How To Unlock The Ice Axe Weapon In CoD: Warzone And Vanguard

Note: This guide was updated on April 27 to include the recently added Warzone unlock challenge and store bundle info for Vanguard's Ice Axe melee weapon.

Call of Duty Season 2 Reloaded is quickly coming to a close for both Vanguard and Warzone, and the season's final weapon has been quietly added to Vanguard. The Ice Axe melee weapon is now available to unlock, and there are different ways you can unlock it.

How to unlock the Ice Axe

Season 2's Ice Axe is a throwable melee weapon added to Call of Duty: Vanguard and Warzone. This is described as a weapon that can be used in combat as both a melee weapon and a throwable weapon.

The Ice Axe can be unlocked for free with an in-game challenge in either Vanguard multiplayer, Zombies, or Warzone, or the weapon can be purchased with a cosmetic store bundle.

Warzone challenge

For Warzone, the Ice Axe can be unlocked by getting three kills with the Throwing Knife in a single match 15 times. The Throwing Knife is retrievable lethal equipment that can be added to your custom loadout. This unlock challenge will be best attempted in respawn playlists such as Caldera Clash or Rebirth Resurgence.

Note: Warzone's multiplayer weapon unlocks require you to complete the matches to get credit towards your challenge progression. You can't just get the three throwing knife kills and quit the match.

Multiplayer challenge

Vanguard's multiplayer challenge is the same as Warzone. The Ice Axe can be unlocked by getting three kills with the Throwing Knife in a single match 15 times. Overall, the unlock challenge shouldn't be terribly difficult for multiplayer. Attempting this challenge in small map playlists like Shipment 24/7 should help you complete your objective much faster.

Note: Vanguard's multiplayer weapon unlocks require you to complete the matches to get credit towards your challenge progression. You can't just get the three throwing knife kills and quit the match.

Zombies challenge

In Zombies, use melee weapons to kill 50 Sturmkriegers. This is going to be more of a grind than the multiplayer challenge. Sturmkriegers are Vanguard's heavily-armored Zombie type, who are armed with the Deathmachine minigun. This enemy type doesn't spawn in abundance, so it will take some time to take down 50 of them.

In order to best take down the heavily armored Sturmkriegers, I'd recommend upgrading your preferred melee weapon with the Pack-a-Punch machine as soon as you have enough cash. Also, the Bloodlust Covenant can be really helpful to have equipped. Unfortunately, the Covenants you are offered for each match are random, but Bloodlust makes melee attacks do more damage and also heals you, so be sure to check your Covenant options each round. If you're new to Vanguard Zombies, here is our complete guide to the Covenant feature.

Store bundle

To avoid the unlock challenge, you can purchase the Ice Breaker store bundle. This eight-item bundle includes the Ice Axe, a fancy combat shield blueprint, and other cosmetic items for 1,100 CoD Points ($10).

How you choose to complete this challenge mostly depends on your game mode preference, but the overall fastest way to unlock the Ice Axe for free will be through Vanguard's multiplayer challenge.

Call of Duty Season 3 is now live for both Vanguard and Warzone, and you can unlock two new weapons with in-game challenges. We have unlock guides for both the new Sledgehammer and Skal Crusher melee weapons.