Call of Duty Black Ops 4 brings back the multiplayer specialists system that first appeared in Black Ops 3. This makes sense thematically since Black Ops 4 also serves as a sort of prequel to its predecessor. However, certain specialists who were part of Black Ops 3’s roster didn’t make the cut for Black Ops 4. In this article, I round up who those specialists are and discuss their likelihood of returning.
Black Ops 4 Multiplayer Specialist Omissions
It’s understandable why Treyarch chose to omit some of Black Ops 3’s specialists from the Black Ops 4 roster. New specialists were added in, existing specialists were reworked, and Treyarch rightly didn’t want to overwhelm players with options. Brand new specialists like Crash and Recon join familiar faces like Ruin and Battery, forming an eclectic roster. Treyarch has also said more specialists will be added to Black Ops 4 as post-launch content.
There’s always the possibility that more Black Ops 3 mainstays could return in Black Ops 3. However, as you’ll see in my below list, the odds are better for some than others.
Outrider
Likelihood of Returning: Low
Outrider was a lot of fun to use in Black Ops 3, especially with her Sparrow bow and arrow weapon. Her Vision Pulse also gave her some great utility, allowing her to spot nearby enemies behind solid barriers like walls. However, in Black Ops 4 the Vision Pulse has already been given to the new specialist Recon. Outrider could still show up with a new ability, but I’m not getting my hopes up too high.
Reaper
Likelihood of Returning: High
The killer robot Reaper was a fan favorite in Black Ops 3, mainly thanks to his Scythe minigun. If Reaper does come back in Black Ops 4, he’ll likely bring his Scythe in tow. However, I’m guessing Treyarch will also give him a more tangible piece of equipment than his previous Psychosis ability.
Spectre
Likelihood of Returning: High
I’m personally rooting for Spectre’s return since he was my favorite Black Ops 3 specialist hands down. If he does come back in Black Ops 4, it’s tough to say how much Treyarch will modify him. My personal guess is that he’ll ditch his Ripper arm blade but keep his Active Camo. To replace the Ripper, he might even get another Black Ops 3 ability like Ruin’s Overdrive or Reaper’s Psychosis.
Blackjack
Likelihood of Returning: Mid
Blackjack was the one and only post-launch specialist Black Ops 3 received. He had an interesting sort of mechanic where players could only use him for limited bursts of time. Also, his abilities revolved around “borrowing” the abilities and weapons of other specialists. Blackjack could potentially work in Black Ops 4, but I’m not sure how experimental Treyarch wants to get.
For more on Call of Duty Black Ops 4, be sure to check out our in-depth guide on the game’s Create-a-Class feature. We’ve also covered which Black Ops 4 modes support split-screen multiplayer.