Call of Duty Black Ops II Intel Locations: The Complete Campaign Guide

Finding all the Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations is a rite of passage for any dedicated fan of the franchise. Beyond just being collectibles, these items are intrinsically tied to the game’s challenge system, which rewards players with powerful perks and unique weapon unlocks. If you are aiming for 100% completion or hunting for the "High IQ" achievement, tracking down every one of the Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations is an absolute necessity.

The campaign of Black Ops II is unique because it spans two distinct eras: the Cold War era of the 1980s featuring Alex Mason and the futuristic 2025 setting featuring his son, David Mason. Each mission contains three pieces of intel, totaling 33 across the main story. Player experience suggests that combining your intel hunt with your challenge runs is the most efficient way to play, as collecting all three items in a mission typically completes one of the ten required challenges for that level.

Why Intel Matters: Achievements and Unlocks

In Black Ops II, intel isn't just flavor text. It serves as a gateway to several prestigious achievements and helps you flesh out the "Career" record. According to community reports, players who ignore these collectibles often find themselves struggling to unlock the best equipment for later missions. By securing these items, you contribute toward four specific campaign achievements.

Beyond achievements, completing challenges (which includes intel collection) unlocks "Create-a-Class" options for the campaign. This allows you to bring high-tier weaponry into early missions when replaying them, making Veteran difficulty significantly more manageable.

Strategic Tips for Finding Call of Duty Black Ops II Intel Locations

Before diving into the specific coordinates, there are a few universal tips you should keep in mind. First, always equip the Access Kit in your loadout. Many challenges and even some pathing to intel locations require the ability to open locked crates or bypass electronic doors.

Secondly, intel items in this game appear as small, ruggedized laptops with a flickering screen. They often emit a slight electronic hum if you are standing close enough. If you miss one, you don't need to restart the entire campaign; you can simply use the "Mission Select" screen to jump back into a specific level. However, you must finish the mission for the collection to be permanently recorded in your career stats.

The 1980s Missions: Alex Mason’s Journey

The historical missions take you from the fields of Angola to the mountains of Afghanistan. These environments are often wide-open, making the intel laptops somewhat harder to spot against the dusty or foliage-heavy backgrounds.

Mission 1: Pyrrhic Victory

The first mission sets the stage with a brutal battle in Angola.

1. Intel 1: After hopping off the truck at the start, head toward the mortar supply truck. A mortar shell will strike the ground nearby, creating a hole that reveals the first laptop.
2. Intel 2: Once you board the gunboat with Hudson, climb to the upper deck. Look on the right side, opposite the gun emplacement, to find it sitting on the floor.
3. Intel 3: During the final forest retreat while carrying Woods, you will defend your position twice. At the second defensive stand, check the elevated sniper perch on the right side of the clearing.

Mission 3: Old Wounds

This mission features horseback combat and wide-open desert terrain.

1. Intel 1: Right after the initial briefing inside the cave, look at the crates against the back wall before heading outside.
2. Intel 2: While riding your horse into the desert, look for a set of large rocks marked by a red flag stuck in some tires. The intel is on the ground near the flag.
3. Intel 3: When attacking the weapons caches, look for a small cave on the right side of the cliffside near the wooden bridges.

Mission 4: Time and Fate

This mission switches perspectives between a vengeful Raul Menendez and the Mason/Woods duo.

1. Intel 1: During Menendez’s rampage, enter the large barn. The intel is located on the back of a wagon near the exit.
2. Intel 2: As Mason, look for the bell tower in the courtyard where snipers are positioned. Climb the ladder inside; the intel is on the second level.
3. Intel 3: Inside the underground cocaine facility, clear the main room and check the small side office on the far left.

The 2025 Missions: David Mason’s Future War

The futuristic missions are heavy on technology, featuring drones, CLAWs, and optical camo. The Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations in these levels are often tucked away in high-tech offices or server rooms.

Mission 2: Celerium

1. Intel 1: Near the helipad, enter the small room to the left of where the helicopter is parked. It’s sitting right on a desk.
2. Intel 2: Inside the underground facility, look for a room with a large central staircase. There is an office to the left of the stairs containing the laptop.
3. Intel 3: After the Celerium reveal, a wave of enemies will attack. Head to the far end of the room opposite the Celerium chamber to find the final desk.

Mission 5: Fallen Angel

1. Intel 1: At the start, while activating the CLAW (Maximus), look on the shelves in the immediate room.
2. Intel 2: After jumping down an alley to avoid a floating bus, look into the small alcove on your right.
3. Intel 3: At the end of the flooded street section, before passing through the final wall, search the dark corner on the ground directly ahead.

Mission 6: Karma

1. Intel 1: In the server room, move to the far right side before reaching the elevator. The laptop is on a desk.
2. Intel 2: In the mall area, head to the lower level. Find the "d’HO" clothing store; the intel is behind the counter.
3. Intel 3: Player reports indicate this one is often missed; it is located in the computer area just after the club scene, tucked behind a workstation.

Late-Game Intel: The Final Push

As the story reaches its climax in missions like "Odysseus" and "Judgement Day," the combat becomes much more intense. It is easy to run past Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations when you are under heavy fire from quad-drones and tactical teams.

Mission 9: Odysseus

1. Intel 1: In the large bridge control room (Comm Room), look on the console on the right side of the bridge.
2. Intel 2: After the Menendez/Briggs cutscene, head toward the hangar. Before going down, look for a small upstairs room.
3. Intel 3: On the flight deck of the Obama, look inside the second VTOL aircraft. The intel is near the cockpit.

Mission 11: Judgement Day

1. Intel 1: In the building labeled "27" near the start of the ascent. It’s on the second floor.
2. Intel 2: In the massive broadcast room, look at the third row of computer consoles from the top.
3. Intel 3: After the broadcast room, you’ll enter a circular area. Look for a staircase blocked by a mop bucket; the intel is on a crate at the bottom.

Strike Force Missions: A Different Challenge

It is important to note that Strike Force missions do not contain intel. These missions are tactical diversions that affect the game's branching ending. While you won't find laptops here, you still need to complete their specific challenges if you want the "Giant Accomplishment" achievement.

Common Strike Force challenges include:

• Completing the mission entirely in "Tactical View."
• Eliminating a specific number of enemies using a CLAW or ASD.
• Finishing the objective with a significant amount of time remaining.

If you are struggling with these, remember that you can lower the difficulty to "Recruit" to breeze through the challenges. The game does not require you to complete challenges on Veteran to earn the achievements. For more detailed breakdowns of these tactical missions, you can visit the official Steam Community guide for Black Ops II, which provides deep insights into the more "tricky" objectives.

Conclusion: Becoming a Master Collector

Completing the hunt for all Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations is a rewarding experience that forces you to explore the intricate level design Treyarch created. By following this guide, you ensure that no laptop is left behind, clearing the path for those elusive 100% completion achievements.

Whether you are revisiting this classic for nostalgia or playing it for the first time via backward compatibility, these collectibles remain the gold standard for campaign depth. Grab your Access Kit, keep your eyes peeled for that flickering blue screen, and finish the fight against Cordis Die with your "High IQ" intact.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations are there in total?

There are a total of 33 intel locations spread across the 11 main campaign missions. Each mission contains exactly three pieces of intel. Strike Force missions and Zombies mode do not contain these specific campaign collectibles.

Do I need to find all intel on a single difficulty?

No, you can collect intel on any difficulty setting. Many players choose to find the Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations on "Recruit" difficulty so they can focus on exploration without being overwhelmed by enemy fire. Once collected, they stay collected across all difficulty levels.

Can I quit the mission immediately after picking up a piece of intel?

No, you should finish the mission or at least reach a major checkpoint to ensure the game saves your progress. To be safe, most players recommend finishing the mission to ensure the "Challenge Complete" notification for finding all intel is properly recorded in your career stats.

What happens if I miss an intel item?

If you miss any Call of Duty Black Ops II intel locations, you can use the Mission Select feature from the main campaign menu. The game tracks which items you have already found, so you only need to pick up the specific laptop you missed. You can check your progress for each mission in the Career Record screen.