Complete Guide to Call of Duty Black Ops II Intel Locations in the Campaign

Discover all Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations with this comprehensive campaign guide to unlock achievements and uncover hidden lore.

Hunting for every secret in the classic Treyarch shooter? Finding all Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations is essential for completionists wanting to earn the "High IQ" achievement and dive deeper into the game's intricate narrative. Whether you are revisiting the gripping storyline or playing it for the first time, tracking down these hidden data tablets can be a serious challenge.

In this guide, we will break down the exact Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations across every single campaign mission. Get ready to scour battlefields, secret bases, and flooded streets to secure all 33 pieces of hidden intelligence.

Why You Need to Find All Call of Duty Black Ops II Intel Locations

In the Black Ops 2 campaign, intel isn't just for show. Collecting these hidden items unlocks the coveted "High IQ" achievement (worth 20 Gamerscore or a shiny trophy on PlayStation). Additionally, these tablets provide fascinating background lore that bridges the gap between the 1980s Cold War flashbacks and the futuristic 2025 conflicts.

Players often find that rushing through the campaign causes them to miss these cleverly hidden items. Taking the time to explore your surroundings not only rewards you with collectibles but also gives you a better appreciation for the detailed level design Treyarch crafted.

Early Game Intel: Setting the Stage

The opening missions of the game introduce you to the dual-timeline narrative. Here is a breakdown of the early game intel spots.

MissionIntel #General LocationSpecific Spot
Pyrrhic Victory1African Killing FieldOn the lip of a charred bomb crater near a fiery wreck.
Pyrrhic Victory2River BargePort side (left) of the vessel, right beside the pilot house.
Pyrrhic Victory3Extraction PointTop of the makeshift watchtower near the ammo refill point.
Celerium1Drone AirfieldInside the service garage behind one of the drones.
Celerium2Secret FacilityBy an office window with a potted plant after the ASD hallway.
Celerium3Lab Spawn RoomOn the consoles in the back wall of the "monster closet" lab.
Old Wounds1Canyon BridgesAt the mouth of the large black cave entrance on the left.
Old Wounds2Mujahideen CaveOn crates to the side of the map/meeting room.
Old Wounds3Horseback SequenceNear a red flag and ammo box by a rocky spire.

Pyrrhic Victory & Celerium

In the first mission, Pyrrhic Victory, keep an eye out during the African killing field sequence. The first piece of intel is sitting on the lip of a crater by a wrecked vehicle. Later, while defending Woods and Hudson, make sure you don't drop down the waterfall too early, or you will miss the intel on top of the makeshift watchtower.

During Celerium, your exploration takes you to an advanced facility. Community reports note that the third intel piece is easiest to grab after retrieving the Celerium device, as the back room opens up and the enemies are cleared out, giving you a stress-free environment to collect it.

Old Wounds

Riding through the desert with Zhao and Woods offers some beautiful vistas, but don't get distracted. The first intel is tucked away at the mouth of a dark cave on your left while traversing the rope bridges. Later, during the horseback riding sequence following the Russian attack, look for a red flag next to an ammo cache; the intel is resting right on a tire.

Mid-Campaign Intel: Deepening the Mystery

As the plot thickens and Raul Menendez's true motives come to light, the levels become more complex. Finding the Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations in these mid-game missions requires a keen eye.

MissionIntel #General LocationSpecific Spot
Time and Fate1Fiery BarnBack of the wagon before exiting the barn.
Time and Fate2Menendez EstateThird level of the belltower (hop off the ladder).
Time and Fate3Cocaine BunkerCorner room on the left before the 90° right turn.
Fallen Angel1CLAWS GarageOn the shelves to the right of the CLAWS unit.
Fallen Angel2Flooded StreetOn the ground near the first archway on the right.
Fallen Angel3Ruined BuildingWhere the third drone's searchlight illuminates the ground.
Karma1CRC ChamberOn the table to the right of the objective-marked uplink.
Karma2Shopping DistrictRear sales counter of the "D'HO" store.
Karma3Large PlazaLeaning against a pamphlet holder at the last sales kiosk.

Time and Fate & Fallen Angel

When playing as Raul Menendez in Time and Fate, you'll pass through a burning barn. Check the back of the wagon before you leave. Later, as Mason Senior, you can climb a belltower to provide sniper support. Don't go all the way up immediately; hop off at the third level to snag the hidden tablet.

In Fallen Angel, player experience dictates that following your AI companion, Harper, too closely is a mistake. During the drone evasion sequence in the ruined building, you need to intentionally step near where the third death drone's searchlight hits the interior to find the bright orange tablet on the dark ground.

Karma & Suffer With Me

During Karma, grab the intel in the CRC chamber before using the retinal scanner uplink, or you'll be swarmed by enemies. Later in the plaza, check the sales kiosk right before the stairs leading to the helipad.

In Suffer with Me, the locations are scattered throughout the urban environment. While community forums debate the exact trigger for the first piece (often found on a warehouse catwalk early on), the second is definitively located in a wrecked two-story house about 85 meters from the objective-marked church. The final piece is sitting on an equipment table in the medical clinic right after the hallway turns left.

Late Game Intel: The Final Push

The climax of the campaign features massive set pieces and intense firefights. Don't let the explosive action distract you from securing the final Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations.

MissionIntel #General LocationSpecific Spot
Achilles Veil1Courtyard ArcadeIn the room below the optical camo suit container.
Achilles Veil2Killzone StreetHidden behind containers in the left door room.
Achilles Veil3RooftopResting against the water reservoir next to the ladder.
Odysseus1Bridge CommandOn the console to the right of the ship systems marker.
Odysseus2Ship BowelsRaised observation area with an American flag.
Odysseus3Flight DeckPassenger boarding door of the right-side parked VTOL.
Cordis Die1Under OverpassNear the fiery car wreck by the police motorcycle.
Cordis Die2Street CombatOn the concierge's desk inside Hotel Kaylor.
Cordis Die3Shopping MallBottom shelf at the "Wes's T-Shirts" stall.
Judgment Day1Building 27On the counters on the second floor.
Judgment Day2NASA CommandThird/Fourth tier of consoles in the large command room.
Judgment Day3Multi-tier Dark RoomOn a container by the lit shutter door on the lowest level.

Odysseus & Cordis Die

Aboard the aircraft carrier in Odysseus, grab the first intel on the bridge command console before interacting with the mission objective. Later, on the flight deck, look between the two unoccupied VTOLs to find a tablet near the passenger door of the right-side aircraft.

During the chaotic street warfare of Cordis Die, keep your eyes peeled for specific storefronts. The concierge desk at Hotel Kaylor holds one piece, while "Wes's T-Shirts" on the second floor of the Shops at the Plaza holds another.

Judgment Day

The final assault on Menendez's base is chaotic. Upon landing, look for building 27 to find the first piece on the second floor. In the massive, NASA-style command center, the intel is located on the tiered computer desks (check the third tier on the left if looking up from the bottom).

Pro Tips for Hunting Down Intel

Finding all the intel can be tedious if you don't know the level layouts. Here are a few best practices to keep in mind while hunting.

StrategyWhy It Works
Clear Enemies FirstExploring while under fire is a quick way to get sent back to a checkpoint. Clear the immediate area before searching corners.
Ignore AI CompanionsCharacters like Harper or Woods will constantly urge you to push forward. Ignore their dialogue; take your time to explore.
Use Access KitsEquipping the Access Kit perk before a mission can sometimes open up alternate routes that make bypassing enemies to reach intel easier.
Check Brightness SettingsThe orange glow of the intel tablets can be hard to see in dark levels like Fallen Angel. Slightly increasing your TV/Monitor brightness helps.

If you are a massive fan of the series and want to dive deeper into the lore of the Black Ops universe, you can always check out the official Call of Duty website for more historical context on the franchise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations are there in total? There are exactly 33 pieces of intel scattered throughout the campaign. Each of the 11 main story missions contains exactly 3 hidden tablets.

Can I replay missions to find missing Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations? Yes! You can use the mission select screen at any time to replay specific levels. The game saves your intel progress, so you only need to pick up the ones you missed.

Do I have to finish the mission after picking up the intel for it to count? No, once you pick up a piece of intel and reach the next checkpoint, it is permanently saved to your profile. You can safely quit the mission afterward.

What do I get for finding all the intel? Collecting all 33 pieces of intel unlocks the "High IQ" achievement/trophy. It also unlocks various lore entries that provide deeper backstory on Raul Menendez and the game's overarching narrative.