Hitting the Combat Rating wall at 60 in Black Ops 7 Endgame can feel like the game's quietly telling you to stop trying. Don't. That "stuck" feeling usually means you haven't slotted an Exotic Skill yet, and once you do, the whole build opens up. If you're testing setups or just want cleaner runs while you learn the system, a CoD BO7 Bot Lobby can make it easier to see what's actually working without the usual third-party chaos.
Finding the Slot
Go into your loadout and scroll to the Operator abilities area. Right down at the bottom there's a circular slot that's easy to miss, especially if you're swapping gear fast between matches. If it's empty, that's the reason your progress feels capped. A lot of people pick up an Exotic Skill mid-fight, then never notice it landed in the inventory. So take ten seconds, check the slot, and make sure you're not leaving power on the table.
Where the Drops Really Come From
You can chase these skills in a few ways, but some routes are just a time sink. The straightforward path is Tier IV: do contracts, hunt Elite enemies in high-threat areas, and keep an eye out for caches that specifically mention Exotic Skills. That said, looting boxes for ages isn't most players' idea of fun. The reliable option is World Boss Events. Show up, do the mechanics, don't panic when the arena gets messy, and you'll get a guaranteed drop. Run them a few times and you'll start treating skills like loadout pieces you rotate, not a one-time lucky pull.
Picking One That Fits Your Matches
The best Exotic Skill is the one that matches how you actually play when things go wrong. If you're always in someone's face, Mega Punch is pure comedy and it can bail you out when ammo's dry. If you like getting value from chaos, Conjuration is great because the Toxin Butterflies keep pressure on enemies after kills, which helps when your team's fighting in tight lanes. For staying alive, Echo Shell can save you from those constant flank shots, while Resurrection gives you that once-per-match "nope" moment when you should've been downed. If you prefer being a problem for other players, Shattered Shield punishes plate breaks with a stun, and Graviton Reaction can turn a greedy melee into a black hole. Celebration and Frost Cloud are also worth trying if you lean on equipment a lot, since they reward timing and smart throws.
Make the Grind Less Painful
Once you've got one Exotic Skill equipped, the CR climb stops feeling mysterious and starts feeling earned. Rotate drops, keep notes on what saves you in real fights, and don't be afraid to swap when your squad changes roles. If you're short on time and just want to speed up gearing with less hassle, you can also look at services for game items and currency on U4GM so you spend more matches experimenting and fewer matches stuck in that same loop.
