In Black Ops 6 Zombies, The Tomb is a map brimming with lore, puzzles, and combat trials that test your skill and coordination. This guide walks you through the full main Easter Egg, from Staff of Ice construction to defeating the Sentinel Artifact boss.
Step 1: Build the Staff of Ice
To begin the quest:
- Collect the Monocle
- Defeat a Shock Mimic (starts appearing at Round 8).
- It drops Archibald’s Monocle, the first component.
- Solve the Bull Mural Puzzle in the Tombs
- Shoot purple lanterns until one spawns opposite the bull mural.
- Shoot Roman numerals in order (I to VIII).
- Survive a 5-wave lockdown of enemies to earn the Staff base.
- Solve the Catacombs Puzzle
- Shoot lanterns until one appears in the mural room.
- Shoot Roman numerals I to X.
- Complete another 5-wave lockdown to collect the Staff Head.
- Assemble the Staff
- Go to the center of Dark Aether Nexus.
- Insert components and defend for 1 minute.
- Pick up the completed Staff of Ice.
Step 2: Upgrade the Staff of Ice
- Freeze the Lanterns
- Shoot 3 glowing lanterns within 10 seconds using the Staff.
- Confirmed by a quote from Archibald.
- Shoot Symbols in the Nexus
- Locate 3 glowing symbols on floating rocks.
- Shoot them with the Staff and memorize the shapes.
- Shoot Symbols on Closed Gateway
- Find the corresponding closed gateway.
- Shoot matching symbols in any order.
- Enter the portal to trigger the orb escort.
- Escort the Orb
- Stick close to the orb as it circles the map.
- Kill zombies to feed it souls.
- Orb enters central structure; interact to upgrade Staff to Ull’s Arrow.
Read More: CRK Boss Rush Guide: Best Teams & Hidden Synergies
Step 3–6: Complete the Four Trials
Each trial involves shooting the trial statue with Sekhmet’s Vigor (alternate fire of the Staff), completing a challenge, and delivering the energy orb back.
- Vermin Trial
- Located via Blue Gateway at Dig Site.
- Survive 60 seconds of Vermin.
- Parasite Trial
- Via Yellow Gateway at Shrine of the Hierophants.
- Kill and collect purple orbs from glowing Parasites.
- Doppelghast Trial
- Via Green Gateway at Ossuary.
- Survive an onslaught of Doppelghasts.
- Amalgam Trial
- Via Red Gateway at Subterranean Temple.
- Defeat elite boss Tigholt, destroy shield by killing tethered zombies.
Step 7: Unlock Bridge to the Boss
Once all four trials are complete:
- Statues send energy to a broken bridge.
- Use pedestal to activate bridge to Sentinel Artifact.
- Interact to begin boss fight (prepare gear beforehand).
Final Boss: Sentinel Artifact
The boss fight is broken into several escalating phases:
Phase 1–4:
- Hide from the laser beams.
- Use charged Ice Storms for crowd control.
- When the Artifact turns purple, deal max damage.
Phase 5–6:
- Sentinel Artifact attaches to elite zombies (Heavy > Doppelghast > Mimic > Amalgam).
- Defeat each host and destroy the dropped Artifact.
Final Phase:
- Artifact forms a semi-circle.
- Sprint to northeast stairs, destroy final glowing Artifact.
- Interact with central pillar to view final cutscene and receive rewards.
Rewards for Completion
- X91 Ice-Pike (Staff of Ice Skin)
- Sentinel Artifact (Weapon Charm)
- Classified Calling Card
- XP and Unlocks
Tips for Success
- Use Aether Shroud, Tier 3 Armor, and Jugger-Nog.
- Recommended weapons: ASG-89, AMR Mod 4, AS VAL.
- Keep Gobblegums and healing mods ready.
- Stay together, communicate, and conserve resources until the final phases.
Optional Side Easter Eggs and Secrets
Beyond the main questline, The Tomb is filled with clever hidden secrets and optional puzzles that reward you with powerful items, upgrades, and fun surprises. These side Easter Eggs can enhance survivability, add flavor to your experience, or just offer an extra layer of challenge and exploration. Here’s how to uncover them:
Music Easter Egg
Enjoy the zombie-slaying experience with some musical ambiance. Locate and interact with three Mr. Peeks Headsets hidden around the map to unlock the Easter Egg song “Dig” by Kevin Sherwood.
Free Self-Revive & Ammo Mod
Having trouble staying alive? You can earn a free Self-Revive Kit and Light Mend Ammo Mod by locating and shooting all 10 urns scattered across the map.
Friendly Brain Rot Zombies
Need some undead backup? Shoot four skulls marked with an ‘X’ using a Brain Rot-imbued weapon. Found within the Ossuary, these skulls summon friendly zombies that help in fights.
Jumpscare Easter Egg
For a scare and a laugh, aim your weapon at a creepy statue hidden in one of three spawn locations. Once triggered, the statue animates, and creepy whispers begin. The statue respawns elsewhere after each activation.
Free Full Power Power-Up
Quickly gain a Full Power boost by shooting two specific blue generators in the Dig Site using a Dead Wire Ammo Mod. One generator is near spawn, the other near the Armor Vest station.
Free Pack-a-Punch Upgrade
Save Essence by unlocking a free Aetherium Crystal and Cryo Mod. In the Dark Aether Nexus, shoot a series of floating rocks in sequence. If done quickly, the reward appears near the Ice Staff altar.
Free Aether Tool
Look near the Green Gateway in the Dark Aether Nexus for two waterfalls. Shoot or freeze them using Cryo Ammo or the Ice Staff to spawn a free Aether Tool that upgrades your weapon rarity (higher rarity if done post-Round 12).
Free Ray Gun
Tired of hitting the Mystery Box? Use a shovel to dig up three Ancient Gems around the map. Place them on a statue in the eastern Tombs, then defeat two Doppelghasts to claim a guaranteed Ray Gun and bonus loot.
Gold Armor (Blood Ritual)
The Gold Armor Vest is one of the best survival tools available. Locate two statue heads in the Dark Aether Nexus, place them on Dig Site statues, then survive blood rituals involving elite zombies. Completion grants access to a Gold Armor wall-buy with regenerative armor.
