Black Ops 7: Ashes of the Damned Main Quest Easter Egg Guide - Conquer the Undead

Welcome, undead slayers, to Gaming News’ definitive guide to the “Ashes of the Damned” main quest Easter egg in Black Ops 7 Zombies. Prepare yourselves for a grueling journey through treacherous landscapes, cryptic puzzles, and hordes of the undead as we lead you step-by-step to uncovering the map’s secrets and completing the ultimate objective. “Ashes of the Damned” introduces a complex and deeply engaging narrative, and this guide will equip you with the knowledge and strategies needed to emerge victorious.

Preparing for the Descent: Essential Loadout and Strategy

Before diving into the chaos of the Easter egg quest, meticulous preparation is key. Consider your team composition, weapon choices, and perk selections. This preparation will significantly impact your survivability and overall success.

Weapon Selection: Balancing Power and Precision

Selecting the right weapons is paramount for navigating the varying combat scenarios within “Ashes of the Damned.” A well-rounded arsenal should include both high-damage, close-quarters weapons and accurate, long-range options.

• Close-Range Powerhouses: Shotguns like the Haymaker 12 or JAK-12 are invaluable for clearing out dense zombie hordes in confined spaces. Their raw stopping power can provide crucial breathing room when overwhelmed. Alternatively, the PPSH-41, with its high fire rate and manageable recoil, offers sustained damage output against swarms.
• Long-Range Precision: For engaging special zombies and dealing with threats at a distance, consider assault rifles like the XM4 or Krig 6. These weapons offer a balance of accuracy, damage, and versatility, allowing you to effectively engage targets from various ranges. Sniper rifles, such as the LW3 - Tundra, can also be beneficial for eliminating high-value targets or clearing out obstacles from afar, but be mindful of their slower fire rate.
• Ray Gun and Wonder Weapons: The Ray Gun remains a classic choice for its devastating splash damage and ability to quickly eliminate zombies. Acquiring any Wonder Weapon available on the map will significantly boost your firepower and survivability. Prioritize obtaining these weapons as soon as possible.

Perk Selection: Crafting the Ultimate Survivor

Perks are critical for enhancing your abilities and increasing your chances of survival. Selecting the right combination of perks can provide significant advantages in combat, mobility, and recovery.

• Juggernog: This perk remains an indispensable choice, providing a substantial increase to your health. Surviving the onslaught of zombies is impossible without it.
• Speed Cola: Faster reload speeds are crucial for maintaining consistent damage output, especially when facing large hordes. Speed Cola ensures that you spend less time vulnerable during reloads.
• Stamin-Up: Increased movement speed and sprint duration are essential for navigating the map quickly and escaping tight situations. Stamin-Up allows you to outmaneuver zombies and reposition effectively.
• Quick Revive: Reduced health regeneration delay, increased healing rate, and faster revive speed make Quick Revive an invaluable asset, especially when playing in a team. Quicker revives can turn the tide of battle and prevent a game over.
• Mule Kick: With Mule Kick, you can carry a third primary weapon into combat, allowing for even more specialization in combat. For example, you might bring a Sniper Rifle for the special enemies, an SMG for close range combat, and a Ray Gun for when things get messy.

Team Composition: Synergizing Abilities for Maximum Impact

Coordinating with your team and selecting a balanced combination of roles and perks can greatly enhance your chances of success. Consider assigning specific roles to each player based on their strengths and preferences.

• The Tank: One player can focus on drawing the attention of zombies and providing cover for their teammates. This player should prioritize Juggernog and other defensive perks.
• The Medic: Another player can focus on reviving downed teammates and providing support. This player should prioritize Quick Revive and healing abilities.
• The Damage Dealer: The remaining players can focus on dealing damage to zombies and special enemies. These players should prioritize high-damage weapons and offensive perks.
• The Tactical: Communication is critical for the Tactical role, and this player should be keeping tabs on the location of special zombies, checking for item locations, and coordinating team efforts to complete the quest.

The Ashes of the Damned Main Quest: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Now, let’s delve into the main quest itself. Follow these detailed instructions to navigate through each step of the Easter egg.

Step 1: Activating the Anomaly

The first step involves locating and activating the map’s central anomaly. This serves as the catalyst for initiating the main quest.

1. Locate the Anomaly: The anomaly is located in the Central Plaza. It will be marked by a distinct visual distortion.
2. Interact with the Anomaly: Approach the anomaly and interact with it. This will trigger a short cutscene and activate the first phase of the quest.

Step 2: Gathering the Relic Fragments

After activating the anomaly, you’ll need to gather three relic fragments scattered throughout the map.

1. Fragment 1: The Abandoned Mine: Head to the Abandoned Mine section of the map. The fragment is located inside the mine shaft on a table near a wooden crate. Be prepared for a horde of zombies. Clear the area before attempting to collect the fragment.
2. Fragment 2: The Derelict Church: Navigate to the Derelict Church. You’ll find the fragment on the altar, bathed in an ethereal glow. This area is often heavily populated with zombies, so exercise caution.
3. Fragment 3: The Lighthouse Ruins: Make your way to the Lighthouse Ruins. The fragment is located at the top of the lighthouse, overlooking the ocean. This area provides good visibility but also leaves you vulnerable to zombie attacks from multiple directions.
4. Return the Fragments to the Anomaly: Once you’ve collected all three fragments, return to the Central Plaza and interact with the anomaly again to deposit the fragments.

Step 3: The Spectral Echoes Puzzle

With the relic fragments in place, the anomaly will activate a series of spectral echoes that you need to follow in the correct order.

1. Observe the Echoes: Pay close attention to the sequence of spectral echoes that emanate from the anomaly. Each echo will appear at a specific location on the map.
2. Follow the Sequence: Travel to each location in the order that the echoes appeared. At each location, interact with the corresponding object to trigger the next echo in the sequence.
3. Correct Sequence: The correct sequence is: Central Plaza -> Abandoned Mine -> Derelict Church -> Lighthouse Ruins. Completing the sequence correctly will trigger the next step of the quest.
4. Incorrect Sequence: If you follow the sequence incorrectly, you will be penalized with a surge of zombies and have to start again.

Step 4: The Ritual of Binding

Next, you’ll need to perform a ritual of binding at designated locations on the map.

1. Prepare the Ritual Sites: The ritual sites are located in the same locations as the relic fragments: the Abandoned Mine, the Derelict Church, and the Lighthouse Ruins. At each site, you’ll need to clear the area of zombies and activate a nearby interactable object to prepare the site for the ritual.
2. Initiate the Ritual: Once the site is prepared, interact with the designated ritual altar to begin the ritual. This will trigger a timed wave of zombies that you must survive.
3. Survive the Onslaught: Defend the ritual site against the incoming wave of zombies. Prioritize eliminating special zombies and maintaining your defenses.
4. Complete the Ritual: After successfully surviving the wave, the ritual will be complete, and you can move on to the next site.
5. Repeat at all Sites: Repeat steps 1-4 at all three ritual sites to complete this phase of the quest.

Step 5: The Keeper’s Trial

After completing the ritual of binding, you’ll need to face the Keeper’s Trial.

1. Enter the Portal: A portal will open in the Central Plaza. Interact with the portal to enter the Keeper’s Trial.
2. Navigate the Trial: The Keeper’s Trial is a series of challenging combat encounters and puzzles that you must overcome to prove your worth.
3. Solve the Puzzles: The puzzles within the trial require teamwork, observation, and quick thinking. Pay close attention to your surroundings and communicate with your team to solve the puzzles efficiently.
4. Defeat the Enemies: The combat encounters within the trial are intense and unforgiving. Utilize your weapons, perks, and tactical abilities to defeat the waves of enemies.
5. Complete the Trial: After successfully completing all of the puzzles and defeating all of the enemies, you will emerge from the Keeper’s Trial victorious.

Step 6: Confronting the Shadowman

With the Keeper’s Trial behind you, you’ll now face the ultimate antagonist: the Shadowman.

1. Prepare for Battle: Stock up on ammo, armor, and equipment before confronting the Shadowman. This is the final battle, so make sure you’re fully prepared.
2. Locate the Shadowman: The Shadowman will appear in the Central Plaza.
3. Engage the Shadowman: The Shadowman is a formidable opponent with a variety of powerful attacks. Coordinate with your team to focus your fire and avoid his attacks.
4. Weak Points: The Shadowman has several weak points that you can exploit to deal increased damage. These weak points are exposed at specific times during the battle, so pay close attention to his movements and attacks. One of these weak points is during the Shadowman’s lightning attack, in which his chest will glow with a bright blue light.
5. Avoid Special Attacks: The Shadowman’s special attacks can quickly incapacitate or eliminate players. Learn the patterns of his attacks and time your dodges carefully to avoid taking damage.
6. Defeat the Shadowman: After dealing enough damage, the Shadowman will be defeated, and you will have successfully completed the main quest.

Tips and Tricks for Success

To maximize your chances of success, consider these additional tips and tricks:

• Communicate Effectively: Communication is key to coordinating your efforts and overcoming challenges. Use voice chat or text chat to share information, coordinate attacks, and provide support.
• Manage Resources Wisely: Ammo, armor, and equipment are limited resources. Conserve your resources and prioritize using them effectively.
• Master Movement and Evasion: The ability to move quickly and evade enemy attacks is crucial for survival. Practice your movement skills and learn to dodge enemy attacks effectively.
• Exploit Weaknesses: Identify the weaknesses of different enemies and exploit them to deal increased damage.
• Prioritize Objectives: Focus on completing the objectives of the quest and avoid getting distracted by unnecessary tasks.
• Revive Fallen Teammates: Reviving fallen teammates is crucial for maintaining your team’s strength and momentum. Prioritize reviving teammates as quickly as possible.
• Utilize Support Items: Use support items like grenades, monkeys, and self-revives to gain an advantage in combat.
• Learn the Map: Familiarize yourself with the layout of the map to navigate quickly and efficiently.
• Stay Calm and Focused: The “Ashes of the Damned” Easter egg can be challenging, but it’s important to stay calm and focused. Don’t get discouraged by setbacks, and keep working towards your goal.

Conclusion: Triumph Over the Darkness

Congratulations, undead slayers! By following this comprehensive guide, you’ve conquered the “Ashes of the Damned” main quest Easter egg and uncovered the secrets of this treacherous map. Embrace the satisfaction of your accomplishment, and prepare for the next chapter in the Black Ops 7 Zombies saga. Remember to revisit Gaming News for more guides, tips, and tricks to enhance your undead-slaying adventures. Now go forth and dominate the undead!