The $ 1 million Call of Duty Championship begins: Day 1 coverage

By Ryan Fleming April 5, 2013

There is an arena in Hollywood right now that is filled with some of the most profane language ever uttered by a mammal. That sort of goes with the territory when it comes to competitive gaming events – sometimes it stems from pure frustration, but often it is a strategy. Hurling insults that would make a nun burst into flame in despair is par for the course, and when there is $1 million prize purse on the line, the stakes are even higher.

Presented by Xbox, the Call of Duty Championships are officially under way, and 32 teams will compete throughout the weekend for a piece of the purse. The final match will be streamed to Xbox 360s this Sunday at 3pm PST, but in the meantime, check back with us for daily updates. Check out the video below for the official recap of the first day of competition.

[Update]: It has been brought to our attention that the tongue-in-cheek opening paragraph describing the behavior at the CoD Championships was not representative of the event. The stereotype of the angry, rage filled gamer has its roots in reality, but in this case it was unfair to cast that light without cause. From all appearances the event has run with a remarkable level of smoothness, and the MLG is working hard to shake that stereotype. So please note that the opening statement was meant as a joke and not a representation of the actual event.

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Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…

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Healing Aura
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Aether Shroud
This is another upgrade that you will be glad to have. Aether Shroud makes you you temporary invisibile to all Zombies. This won't make you invincible, mind you, and PMCs can still take shots, but if you're getting swarmed and have no way to escape, becoming instantly invisible to a bloodthirsty pack of zombies can save your skin more often than you think. This upgrade has a medium recharge rate and is unlocked when you hit level 39.
Frenzied Guard
Just past the halfway mark, Frenzied Guard has a massive upside, but not without some risk. When you pop this Field Upgrade, you instantly repair all your armor, but also draw all the aggression of any enemy nearby for 10 seconds. However, another perk is that anything you kill during this time also repairs your armor, so situationally, it can be great or detrimental. This one recharges slowly, unlocking at level 9.
Frost Blast
Frost Blast does exactly what you expect: it fires a freezing blast that will slow down any enemy you hit with it and deal a bit of damage. It's decent in a pinch, but not a game-changer. You can get it when you hit level 29.
Tesla Storm
An odd ability on paper, Tesla Storm is only good if you have a team working together. Activating it will create a lightning chain between you and your team that will damage and stun enemies that get close to any one of you. It lasts for 10 seconds and can be great in the final moments while holding out for an extraction, but not in other situations. It recharges slowly and is the last upgrade you unlock at level 50.
Energy Mine
This is your default Field Upgrade, so it makes sense that it's the "worst" on the list. Energy Mine isn't exactly bad; you simply lay down a mine that does what a mine does -- explodes. It's just that setting up traps like this in Zombies isn't all that applicable except when kiting a boss around or waiting for the helicopter. It has a medium recharge speed.