Cursed Mode in Black Ops 7 hits different. You load in and it's like the game's daring you to quit. No minimap, no comfy setup, and you're clutching a pistol like it's going to save you from what's coming. It only went live after the world-first team cleared Ashes of the Damned, and yeah, you can feel that "prove it" energy in every room. If you're trying to keep up with friends who suddenly play like it's a tournament, CoD BO7 Boosting is the kind of thing people bring up when they're tired of getting left behind.

Relics Change Everything

The whole mode revolves around Relics, and they're not just collectibles you ignore after one run. There are nine total, split across Grim, Sinister, and Wicked. You can hunt them whenever you want, which is nice, but you can't actually equip them until you've beaten the main quest yourself at least once. That little rule changes how you play. You're basically scouting and prepping early, then coming back with a clear plan once you've earned the right to wear the pain. And if you're chasing the big toys—Golden Armor, that cracked Tier IV Pack-A-Punch—Relics are the road you're taking, whether you like it or not.

Grim Relics: The First Wall

Most squads slam into the Grim set first, because Round 20 is where the game stops pretending. Dragon Wings is the classic "don't blink" challenge: you've got to Pack-A-Punch something, hit the Jump Pad between Vandorn Farm and Janus Towers, and nail three glowing purple orbs while you're airborne. Miss one and you're waiting for another attempt. Get it right and a portal opens at the barn, then the trial messes with your instincts—power-ups hurt you, so grabbing a Nuke like you're on autopilot can straight-up ruin the run. Lawyer's Pen is a different kind of stress. Still Round 20, but now you're lighting three red candles with Molotovs or Napalm Burst: roadside cabin, the shelf by Jugger-Nog in Ashwood, and the Vandorn bedroom. The trial? Shock Mimics only, which sounds simple until the screen turns into a strobe light and your plates vanish.

Sinister Relics: Longer Runs, Less Mercy

Once you're bold enough to push Sinister, the requirements get nasty in a quiet way: Grim Relics equipped, and you're living to Level 40 first. VRIL Sphere is the one that makes people argue mid-match. You have to bait a Doppelghast onto a Jump Pad and kill it during the launch, which is easier said than done when everything else is also trying to eat you. Then the trial shuts down purchases, so if you didn't prep ammo, perks, and armor, you're basically stuck improvising. Focusing Stone is more methodical: melee a Zursa, then finish a Legendary T.E.D.D. task collecting wine bottles for the Blackwater Lake bar. It's a lot of steps, but Ultra weapon rarity changes the feel of the whole run once you've got it.

Playing Smarter So You Don't Burn Out

The trick with Cursed Mode isn't being fearless, it's being stubborn in the right moments. Don't chase every objective the second it's available—set up your escape routes, learn where the pressure builds, and stop treating power-ups like free candy. Half the wipes I see come from someone grabbing the "helpful" thing without thinking. If you're still trying to get that first clean quest clear so Relics are even usable, plenty of players look at cheap CoD BO7 Boosting as a way to save time and keep the mode fun instead of turning it into a second job.