Ashes of the Damned – Black Ops 7 Zombies Map & Main Quest Easter Egg Guide
Ashes of the Damned is the brand-new map for Black Ops 7 Zombies, picking up exactly where the Black Ops 6 Zombies story left off — with the team being teleported into the Dark Aether. This massive map features multiple Points of Interest (POIs) and introduces a new vehicle named Tessie, making navigation across the map much easier.
As of now, players can access a fraction of the main quest Easter Egg, playable only until you unlock the Pack-a-Punch machine. The complete main quest will go live on November 14, 2025, at 10 AM PT. This article is a work-in-progress and will be continually updated with new information to help you complete the full Ashes of the Damned main quest Easter Egg.
Note: This is a work-in-progress guide and will be expanded as more content becomes available.
How to Complete the Black Ops 7 Zombies Ashes of the Damned Main Quest Easter Egg
Starting Point: Janus Towers Plaza
You will spawn at Janus Towers Plaza, where your gameplay officially begins. Several guided objectives will help you progress through this initial phase.
Investigate the Server Room
From your spawn point, look for a white building located to the southeast. Before approaching, defeat some zombies and collect at least 1,250 Essence; you will need this to unlock the server room door, which costs 1,250 Essence.
Once the door is unlocked, enter the building — this is the server room.
Find and Install T.E.D.D.’s Head
Inside the server room, you’ll notice a grate on the floor. Approach it and use melee to break it open. Inside, you’ll find the item T.E.D.D.’s Head. Pick it up.
Exit the building from the west side, where you will find a pickup truck (Ol’ Tessie) parked outside. Approach the vehicle and hold the install button to attach T.E.D.D.’s Head onto Ol’ Tessie.
Drive Ol’ Tessie and Break Through Barriers
Begin driving Ol’ Tessie. You can choose either the left or right path. Both paths have wooden barriers that you will need to break through by driving directly into them.
If you take the left path, the next Point of Interest (POI) is Blackwater Lake.
Clear and Power Up at Blackwater Lake
Exit Ol’ Tessie upon arrival and locate the Power Pump, which will be covered with infestation.
- Shoot the orange infestation pores to clear them.
- Once you shoot the first pore, a 30-second timer begins — clear all infestations before time runs out.
- If you fail, simply try again until successful.
After clearing the infestation, enter the nearby building where the power switch is located (door requires at least 1,750 Essence to unlock). Head upstairs and flip the switch to power up Blackwater Lake.
Drive Ol’ Tessie to Ashwood
Get back in Ol’ Tessie and continue driving to Ashwood, another major POI on the map.
Power Up Ashwood
Once at Ashwood:
- Use your ascender to reach the upper platform.
- Clear two locked entrances — one costing 1,000 Essence and the other 1,750 Essence — so make sure you have at least 2,750 Essence.
- Locate the Power Pump covered with infestation and clear it just like at Blackwater Lake — destroying all orange infestation pores within 30 seconds.
After clearing the infestation, head east to find and flip the power switch. This action opens a garage door below.
Upgrade Ol’ Tessie in the Garage
Drive Ol’ Tessie into the garage that has just been unlocked. Inside, you will find a workbench. Interact with it to upgrade your vehicle.
This upgrade installs the Pack-a-Punch machine on Ol’ Tessie’s trunk, marking a key milestone in the main quest.
Next Steps
Up to this point, the game provides guided objectives. Beyond this, you will be left to explore and solve further challenges on your own.
The full main quest Easter Egg and all remaining steps to complete the Ashes of the Damned map will be released on November 14, 2025, at 10 AM PT. We will update this guide accordingly to provide detailed walkthroughs of the entire quest.
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Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth strategies as we uncover all secrets of Ashes of the Damned in Black Ops 7 Zombies!