Ultimate Guide to the Black Ops 7 Zombies ASHES OF THE DAMNED Easter Egg
Welcome back to the latest iteration of the enduring Zombies experience, with an entirely new depth of secrets and complexity, particularly on the first map, ASHES OF THE DAMNED. Here, high-level players begin the ultimate quest: how to complete the main Black Ops 7 Zombies ASHES OF THE DAMNED Easter Egg.
In this in-depth guide, we move beyond basic mechanics—covering power and Pack-a-Punch—to expose important secrets of the map, Perma-Perk system, new enemy behaviors, and optimized starting loadouts.
Pre-Game Loadout & Essential Mechanics
Mastery of the map begins before the match has even loaded in. Setting up your loadout correctly will greatly expedite the early game, especially for solo Easter Egg attempts.
Loadout Configuration:
Weapon Loadout: You choose any weapon that is unlocked and take it into the match. Its progression carries over in Multiplayer, Campaign, and main game mode. You must make sure you attach the maximum eight attachments as you will be going into instant action.
Field Upgrades: Select your preferred Field Upgrade; choices include Aether Shroud, Frenzied Guard, and the newest addition, Toxic Growth.
Augments (The Core System): Augments return, allowing you to equip one Major and up to two Minor modifiers for every Perk-a-Cola, Ammo Mod, and Field Upgrade. This system is key to high-round survival.
Note: If you are upgrading from the previous expansion, all of your prior research remains and you have immediate access to Major and Minor Augments. If you complete the final research tier of an item, you can then equip two Minor Augments.
GobbleGums: Select up to five GobbleGums to take in. Any collected from the prior game are carried over.
Augments and Early Game
From my extensive time in the early rounds, I noticed that prioritizing Augment research for Speed Cola and a strong offensive Ammo Mod—such as Brain Rot—dramatically reduces time spent securing power. The Toxic Growth Field Upgrade is new but really good at protecting the vehicle O.Tessie—a central map mechanic—at certain points in critical travel sequences.
Power & Pack-a-Punch: Activating O.Tessie
Initial steps involve turning on the power and unlocking the Pack-a-Punch machine, both closely associated with the unique in-game O.Tessie vehicle.
The O.Tessie Ignition Sequence
Get Ted's Head:
Buy the door in the spawn room leading to the Server Room.
Find the exact corner in the Server Room, then use your melee attack on the grate to uncover Ted's Head.
Place the object in the vehicle O.Tessie, and press in front of the door to install the head. The vehicle is now operable.
Restore Power (Two-Branch Path): You'll need to guide O.Tessie through to clear two separate Infestations. You'll need to go down one path first, either left or right, breaking through wooden barriers:
Left Path (Monolith rightarrow Black Water Lake): Travel across Monolith. At Black Water Lake, you have to destroy around eight Spores on the power pylon within a narrow time frame of 30 seconds. If you succeed, power will be restored to this region.
Correct Path Collapsed Tower rightarrow Van Doorn Farm: Maneuver through the collapsed tower area. At Van Doorn Farm, repeat the 30-second Spore destruction objective. Success restores power to this area.
Activating Final Pack-a-Punch
When both areas have power, drive O.Tessie to the middle area: Ashwood.
Take the far left zipline to Market Square.
Ashwood Bridge: Buy the rubble that creates access to Ashwood Bridge. Demolish the third Infestation pylon on the bridge during the 30-second window.
Turn on the power switch located atop the bridge. This powers on the Garage.
Drive O.Tessie into the Garage and onto the central circular spot. An item will appear on the workbench, which, upon interaction, installs the Pack-a-Punch machine onto the back of O.Tessie.
Note: The Pack-a-Punch is now fully portable, permanently attached to O.Tessie. This allows for unprecedented mobility for upgrading the weapons.
Advanced Gameplay and Perma-Perk Secrets
The map contains secrets, including how to obtain free resources and the very coveted permanent Perk status, beyond basic setup.
Secrets of the Damned Map (The Plant Quest)
One of the secret mechanics provides options for acquiring points, salvage, equipment, and even weapons for free:
Fumigator Item: Find a specific fumigator item that appears in various locations on the maps, such as in the Spawn Room near the Rampage Inducer or tool shed at Black Water Lake.
Locate Plant: Find the small green plants (orbs) scattered on the ground.
Spray and Defend: Spray the plant with the fumigator. The plant attracts normal Zombies and summons purple-eyed Zombies with special skills. You have to protect that plant until it fully develops and explodes into a purple burst.
Rewards: The explosion gives instant, free rewards upon its discharge. Examples include 1000 Salvage, 500 Points, or even a random high-tier equipment/weapon. Another round can be repeated since the plants will regenerate.
The Black Ops 7 Zombies ASHES OF THE DAMNED Easter Egg Perma-Perk
One of the coolest secrets is getting Perma-Perks—perks which are not lost upon going down:
Requirement: You must have all the Perk-a-Colas currently active on your Operator in bo7.
Implementation: Perform a Ted Trial (unlocked after powering up the three parts).
Reward: If the trial is completed when the player already has all the Perks, the reward chest will give them a random Perk-a-Cola as a bonus.
Perma-Status: Taking this bonus Perk will display an on-screen notice: "Permanent Perk Acquired." What this implies is that in case of going down and self-reviving (or being revived by a teammate), that particular Perk stays on. On subsequent downs, you will lose the usual Perks one by one, but the Perma-Perks are locked in, granting an unparalleled late-game advantage.
