Call of Duty Mobile Season 1 (2026), titled Frozen Abyss, kicks off the new year with a flurry of frosty content and high-octane hype. This season drops players into a winter-themed battleground loaded with fresh rewards, events, and a chilling new Mythic Operator. In this review, we’ll break down everything Season 1 – Frozen Abyss brings to the table – from the LC10 SMG and Inflatable Decoy tactical gadget in the Battle Pass, to the epic Codename: Lazarus – Cosmic Wrath Mythic Operator skin that has everyone talking.
Casual players and CODM grinders gather here and read on for a detailed analysis of Frozen Abyss’s new content, how the community is reacting, and tips on getting the most out of the season.
Battle Pass Breakdown: Frozen Abyss Freebies and Premium Loot
Season 1’s Frozen Abyss Battle Pass is brimming with icy-cool rewards that fit the winter vibe. On the free tier, players can unlock the new LC10 SMG at Tier 21 and the Inflatable Decoy tactical at Tier 14. The LC10 is a fast-firing, low-recoil submachine gun – in early matches, it’s proving to be a versatile shredder that downs targets fast at close to mid range. The Inflatable Decoy, borrowed from past Call of Duty titles, is a cheeky gadget that deploys a balloon dummy soldier to confuse your enemies. Drop it in a tense firefight and it might just distract opponents long enough for you to flank or escape. Free tiers of the pass also sprinkle in various winter-themed weapon camos, calling cards, and some Vault Coins (for unlocking older Battle Pass content) – so even if you don’t spend a dime, you’ll get plenty of goodies just by playing.
On the Premium Pass side, Frozen Abyss really brings the heat. For the standard 220 CP (or 520 CP if you go for the 12-tier bundle) cost, premium Battle Pass holders get four new epic Operator skins and five epic weapon blueprints right from the Frozen Abyss collection. The Operators include American Bulldog – Polar Explorer (a burly soldier decked in arctic gear) at Tier 1 and Portnova – Arctic Adventurer at Tier 12, among others, culminating in Solange – Collar Tie Up at Tier 50. These characters are dressed to survive the cold – think tactical parkas, snow goggles, and frosted camo patterns. Weapon-wise, premium pass users can immediately start gunning with the Man-O-War – Tidal Lance assault rifle blueprint and eventually earn the LC10 – Tracker blueprint at Tier 50, which gives the new SMG a slick icy-white look. The designs lean into the frozen theme with cool blue highlights and crystalline accents that stand out on the battlefield.
One big highlight is that the Battle Pass includes bonus COD Points as you level it up. In fact, diligent players can earn a good chunk of their spent CP back by reaching the higher tiers – a nice incentive that essentially discounts the pass if you complete it. This carry-over of COD Points means you could roll your earnings into next season’s pass or a nice Store purchase. Overall, my sentiment on the Frozen Abyss Battle Pass has been positive – it’s packed with value, especially given the new weapon and tactical gear on the free track. The LC10, in particular, has been a fan favorite; it’s not every day a brand-new gun gets added to the game and put in the Battle Pass for free. Some are already comparing the LC10’s performance to meta SMGs like the CBR4, noting its accuracy and rate of fire give it an edge in close quarters. We’ll have to see how the meta settles, but it’s safe to say the LC10 has injected fresh excitement into loadouts.
New Mythic Operator – Lazarus Rises from the Dead
The star of Season 1’s show is undoubtedly Codename: Lazarus – Cosmic Wrath, a Mythic-rarity Operator Skin that looks like something straight out of a nightmare. Lazarus is a demonic soldier returning from the dead, missing most of its torso and entrails, yet somehow still charging into battle. Its design is dripping with ethereal blue flames and cosmic energy coursing through what remains of its body. This is the first-ever Mythic Operator in COD Mobile (previous Mythics were all weapons) and the Mythic comes as part of the “Galaxy Scourge” Mythic Draw at season launch, which means acquiring it is up to luck (and a fair bit of CP). If you’re fortunate enough to pull Lazarus, you also unlock a set of upgradeable features – you can level up the Mythic Operator to unlock new visual effects, a custom spawn animation, a unique stance in the lobby, and other bells and whistles to flex on your opponents.
Community feedback on Lazarus has been mixed in an intriguing way. Many players are hyped about the badass design – the Mythic’s spectral flames and the fact that you can see through the character’s hollow chest make it one of the most striking skins CODM has ever seen. It’s a skin that screams, “pay attention or perish.” On the flip side, some users feel the design might be over-the-top; with the Lazarus looking a bit “disproportionate”, with an oversized head and lanky frame that can be off-putting to some. (To be fair, it is missing a torso, so the unusual silhouette is kind of the point!) Still, even skeptically, you have to admit it’s nice to see CODM trying bold ideas, and a Mythic Operator is certainly a fresh direction.
From a monetization perspective, the Codename: Lazarus draw is clearly aimed at the collectors and whales – those willing to spend for the rarest cosmetics. If you’re considering going after it, keep in mind Mythic draws can get expensive since the odds of the top reward improve only as you buy multiple pulls. Also, don’t forget that Carry1st has you covered for CP top-ups: you can grab COD Mobile Points directly from the Carry1st Shop safely and instantly, which is perfect if you’re topping up for that Mythic draw or the Premium Pass.
Seasonal Events: Street Fighter Crossover & Winter Festivities
Beyond the Battle Pass and flashy new skins, Frozen Abyss keeps players engaged with a slate of seasonal events – including a surprise encore from an old friend: Street Fighter! Last year’s Street Fighter V collaboration was a hit, and Season 1 brings Street Fighter Part 2 – Deluxe Arcade Event, picking up the brawl right where it left off. In this event, you’ll be collecting arcade tokens by playing matches, which you can spend to win exclusive SF-themed rewards. The highlights include a slick M4 – Vulcan Blast weapon blueprint and a Prizefighters melee skin styled as Ryu’s Gloves. Essentially, you get to hadouken your way through challenges and earn boxing gloves straight out of Street Fighter – how cool is that? Players who enjoyed the first collab are excited; community chatter suggests many of us are nostalgic for classic fighting-game crossovers. The event runs for the first few weeks of the season, so jump in soon to start punching your way to those rewards.
On top of that, Frozen Abyss is packed with winter-themed events to fit the season. There's a Winter Sports event that rewards you for completing tasks with goodies like the AS Val – Ski Slope blueprint and an Otter – Slope Drifter operator skin (imagine a soldier in ski gear ready to hit the slopes after hitting the enemy). These limited-time events typically involve playing matches or specific modes to earn tokens or points, which then unlock the rewards. They’re a fun way to spice up your routine – one day you might be playing a “Snowball Fight” mode, who knows! Keep an eye on the Events tab in-game for when each mini-event goes live, as they’re staggered throughout the season.
Another noteworthy addition is the Secret Cache Catch-Up event. If you missed last year’s Secret Cache rewards, this event is basically a do-over. By completing challenges, players can earn items that were previously in Secret Cache draws, including a new Season 1 camo and the latest Legendary Striker shotgun that was originally added late last year. This is a fantastic move for those who felt FOMO. Even if you’re a new player, events like this let you snag some of the cooler limited items without having been around when they first dropped.
Store Updates & Double CP: New Draws Galore
The in-game Store is overflowing with new temptations during Frozen Abyss. Apart from the Mythic Lazarus draw, we’re also getting the return of a fan-favorite Mythic weapon: the AK117 – Grim Ending. This assault rifle with a mythic medieval scythe theme won the recent community voting contest, so it’s back for a limited time on Jan 23 as the “Champion Mythic Drop”. If you missed it the first time around, Season 1 is literally giving you a second chance to grab the Grim Ending. There are also several new lucky draws lined up: one of them introduces the next Four Horsemen series skin (this one themed around “Death” featuring an Artery – Death operator skin and an Echo shotgun called Eternal Grasp). Other draws will include icy-themed characters like Phantom – Cryo Shadow and Minotaur – Polar Rage, each paired with similarly frosty weapon skins (EM2 – Frigid Dominion, etc.). In short, if you love collecting cosmetics, this season will keep you busy (and your wallet perhaps a bit light).
One thing to highlight is the Double CP promotion that continued into the start of Season 1. Until January 19, any COD Points you purchase via the official top-up (or through approved vendors like Carry1st) are doubled. This is an insanely good deal – for example, buying 500 CP would grant you 1000 CP. A lot of savvy players wait for these promos to make their big purchases, whether it’s the Battle Pass bundle or hoarding CP for draws. If you plan on investing in the season, doing so before Jan 19 is a no-brainer. As mentioned earlier, our Carry1st Call of Duty Mobile Direct Top-Up is fully participating in the Double CP event – you can visit the CODM top-up page on the Carry1st Shop to buy CP, and you’ll automatically receive 2X the amount during this promo window. We aim to get you geared up with as much CP as you need, hassle-free, so you can focus on enjoying those new draws and the Battle Pass.
Finally, a quick note for collectors: the Battle Pass Vault has been updated this season. They added two classic passes to the Vault (Season 2: Day of Reckoning from 2021, and Season 1, 2024’s Soldier’s Tale). This means you can now unlock content from those older passes by using Vault Coins or purchasing the Vault access if you missed them. It’s another way CODM is helping players catch up on content, which is really great.
Community Feedback: Praise, Critiques, and First Impressions
No seasonal update would be complete without gauging player reactions. Frozen Abyss has generated a lot of buzz in the COD Mobile community, and overall, it skews positive with a few constructive critiques. On the praise side, the winter atmosphere and depth of content are receiving a lot of love; the consensus is that, for a “Season 1” (which traditionally is a fresh start and sometimes lighter in content), Frozen Abyss feels substantial. The new LC10 SMG has been widely praised for its smooth handling; even being tagged as the “new QQ9” in terms of melting power up close. The events like Street Fighter Part 2 and the generous free reward opportunities (free Itadori skin in Free Fire – oops, wrong game! – but yes, CODM’s free Inflatable Decoy and such) are seen as indicators that Activision wants to keep players engaged without everything being paid.
That said, not all feedback is sugar-coated. For one, I’m a bit disappointed that Frozen Abyss didn’t launch with a brand-new multiplayer map. It's true – this season brings new weapons and modes, but no mention of a new map in the patch notes. I’d have hoped for at least a winter reskin of a classic map or a new arena to explore. In the grand scheme, this is a minor gripe, given that we just got a new map in the previous season and more are likely to come in Season 2 or beyond. Another point of contention is the Mythic Operator’s cost. Now, while Lazarus is cool, I’m a bit wary of how expensive it can be to chase Mythic items. The reality is that not everyone can (or wants to) spend big for a cosmetic. This is a perennial issue in free-to-play: amazing skins are great, but if they’re locked behind steep paywalls, it can cause FOMO or frustration. The good news is CODM still provides plenty of earnable content, and things like the Secret Cache event show a willingness to not make everything one-and-done. Plus, savvy players know you can wait for reruns or use Double CP deals to mitigate costs.
Lastly, on gameplay, the introduction of the Inflatable Decoy has led to some hilarious clips and reactions. People are sharing moments where the decoy balloon pops up and confuses an enemy long enough for a knife kill – it’s adding a bit of slapstick fun to matches. There’s also been discussion about how the LC10 might affect balance; a few players caution that if it’s too good, it could dominate Ranked play until the next balance patch. But as of now, it seems strong yet not broken – time will tell. Snipers and AR users still have their place, especially on larger maps where the SMG can’t reach.
Verdict: Frozen Abyss Delivers a Cool Start to 2026
All things considered, Call of Duty Mobile Season 1: Frozen Abyss is a thrilling start to the year. It successfully mixes fan service (crossover events, a returning voted skin, vault content) with new innovations (first Mythic Operator, new weapon & tactical, fresh mechanics in events). The tone of the season is both celebratory and ominous – celebratory in the sense of a new year refresh, ominous in the dark supernatural theme of Lazarus and frozen wastelands. This contrast makes for an engaging experience; you have the lighthearted fun of Street Fighter challenges and the serious grind of ranking up a Mythic.
For players on the fence about diving in now: the hype is real. There’s no major downside to logging in and enjoying the free offerings. If you’re a battle pass purchaser, this one seems worth it for the LC10 alone, not to mention you’ll get your CP back and then some. If you’re a collector, the Mythic and other draws present exciting targets. And if you’re purely F2P, you still have new toys (LC10, decoy), events for cool cosmetics, and the satisfaction of seeing the community energized.
Conclusion
Season 1 – Frozen Abyss sets a high bar for 2026. It’s got a little something for every kind of player: casuals get fun events and free gear, competitive types get a new meta toy in the LC10, collectors get a jaw-dropping Mythic to chase, and the community gets plenty to talk about. Our verdict: jump in and enjoy the chaos. We’ll see you online, soldier – stay frosty!
