I logged into Black Ops 7 expecting the usual playlist shuffle, and instead got hit with Proving Grounds: a short, sweaty event that's live from Nov 25 to just before noon on Dec 1. If you're chasing the leaderboard, cool, but don't make the most common mistake I keep seeing in matches—burning Double XP tokens like they're magic. This event tracks match score, not XP, so the only thing that matters is what you put on the scoreboard; if you need a jumpstart on your goals, some players even look into CoD BO7 Boosting to save time and focus on the parts they actually enjoy.

Score, not XP, so play for points

The whole vibe changes once you accept that "playing well" doesn't always mean "top frag." Score comes from the boring stuff people ignore: tags, zones, hill time, assists, and streak value. The top 30 rewards are for the no-lifers and cracked stacks, but the milestone chase is where most of us should aim. The big target is 80,000 total score for the "Drop 'Em" M15 Mod 0 blueprint, and it's doable if you stop sprinting at every gunfight like it's TDM.

Loadout tweaks that actually move the needle

Your class needs to be built for repeatable score, not highlight reels. I've had the best luck running the Perk Greed wildcard so I can stack utility perks without feeling naked. Bankroll helps you get rolling sooner, and Looper is the real engine if you can stay alive, because it lets you loop streaks in the same life and keep printing points. That means you should also build for survival: play cover, pre-aim lanes, and don't ego-challenge when you're one shot.

The "support farm" loop for fast totals

If you want a simple loop, lean into team intel and denial. Run Scout Pulse, UAV Recon, and Counter-UAV, then pair it with Overclock to make them cheaper and faster. One good Pulse turns into assists, assists turn into UAV, and once Counter-UAV is up you start collecting score off your teammates' kills. Toss EMP grenades at enemy gear for easy disable points, and drop a Point Turret where it can watch an angle while you play objective. It's not glamorous, but your score bar will move every match.

Keeping the grind sane

The event's short, so don't try to "win it" in one sitting. Set a daily score goal, rotate modes if the lobby gets miserable, and queue with one friend if you can—someone who'll actually sit on the point while you cycle streaks. And if you're the type who likes smoothing out the grind with extra help, it's worth knowing sites like U4GM are popular for picking up game currency and items, which can free you up to spend more time playing matches for score instead of fussing over everything else.