Complete the Main Easter Egg in Black Ops 6 Zombies: The Tomb Guide

The Tomb serves as the newest map in Black Ops 6 Zombies, marking Season 2’s thrilling landscape. Players, fighting alongside ex-Requiem members, venture into an ancient excavation site in France, seeking to uncover the mysteries hidden within the Sentinel Artifact. With nods to the fan-favorite COD Zombies map, Origins, particularly the Staff of Ice, gamers must master the crafting process essential for navigating the main easter egg of The Tomb.

The easter eggs in Black Ops 6 Zombies present significant challenges; while some sections of The Tomb may feel more accessible, the final boss fight demands utmost skill and strategy. To aid you in conquering The Tomb’s trials and securing lucrative rewards, continue reading for a detailed walkthrough.

Step 1: Acquire the Staff of Ice

How to Build the Ice Staff in The Tomb

Embarking on the quest to build the Staff of Ice begins at Round 8, when the initial Shock Mimic appears. Defeating this enemy will grant you Archibald’s Monocle, the first essential component for crafting the Staff of Ice.

The second component is unlocked through two distinct puzzles. The initial puzzle is located within the Tombs area, situated between the Roman Mausoleum and the Shrine of the Hierophants. Here, locate the wall adorned with a mural of a bull. Players must scour the map for glowing purple fire lanterns throughout the Tombs, Shrine of the Hierophants, Neolithic Catacombs, and the Subterranean Temple. Shoot the lanterns until one appears opposite the bull mural in the Tombs area.

Once the lantern is active, eight symbols representing Roman numerals will appear. Players must shoot these symbols in the correct sequence. The translations from the first to the last symbol are as follows:

I – 1st symbol
II – 2nd symbol
III – 3rd symbol
IV – 4th symbol
V – 5th symbol
VI – 6th symbol
VII – 7th symbol
VIII – 8th symbol

Upon successfully shooting the symbols, a lockdown phase will commence, during which players must fend off waves of purple-eyed zombies, culminating in encounters with Mimics and Doppelghasts. After around four waves, the mural wall will reveal a piece needed for the Staff of Ice, along with a Max Ammo replenishment.

Neolithic Catacombs Roman numeral puzzle

The second part of the glowing fire quest is found in the Neolithic Catacombs, positioned between the Dig Site and the Ossuary. Here, players must collect a glowing crystal that reveals another Roman numeral puzzle near the Crafting Bench. This stage requires recalling ten symbols, which you can refer to above:

I – 1st symbol
II – 2nd symbol
III – 3rd symbol
IV – 4th symbol
V – 5th symbol
VI – 6th symbol
VII – 7th symbol
VIII – 8th symbol
IX – 9th symbol
X – 10th symbol

Completing this segment initiates another lockdown challenge similar to the previous one, where you’ll obtain a Max Ammo and the final piece for the Staff of Ice upon overcoming the waves. Afterward, you’ll need to venture into the Dark Aether Nexus, ensuring you are well-prepared as this next hurdle can be quite dangerous. Bring along armor, Pack-a-Punched weaponry, and a Field Upgrade for added durability.

Once inside the Dark Aether, navigate to the central mound and interact with the circular slot to place your Staff of Ice. You’ll need to defend this location from incoming zombies for three grueling minutes. After your defenses hold up, the zombies will yield, and you’ll be able to collect the Staff of Ice.

For those looking for a shortcut, using the Ultra GobbleGum Wonderbar! allows players to spin the Mystery Box directly for the Staff of Ice, but this comes with the risk of pulling a less desirable Ray Gun instead.

Step 2: Upgrade the Staff of Ice

How to Upgrade the Staff of Ice to the Ull’s Arrow

Shooting purple crystals with the Staff of Ice

Freezing purple crystals with the Staff of Ice

Now that the Staff of Ice is in hand, exit the Dark Aether Nexus and begin searching for flaming purple crystals underground. You will need to locate three crystals in close proximity to each other. Using the Staff, shoot all three crystals within a span of 10 seconds; doing so will trigger a voice line from Archibald to confirm your success.

Subsequently, return to the Dark Aether Nexus and inspect the floating rocks appearing in the sky for symbols. Players must scrutinize every side of each rock, shooting the ones containing symbols to send them crashing down. Note the three symbols you find because you’ll need to correspond them with symbols located at the closed portals within the Dark Aether Nexus:

If the Green Portal is closed, proceed to the Ossuary (Speed Cola).
If the Blue Portal is closed, venture to the Dig Site (spawn).
If the Red Portal is closed, head towards the Subterranean Temple (Quick Revive).
If the Yellow Portal is closed, navigate to the Shrine of the Hierophants (Stamin-Up).

Shooting the correct symbols at the rock door

Upon exiting the Dark Aether Nexus, head to the respective closed portal to uncover symbols in place of the portal. Using your Staff of Ice, shoot the matching symbols you memorized earlier (don’t worry about their orientation; just ensure they match).After successfully shooting the correct symbols, pass through the newly opened portal, and you’ll find yourself on a floating rock. Here, activate the purple orb to proceed, but keep in mind that you must act swiftly, so having Pack-a-Punched loot is crucial.

Activating the mound with the purple orb

In this phase, you will need to feed the purple orb souls as it traverses the Dark Aether Nexus. It has a short tolerance level for waiting, so eliminate as many zombies as possible quickly. Once the purple orb completes its loop and reaches the mound where you constructed the Staff of Ice, interact with it to upgrade your weapon to Ull’s Arrow, a necessity for the next part of the main quest easter egg.

Step 3: Use Sekhmet’s Vigor to Shoot the Vermin Statue & Complete the Trial

With the Staff of Ice upgraded to Ull’s Arrow, switch to Sekhmet’s Vigor using the Left D-Pad button. You’ll find the vermin statue located south of the center of the Dark Aether Nexus, near the red portal to the Subterranean Temple. Shoot the statue and collect the flaming crystal, then take the blue portal to the Dig Site.

At the Dig Site, interact with the vermin statue on the west wall to initiate a lockdown. You will have 60 seconds to eliminate as many vermin as possible. This trial is manageable, as these creatures are relatively easy to kill. Once the challenge concludes, grab the glowing Ambient Energy from the statue. Zombies will spawn in retaliation, so you must make a quick escape back to the Dark Aether Nexus through the nearest portal, avoiding the portal in the trial room. If you’re hit three times before you can deliver the Ambient Energy, it will be destroyed, and you would be forced to repeat the trial. Upon reaching the vermin statue in the Dark Aether Nexus, interact with it to finalize this step.

Step 4: Use Sekhmet’s Vigor to Shoot the Parasite Statue & Complete the Trial

Next, aim Sekhmet’s Vigor at the parasite statue located south-east of the Dark Aether Nexus, right of the green portal. After acquiring the crystal from the statue, enter the yellow portal to reach the Shrine of the Hierophants where another parasite statue awaits in the center.

Here, a new trial begins as you will wait for the parasites to glow purple before you shoot them and then collect the purple orbs they drop. Transfer these orbs to the statue. Repeat this action until the trial is complete. Finally, retrieve the Ambient Energy from the statue and journey back into the Dark Aether Nexus via the Subterranean Temple portal to place it at the parasite statue.

Step 5: Use Sekhmet’s Vigor to Shoot the Doppelghast Statue & Complete the Trial

The doppelghast statue is located at the north-west corner of the center. Utilize Sekhmet’s Vigor to assault this statue, allowing you to grab another crystal, which you can then use to interact with the Doppelghast statue back in the Ossuary. This trial requires players to kill spawning Doppelghasts; unlike previous trials, there are no complications here so make sure to bring an efficient weapon.

After the trial is completed, collect the Ambient Energy and proceed past Speed Cola to the Subterranean Temple, using its portal to return to the Dark Aether Nexus and placing the Ambient Energy at the Doppelghast statue.

Step 6: Use Sekhmet’s Vigor to Shoot the Amalgam Statue & Complete the Trial

The Amalgam trial at the Deep Excavation

For the final statue, players may find themselves low on ammunition for Sekhmet’s Vigor. A quick fix is to spend 5, 000 points at any Ammo Crate while Sekhmet’s Vigor is equipped to restock your ammo easily. The last statue signifies the Amalgam, located to the north-east of the center near the blue portal.

Once you acquire the crystal here, head through the red portal to reach the Subterranean Temple. Proceed down the stairs by Quick Revive to the Deep Excavation, where the final Amalgam statue is stationed. This trial will involve battling and defeating the Elite Amalgam. Occasionally, the Amalgam will activate a purple shield; to disable this, locate and eliminate the tethered zombie indicated by the purple beam. After the Amalgam’s defeat, collect the Ambient Energy and return to the Shrine of the Hierophants through the right portal to place it at the Amalgam statue in the Dark Aether Nexus.

Activating the bridge to the Sentinel Artifact

Upon successfully completing all trials, four purple crystals at the central mound will activate, casting a beam of purple light towards the collapsed bridge area in the northeast of the Dark Aether Nexus. Approach the pedestal and activate it to restore the bridge, granting access to the boss arena. Be mindful; players aren’t forced to engage the boss immediately if they aren’t fully prepared.

How to Get Set Up for the Boss Fight

The Sentinel Artifact arrives at the Tomb

Preparing for the Sentinel Artifact boss fight within The Tomb is crucial. The battle can be incredibly punishing, and without proper setup, survival is nearly impossible. Start by securing all necessary Perks and ideally, equip yourself with Tier 3 armor or even Gold Armor if you’re feeling audacious.

Beyond survivability, it’s essential to enter the fight with a Tier 3 Pack-a-Punch Assault Rifle or Light Machine Gun. High damage-per-second (DPS) is critical, and rely on weapons like the Staff of Ice, Ray Gun, or explosives will yield little against the boss. It’s advisable to include the Light Mend Ammo Mod for quick healing and to assist in countering the Doppelghasts during the battle.

For utility, consider the Aether Shroud Field Upgrade as nearly indispensable, and GobbleGums like Kill Joy (for Insta-Kills) or Idle Eyes (to manage passive zombies) will significantly enhance your chance of survival through the various fight phases. When you’re ready, descend into the boss arena to initiate the battle.

Step 7: Defeat the Sentinel Artifact

How to Beat The Tomb’s Final Boss

After completing the trials and ensuring that all players are equipped for the boss fight, proceed through the bridge to engage with the Sentinel Artifact. As the battle begins, it will rise up while unleashing a continuous energy beam. Getting hit by the beam can be fatal, so dodge it whenever possible. The Sentinel Artifact’s attacks will follow a counter-clockwise pattern, beginning on the bottom floor and transitioning upwards:

If the Sentinel Artifact targets the top floor, seek refuge on the bottom floor.
If the Sentinel Artifact targets the lower floor, retreat to the upper floor.

Multiple versions of the Sentinel Artifact

Damaging the Sentinel Artifact is only possible when it transitions into a ghostly blue phase. During these moments, activate Aether Shroud to safeguard yourself from zombies, allowing you to focus on inflicting damage as each ghostly form sustains 10% of the total damage.

Survive through the chaotic attacks while keeping an eye on the Artifact; each cycle will spawn another version of it. This process will repeat through several phases.

In the fifth phase, you can’t simply wait for the Sentinel Artifact to expose itself. A randomly chosen powerful zombie will appear wearing the Sentinel Artifact. Defeat this enemy, reclaim the fallen Artifact, and deal substantial damage to progress to the sixth phase.

The sixth phase represents the toughest challenge, as the Sentinel Artifact becomes linked to a formidable Doppelghast. Using Aether Shroud effectively during this phase is advised, as the Elite Doppelghast boasts high health and speed, capable of eliminating players even with armor and perks in place.

Phases seven and eight mirror the fifth phase’s concept, where the Sentinel Artifact will again attach itself to formidable enemies – the seventh phase features a Mimic, while the eighth phase links with an Amalgam.

For the concluding phase, players must be vigilant as the Sentinel Artifacts coalesce to form a semi-circle. Rush to the northeast wall, where a single Sentinel Artifact awaits. This is your moment to activate Aether Shroud once more and unleash as much damage as possible; only this final Sentinel Artifact needs to be destroyed to conclude the boss fight. Failure to do so risks annihilating the entire team.

Upon successfully defeating the Sentinel Artifact, make your way to the central pillar to interact with it and trigger the final cutscene for The Tomb, culminating your journey through the easter egg quest.