Call of Duty · Black Ops II / III Zombies

ORIGINSThe complete field guide — generators, dig spots, all four elemental staffs, the main Easter egg, and maps of every area.

Every step and photo comes from ▶ “Origins: Ultimate Guide” by AceOfSpades — 21:40. Tap any timestamp to jump to that moment.
Every section is open. Hit ⌘F (or Ctrl F) and search — it will now find anything in the whole guide. Press Esc, or tap the button again, to go back to tabs.

Quick Start

The short version. If your group just wants a good, competent game without chasing the full Easter egg, everything you need is on this page.

The opening, in order

  1. 1

    Rounds 1–3 — shovel, then Gen 1

    Grab a shovel in the lab (there are two down there). Turn on Generator 1 in the lab — it's the free one. Knife and pistol early rounds so you bank points instead of burning ammo.
  2. 2

    Open a path and take Gen 2 or Gen 3

    Head out either side of the lab. Stand on the generator platform for a few seconds to capture it — step off and it stops charging. Zombies and Templar knights attack while it converts, so clear first, then stand.
  3. 3

    Build the shield — do this early

    Three parts, each with three possible spawn spots, built at any of the three tables. The shield is what keeps you alive in the tunnels and the Crazy Place. Don't leave the first 10 rounds without it.
  4. 4

    All six generators → Pack-a-Punch

    Six generators on = power, Pack-a-Punch on top of the excavation site, and a free Max Ammo from the challenge.
  5. 5

    Dig everything you walk past

    Dig spots give free perks, weapons and points, and 30 digs earns the Golden Shovel — which then digs up the Golden Helmet that stops the giants from killing you.
  6. 6

    Build one staff

    Even un-upgraded, a staff beats almost every wall gun. If you're only building one, the Lightning Staff holds a doorway best and the Ice Staff is the friendliest for freezing a train. Full instructions in the Staffs tab.
  7. 7

    Perk order

    Jugger-Nog first, always. Then Speed Cola, then Stamin-Up (the mud is brutal without it). Double Tap is free once you've spent 30,000 points total. Red dig spots buy you extra perk slots beyond the cap.
  8. 8

    Round 8 — the Panzer Soldat

    A flying armoured boss spawns at the start of round 8 and roughly every few rounds after. A staff shreds it. It also drops the third Fire Staff part, so don't dread it — farm it.

Build the shield first — here are the parts

Three parts, each with three possible spawns. Grab whichever you pass, take all three to any of the three buildable tables. Full-size photos are in the Buildables tab.

Stand
On the path to Gen 2
In the giant's left footprint above the tank station
At the end of the trenches by Gen 2
Window
On the path to Gen 3
At the bottom of the fire tunnel
On the path below Gen 3
Plate
Giant's right footprint between the excavation site and Gen 5
Between the excavation site and Gen 4
Giant's right footprint past Gen 4, by the wall-buy

The three buildable tables

At the bottom of the workshop
In the giant's left footprint, in the wind tunnel
Below the church

Squad jobs

Four players, four lanes. Nothing gets forgotten and nobody doubles up.

The Digger

Carries a shovel all game. Digs every spot on the route, chases the Golden Shovel (30 digs), then hunts the red dig spots for everyone's extra perk slots.

The Builder

Collects shield parts and Maxis drone parts and builds them at the nearest table. Rebuilds shields for the squad.

The Generator Runner

Opens doors, runs generator to generator, and holds the platform while the others cover. Banks points early so the team can afford Pack-a-Punch.

The Staff Lead

Gathers the record + gramophone to open the staff chamber, then collects the four elemental records and drives the staff builds.

Mistakes that cost you the run

  • Standing next to the generator instead of on the platform — it won't charge.
  • Letting a giant stomp your One Inch Punch chest — it resets the whole 30 kills.
  • Shooting the four church torches too slowly — they burn out and you start that step again.
  • Trying to dig a red spot without Zombie Blood active — you can see it, but you cannot dig it.
  • Stepping in mud while carrying the G-Strike tablet — Samantha yells “Start over.”
  • Counting Templar zombie headshots toward the 115 challenge — generator zombies don't count.
  • Wandering the map on foot when the tank is a free, safe ride between the station, the excavation site and the church.

Generators & Challenges

Pack-a-Punch — the six generators

▶0:00

Six generators around the map. Turning on all six switches the power on and opens Pack-a-Punch on top of the excavation site. Stepping onto a generator starts a conversion sequence — you have to stay on the platform for a few seconds while zombies and Templar knights come at you.

  1. 1

    Generator 1

    Inside the Laboratory — the room you spawn in. This one is free, grab it immediately.
  2. 2

    Generator 2

    Take the right-hand path out of the lab toward No Man's Land. Gen 2 sits along it, by the trenches.
  3. 3

    Generator 3

    Take the left-hand path out of the lab toward No Man's Land. Gen 3 sits along it, by the workshop.
  4. 4

    Generator 4

    On the left side of the excavation site.
  5. 5

    Generator 5

    On the right side of the excavation site — the Stamin-Up side.
  6. 6

    Generator 6

    Outside the back of the church — the furthest one from spawn.

All six on → Pack-a-Punch

Head to the top of the excavation site. The machine is live.

Challenges

▶0:48

Every player has their own four challenges. Rewards are collected from the boxes in the laboratory and outside the church.

115 headshots

Get 115 headshots on normal zombies and you're rewarded an upgraded weapon.

In BO2 that's the Galil, SCAR-H or STG-44. In BO3 it's the ICR-1, MP40 or Weevil. Headshots on the Templar zombies that spawn out of the generators do NOT count.

Capture generators

Your first generator gives Double Points (solo) or Zombie Blood (co-op). All six gives a Max Ammo.

Spend 30,000 points

Spend a running total of 30,000 points and you're rewarded Double Tap.

Fill four chests

Fill all four chests around the map to earn the One Inch Punch (upgraded melee).

Each chest needs 30 kills near it. Careful — a giant stepping on a chest resets it. Once filled, the chest closes and sinks into the ground.

The four One Inch Punch chests

30 kills each. A giant standing on one resets it, so watch the sky.

In the giant's right footprint by Gen 4
In the giant's left footprint below the excavation site
In the giant's right footprint by Gen 5
In the giant's left footprint outside the church

Claiming rewards

Redeem each challenge from the boxes in the laboratory and outside the church.

Digging

Dig spots

▶1:58

You need a shovel to dig. Dig spots give free perks, weapons, points and equipment — and they are how you get the Ice Staff parts later. There are 28 possible spots.

Where to find a shovel

In the Laboratory, where you spawn
In the Laboratory, just before the path to Gen 3
In the wind tunnel
In the lightning tunnel
Under the church, next to the buildable table
Under the church, next to the tank

All 28 dig spots

Not every spot is active every round — dig what you find as you move. The ≈ marks two rows where the video's auto-captions cut off mid-sentence; the photo is the reliable part there.

#Where it looks likeLocationArea
1On the path to Gen 2Gen 2 / Trenches
2On the path to Gen 2 — a second, separate spotGen 2 / Trenches
3At the back of the trenches by Gen 2Gen 2 / Trenches
4On the path to Gen 3Gen 3 / Workshop
5On the path to Gen 3 — a second, separate spotGen 3 / Workshop
6Underneath Gen 3Gen 3 / Workshop
7Outside the entrance of the workshopGen 3 / Workshop
8By one of the flaming wagonsNo Man's Land
9On the tank path by Gen 5Gen 5
10On the tank path between the excavation site and Gen 5Gen 5
11Below the tank path running from the church to Gen 5Gen 5
12In the giant's left footprint by Gen 5Gen 5
13Next to Gen 5Gen 5
14In the giant's right footprint by Gen 5Gen 5
15In the giant's right footprint between the excavation site and Gen 5Excavation
16In the giant's left footprint by the excavation site≈Excavation
17Between the excavation site and Gen 4≈Excavation
18On the path around the excavation siteExcavation
19On the path around the excavation site — a second, separate spotExcavation
20On the tank path by Gen 4Gen 4
21Next to Gen 4Gen 4
22In the giant's right footprint by Gen 4Gen 4
23In the giant's left footprint outside the churchChurch
24Next to the tank, under the churchChurch
25Next to the buildable table, under the churchChurch
26In the giant's right footprint outside the churchChurch
27In a corner next to Gen 6Church
28Under the wall-buy by Gen 6Church
Golden Shovel — earned at 30 digs. Digs up far better rewards.
Golden Helmet — a random Golden Shovel reward. Stops the giants from killing you.

Red dig spots — extra perk slots

▶4:26

Once you have the Golden Shovel, a red dig spot appears the following round.

The rules, plainly

  • Only visible in Zombie Blood vision, and only diggable while Zombie Blood is active.
  • A Semtex (BO2) or Trip Mine (BO3) will reveal one — but you still can't dig it without Zombie Blood.
  • Each one digs up a free extra perk slot, above the normal cap.
  • One red spot exists per player at a time. Dig it and the next spawns the following round.
  • Maximum four extra slots per player.

All 15 red dig spot locations

#Where it looks likeLocationArea
1Just outside the lab, on the path to Gen 2Gen 2 / Trenches
2Under the wall-buy on the path to Gen 2Gen 2 / Trenches
3Outside the back of the tank stationGen 2 / Trenches
4At the end of the trenches by Gen 2Gen 2 / Trenches
5In the fire tunnelTunnels
6Under the wall-buy on the path to Gen 3Gen 3 / Workshop
7Next to Gen 3Gen 3 / Workshop
8Next to the excavation siteExcavation
9Next to Gen 4Gen 4
10In the giant's right footprint by the excavation site≈Excavation
11Next to the One Inch Punch chest by Gen 5Gen 5
12On the tank path from Gen 4 to the trenchesTank path
13On the tank path from Gen 5 to the excavation site≈Tank path
14On the tank path from the church to Gen 4Tank path
15On the tank path from the church to Gen 5Tank path

Buildables

The three buildable tables

▶5:57

Any buildable can be assembled at any of these three tables. Carry parts to whichever is closest.

At the bottom of the workshop
In the giant's left footprint, in the wind tunnel
Below the church

🛡 Zombie Shield — build this first

▶6:07

Three parts. Each part has three possible spawn locations and only appears in one of them per game, so check all three. This is the single most important buildable in the map.

Priority build — the shield is what keeps you alive in the tunnels, the Crazy Place and the giant heads.

Stand

The wooden base the shield is mounted on.
“The stand can be on the path to Gen 2, in the giant's left footprint above the tank station, or at the end of the trenches by Gen 2.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in 3 places — check each
1
On the path to Gen 2
2
In the giant's left footprint above the tank station
3
At the end of the trenches by Gen 2

Window

The barred car window you look through.
“The window can be on the path to Gen 3, at the bottom of the fire tunnel, or on the path below Gen 3.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in 3 places — check each
1
On the path to Gen 3
2
At the bottom of the fire tunnel
3
On the path below Gen 3

Plate

The metal door plate that takes the damage.
“And the plate can be in the giant's right footprint between the excavation site and Gen 5, [in the giant's left footprint between] the excavation site and Gen 4, or in the giant's right footprint past Gen 4 by the wall buy.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in 3 places — check each
1
Giant's right footprint between the excavation site and Gen 5
2
Between the excavation site and Gen 4
3
Giant's right footprint past Gen 4, by the wall-buy

All three parts → any table

Take the stand, window and plate to any buildable table and assemble.

Maxis Drone

▶6:53

Three parts. Needed for the free MG08 and for two steps of the main Easter egg.

Brain

The control unit. This one never moves.
“The brain is always on the table in the lab.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in only one place
Always on the table in the lab

Rotors

The propellers that let it fly.
“The rotors can be on top of the excavation site, on the ground near the gramophone table, or along the scaffolding in the staff chamber.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in 3 places — check each
1
On top of the excavation site
2
On the ground near the gramophone table
3
Along the scaffolding in the staff chamber

Frame

The drone's body.
“And the frame can be on the tank path from the church to Gen 4, on the tank path from the church to Gen 5, or at the bottom of the ice tunnel.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in 3 places — check each
1
Tank path from the church to Gen 4
2
Tank path from the church to Gen 5
3
At the bottom of the ice tunnel

Built

Once assembled you can release the drone to collect discs and clear the Easter-egg pit.

The Four Staffs

Opening the staff chamber

▶7:31

Before any staff can be built you need to open the staff chamber beneath the excavation site. Two parts: a record and a gramophone. Place both on the table in the excavation site and the stairs lower.

Record

A gramophone record. Pairs with the gramophone below.
“The record can be up the ramp to the excavation site, in a wheelbarrow on top of the [excavation site], or on the trench wall near the church.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in 3 places — check each
1
Up the ramp to the excavation site
2
In a wheelbarrow on top of the excavation site
3
On the trench wall near the church

Gramophone

The player. Put both on the table to open the chamber.
“And the gramophone can be on either side of the table in the excavation site.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in only one place
On either side of the table in the excavation site

The stairs lower

You now have access to the staff chamber — where every staff gets built and where the four rings live.

♨

Fire Staff

Build it, then upgrade it. Four parts either way.

▶Build▶Upgrade

Step 1 — find the fire record

The record opens The doorway in the tunnel outside the lab, which is how you reach the fire section of the Crazy Place.

Fire record

Opens The doorway in the tunnel outside the lab.
“It can be between the tank and the pillars under the church, on the benches inside the church, or on a crate next to Gen 6.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in 3 places — check each
1
Between the tank and the pillars under the church
2
On the benches inside the church
3
On a crate next to Gen 6

Step 2 — the four fire staff pieces

Piece 1

Church challenge box

You already earned it. It's the reward from the church challenge box for activating Gen 6.

“The first part was rewarded from the church challenge box by activating Gen 6.AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 2

Shoot down the glowing plane

A glowing plane appears in the sky the first round after you open the first door to the church area. Shoot it down — the part drops on the pathway around the excavation site.

“The second part drops from a glowing plane in the sky. The plane will appear the first round after you open the first door to the church area. Shoot it down and the part will drop on the pathway around the excavation site.AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 3

Kill the Panzer Soldat

The part drops from the Panzer Soldat. The first one spawns at the start of round 8.

“The third part drops from the Panzer Soldat. The first one will spawn at the start of round eight.AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 4

Rises in the Crazy Place

Go through the fire tunnel to the Crazy Place. The part rises out of the fire staff pedestal on its own.

“And the fourth part rises from the fire staff pedestal in the crazy place after arriving through the fire tunnel.AceOfSpades, in the video

Take all four to the pedestal

All four pieces go to the fire pedestal in the staff chamber. The Fire Staff is built.

Step 3 — upgrading the Fire Staff

Every staff upgrade is the same four beats: a Crazy Place puzzle → a job on the surface → the four rings set to RED + shoot the orb → pedestal and 20 kills.
  1. 1

    Crazy Place — 30 kills over the grate

    In the fire chamber there's a grate with four fire pits around it. Get 30 kills with the fire staff over the grate. On the last kill all four pits light up.
  2. 2

    Church — shoot four torches

    Four symbols are now lit on the church wall. Shoot the matching torches under the church with the fire staff. The blood splatter is always one of the four symbols. All four must be shot in quick succession or they burn out.
  3. 3

    Staff chamber — rings to RED, shoot the orb

    Back down in the staff chamber, turn all four rings so they show RED, then shoot the orb inside the bottom ring with the fire staff.
  4. 4

    Crazy Place — pedestal + 20 kills

    Put the fire staff in its pedestal in the Crazy Place and get 20 kills near it. Upgraded.
✥

Wind Staff

Build it, then upgrade it. Four parts either way.

▶Build▶Upgrade

Step 1 — find the wind record

The record opens The doorway in the tunnel near Gen 4, which is how you reach the wind section of the Crazy Place.

Wind record

Opens The doorway in the tunnel near Gen 4.
“It can be on a crate near the lightning tunnel entrance, on a broken wall next to stamina up, and on a workbench in the lightning tunnel.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in 3 places — check each
1
On a crate near the lightning tunnel entrance
2
On a broken wall next to Stamin-Up
3
On a workbench in the lightning tunnel

Step 2 — the four wind staff pieces

Piece 1

Head of the TRENCHES giant

Ride up into the head of the giant that walks the trenches and grab the part.

“The first part is in the head of the trenches giant.AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 2

Head of the NO MAN'S LAND giant

Same again, in the head of the giant that walks No Man's Land.

“The second part is in the head of the no man's land giant.AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 3

Head of the CHURCH giant

And once more, in the head of the giant that walks by the church.

“The third part is in the head of the church giant.AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 4

Rises in the Crazy Place

Go through the wind tunnel. The part rises out of the wind pedestal.

“And the fourth part rises from the wind [pedestal] arriving through the wind tunnel.AceOfSpades, in the video

Take all four to the pedestal

All four pieces go to the wind pedestal in the staff chamber. The Wind Staff is built.

Step 3 — upgrading the Wind Staff

Every staff upgrade is the same four beats: a Crazy Place puzzle → a job on the surface → the four rings set to YELLOW + shoot the orb → pedestal and 20 kills.
  1. 1

    Crazy Place — the ring puzzle

    Four cuneiform symbols are on the walls and four rings hang from the ceiling, each with symbols facing a direction. Shoot a ring with the wind staff to rotate it. Rotate until the four symbols add up to the symbol on the wall. The video shows the easiest solution on screen.
  2. 2

    No Man's Land — blow three smoking vents

    Three smoking vents appear. Shoot each one with the wind staff while you are facing the excavation site — you're blowing the smoke toward the dig. They're at Gen 4, out in No Man's Land, and at Gen 5.
  3. 3

    Staff chamber — rings to YELLOW, shoot the orb

    Turn all four rings to YELLOW, then shoot the orb inside the bottom ring with the wind staff.
  4. 4

    Crazy Place — pedestal + 20 kills

    Put the wind staff in its pedestal and get 20 kills near it. Upgraded.
⚡

Lightning Staff

Build it, then upgrade it. Four parts either way.

▶Build▶Upgrade

Step 1 — find the lightning record

The record opens The doorway in the tunnel near Gen 5, which is how you reach the lightning section of the Crazy Place.

Lightning record

Opens The doorway in the tunnel near Gen 5.
“It can be on a wagon along the tank path, on a workbench next to the Wunderfizz location, and on a machine at the bottom of the wind tunnel.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in 3 places — check each
1
On a wagon along the tank path
2
On a workbench next to the Wunderfizz location
3
On a machine at the bottom of the wind tunnel

Step 2 — the four lightning staff pieces

Piece 1

Tank ride — from the CHURCH

Ride the tank from the church and hop off to the RIGHT, between the excavation site and the trenches.

“The first part. Ride the tank from the church and hop off to the right between the excavation site and the trenches.AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 2

Tank ride — from the TANK STATION

Ride the tank from the tank station and hop off to the LEFT, into the excavation site.

“The second part. Ride the tank from the tank station and hop off to the left into the excavation site.AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 3

Tank ride — from the TANK STATION

Ride the tank from the tank station and hop off to the RIGHT once you reach the church.

“The third part. Ride the tank from the tank station and hop off to the right once you get to the church.AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 4

Rises in the Crazy Place

Go through the lightning tunnel. The part rises out of the lightning pedestal.

“The fourth part rises from the lightning [pedestal] arriving through the lightning tunnel.AceOfSpades, in the video

Take all four to the pedestal

All four pieces go to the lightning pedestal in the staff chamber. The Lightning Staff is built.

Step 3 — upgrading the Lightning Staff

Every staff upgrade is the same four beats: a Crazy Place puzzle → a job on the surface → the four rings set to PURPLE + shoot the orb → pedestal and 20 kills.
  1. 1

    Crazy Place — play three chords on the piano

    There's a piano octave on the wall. Shoot the bottom row of keys with the lightning staff, in these three groups:
    Chord 1 keys 1 · 3 · 6Chord 2 keys 3 · 5 · 7Chord 3 keys 2 · 4 · 6
  2. 2

    Surface — turn seven dials

    Seven dials around the map, each turned a set number of times. Ignore the dial on the top floor of the workshop — it's a decoy.
  3. 3

    Staff chamber — rings to PURPLE, shoot the orb

    Turn all four rings to PURPLE, then shoot the orb inside the bottom ring with the lightning staff.
  4. 4

    Crazy Place — pedestal + 20 kills

    Put the lightning staff in its pedestal and get 20 kills near it. Upgraded.

The seven dials

DialTurnsOr just…
Laboratory2 turnspoint it LEFT
Tank station3 turnspoint it DOWN
Workshop, top floor—IGNORE THIS ONE
Generator 42 turnspoint it UP
Excavation site wall3 turnspoint it UP
Generator 53 turnspoint it DOWN
Under the church2 turnspoint it RIGHT
Inside the church1 turnpoint it UP
❄

Ice Staff

Build it, then upgrade it. Four parts either way.

▶Build▶Upgrade

Step 1 — find the ice record

The record opens The doorway in the tunnel outside the church, which is how you reach the ice section of the Crazy Place.

Ice record

Opens The doorway in the tunnel outside the church.
“It can be at the entrance of the tank station, next to the box location in the tank station, and near the back entrance of the tank station.AceOfSpades, in the video
Can spawn in 3 places — check each
1
At the entrance of the tank station
2
Next to the mystery box location in the tank station
3
Near the back entrance of the tank station

Step 2 — the four ice staff pieces

Piece 1

Dig in the TRENCHES (snowing round)

On a round where it is snowing, dig in the trenches. This part can only be found there.

“On a round where it's snowing, dig around the map to find the first three parts as a random reward. The first part can only be found in the [trenches].AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 2

Dig in NO MAN'S LAND (snowing round)

Snowing round again — dig in No Man's Land. This part is locked to that area.

“The second part can only be found at no man's land.AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 3

Dig AROUND THE CHURCH (snowing round)

Snowing round again — dig around the church. Locked to that area.

“The third part can only be found around [the church].AceOfSpades, in the video
Piece 4

Rises in the Crazy Place

Go through the ice tunnel. The part rises out of the ice pedestal.

“And the fourth part rises from the ice [pedestal] arriving through the ice tunnel.AceOfSpades, in the video

Take all four to the pedestal

All four pieces go to the ice pedestal in the staff chamber. The Ice Staff is built.

Step 3 — upgrading the Ice Staff

Every staff upgrade is the same four beats: a Crazy Place puzzle → a job on the surface → the four rings set to BLUE + shoot the orb → pedestal and 20 kills.
  1. 1

    Crazy Place — match the symbols

    There's a ternary symbol on the wall and six cuneiform symbols above it. Match the wall symbol by shooting its corresponding cuneiform symbol, until all six have been shot.
  2. 2

    Surface — three headstones

    Three headstones appear. Shoot each with the ice staff, then break it with a normal bullet weapon. They're on the excavation site wall, in the giant's right footprint by Gen 4, and on the tank path outside the back of the tank station.
  3. 3

    Staff chamber — rings to BLUE, shoot the orb

    Turn all four rings to BLUE, then shoot the orb inside the bottom ring with the ice staff.
  4. 4

    Crazy Place — pedestal + 20 kills

    Put the ice staff in its pedestal and get 20 kills near it. Upgraded.

Main Quest

G-Strike

▶15:49

A called-in airstrike. You need it for the main Easter egg, and it is excellent on its own.

  1. 1

    Grab a stone tablet

    Go to the tank station by Gen 2 and take one of the stone tablets off the table at the back of the station.
  2. 2

    Put it on the church fountain

    Carry it to the top floor of the church and place it onto the fountain.
  3. 3

    20 melee kills at the fountain

    Get 20 melee kills near the fountain to cleanse the tablet.
    Shortcut: fire a fully-charged shot from an upgraded staff and immediately switch to the shield. Every kill from that shot counts as a melee kill.
  4. 4

    Carry it back to the tank station

    Pick the tablet back up and return it to the same table in the tank station.
  5. 5

    Do not step in mud

    If you step in mud, Samantha yells "Start over" — you must re-cleanse the tablet at the fountain before trying again.
  6. 6

    20 more melee kills

    Get another 20 melee kills near the table in the tank station. On the final kill, the G-Strikes are yours.

Main quest — Little Lost Girl

▶16:32

The full Easter egg. Everything above has to be done first: all four staffs upgraded, the Maxis drone built, the G-Strikes earned and the One Inch Punch unlocked.

This is a long one. Read the whole list before you start — several steps are much easier with a plan and a second player.
  1. 1

    Upgrade all four staffs

    Everything above. Once the fourth one is upgraded, staff pedestals appear around the map.
  2. 2

    Place the four staffs

    Fire → the staff chamber. Lightning → head of the trenches giant. Wind → head of the No Man's Land giant. Ice → head of the church giant.
    BO2 only: placing the fire staff and picking it back up four times completes this step instantly.
  3. 3

    Obtain the G-Strikes

    If you haven't already — see the G-Strike tab. You need them for the next step.
  4. 4

    Airstrike the cracked ground

    All three giants now appear, and only one of the six feet is open at a time.

    Solo: wait for a foot of the No Man's Land giant to open, ride up into the head, wait until the voice counts down to 1, press the console button as you get kicked out, then sprint to the cracked ground outside Gen 5 and throw a G-Strike.

    Co-op: one player presses the button while another waits at the cracked ground. Time them together — far easier.
  5. 5

    Drone into the pit

    The giant airstrikes the cracked ground and breaks it open. Release the Maxis drone into the pit. A wave of Panzer Soldats spawns — use any staff to melt them fast.
  6. 6

    Three flaming wagons (free Zombie Blood)

    Hold the ICE staff and shoot three flaming wagons: in the giant's right footprint by the excavation site, by the ramp up to the excavation site, and just before the Gen 5 area. That gives you a free Zombie Blood.
  7. 7

    Shoot the plane, chase the pilot

    Grab the Zombie Blood from the top of the excavation site. A glowing plane appears — shoot it down. The pilot runs clockwise around the excavation site, so run counter-clockwise to intercept him. Killing him drops the Maxis drone.
  8. 8

    Punch 20 smoking zombies

    With the One Inch Punch, go to the staff chamber. Some zombies emit white smoke — punching them removes it. Punch 20 and a glowing tablet drops. It upgrades your One Inch Punch with the element of whichever staff you're holding.
  9. 9

    100 kills in the Crazy Place

    Place all four staffs in their Crazy Place pedestals, then get 100 kills in the Crazy Place. On the final kill the ceiling glows.
  10. 10

    Ascend to Agartha

    Release the Maxis drone — it flies up into Agartha. Interact with the centre to ascend. Easter egg complete.

Extras & Easter Eggs

Free Pack-a-Punched MG08

▶18:47

Build the Maxis Drone, release it at four discs around the map (any order). It then flies to the excavation site and drops a free upgraded MG08.

On the path from the laboratory to Gen 2
On top of the excavation site ≈
On the ruined building at Gen 5
Outside the front of the church

Collect at the excavation site

The drone drops the gun for you by Pack-a-Punch.

One disc location was cut off in the video's captions. Community guides place the fourth on top of the excavation site, and the video's footage at that moment matches — marked ≈ above.

The jumpscare

▶19:20

Pure fun, no reward. Get a sniper rifle from a dig spot or the mystery box (DSR in BO2; Drakon or Locus in BO3). From the excavation site, aim at the fire at the top of the church steeple.

Line it up from the excavation site.
…and there it is.
Scope matters: iron sights on the DSR will not work. The ELO on the Drakon or Locus does.

Song 1 — “Archangel”

▶19:46

Interact with three meteorites. Plays Archangel by Kevin Sherwood, Elena Siegman, Malukah and Clark S. Nova.

In the lab
Under a bed on the bottom floor of the workshop
On the scaffolding leading off the excavation site toward a generator ≈

Song 2 — “Shepherd of Fire”

▶20:03

Interact with three radios. Plays Shepherd of Fire by Avenged Sevenfold.

On the scaffolding in the staff chamber
In the head of the church giant
In the Crazy Place, below the steps of the fire chamber

Song 3 — “Aether”

▶20:21

Three wall symbols, in this exact order. Plays Aether by Brian Tuey.

Order matters here — and the first two need you prone on the floor.
  1. 1

    Symbol 1

    In the lab — go prone and interact with the “1” symbol nearest the door to Gen 2
  2. 2

    Symbol 2

    Still in the lab — the “1” symbol nearest Quick Revive
  3. 3

    Symbol 3

    At Gen 5 — the “5” symbol nearest Stamin-Up

Hide & Seek — “Remember Forever”

▶20:36

Black Ops 3 version only.

BO3 exclusive — this one does not exist in Black Ops 2.
  1. 1

    Shoot the four glows

    In Zombie Blood vision, a coloured glow appears on each side of the bottom ring in the staff chamber. Shoot each glow with its matching staff. You'll hear a confirmation noise.
  2. 2

    Wake the doll

    Head to the Crazy Place and interact with the Samantha doll in the centre.
  3. 3

    Shoot the six dolls

    Six dolls appear — shoot all six. Another doll ascends into Agartha, and after a while a Maxis drone spawns and plays Remember Forever by Jack Wall and Tory Letzler.

All six radios

▶21:01

Six radios with story dialogue. Separate from the song Easter eggs.

In the lab, by the spawn point
In the lab, by Generator 1
On the top floor of the workshop
In the head of the trenches giant
In the head of the No Man's Land giant
In the head of the church giant

Maps

These are hand-drawn schematics, not rips of the game files. They show how the areas relate to each other and where things sit — they are not to scale.

The surface

Origins is a rough ring. The excavation site is the middle of everything, the laboratory is where you spawn, and the church is the far end. Generators 2 and 3 sit on the two paths out of the lab; 4 and 5 flank the excavation site; 6 is behind the church.

TANK PATHSTAFFEXCAVATION SITEdescending funnel — Pack-a-Punch on the rimPPACK-A-PUNCHCHURCHsteeple fire (jumpscare)6GEN 6behind the churchLABORATORYspawn · Quick Revive1GEN 1left pathright pathNO MAN'S LANDmud — slows you downWORKSHOPbuildable table3GEN 3TRENCHES2GEN 2TANK STATIONmystery box · G-Strike tablets4GEN 45GEN 5Stamin-UpFIREoutside the lab↧ to Crazy PlaceWINDnear Gen 4↧ to Crazy PlaceLIGHTNINGnear Gen 5↧ to Crazy PlaceICEoutside the church↧ to Crazy PlaceTRENCHES GIANTenter the headNO MAN'S LAND GIANTenter the headCHURCH GIANTenter the head

Legend

Generator 1–6

All six switch on the power and open Pack-a-Punch.

Pack-a-Punch / tank path

PaP sits on the rim of the excavation site. The dashed loop is the tank's route.

The four tunnels

Each one holds a doorway that its matching record opens, and a gateway into the Crazy Place.

The three giants

Trenches, No Man's Land and Church. Ride a foot up into the head.

No Man's Land

The muddy middle. Mud slows you and ruins the G-Strike tablet carry.

The descending funnel

The excavation site cut in half, side on. Pack-a-Punch sits on the rim. Ramps spiral down past the gramophone table to the staff chamber at the bottom, where every staff is built and where the four rings and the orb live.

GROUND LEVELRim — Pack-a-Punch.The plane part lands on the path here.Upper ramp — the record spawnsup the ramp, or in a wheelbarrow on top.Mid ramp — the gramophone table.Record + gramophone here lowers the stairs.Lower ramp — scaffolding:drone rotors, and a radio.Floor — the staff chamber.PPACK-A-PUNCHGRAMOPHONErecord + gramophoneSTAFF CHAMBERbuild the staffs · the four rings · the orbFOUR RINGSturn all four to one colour,then shoot the orb in thebottom ring← the orb

The Crazy Place

A circle with four elemental arms. Each arm is only reachable through its own tunnel on the surface — there is no walking from the fire chamber to the ice chamber. The Samantha doll sits in the middle, under the ceiling you eventually ascend through.

SAMANTHADOLLceiling ↑ AgarthaFIRE CHAMBERgrate + 4 fire pitspedestal for the fire staffin / out via the fire tunnelWIND CHAMBER4 ceiling ringspedestal for the wind staffin / out via the wind tunnelLIGHTNING CHAMBERpiano octavepedestal for the lightning staffin / out via the lightning tunnelICE CHAMBER6 cuneiform symbolspedestal for the ice staffin / out via the ice tunnelA circle with four elemental arms. Each arm is reached only through its own tunnel on the surface.

Each elemental chamber, one by one

The puzzle in each arm, drawn out.

Fire chamber

THE GRATEfour fire pits — all four light on your 30th killStand over the grate. 30 kills with the FIRE staff.

30 kills with the fire staff over the grate. All four pits light on the last one.

Wind chamber

↻ring 1↻ring 2↻ring 3↻ring 4four rings hang from the ceilingxxxxwall symbols — rotate the rings until the four ADD UP to the wall symbolShoot a ring with the WIND staff to turn it.

Shoot the ceiling rings to rotate them until the four symbols add up to the wall symbol.

Lightning chamber

11323312435261372the piano octave — shoot the BOTTOM ROW with the LIGHTNING staffChord 1keys 1 · 3 · 6Chord 2keys 3 · 5 · 7Chord 3keys 2 · 4 · 6

Three chords, shot on the bottom row of the piano octave.

Ice chamber

☰1☰2☰3☰4☰5☰6six cuneiform symbols above△the ternary symbol on the wallMatch it by shooting its matching symbol above — until all six are shot.

Match the wall's ternary symbol by shooting its twin above, until all six are shot.