The Mystery Box (also known as the Random Weapon Box, Random Box or simply TheBox) is a random weapon generator which appears in all zombie maps on both Call of Duty: World At Warand Call of Duty: Black Ops excluding Dead Ops Arcade.
The Mystery Box is a wooden box with two flashing golden question marks and a blue glow emitting from the box. In order to open the Mystery Box, the player must be next to the box and press (and hold) the "action" button (F on PC, X on Xbox 360, A on the Wii (Alpha Control Set) and Square on PS3). When the action button is pressed, the available weapons (listed below) will loop until one randomly selected weapon will stop. This process takes about 4–5 seconds. If the weapon isn't picked up in 12 seconds, the box will reset and it will be able to be opened again in 2 seconds, except in Nacht der Untoten. It costs 950 points to use and if the weapon selected is not taken, there is no refund.
The Mystery Box appears in all the Zombie maps except Dead Ops Arcade. In Nacht der Untoten, the Mystery Box is located in the "Help Room". In Verrückt, its original spawn is in the generator room. In Shi No Numa, it's original spawn is located the room below the spawn room. In Der Riese, it spawns in front of the generator. In Ascension, it's original spawn is located the room with the power switch and the launch activation button. In Kino der Toten, "Five" and Call of the Dead, it spawns in one of several set locations (specified in each level's respective article). In Shi No Numa, Der Riese, Ascension and Call 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, as it can only be done in the alley, and as the map is very bright, making the blue light very transparent to the sunlight. In "Five" and Ascension, the TV screens located near the box/box spawn point will display the location of where the Mystery Box is at.
In all maps except Nacht Der Untoten, it is possible to obtain a Teddy Bear from the box. The teddy bear causes the box to rise up and 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 you spent are also given back to you (except in the iPhone/iPod touch version). It is interesting to note that in Verrückt, the box respawns only in the area that the player has opened unless only one room has been opened. In Black Ops, the location is revealed on the wooden maps/television when the power is turned on, while in Shi No Numa, Der Riese and Ascension, the box can respawn anywhere, but is marked by a beam of light, yellow in Shi No Numa, and blue in Der Riese and Ascension. 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 located with a green light on a black board outlining the whole map near every mystery box spawn. You 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 very unconvenient way to know the box's location. You 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. The teddy bear appears in the box after being used several times. However, this is not a fixed amount. At first, you have no chance of getting the bear. However, with each roll, the chances of obtaining the bear gradually increase, and eventually, you will get the bear and have to find the box again. Because of this, it's a good idea to practice abstaining from the box, unless you're at a high round and the wall guns aren't strong enough.
Contrary to popular belief, any action preformed on the box while it is cycling will have no effect on the weapon it produces. (These actions include stabbing, shooting, and throwing a grenade at the Box) Its weapons are determined by probabilities in the game files, and not affected by in-game factors.
There is a very rare glitch on Ascension where if the user is playing on solo and uses the box, it will glow red instead of yellow, and go back to glowing yellow when the box stops on a weapon.
Sometimes but rarely the box will receive a teddy bear on the first use. (Confirmed on Shi No Numa, Verruckt and "Five")
In Kino der Toten, if the player dies and chooses to play again, the box will spawn in exactly the same place it started the previous game.
In Nacht der Untoten, there is a higher chance of getting the Ray Gun in the mystery box in earlier rounds than other maps, unlike in any other map.
On 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, the player can hear the first two notes from the Mystery Box.
On the pre-order poster for Black Ops, 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).
In Black Ops, weapons that are bought off the wall do not appear in the Mystery Box, unlike in World at War (except on the Wii version as of the latest patch).
Xbox Live players can purchase a Mystery Box for their avatar.
When playing split-screen, the second player will not be able to see where the Mystery Box is. Only the first player will be able to see where the Mystery Box is.
After using the mystery box, players will have to wait roughly 5 seconds to be able to open it again.
The mystery box appears to have hay or straw at the bottom of it. Also, it has three concrete tiles under it, except in Nacht der Untoten and Verrückt.
