COD: Black Ops 6 VPNs and how to get bot lobbies

In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) matches players with similar skill levels, aiming to create balanced and competitive gameplay. However, this only sounds good in theory. Some players – myself included – find these intense matches overwhelming. Some days, you just wish to practice your skills and play around without breaking a sweat.

There are a few different ways to get easier lobbies in BO6, like using a VPN, the Two-Boxing method, and using bot lobby services. With these methods, you can encounter lobbies with bots or casual players who aren’t as skilled. In this article, I explain how to easily avoid SBMM using a VPN for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and explain other methods if you want to practice some moves or play stress-free.

Can you get banned for using a VPN for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

You’re unlikely to get banned on COD simply by using a VPN. The Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Terms of Use don't explicitly prohibit commercial VPNs. However, using one specifically to influence matchmaking, such as finding easier lobbies, falls into a gray area and could potentially violate Activision's rules.

The most relevant clause is Section 3(C)(iv), which states that you may not:

"...host, provide or develop matchmaking services for the Product, or intercept, emulate or redirect the communication protocols used by Activision in any way..."

A standard VPN doesn't host matchmaking services or modify the game's network protocols. It simply routes your internet traffic through another server. For that reason, this clause isn't generally understood to prohibit ordinary VPN use.

That said, if you're using a VPN specifically to bypass skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) by connecting through regions with fewer players, Activision could interpret it as an attempt to circumvent its matchmaking system, even though the Terms of Use don't explicitly say so.

The Terms also prohibit players from engaging in "any form of cheating, boosting" (Section 3(C)(i)). While this clause is more clearly aimed at cheats, hacks, bots, and similar tools, Activision has broad discretion when enforcing its rules.

In practice, there are no publicly stated rules or widespread reports suggesting that simply using a commercial VPN results in a ban. However, because Activision reserves the right to suspend, modify, or terminate accounts for Terms of Use violations, using a VPN to manipulate matchmaking carries some enforcement risk, even if that risk appears relatively low.

How a VPN can affect your Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 experience

A VPN can change your IP address, making it appear as though you’re connecting from a different location. This may influence which game servers you connect to and can sometimes affect matchmaking conditions.

However, a VPN doesn’t directly control COD: Black Ops 6 matchmaking or choose your opponents. It only changes your network connection details, meaning any impact on matchmaking is indirect and not guaranteed. Results can vary depending on factors like your location, connection quality, player population, and Activision’s matchmaking system.

In our June 2026 testing, switching VPN regions alone didn't reliably produce easier lobbies. The biggest differences came when we combined lower-population regions with off-peak local hours. During European evening hours, lobby difficulty was often very similar to playing without a VPN.

How to get Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 bot lobbies with a VPN

A VPN only changes the region your connection appears to come from – it doesn't control Call of Duty's matchmaking directly. Connecting to a lower-population region can shift the pool of players you're matched against, but SBMM also factors in your own account's stats and match history, so this isn't a guaranteed way to get bot-filled lobbies.

1. Subscribe to a trusted COD: BO6 VPN.
2. Install the VPN. The PC installation process is straightforward. If you are playing on console, check out our article on how to set up VPN on console.
3. Connect to a server in a country with fewer active players.
4. Launch COD: BO6. You may notice a shift toward less competitive lobbies. If a match still feels too competitive, you can back out and search again.

Best locations for COD: Black Ops 6

The best locations for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Think of places where the game is least popular – this ensures the least active and skilled players cramming up the lobbies. However, you may experience higher ping and issues with latency if you choose servers that are geographically farther away from you, so keep that in mind.

Here are some key tips I came up with during my research on picking the best locations:

• Connect to countries in Eastern Europe or the Middle East. In places where Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is less prevalent, chances are higher to come across lobbies with less active and skilled players. I discovered there aren’t as many COD: BO6 players in Eastern Europe or the Middle East, so try connecting to those locations. Make sure to pick the right VPN with a vast server fleet. I recommend NordVPN – with servers in countries like Turkey, Egypt, and more, you can try out as many places as you like.
• Choose the right time. During off-peak hours, fewer people are playing the game. For example, you can expect fewer active players in lobbies during nighttime locally, and they will instead be filled with bots. During my testing, I noticed higher chances of finding bot lobbies between 3 AM and 7 AM EET. Luckily, for US citizens, that would be the perfect time for gaming (8 PM-12 AM EST).

Countries to get bot lobbies in BO6

To help you pick the right VPN, I listed 10 countries best for getting COD: BO6 lobbies and checked which VPN providers offer servers in these countries.

Country	NordVPN	Surfshark	Proton VPN	ExpressVPN	CyberGhost
Turkey	✅ 14+ servers	✅ 10+ servers	✅ 36+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ Undisclosed
Egypt	✅ Undisclosed	✅ 4+ servers	✅ 20+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ Undisclosed
Estonia	✅ 13+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ 39+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ Undisclosed
Jordan	✅ Undisclosed	❌No	✅ 12+ servers	❌No	❌No
Lithuania	✅ Undisclosed	✅ 14+ servers	✅ 56+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ Undisclosed
Latvia	✅ 10+ servers	✅ 16+ servers	✅ 20+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ Undisclosed
Bulgaria	✅ 20+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ 41+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ Undisclosed
Romania	✅ 20+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ 225+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ Undisclosed
Uzbekistan	✅ Undisclosed	✅ 4+ servers	✅ 30+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	❌No
Serbia	✅ Undisclosed	✅ Undisclosed	✅ 48+ servers	✅ Undisclosed	✅ Undisclosed

What are BO6 bot lobbies?

In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (BO6), "bot lobbies" refer to multiplayer matches where the majority of players are less skilled or have lower stats, making them appear similar to AI-controlled bots. These lobbies are considered easier than regular matches because the skill level of opponents is much lower than usual.

Players often use methods like reverse boosting, the Two-Boxing Technique, or even VPNs to manipulate skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) and get into these bot lobbies. By using a VPN, players can change their in-game location to a region with fewer active players or different skill distributions, increasing the likelihood of facing easier opponents.

Comparison of VPNs for COD: Black Ops 6

Choosing the best BO6 VPN is not easy, and you should consider many things. Let’s examine a full breakdown of all the providers covered in my list.

VPN	Servers	Speed retention	Average ping	Price	Money-back guarantee	Free trial
NordVPN	Undisclosed	84%	97ms	$3.49/month	30 days	3 days
Surfshark	4,500	83%	103ms	$2.49/month	30 days	7 days
Proton VPN	20,400	82%	110ms	$2.99/month	30 days	Free version available
ExpressVPN	Undisclosed	81%	102ms	$2.49/month	No	No
CyberGhost	Undisclosed	75%	110ms	$1.59/month	45 days	24 hours for Windows and macOS, 3 days for Android, 7 days for iOS

Across our testing, NordVPN and Surfshark delivered the most consistent experience because they maintained lower latency while changing regions. Proton VPN produced similar matchmaking results but occasionally took longer to find matches on low-population servers. ExpressVPN and CyberGhost also worked, although distant servers generally added more latency.

Why do you need a VPN for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6?

Players often use a VPN in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to change their virtual locations and bypass SBMM. Using a VPN allows players to connect to regions with fewer players, increasing the chances of joining lobbies with bots and making the games less competitive and nerve-wracking.

In addition to bypassing SBMM, a VPN connection can improve gaming performance by connecting players to servers with better network conditions and sometimes reducing lag. For players in regions with geo-restrictions or bans, a VPN can bypass these barriers and provide unrestricted access to the game.

Furthermore, VPNs offer valuable protection against DDoS attacks. By hiding the real IP address, a VPN makes it much harder for attackers to target players, ensuring smoother and safer gameplay.

Benefits of using a VPN for Black Ops 6

Using a VPN with Black Ops 6 can enhance gameplay by allowing players to access easier lobbies and improve their overall gaming experience. Here are the key benefits:

Access to bot lobbies. By connecting to specific regions or lower-traffic servers, a VPN can help to increase the chance of being placed in easier, bot-filled lobbies and to avoid SMBB. This way, you can easily practice new strategies or simply enjoy a more relaxed gaming experience.

Protection from hacking attacks. In competitive online gaming, players may be exposed to DDoS attacks or other malicious tactics that disrupt gameplay. A VPN masks your IP address, helping to protect against targeted attacks and providing an extra layer of security while you’re online.

Improved ping rates. Connecting to a VPN server closer to the game server can reduce ping times and potentially improve connection stability. When playing Black Ops 6, your data needs to travel from your device to the game server and back. Normally, this data travels through multiple networks and sometimes inefficient routes, which can increase your ping time, especially if you’re located far from the game server.

Access to geo-restricted content. Some games host region-specific events or content. With a VPN, you can connect to servers in different regions to access restricted content or participate in events exclusive to certain areas.

Other methods to get bot lobbies in COD: BO6

There are several methods to get Black Ops 6 bot lobbies, one of them is using a VPN to connect to a country with a lower player base. However, there are other methods you can try to get easier lobbies in Call of Duty: BO6. I will cover everything you need to know about these methods here.

Two-boxing method for getting bot lobbies in COD: BO6

The Two-Boxing Technique leverages a second account with a low kill/death ratio (KD) to manipulate matchmaking. By using an account that has performed poorly, you increase the chances of finding easier lobbies. Once your main account is in the lobby, you can leave with the secondary account and continue playing on your main account against lower-skilled opponents or bots. But to use this method, you will need to have two copies of the same game and play on two different devices: PC or console.

1. Create or use a second Call of Duty account. Make sure this account has a low KD ratio to increase the chances of getting into easier lobbies. To lower the KD, play 5-10 matches and perform poorly by avoiding kills and letting yourself get eliminated frequently.
2. Add your main account as a friend. Both accounts (your main and the secondary) should have each other added as friends in the game. This allows you to quickly invite your main account to join the lobby.
3. Start searching for a match using the low KD account. Use the secondary account to search for a multiplayer match. Wait until the game is about to start, ideally during the map voting phase, before joining with your main account.
4. Join the game with your main account. As the match begins to load, invite your main account to the game lobby and join the session.
5. Leave the match with the secondary account. Once your main account is successfully in the lobby, have the secondary account leave the match. You can now play on your main account against players with a similar skill level to the secondary account, increasing the chance of facing bots or low-skilled opponents.

This method is effective for getting into bot lobbies, but keep in mind that frequent use could affect matchmaking patterns or lead to restrictions, so use it wisely.

Use all game modes (no filters) to get bot lobbies in COD: BO6

Leaving all game mode filters on can help you get matched with newer or less experienced players. New players often don’t filter game modes when searching for matches, so keeping all modes enabled increases the chances of getting into their lobbies. This method maximizes the pool of players you can be matched with, making it easier to find lower-skilled lobbies or even bot-filled matches.

1. Launch COD: BO6 and go to the multiplayer menu. Make sure you're on the main screen where you can choose between different game modes (e.g., Team Deathmatch, Domination, Search and Destroy, etc.).
2. Avoid filtering game modes. Don’t select specific game modes to filter by. Instead, leave all game modes enabled so you can join any type of match that becomes available. This increases the matchmaking pool and helps you get matched with newer players who are not filtering for specific game types.
3. Search for a match with no filters. Start the matchmaking process without limiting your search to a specific mode. Since your search is unrestricted, the game has a higher chance of putting you into lobbies with lower-level players or those who are newer to the game.
4. Join lobbies with lower-level players or bots. Pay attention to the levels and ranks of players in the lobby. If you see players with lower ranks or recent accounts, you are likely in a lobby with less experienced players or bots. If the lobby looks too challenging, back out and search again to try for a different match.
5. Repeat the process if needed. If you find yourself in a lobby that doesn’t seem easy, don’t hesitate to leave and start the matchmaking search again. The more flexible you are with game modes, the higher your chances of getting matched with new players or bots.

We tested this method using a fresh account and an existing Prestige account. It helped us get into easier lobbies, but the results were inconsistent and became less reliable after several consecutive matches, suggesting SBMM quickly adjusted to recent performance.

Using Black Ops 6 bot lobbies services

There are COD BO6 bot lobby services that offer a solution to get easier lobbies. These paid services create lobbies filled with AFK players (bots) on separate consoles, enabling you to get kills for free each match and make rapid progress.

After purchase, you’ll get instructions via email and only need to provide your Activision ID – no account access required. Each session lasts around 10 minutes, with flexibility to use multiple sessions as needed. The costs of using these services range from $5 to $10 per session, so it can get quite expensive if you want to level up a lot.

How to get Black Ops 6 bot lobbies on console with a VPN

As gaming consoles do not natively support VPNs, you’ll need to install the VPN on a device that does, such as a PC or router, and share the VPN connection with your console. Here are four methods you can use to connect your console to a VPN:

• Method 1: Set up a VPN through a Windows PC
• Method 2: Set up a VPN using a Mac
• Method 3: Use a VPN via a hotspot from a smartphone or tablet
• Method 4: Set up a VPN on PS4 or PS5 through a router

Once your console is connected to the VPN, follow these steps to get bot lobbies on Black Ops 6:

• Choose a low-activity server region. Open your VPN app and connect to a server in a country with fewer active players, such as Estonia or Turkey. For the best results, connect during off-peak hours, like 3 AM–11 AM local time in that region. This works because fewer players lead to less competitive matchmaking.
• Launch Black Ops 6 and start playing. Once connected to the VPN, open the game, and matchmaking will place you in lobbies with fewer skilled players, giving you an easier experience.

Final thoughts

In Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, some players find that the skill-based matchmaking system leads to challenging and overly competitive games. This can be tiring if you want to kick back and have fun without breaking a sweat.

Getting easier lobbies in COD: Black Ops 6 isn't as simple as flipping a switch. While players use methods like VPNs, Two-Boxing, leaving all game modes enabled, or paid bot lobby services, each comes with different trade-offs. Two-Boxing and bot lobby services manipulate matchmaking more directly and carry a higher risk of violating Activision's Terms of Use.

A VPN is the lowest-risk option we tested. After testing approximately 50 multiplayer matches completed during June 2026 across 5 VPN providers, 10 VPN locations, and both PC and PlayStation 5, NordVPN was the best VPN for COD: Black Ops 6. It's speedy, is reasonably priced, and has many server locations – all you need to bypass SBMM and find bot lobbies.

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