Call of Duty games have long been criticized for their repetitive nature, with each new installment feeling like a slight variation of its predecessor. Every year or two, players find themselves buying what is essentially the same game with minor tweaks and fresh cosmetics. To keep things engaging, Activision introduces challenges—specific in-game missions designed to provide objectives beyond just eliminating the opposing team in multiplayer matches.
While these challenges can add depth to the gameplay, some are outright frustrating, requiring either an incredible stroke of luck or an impractical level of skill. Let’s take a look at some of the most maddening challenges Call of Duty has to offer.
The Scorestreak Rocket Kill Challenge
One particularly aggravating challenge demands that players eliminate three enemies with a single strike from a scorestreak rocket. This means you not only have to earn the scorestreak in the first place but also rely on three opponents to line up perfectly for a well-placed missile. Given how unpredictable enemy movements are, this challenge often feels less like a test of skill and more like a cruel joke.
The Sleeper Edgen Field Upgrade Challenge
Another infuriating challenge requires players to kill 10 opponents who are using the Sleeper Edgen field upgrade. The problem? This is one of the least popular field upgrades in the game. Finding an enemy actually using it is rare, and even when you do, you need to kill them before a teammate beats you to it. The unpredictability of enemy loadouts makes this challenge nearly impossible to complete efficiently.
The Wipeout Medals Nightmare
By far, the most frustrating challenge is collecting 50 Wipeout medals. Unlike traditional skill-based challenges, this one is entirely luck-dependent. Wipeout medals require you to be inside an objective zone and rapidly kill two or more enemies within that zone. The conditions are so specific that it’s difficult to achieve naturally. You could play all day and never have a real chance at earning one.
This challenge is best tackled in Domination or Control modes, particularly in maps where the objective area is large. However, after Season 1, it became nearly impossible to complete in Hardpoint. To improve your odds, you’ll need the right gear. Molotovs or C4 can be effective as lethal equipment, while high-fire-rate weapons or one-shot guns work best. Personally, I’ve had the most success with an automatic shotgun equipped with slugs, the new blade-shooting gun, or a high-rate-of-fire LMG. Sniper rifles, due to their slow fire rate, are generally ineffective for this challenge.
The Grind Continues
Despite my best efforts, I haven’t yet completed this challenge, and it remains one of the most frustrating grinds in Call of Duty. But if you’re persistent and willing to endure the randomness of it all, you’ll eventually get there. Until then, brace yourself for a lot of frustrating moments, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll be lucky enough to complete these seemingly impossible challenges.