Black Ops 6 Zombies Guide

Welcome, survivors! In this Black Ops 6 Zombies guide, we’ll be covering the zombies game mode, explaining how it works and how to survive in it. We’ll go over every major detail and gameplay system that you’ll experience in this game mode so that you’re better prepared to deal with the hordes of undead while farming rewards.

As always, if you still need help with this game mode, we recommend buying Skycoach’s exclusive Zombies mode completion service, where our team of veteran CoD players will get into the game with you or instead of you to help you complete any objectives you’re having problems with!

Read our other Black Ops 6 guides:

• Best Weapons Tier List
• How to Level Up Fast
• Best Loadouts Guide
• Best Settings Guide
• How to Unlock All Mastery Camos
• Best Perks Tier List
• How to Rank Up Fast in Ranked Play

 

 

Black Ops 6 Zombies Maps

At launch, the zombies mode comes with two distinct maps:

1. Terminus Island: The CIA outpost is located in the Philippine Sea and features military structures, a laboratory, and mining caves. The missions will be led by operators with code names Peck and Strauss. You’ll be tasked with escaping the island’s prison while defending against hordes of the undead.
2. Liberty Falls: a quiet town located somewhere in West Virginia overrun by zombies. You can expect to see many iconic places intrinsic to the small towns scattered all across the U.S.

Although these maps are quite large, don’t expect them to match the scale of the zombies mode from Modern Warfare 3 and Al Mazrah. There’s still plenty of space to run around and explore, but you won’t have access to vehicles of any kind. Despite the fact that this might feel like a downgrade, in truth, the compact size of maps makes for a more engaging and thrilling experience.

Still, there’s enough space to have meaningful exploration and, more importantly, to have secrets and easter eggs. So much so that the Terminus Island will the entire island open for exploration and completion of side quests! You should definitely spend some time just exploring because there’s a good chance that you’ll find some hidden, powerful weapons or power ups.

How Black Ops 6 Zombies Rounds Work?

The first important change compared to the previous Zombies mode version is the shift from open-world missions-based gameplay to a more classical waves-based rounds system. If you played any of the earlier CoD games that had Zombie mode, you must remember that you start in round 1 and survive certain amount of Brain-eaters while completing additional objectives. Then, you’ll have a moment of respite followed by a new round. The same structure is applied in Black Ops 6 with a few twists. BLOG20

BO6 Zombies Currency and Resources

One of two currencies in Zombies mode is called Essense. You gain it by obliterating walkers or by picking up something called Dark Aether Essence pick-ups (you’ll know when you see it) that drop from more beefed-up versions of brain-eaters. Essence is pretty important for progression and survival. Not only can you buy various upgrades and weapons with it, but you can also unlock blocked or closed areas of the map or alternative passages. And as you may know – the more room for maneuver you have, the easier it’ll be to take down larger hordes of the brain-eaters.

The second currency is called Salvage, and you mainly use it to upgrade stuff using a Crafting Table. Salvage is player-specific, so nobody will be stealing your pick-up if you’re too slow. By the way, Salvage also drops from the living dead.

BO6 Zombies Augments Guide

Augments is a new meta-progression system that lets you customize your playstyle before you set foot on a mission. Here’s how it works.

All of the power-up items in the game, whether the Perks, Mods for ammo, and Field Upgrades, can be upgraded using Augments.

These Augments are unlocked through research and imbued into one of the power-ups in the menus before the mission starts. There’s a research tree for each individual power-up that allows you to unlock up to 6 Augments. They come in two forms:

• Minor Augment provides a small benefit to the item, typically enhancing its performance when in use.
• Major Augment grants a significant improvement to the item's functionality, generally influencing its behavior during use.

As you unlock more augments by completing challenges and tasks, only two of them can be imbued at the same time into the same item.

BO6 Zombies Loadouts & Field Upgrades

At the start, you'll have access to some classic Field Upgrades from previous Zombies games:

• Aether Shroud: Slip into the Dark Aether like a ghost, turning invisible and leaving those undead brain-munchers completely clueless.
• Frenzied Guard: Patch up your armor while taunting the horde. Every kill repairs your gear, turning you into a walking tank with attitude.
  Healing Aura: Unleash a hero-worthy healing beam that revives and heals your squad, saving the day like a true legend.
• Energy Mine: Toss out a sneaky mine that goes boom when triggered, frying the undead and leaving them stunned in their tracks.

A new addition, Dark Flare, which literally lets you blast a beam of dark energy and spray it on the brainless zombies.

Besides Field Upgrades, you’ll have an entire arsenal of firearms of various classes and types. Everything that spits bullets and other types of lethal projectiles can be upgraded, swapped, found, or bought from the Wall Buy.

The Tactical and Lethal equipment are also back with tacticals offering strategic, non-lethal advantages and lethals delivering powerful damage to thin out the undead hordes. Tacticals help control crowds, heal, or deceive enemies, while lethals are your go-to for obliterating walking corpses when you’re overwhelmed. Both types of equipment can be crafted using Salvage collected during the game, with each piece of equipment providing a unique advantage in combat.

A set-and-forget explosive that triggers when zombies get close, ideal for defensive plays or ambushes.
This combined approach allows for a variety of tactical maneuvers and devastating attacks to adapt to different situations, from controlling zombie movement to dealing massive area damage.

Black Ops 6 Zombies Crafting Table Guide

The Crafting Table in Black Ops 6 Zombies mode is a crucial tool for upgrading your arsenal, creating equipment, and enhancing your overall chances of survival. Found at various locations across the map, this station allows you to craft a range of tactical and lethal equipment, as well as powerful support items, by using Salvage—an in-game currency collected from defeated stumbling cadavers or found as ground loot.

How to Use the Crafting Table

Using the Crafting Table is simple and highly effective. First, gather Salvage, which drops from zeds as you slay them. Once you’ve accumulated enough, approach any Crafting Table and interact with it. You’ll be presented with a menu of items that you can create, ranging from basic tactical and lethal gear to powerful support equipment like Scorestreaks. Each item has a specific Salvage cost, and you can craft as many items as you want, provided you have enough Salvage and space in your inventory.

The table becomes a vital resource as the rounds progress and the zombies become more difficult to manage, allowing you to adapt your loadout on the fly by crafting additional equipment.

What Can Be Made at the Crafting Table

The Crafting Table gives you access to a variety of items, all of which can play a pivotal role in your fight against the undead. These items are broken down into categories like Tacticals, Lethals, and Support Equipment.

Tacticals and Lethals

While the dead drop some Tacticals and Lethals, you can craft the full range of these items at the Crafting Table. This includes:

• Concussion Grenades: Toss one to slow down those brain-hungry fiends, making them perfect targets for a quick headshot.
• Stim Shots: Get back in the action faster with instant healing, perfect for those tight spots when you're cornered.
• Smoke Grenades: Create a smoky escape route or blind the dead for a quick getaway.
• Decoy Grenades: Distract the horde by pulling their attention elsewhere, giving you breathing room or setting up for a devastating ambush.
• Shock Charges: Zap the zombies with a jolt of electricity, leaving them stunned and wide open for easy kills.
• Cymbal Monkeys & LT53 Kazimir: Distract and annihilate entire crowds of zombies with these explosive bait gadgets, turning a swarm into a fireworks show.

You can also create an arsenal of lethal weapons like Frag Grenades, Molotovs, and C4 to deal explosive damage when the undead are swarming.

Support Equipment

Support items provide even more powerful tools that can be the difference between life and death in the heat of battle. Some of the support items you can craft include:

• Self-Revive: This essential item lets you revive yourself if downed, giving you a second chance when you're in a tight spot.
• ARC-XD: An explosive RC car that detonates with small Aether blasts, damaging Skinbags in its vicinity.
• Sentry Turret: An automated turret that scans the area and attacks zombies in a cone in front of it, providing valuable cover.
• Mutant Injection: A new addition to your arsenal, this item temporarily transforms you into a Mangler—a towering, armored brute with a powerful melee attack, Mangler Cannon, and a devastating barging sprint. In this form, you can wreak havoc on zombies with significantly enhanced damage, making it one of the most powerful Support items available.

Further Improvements and Strategy

Once you've accessed the Crafting Table, it's important to prioritize what items to craft based on your current situation. For example, if you’re in the early rounds, focus on stocking up on basic Tacticals and Lethals. As the rounds progress and enemies become tougher, start using Salvage to craft more advanced Support Equipment like the Sentry Turret or Self-Revive to maintain an edge.

By effectively using the Crafting Table, you can ensure you’re always equipped with the necessary tools to keep up with the escalating threat of the undead, making it an essential part of your survival strategy in Black Ops 6 Zombies.

The GobbleGum System: What It Is and How to Use It

In Black Ops 6 Zombies, the GobbleGum system introduces a unique layer of strategy, giving players access to special one-time-use abilities that can turn the tide of battle. These GobbleGums are stored in custom packs that you can create from your inventory before entering a match. During gameplay, you can acquire them by interacting with GobbleGum machines scattered throughout the map, which dispense a random GobbleGum from your selected pack.

Using GobbleGum Machines

To really spice things up with the GobbleGum system, whip up a custom pack before jumping into the chaos. You get five GobbleGums of your choosing, and they’ll pop out like a candy dispenser of chaos, keeping you on your toes as you never know which power-up will hit you next! The machine does not require any in-game currency (Essence) to operate, and you can receive a new GobbleGum each time you use it, though the machine has a cooldown after each use or resets at the start of a new round. Once you collect your GobbleGum from the machine, it appears in your inventory, and you can store up to three GobbleGums at a time.

While these consumables offer a powerful temporary boost, they are single-use, meaning once you use a GobbleGum in a match, it disappears from your inventory for good. However, new GobbleGums can be earned simply by playing the game, ensuring that your supply can be replenished regularly.

 

GobbleGum Rarities and Their Effects

GobbleGums come in various levels of rarity, each offering unique effects that range from enhancing your armor to providing comic relief. The general rule is that the higher the rarity, the stronger the ability, but there are also whimsical GobbleGums that add a touch of humor to your game. Here’s a breakdown of the rarities:

• Rare GobbleGums: These provide helpful but not game-breaking effects. For example, "Shields Up" doubles your armor strength for three minutes, while "Kill Joy" spawns an Insta-Kill Power-up, making short work of even the toughest Zombs.
• Epic GobbleGums: Offering more substantial benefits, these include abilities like "Free Fire," which allows you to fire without consuming ammo for 60 seconds, and "Soda Fountain," which gives an extra random perk whenever you purchase a new one.
• Legendary GobbleGums: These are particularly powerful, such as "Phoenix Up," which revives all downed teammates and lets them keep their perks, or "Wall-to-Wall Clearance," making Wall Buys cost a fraction of their usual price.
• Ultra GobbleGums: The most potent of the bunch, Ultras offer abilities like "Perkaholic," which grants you all the perks on the map at once, and "Wonderbar!," guaranteeing the next Mystery Box pull will yield a Wonder Weapon.
• Whimsical GobbleGums: As the name suggests, these aren't about gaining an advantage but more about injecting fun into the gameplay. For instance, "Newtonian Negation" causes zombies to float upwards when killed for three minutes, adding a bizarre twist to the usual chaos.

Customizing and Switching Packs

Once in-game, you aren’t locked into the same GobbleGum pack for the entire match. You can switch between custom packs by accessing the in-game menu. Changing packs shuffles the randomized order of the GobbleGums in the new set, giving you fresh opportunities to utilize different effects as the match progresses. However, remember that GobbleGums cannot be traded or dropped for teammates—what you pick is yours alone.

Earning New GobbleGums

Even though GobbleGums are single-use items, you can replenish your collection regularly just by playing. After completing several rounds, the game may reward you with one or more new GobbleGums, delivered at the start of the next round. Additionally, any unused GobbleGums in your inventory remain after the match ends, so you won't lose them even if you get disconnected mid-game. BLOG20

Strategy and Impact

The GobbleGum system adds both depth and unpredictability to the gameplay. Depending on what GobbleGum is dispensed at a critical moment, you may find yourself reviving an entire team, dealing with hordes without using a single bullet, or simply getting a good laugh as Meat Puppets defy gravity. The real strategy comes from not only choosing your pack wisely but also knowing when to use your GobbleGums for maximum effect.

Black Ops 6 Zombies Upgrades: Perk-a-Colas, Ammo Mods & Power Ups

One of the classic power ups that you can pick up during a mission is a Perk-a-Cola. A level will contain a number of vending machines where you’ll be able to pick up a can of Cola, consuming which will apply a perk. You can have multiple perks active at the same time, but the more you have, the more expensive the next one will be. By the way, these vending machines sell these cans for Essence. Here’s a list of perks and what they do:

By finding these machines scattered across Terminus Island, or accessing them all at once at the Der Wunderfizz Machine, players can purchase Perks with Essence and customize their loadout to match the challenge ahead. In case you were wondering BO6 Zombies How to survive, these upgrades are super important. They’re also what makes this game mode so fun!

Ammo Mods

The next type of power up, enhances your weapon instead of your character. Ammo Mods change the way your gun works. The effects include anything from increased magazine capacity to adding elemental damage to the bullets.

Ammo Mods that can be bought using Salvage and only one can be applied on a gun at a time. Here’s the list:

With these Ammo Mods, players can tailor their weaponry to counter various enemy types and adapt to the chaotic combat scenarios that arise in the game. By unlocking Augments for each Ammo Mod, players can further refine their tactics and maximize their effectiveness against the undead horde.

Power Ups Explained

Continuing with the topic of making yourself more powerful, players can anticipate a selection of classic Power-Ups that enhance gameplay and support team strategies during intense battles. Successfully clearing enemy incursions rewards players with these Power-Ups, which can dramatically alter the course of a match. It's crucial to decide the optimal moment to activate these Power-Ups, as they can provide critical advantages before they disappear.

Utilizing these Power-Ups effectively can mean the difference between survival and defeat in Black Ops 6 Zombies. Players should communicate with their team to strategize when to activate these boosts for maximum impact, enhancing their chances of overcoming the undead hordes.

The Pack-a-Punch Machine and Elemental Damage

When venturing into the treacherous world of Black Ops 6 Zombies, maximizing your firepower is essential, and the Pack-a-Punch Machine (PAP) serves as your primary tool for weapon upgrades. Accessible with Essence acquired from dispatching deadwalkers, this machine transforms your standard weaponry into formidable variants. Although it starts out powerless, once you restore the outpost and gather enough Essence, you can effortlessly access the PAP with a single button press—streamlining the upgrade process and keeping the action flowing without the hassle of menus.

Each of your Primary and Melee weapons, as well as any Wonder Weapons you find, can be upgraded up to three times at the PAP. These upgrades significantly enhance firepower, often yielding unexpected effects alongside increased damage, chambered ammunition, and overall ammo reserves. You can also personalize your weapon's appearance by toggling Pack-a-Punch camos on or off in the settings. Each PAP tier showcases a unique, radiant camouflage, accompanied by distinct audio effects that add a satisfying layer to your upgraded arsenal. BLOG20

Among the most coveted weapons in Black Ops 6 Zombies are the Wonder Weapons, rare firearms of unimaginable power. One such weapon is the Beamsmasher, a heavy-duty armament that resembles a light machine gun. This devastating device emits a super-charged Aetheric beam capable of breaking down organic matter at the molecular level, resulting in visually explosive effects. The Beamsmasher features two firing modes: the primary mode unleashes a solid beam that vaporizes enemies on contact, while the secondary mode utilizes focused soundwaves to incapacitate foes, making them more susceptible to additional damage. With the capability to be Pack-a-Punched three times, its enhancements further amplify its already extraordinary power.

In addition to weapon upgrades, Black Ops 6 Zombies incorporates various elemental damage types, each with its unique benefits. These elemental sources can significantly influence your combat strategy, especially as you encounter increasingly formidable foes. Here’s a quick overview of the elemental effects:

• Frost: Slows or freezes enemies, useful for crowd control. (Source: Cryo Freeze Ammo Mod)
• Fire: Causes burst damage and applies damage over time, effective against large groups. (Sources: Napalm Burst Ammo Mod, Molotov Lethal Equipment)
• Electric: Stuns enemies and delivers area-of-effect damage, disrupting enemy movements. (Source: Dead Wire Ammo Mod)
• Toxic: Corrupts enemies and can potentially turn them into allies. (Source: Brain Rot Ammo Mod)
• Shadow: Manipulates gravity and deals associated damage, providing unique crowd control tactics. (Sources: Dark Flare Field Upgrade, Shadow Rift Ammo Mod, LT53 Kazimir Tactical Equipment)

Understanding which elemental damage types exploit specific weaknesses in enemies is crucial for survival as you face relentless hordes. Experimenting with different elemental powers can be a game-changer, allowing you to adapt your strategy and enhance your team's effectiveness in combat.

How To Get Loot In BO6 Zombies: Ground Loot, Ammo Caches, Wall Buys & Mystery Boxes

In Black Ops 6 Zombies, you’ll have lots of opportunities to find better weapons and tools. Just look around and take whatever you might need. There’s usually no time to plan and think in between waves, so pay attention to the color of the item that you can pick up. Anyway, here’s what you can find as ground loot:

1. Salvage (Green): Automatically collected from defeated foes, Salvage contributes to your total and can be utilized to enhance weapon rarity at the Arsenal Machine, purchase or swap Ammo Mods, or craft Tactical, Lethal, and Support Equipment using the Crafting Machine.
2. Armor Plates (White): If your reserve inventory contains fewer than three Armor Plates, any found on the ground will be picked up automatically, ensuring you stay protected.
3. Tacticals, Lethals, Support Equipment, and Ammo Mods (Blue): Occasionally, Tactical and Lethal items drop from enemies, along with the rare occurrence of Support Equipment and Ammo Mods. These items must be manually collected, giving you the option to swap out parts of your loadout.

Scattered across the maps, Ammo Caches serve as military supply points that can be interacted with to refill your current weapons at the cost of Essence. This refill includes any firearms or weapons that require bullets or shells, even Wonder Weapons. Be aware that the cost increases as your weapon's power escalates, making it essential to monitor your Essence levels, especially when returning to the Pack-a-Punch Machine.

Wall Buys are another valuable method for acquiring weapons and armor. These are characterized by chalk outlines on walls that signify the available weapon and its rarity—ranging from green (Uncommon) to orange (Legendary). The rarity of Wall Buy weapons increases as you progress through rounds, providing several key benefits:

• You can obtain a different weapon type if your current loadout isn't cutting it or if you need a secondary Primary weapon.
• Each Wall Buy weapon comes with a predefined rarity, ensuring it packs a more substantial punch right from the get-go.
• For those who have crafted a Zombie Build, purchasing a weapon from a Wall Buy will yield a rarified version of your customized weapon or blueprint, complete with your chosen Attachments and Cosmetics.

Additionally, Armor Wall Buys offer crucial enhancements to your defensive capabilities. There are typically two types of Armor Wall Buys, which correspond to different armor levels:

1. Level II Armor Vest (Rare/Blue): This sturdy vest lets you stack on two armor plates, giving you a solid boost in protection against those pesky zombies.
2. Level III Armor Vest (Epic/Purple): This top-tier vest takes it up a notch, allowing for three armor plates, ensuring you're fully decked out for ultimate survival against the undead hordeю

Once you purchase from an Armor Wall Buy, it becomes inactive, so it’s essential to collect Armor Plates through Ground Loot or craft them at the Crafting Table.

The Mystery Box is back in action, adding a thrilling twist to your gameplay! This legendary feature pops up in various (yet somewhat predictable!) spots, offering players the chance to snag a random weapon. It’s a treasure trove of surprises, including some exclusive goodies you can’t find anywhere else. Accessing the Mystery Box costs Essence, and once you pull a weapon, you can decide to keep it, hand it off to a teammate, or take another spin for something new. What can you find inside?

You might score:

• A random weapon that fits your play style.
• A unique Wonder Weapon that packs a serious punch.
• A random support item to help your team thrive in the heat of battle.

Get ready to gamble and see what epic gear awaits!

The rarity of the weapon obtained from the Mystery Box varies, indicated by the glowing color surrounding it—Uncommon, Rare, Epic, or Legendary. The rarity tier directly affects the weapon's damage output, allowing players to acquire powerful arms sooner than if relying solely on Loadout Weapons. As you progress through rounds, the chances of receiving higher rarity weapons or Wonder Weapons from the Mystery Box significantly increase.

Additionally, thanks to the Zombie Build system, there is a possibility that a weapon from the Mystery Box matches one you've already customized in your Loadout Menu, but with an enhanced rarity upgrade. After several spins, the Mystery Box will feature the beloved undead rabbit, Mr. Peeks, who teleports the box to another area on the map, signified by a shard of blue light indicating its new location. This mechanic encourages exploration and strategy as you seek out powerful loot to aid in your fight against the relentless undead hordes.

Top 5 BO6 Zombies Tips

Let’s slow down a bit because it was a lot of information. With this many mechanics and systems, it can be difficult to memorize all of that and make sense of it, especially if you’re new to the game mode. To help you with that, we’ve made a list of the best BO6 Zombies tips and tricks that will help you learn this game mode and, more importantly, have fun:

1. Prioritize Upgrading Perks Early: Focus on acquiring and upgrading Perk-a-Colas as soon as possible. Having access to essential perks like Juggernog and Speed Cola can significantly enhance survivability and efficiency during early rounds. Combine these with strategic movement to maximize their benefits.
2. Utilize Ammo Mods Strategically: Ammo Mods can turn the tide in tougher battles. Equip different Mods depending on the wave and enemy types. For instance, using the Shatter Blast mod against groups of dead walkers can clear them effectively, while the Cryofreeze mod can freeze and immobilize stronger enemies, giving you time to regroup.
3. Optimize Your Pack-a-Punch Timing: Upgrading your weapons at the Pack-a-Punch Machine is crucial. Try to wait until you have a solid weapon that can handle higher rounds before using your points on upgrades. Just make sure to always keep an eye out for better weapons and upgrades. The waves will get better and the zeds will become chonkier, so you gotta match that with your upgrades.
4. Make the Most of Power Ups: Power Ups can provide critical advantages in the heat of battle. Pay attention to their spawn locations and timing. Use them to recover or regroup during intense moments, especially after challenging rounds. Consider saving certain Power Ups for waves where you anticipate facing stronger enemies.
5. Explore Elemental Damage Types: Different elemental damage types can be more effective against certain dead walkers. For example, fire damage can be particularly useful against hordes, while electric damage can help control larger threats. Experiment with different combinations to find the best setup for your team and adapt as new enemy types appear.

This really is all the BO6 Zombies tricks you need to keep in mind when it comes to playing the mode. You’ll discover the rest on your own. Plus, don’t forget to check back soon as we’re working on more guides for this game mode!

Conclusion

The Zombies mode in Black Ops 6 is a clear case of “going back to its roots” with some modern twist on customization and progression systems. Truth be told, the classic round-based gameplay with waves of meat bags, buying stuff off walls, and unlocking new areas has always worked for this game mode, so we’re all so glad to be back in the saddle.

Here’s hoping to see more maps, guns, and upgrades for the Zombies mode, which is surely to come in future seasons, along with the continuation of the main story quest and extra content.

F.A.Q.