Five-seven (Dual Wield only)
- Executioner
- S12
- MTAR
- Galil
- FAL
- DSR 50
- Barrett M82A1
- RPG
- LSAT
- PDW-57
- AK-47
- Death Machine
- Ray Gun
- Blundergat (Only one player can obtain it from the box)
- M1927 (Grief only)
- Remington 870 MCS (Grief only)
Teddy Bear
- "Bye, bye!"
- — Demonic Announcer
In all maps except the Call of Duty: Black Ops (DS) Zombie maps and maps with only one location for the Mystery Box, it is possible to obtain a Teddy Bear from the box. In Mob of the Dead, a lock appears instead, having the same function as the Teddy Bear. The Teddy Bear causes the box to shake, rise up, vanish and teleport elsewhere on the map with no useful weapon dispensed; a voice in the background laughs at the player; first was from a child, then the other one which is maniacal-like. The 950 points are also refunded to the player (except in the iOS version). It is interesting to note that in the Call of Duty: World at War version of Verrückt, the box respawns only in an area that the player has opened unless only one room has been opened.
In Kino der Toten, the location is revealed on the wooden maps with green lights on its current location, while in Shi No Numa, Der Riese, Ascension, Call of the Dead, Shangri-La, Moon, Green Run, Nuketown Zombies, Die Rise, and Mob of the Dead, the box can respawn anywhere, but is marked by a beam of light, yellow in Shi No Numa, red in Mob of the Dead, and blue in Der Riese, Kino der Toten, Ascension, Call of the Dead, Shangri-La, Moon, Green Run, Nuketown Zombies and Die Rise. In "Five", as well as Ascension, the Mystery Box's location is shown on small television screen above each possible box location. At some locations, some players actually hope to get the Teddy Bear, as the box may move to a more convenient place.
In Shi No Numa, it will move to one of six locations, the four huts, its original location, and in the Warning Room.
In Der Riese, it will move to six potential spots. Across from the M1897 Trenchgun, in the room with the Thompson, in each of the teleporter rooms and its original spawn.
In Kino der Toten, the location of the mystery box is indicated by a green light on a black board outlining the entire map near every mystery box spawn. The player can also find the location of the box by going to the alleyway and looking up in the air for the blue column of light, just like in Der Riese. However, as mentioned earlier, this is a very inconvenient way to find the box's location. The player can also tell if the box is in the MPL room by looking through the upper left window in the Lobby.
In Ascension, the location of the box is shown by a TV above the box locations and the blue beam of light marking it in the sky.
In Shangri-La, there are four different locations the box will move to after obtaining the bear. In the waterfall, in the room with AK-74u, directly across from the power switches, and in the spawn area near the back window. The starting place for the box, unlike other maps, is either two locations; the waterfall or the AK-74u room, both on opposite sides of each other.
The chances of the Teddy Bear appearing in the box increase depending on how many times the box has been used in its current location. The Teddy Bear will never appear on the first three uses of the box. The fourth through seventh uses have a 15% chance of choosing the Teddy Bear. Uses in the range of eighth to twelfth have a 30% chance, and any rolls after that have a 50% chance. When the box is in the starting location, however, the Teddy Bear will always appear after eight uses.
On the map Mob of the Dead, the Teddy Bear takes on the form of a black lock. It has the same affect as the normal Teddy Bear but it makes a different sound when the Mystery Box is changing locations.
Gallery
Trivia
Call of Duty: World at War
- The early name for the Mystery Box was possibly the "Treasure Chest", judging by the model name "
mtl_treasure_chest"
.- The Mystery Box is also referenced as the "Treasure Chest" in a loading screen tip.
- In Nacht der Untoten, there is a higher chance of getting the Ray Gun in the Mystery Box in earlier rounds than other maps.
- In Shi No Numa, there are several footlockers that look exactly like the Mystery Box that can be found on top of the shelves and crates in the starting room.
- In Verrückt, there is writing on the stairs on to the barrier downstairs warning that if the Mystery Box is used too often, it will move. Its exact words are "Wish too often and your wishing well will run".
- In "Vendetta", when Reznov opens the door after the player kills the sniper across the river, the player can hear the first two notes from the Mystery Box.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
- On the pre-order poster, there is a phone number that when dialed plays a song that is similar to a Mystery Box song (this tune played backwards is the real Mystery Box tune).
- Weapons that are bought off the wall do not appear in the Mystery Box, unlike in Call of Duty: World at War (exceptionally, on the Nintendo Wii version, the AUG is available on the wall and in the Mystery Box).
- Xbox LIVE players can purchase a Mystery Box for their avatar. The avatar Mystery Box is smaller with only two question marks and only the teddy bear will be seen.
- The spawn point of the Mystery Box is marked by a pile of boxes with a Teddy Bear on top, except in Verrückt, in which it is indicated by a pile of rubble with a Teddy Bear on top. The same goes for Call of Duty: World at War.
- In Shi No Numa, the boxes are different, as they are white with Japanese writing on them.
- A glitch occurs occasionally, causing multiple Mystery Boxes to appear at once.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
- If a player throws an EMP Grenade at the Mystery Box, the Mystery Box will shut down, the weapon will vanish, and points will not be refunded.
- When the Mystery Box disappears, it spins two times around and then bursting into the air, unlike in the previous games where it shakes from side to side. In Mob of the Dead, it instead hovers in the air and then falls down into the base below it.
- In Mob of the Dead, the box color is a reddish-orange color instead of blue. It also has a new appearance, resembling a coffin or elongated Treasure Chest and having a demonic tone to it. When it is not at a spawn location it seems locked inside another small underground chest.
- When used, the Mystery Box in Mob of the Dead emits faint screaming sounds as opposed to music.
- In Mob of the Dead, there are considerably less weapons in the Mystery Box than in previous maps.
- In the June 27, 2013 patch, the indicator says "Press 'use button' for Mystery Box" as opposed to "Press 'use button' for Random Weapon."