The entry into the zombie mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is not a given. MeinMMO gives you exactly the tips you need to have fun in the undead adventure.
How does the zombie mode work? With the zombie mode, Call of Duty created a co-op series within the universe, which occasionally appears as a PvE mode in various parts of the series. With Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, there is once again a zombie mode, which, however, does not particularly shine with its newcomer-friendliness.
For that, MeinMMO provides you with 5 important tips that will help you immerse yourself in the mode step by step and have many hours of fun.
Although you can start the undead adventure alone, it is especially more fun at the start with friends or teammates. So grab a few companions, keep these tips in mind, and take down endless zombie hordes together.
1. Tip – Put together a strong loadout
Before the match, you can create loadouts under the “Weapons” menu / “Class Editor” submenu starting from Account Level 4. Here you choose a weapon and a field upgrade. The higher you rank up, the more equipment is available to you.
Although instinct says that you need something for distance to keep the zombies away from your brain, melee weapons are the best option. As you mostly fight at short to medium ranges, you need the weapons that deal the most damage here. So use a submachine gun like the MP5 or the KSP or a shotgun like the Gallo 12 as soon as you have one. If you are really bold, start directly with the knife (via GameStar).
During the match, you can pick up a second weapon and swap your firearms as you see fit when you find something new. However, make sure you always have a melee weapon within reach that you can improve later.
Initially, you only have the “Frost Shot” available for the field upgrades. Switch to the “Aether Shroud” as soon as it becomes available. This allows you to hide from the zombies for a moment and even revive fallen teammates when you activate the “Shroud”. “Healing Aura” in team matches and “Ring of Fire” for more damage are also recommended.
2. Tip – Stay calm
This applies on one hand to your fights with the feral zombie fellows, but on the other hand also to your rounds in the matches.
You receive more essence/money for your gameplay progress if you clear zombies not just with regular body shots. Land headshots, grill the hordes of the first rounds with melee attacks, and earn yourself a decent boost to your money. Always keep an eye on the growing hordes and have an escape plan at the ready.
As longer rounds come to an end, take a little breather. The game usually doesn’t pressure you to finish a round quickly, so you can calmly regroup, shop, and upgrade.
3. Tip – Get strong weapons
In zombie mode, weapons come in different colors/rarities that directly correlate with damage. Your loadout weapon is always “Red” and is therefore in the worst category. Every “Blue” weapon is better than your starting weapon. To get better weapons, there are several ways:
- Buying at the Mystery Box gives random weapons
- In some spots on the map, you will see weapon outlines on the walls – you can buy the displayed weapon there
- There are hidden quests that yield weapons
- Upgrade existing weapons at the Arsenal workbench
Find out which weapon suits you best and look for a way to get it as cheaply as possible with a high “color”. After “Blue” comes “Purple” and then “Orange” as the strongest.
If you are confident that you have the right piece, there are further upgrades available through the “Pack a Punch” mechanic. This is part of the story and gives you an interdimensional anti-zombie upgrade and each weapon a unique appearance. While this does cost money, it is a requirement to survive many rounds in the zombie mode.
A detailed beginner’s guide that takes you to the Pack-a-Punch mechanic on the map “Die Maschine” can be found here:
4. Tip – Use your scrap for killstreaks and upgrades
Throughout a match, you collect scrap and high-quality scrap that you can spend on upgrades at the Arsenal or the workbench.
At the Arsenal, you have the option to buy armor with your scrap or upgrade the weapon you are currently holding.
At workbenches, you have a selection of various upgrades. You can get self-revivals, grenades, and even “Killstreaks” from the multiplayer, which zombies are particularly allergic to.
If you have a bit of scrap left, you should check out the workbench from time to time. Highly recommended is the “Helicopter Gunner”. You fly over the map for a while with a helicopter and can fire zombies out of their moldy shoes with a large minigun. At the same time, you disappear from the map during this time. So if you are in heavy distress, you can completely turn the tide and handle the situation from the air.
There is a simple easter egg you can complete in every match to early gather a decent pile of scrap.
5. Tip – Upgrade your gear in the menu
Once you survive 10 rounds in a match, you get what are called Aetherium Crystals. For every further 5 rounds, you also receive one crystal, and an additional one for an evacuation.
The Aetherium Crystals are a currency with which you can make upgrades to weapon classes, field upgrades, or perks outside of matches. The perks are worth it especially when you have improved them a bit. Within a match, you can activate these passive abilities at colorful vending machines when you have the necessary cash.
But spend your crystals primarily on field upgrades or weapon classes at the beginning. Once you notice in the matches that you are earning enough cash to regularly afford the perks, an upgrade here is also worth it.
By following these tips and managing to upgrade your weapons with Pack-a-Punch, the zombie mode truly unfolds. You can discover secrets, follow the story, or simply try to survive as many rounds as possible. The release map “Die Maschine” offers so many hours of engagement. By the way, on February 4th, the second map for the zombie mode will be released: Firebase Z.
