Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies is set to release on November 14th, & may be one of the most anticipated launches in history. In whats being called the second coming of Tranzit, Black Ops 7 will have the largest round based map in the Zombies mode of all time, ‘Ashes of the Damned’. Plenty of new features will be coming within this new Zombies map, from wonder vehicles to 8 different playable characters, & more. Today, we’re going to go over everything coming in the new Zombies experience coming in BO7. Here’s what you need to know:
The Story Headed Into Black Ops 7 Zombies
Before jumping into BO7, let’s recap a bit on the ending of Black Ops 6 Zombies. In the finale map of BO6 Zombies ‘Reckoning’, Requiem defeats either S.A.M or Richtofen (the canon ending hasn’t been made clear) & is then transported into the Dark Aether by the Sentinel Artifact. It appears as though Janus Towers as a whole was transported in as well, based on the intro cutscene (or atleast a variant of it).
Once inside of the Dark Aether, Requeim is confronted by variants of the old Zombies Crew, Edward Richtofen, Tank Dempsey, Nikolai Belinski, & Takeo Masaki. Based on character bios, each variant was pulled from alternate timelines. This seemingly confirms the multiverse has been reawakened in a sense, or atleast these versions of the iconic characters were pulled from within collapsed dimensions inside of the Dark Aether.
Before introductions can be made, a shadowy & western voice breaks the silence. A new chatacter makes his presence known, carrying two totem skulls in cages at his side. After declaring the crews as ‘guests of honor’ or more so ‘the main course’, he wastes no time taking action. Commanding one of his skulls to ‘feed’, the skull opens up, emitting a high pitch scream and stealing the life essence from both crews. This leaves all of them drained & looking like they are part of the undead.
This new villain then heads back into a portal he stepped from, claiming he’ll “see everyone again real soon”. This is speculated to be the ShadowSmith. The same character who pulled Ava Jensen into the mirror at the end of MWZ. The ShadowSmith then decides to summon undead locals to welcome the new guests to the Dark Aether. With options limited, the crews fight side by side to escape the lobby of Janus Towers, & into the vast world beyond that awaits outside. This marks the beginning of the new Zombies map/experience ‘Ashes of the Damned’.
Locations Within ‘Ashes of the Damned’ in Black Ops 7 Zombies
Based on current information, there are 6 major POIs within ‘Ashes of the Damned’, though there’s always room for mini & secret POIs. According to Intel we find in ‘Reckoning’, the new zombies map will have the following POIS:
- Vandorn Farm
- The classic Farm POI returns! The remains of a once happy family stay seated at the table as the farm around them has fallen into chaos.
- Ashwood
- This sunken frontier town was pulled into a rift & transported into the Dark Aether. The town lay abandoned, its inhabitants slaughtered.
- Blackwate Lake
- A cabin overlooks a massive lake within the Dark Aether. The pyramid mentioned in Intel also appears to be present in this POI.
- Exit 115
- The classic Diner from BO2’s Tranzit is back in Ashes of the Damned! Having been ripped from its’ original location, along with part of a freeway, fans will be happy to see the POI return.
- Zarya Cosmodrome
- A recent radio teaser from a Russian Senior Technician suggests that we’ll see a Rocket Research Facility within the map. He states the facility was suddenly teleported into the Dark Aether. A rocket had been launched & frozen in the air, with fire still burning from the engine. This POI is very similar if not a variant of Ascension from BO1.
- Janus Towers Plaza
- The reception area & outer plaza of Janus Towers will be in ‘Ashes of the Damned’. Gameplay within it was shown off in the Black Ops 7 Direct. One of the multiple towers has completely fallen, leaving one standing in ruin.
- The Fog
- The fog remains a mystery within the Dark Aether. Hidden secrets like a forest of monoliths or grounded ship lay inside. Running on foot is not advised as enemies are much faster, & much tougher inside the fog. There is no gradual increase for difficulty, as it’s challenging right off the bat. Watch your step as explosive growths are around every turn.
It’s worth nothing that all Aether Locations, Artifacts, Characters, Enemies, Wonder weapons, etc. were cast into the Dark Aether at the end of Tag Der Toten in BO4. So we could see fragmented locations from previous Black Ops Zombies iterations in this map. Very similar to Revelations from BO3.
Meet the Crew in Black Ops 7 Zombies
With the launch of ‘Ashes of the Damned’, there will be 8 interchangeable characters that you & your squad will be able to play as. It will be a mix & match style, in the same style of Alpha Omega back in BO4, where you could play as both Ultimis & Primis crew members. Let’s take a look at our dedicated crew that you’ll be able to play as:
Requiem
The Requiem team returns in ‘Ashes of the Damned’. Having gone through their journey in BO6 & being cast into the Dark Aether at the end of ‘Reckoning’, the team now face all sorts of new enemies in this new conundrum they find themselves in, from the ShadowSmith, to having their life essence stolen.
- Grigori Weaver
- The leader of the excommunicated Requiem, Weaver is was a battle-hardened soldier, with an mastery in espionage & combat. He continues to fight for what he believes in, regardless of past tactical mistakes made. After the events of BO6 & Janus Towers, Weaver has become a grizzled leader, who now must lead his team into the unknown of the Dark Aether.
- Elizabeth Grey
- Former scientist Dr. Elizabeth Grey was well known for her research in Aetherium, even if it ended up being used for nefarious purposes. She retains her knowledge & scientific genius to provide every advantage she can for Requiem after the events of Janus Towers. She’s beginning to understand science & reason can’t explain everything.
- Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Carver
- Major Carver hails from a family lineage of military expertise. Having been stripped of his rank however, Carver maintains his discipline, though seeks a future free of masters, be it mortal, or ethereal. After the events of BO6, Carver still seeks to protect his friends from the oncoming threat of the Dark Aether.
- Maya Aguinaldo
- A former smuggler who crossed paths with Requiem, Maya found herself sticking with the team after the events of Terminus & tracking down the syndicate who took her brother. While her new purpose in Requiem remains unknown, it seems she’ll need to fight alongside them once again to survive the Dark Aether after the events of Janus Towers.
The Returning Crew
The iconic characters that everyone have come to know & love have returned as new variations here in ‘Ashes of the Damned’. All of these versions of the characters have been pulled from different timelines, & essentially different worlds. Thrust into a new scenario, they must fight alongside Requeim to regain their life essence & escape the Dark Aether.
- Takeo Masaki
- The disgraced & exiled Ronin Takeo Masaki, seemingly roamed Feudal Japan without a purpose back in 1591. Now pulled into the Dark Aether, he seeks to gain redemption through the heat of battle. His blade while casting judgment upon his foes, also remains a burden he must carry.
- Edward Richtofen
- The brilliant, hinged, & ambitious Dr. Edward Richtofen was known as a hero of the Reich. Though this ambition was corrupted, he’s able to hide it through quick wits & charm. Tendencies of the old Richtofen we’re familiar with are present, as he’s vowed to make all of reality bend to his will. This version of the Dr. was pulled from 1945, where the Axis Powers had triumphed over the Allied Nations. Can this Richtofen be trusted?
- Tank Dempsey
- The battle-tested Marine Tank Dempsey, had been pulled from his reality where he’d fought through the jungles of Vietnam back in 1968. Sarcastic yet gritty as ever, Dempsey now finds himself trapped in the Dark Aether & fighting amongst a plethora of new faces & an unfamiliar battleground.
- Nikolai Belinski
- This Nikolai Belinski was a Tank Commander fighting in the brutality of 1984 Afghanistan, now pulled into the Dark Aether. His own decisions & previous betrayals haunt his mind while trying to remain steadfast in the face of danger & dismay. Will he take charge similar to the old Nikolai?
‘Ashes of the Damned’ Gameplay in Black Ops 7
‘Ashes of the Dead’ is the launch map in Black Ops 7 Zombies. With the launch of this new zombies experience, there’s a plethora of new features & gameplay that will be introduced. From vehicles, to enemies, & new environments, there will be plenty of content for players to explore & enjoy. Let’s go over what we know so far for BO7 Zombies gameplay.
Wonder Vehicle – Ol’ Tessie
There’s a brand new Wonder Vehicle that’s been discussed coming in ‘Ashes of the Dead’. Ol’ Tessie will be used to travel across the map, similar to vehicles in Outbreak back in Black Ops Cold War. The battle hardened vehicle will get you from place to place, but can still be damaged & will need repairs. Once it’s first discovered, the vehicle will be disabled. You’ll need to locate T.E.D.D’s head to attach him the vehicle, who will then bring Ol’ Tessie to life.
Ol’ Tessie will also be able to obtain a number of upgrades as the game goes on. One of these key upgrades being the Pack A Punch. Once you obtain the jet engine from Ashwood, you’ll be able to attach it to Ol’ Tessie, along with a thruster. The next upgrade you can find is the Abomination Carcass. This will attach three Abomination heads to the front of Ol’ Tessie. They are able to fire beams & destroy all who stand in the way. This upgrade will also fortify your vehicle further. A final upgrade can be made, which is mounting a DG-2 turret on top of the vehicle.
New Wonder Weapon – Necrofluid Gauntlet
This mysterious & new Wonder Weapon takes the shape of a Gauntlet, with a skull emerging from it. The weapon seems to be alive & seeking undead nourishment. It can be used at both melee & long range distances, making it efficient in both fields. The fluid that flows within the gauntlet can also be commended & shaped into damaging spikes that fire at enemies, before returning on command. The gauntlet can also pull in items and/or power-ups that may be at a distance from you.
New Enemies
Based on both the Intel from ‘Reckoning’ & the key Art for Black Ops 7 Zombies, there will be new enemies to face in the Dark Aether. Let’s take a look at these new enemies, as well as changes to the returning undead hordes.
Zursa
This new undead Elite level threat goes by the name ‘Zursa’. It contains parasitic infestations known as ‘Zombees’. They live within the hive like growths on Zursa, & can swarm players to inflict damage. Zursa’s main attacks come in bites, or mauling, alongside charging attacks. Zursa will prove to be a major threat within Ashes of the Damned.
Ravagers
Ravagers are a new enemy type that serve as both scavengers, & aggressors. They lurk within the Dark Aether in packs, making them increasingly difficult to handle. They can grab onto vehicles, even if moving at an accelerated rate. These creatures are also drawn to items dropped, such as salvage & other dropped items. Their claws can inflict major damage to players or vehicles, especially in large numbers to overpower individuals.
Zombies & Armored Zombies
The undead hordes persistent in taking you down, even after all these years. They strike with ferocity & in different forms including armored & heavy armored Zombies. They will still tear off chunks of their flesh to attack players out of reach. Some changes have been made to them from previous iterations however, which include the following:
- There will be less Super Sprinter Zombies. Even in the higher rounds. Armored zombies will also no longer turn into super sprinters.
- Armored Zombies will be more durable, but much slower depending on if they’re wearing armor or not.
- Explosive damage is less effective against zombie armor, though armor itself is more easily destroyed.
- You can slide into normal zombies to knock them over, but much damage isn’t done.
- There will now be audio cues when zombies increase in strength as rounds go up during games.
New Perk – Wisp Tea
A brand new perk is coming in ‘Ashes of the Damned’! This perk takes heavy inspiration from ‘Blood Wolf Bite’ from Black Ops 4! Rather than a wolf following you around, it will be a blue wisp that takes out the zombies/enemies. When it’s summoned is determined by damage done to enemies. The wish will appear when enemies are killed quicker.
To add to the benefits of this new perk, the wisp will also not kill the last zombie of a round, as opposed to Blood Wolf Bite.
Jump Pads
Jump Pads make their services available in ‘Ashes of the Damned’. Once you are able to return power to a location with a jump pad, you can adjust the console to select a destination point to travel rapidly to. Keep in mind you’ll likely need to power up the chosen location with the landing point you wish to travel to. These will provide tactical advantages in high stress situations, as well as for fast travel across the massive landscape of ‘Ashes of the Damned’.
New Trap – Saw Blade
This new crudely constructed trap will emit wailing sounds along with eerie music to draw in the undead through megaphones. From there, the three circular saws attached to it will cut the hordes down. These are likely scattered throughout the map.
New Exfil – Phone Booth
Having not known of what’s happened to Raptor One, players are given a new form of exfil in BO7, the Phone Booth portals. Similar to Exfils in Cold War & BO6, once an exfil is activated, any players who accept will need to defeat an HVT & it’s minions before a timer expires. These phone booths will activate every now again between rounds. There are some key differences to note:
- The Phone Booths will activate portals upon accepting the exfil. Any other phone booth around the map will create a portal to the player/phone booth that started the exfil.
- If some teammates decide not to accept the exfil, they can continue their match after an exfil has concluded. Regardless if the other teammates succeed or fail, declining players can continue on their ventures without penalty. Though, they can still lend a hand in defeating the HVT if they desire to do so.
T.E.D.D. Tasks
Similar to the S.A.M. Trials from Cold War & BO6 Zombies, T.E.D.D. Tasks overtake the role of timed challenges for players to complete. The rewards will increase in rarity based on you/your team’s performance in the challenge. Rewards can be the following: Random Perks, equipment, & Aether Tools.
New & Familiar Looks (Ammo Cache, Mystery Box, Crafting Table)
The Ammo Cache
The ammo cache is back with a new look & some new audio to provide players with ammunition they require. The caches now resemble wooden crates that sport artistic depictions of Mister Peeks on the front. The open top reveals all the ammo you could ever imagine that you’d need, for a cost of course.
Crafting Table
The crafting table receives a reskin in Black Ops 7 Zombies. It sports a more traditional old-school workbench appearance, as opposed to the one used in Black Ops 6 Zombies, as well as Cold War. All craftable equipment returns in BO7 Zombies, including the new Disciple Injection!
Mystery Box
Old-school Zombies fans may recognize the appearance of this Mystery Box. The classic Origins mystery box has reemerged in ‘Ashes of the Damned’. How this is possible? it’s worth remembering all relics of the old Aether were purged here, so this variant of the Box must have also been sent here. There are a few adjustments that have been made for the Mystery Box:
- Chances to obtain Wonder Weapons, while still rare, will gradually increase as you progress rounds. Weapon Rarities will also increase under these rules.
- Support Items (Scorestreaks) will no longer appear in the Box.
- Melee Weapons will no longer appear in the Box.
- The Mystery Box will provide a chance to provide Aether Tools.
THE END
That’s all we know so far on BO7 Zombies map, ‘Ashes of the Damned’. Be sure to stay tuned as we update this article as information is revealed! Be sure to check out a video breaking down info on ‘Ashes of the Damned’ down below:
Stay connected with any new updates on Black Ops 7 Zombies as they release on our Twitter, and our YouTube Channel!
