Raul Menendez is the final test in the Exposure mission, and the fight asks for patience and clear timing rather than just fast shooting. Many players warm up in a CoD BO7 Bot Lobby to steady their aim and learn the fight’s pacing before they try the real encounter. The boss fight turns one of Menendez’s own weapons against him, so the win comes from using the right tool at the right time.

Step 1 — Get to a Safe Position
When the final phase begins, your first job is to move to a secure spot with a good view of the arena. The player should pick a place that has cover and a clear line of sight to where Menendez moves. The team should avoid open ground that lets him flank easily. The player who holds the strike controls must stay at that safe spot while the team manages crowd threats. If you lose cover, retreat and reset before you try to call the strike.

Step 2 — Bring Up the Strike Cursor
After you are safe, the player must activate the airstrike cursor. Use the D-pad to bring up the targeting reticle on your HUD. The player should confirm the cursor is active and practice moving it with small inputs so the aim is steady. The cursor will follow your aim and show where the machete will hit. Do not call the strike yet. The player must wait for Menendez to enter a narrow pause window.

Step 3 — Watch Menendez and Time Your Shot
Menendez moves a lot during the fight, and the success of the strike depends on his brief stops. The player should watch his animation and listen for his dialogue bursts or a heavy attack; Menendez usually freezes for a beat after those moves. The player must hold the cursor over his position as soon as he pauses. Quick changes in his position will break the strike, so be ready to cancel and try again if he twitches. The timing is tight, so stay calm and keep small corrections on the reticle while you wait.

Step 4 — Execute the Strike
When Menendez stops, press the fire button for the airstrike—R2 on PlayStation or RT on Xbox. The strike will call down a massive machete on the targeted spot. The player needs to land that hit three separate times across the fight to drain his health. After the strike fires, watch whether the hit connects. If Menendez dodges or moves, reset, find cover, and pick the next safe window. Repeat the sequence of moving to cover, activating the cursor, timing the pause, and firing the strike until the bar is empty.

Practice Runs and Bot Lobby Use
If the timing feels confusing, rehearse the pattern in a buy CoD BO7 Bot Lobbies until you can spot and use the pause windows without panic. The Bot Lobby lets the player practice the cursor activation and the exact moment to press the strike button without the pressure of a live raid or permadeath run.

Use cover with high panels so you can pop out a moment and then duck back if he moves. Save a stun, flash, or a heavy weapon to stop miniboss adds that try to ruin the window. With steady play and the right timing, the machete airstrike will turn Menendez’s signature into his undoing and end the Exposure mission.