Still getting crushed by veteran players on PS5 while trying to level up weapons? Wish you could jump into a lobby packed with bots and simply grind XP and camos? There are two popular approaches players discuss, with one focused on maximum XP and another offering a more stable solo experience. The first relies on an old LAN Party matchmaking exploit, while the second uses the game's built-in Combat Training system but provides reduced XP. Knowing the difference can help you avoid wasting time, whether you're saving your coins, looking for ways to buy Black Ops 2 Bot Lobbies, or comparing cheap COD Black Ops 2 Bot Lobbies options for your wider gaming setup.
LAN Party: The High-XP Route
The first method revolves around an old LAN Party matchmaking exploit that players have reported working on the PS5 version. When successfully triggered, it can create a customized match containing bots, allowing kills to contribute toward player progression and weapon XP.
The setup traditionally requires another player and depends on manipulating the transition between the LAN Party and friends/session menus. Because the timing is extremely sensitive, the method has a low success rate for inexperienced players and may stop working if the developers patch the underlying exploit.
Once functioning, players can customize the match with bots and other settings, creating an efficient environment for weapon leveling and progression.
Value for You:
Best for: experienced grinders willing to deal with an unreliable exploit. Gain: potentially faster progression than ordinary matchmaking, but with greater uncertainty.
Combat Training: The Safer Solo Alternative
Don't want to deal with complicated lobby tricks? Combat Training provides a much more straightforward option.
Players can enter the multiplayer matchmaking system, select Combat Training, and choose an objective-based mode. As human players leave the match, the game can replace them with bots, eventually creating a much more bot-heavy experience.
The trade-off is important: XP rewards are reduced, so this approach isn't as fast as the maximum-efficiency exploit. However, it requires considerably less setup and can be useful when you simply want to practice, level weapons, or grind without facing a full lobby of experienced players.
Value for You:
Best for: solo players and casual grinders. Gain: a simpler, lower-risk environment for earning weapon XP without relying on complicated matchmaking tricks.
XP Potential: Speed vs. Stability
The two methods serve completely different purposes. The LAN Party approach is aimed at players chasing maximum progression speed, while Combat Training prioritizes simplicity and reliability.
For Combat Training, efficient matches can reportedly generate around 18,000 XP, with strong killstreak usage potentially pushing that figure toward 20,000 XP. However, these numbers can vary depending on performance and match conditions.
Popular streak combinations include Orbital VSAT, K9 Unit, and Swarm, which can help maintain momentum when human players leave and bots take their place.
Value for You:
Best for: players comparing grinding strategies. Gain: a clearer idea of the XP trade-off before committing time to either method.
Know the Progression Limits
Combat Training has another major advantage: it doesn't require exploiting a matchmaking loophole. However, there are also limitations. Kills generally don't contribute to public KD, win rate, or SPM, even though weapon kills and weapon XP can still progress.
That makes the mode better suited to weapon progression and practice than building a competitive public-game profile.
Value for You:
Best for: weapon grinders and returning players. Gain: better expectations about which statistics will and won't benefit from bot-heavy matches.
The Biggest Catch: Exploits Can Disappear
The LAN Party approach depends on an unfixed game exploit, meaning there is no guarantee it will remain available. Developers can patch matchmaking issues without warning, and using unintended exploits can also carry account-related risks.
Combat Training is the more conservative option because it's an official in-game feature. If your priority is simply gaining weapon XP without experimenting with exploits, it's the obvious choice.
Value for You:
Best for: cautious players and long-term accounts. Gain: a safer progression route and fewer concerns about sudden exploit fixes.
Which Method Should You Choose?
If you're an experienced player chasing the fastest possible progression and understand the risks of exploit-based methods, the LAN Party route is the more aggressive option. If you prefer simplicity, solo access, and lower risk, Combat Training makes more sense.
Either way, don't forget the basic rule: use the method that matches your priorities. Fast XP isn't useful if the setup wastes more time than it saves.
