Black Ops 7 Zombies launches with four distinct game modes: Standard, Directed, Survival, and Cursed. Each mode offers a unique experience on the massive "Ashes of the Damned" map, catering to players from casual newcomers to hardcore veterans. The Survival mode will be playable during the Beta starting October 2, 2025, giving players an early taste of the action.
| Mode | Difficulty | Availability | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Moderate | Launch Day | Full Easter eggs & main quest |
| Directed | Easy | Post-Launch | Guided quest progression |
| Survival | Variable | Launch Day & Beta | Endless waves, no quests |
| Cursed | Hardcore | Unlock Required | Classic mechanics & Relics |
Whether you're looking to experience the complete Dark Aether storyline, test your survival skills, or embrace the most punishing challenge Treyarch has ever created, Black Ops 7 Zombies has something for everyone. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about each mode, including exclusive features, unlock requirements, and expert strategies to dominate the undead hordes.
Contents
Before diving into the individual modes, it's important to understand what makes Black Ops 7 Zombies stand out from previous entries. Treyarch has delivered the largest round-based Zombies map in Call of Duty history with "Ashes of the Damned," a Dark Aether hellscape featuring six interconnected locations: Janus Towers Plaza, Vandorn Farm, Blackwater Lake, Ashwood, Exit 115, and Zarya Cosmodrome.
The game introduces Ol' Tessie, a Wonder Vehicle that serves as your primary transportation across fog-choked roads teeming with dangers. This vintage farm truck isn't just for getting around—it's upgradable, repairable, and can even host the mobile Pack-a-Punch machine. Treyarch has also brought back the original Zombies crew (Richtofen, Nikolai, Takeo, and Dempsey) alongside the Black Ops 6 crew, creating an eight-person "Dedicated Crew" with unique dialogue and interactions.
Standard Mode is where most players will begin their Black Ops 7 Zombies journey. This is the traditional round-based format that franchise veterans know and love, delivering the complete Dark Aether experience with full access to all content.
In Standard Mode, you'll experience:
Complete Quest Access: Both the main Easter egg quest and all side quests are available, allowing you to uncover the full narrative of Ashes of the Damned. The story picks up immediately after Black Ops 6's "Reckoning," thrusting eight crew members into the beating heart of the Dark Aether.
All Map Features: Every location, interactive element, Wonder Weapon, and secret is accessible. You'll be able to explore all six major points of interest, upgrade Ol' Tessie with attachments like the DG-2 turret, and discover the sinister Necrofluid Gauntlet Wonder Weapon.
Full Loadout Customization: Bring your preferred ranged weapon, melee weapon, Field Upgrade, Tactical Equipment, Lethal Equipment, and GobbleGum Pack into each match. The game features 30 weapons to unlock and level up, each with extensive attachment customization through Gunsmith.
Standard Progression: The familiar points system allows you to unlock doors, activate machines, purchase Perks (including the new Wisp Tea), and upgrade weapons through the Arsenal and Pack-a-Punch systems.
To excel in Standard Mode, focus on these key strategies:
Early Game Efficiency: Prioritize opening paths to power-up stations and the Mystery Box. The sooner you can access better weapons and Perks, the easier higher rounds become.
Team Communication: With eight dedicated crew characters available, coordinate with teammates about which areas to explore. The map is massive, and splitting up efficiently speeds up quest completion.
Wonder Vehicle Management: Don't neglect Ol' Tessie. This vehicle is crucial for traversing the dangerous fog areas where enemies spawn faster and hit harder. Always keep track of its condition and repair it when necessary.
Perk Priority: The new Wisp Tea Perk summons a companion spirit that attacks zombies automatically—invaluable for crowd control. Combine it with classics like Jugger-Nog and PhD Flopper for maximum survivability.
Directed Mode represents Treyarch's commitment to making Zombies accessible to all players. This streamlined experience provides clear objectives and guided progression, perfect for those who want to experience the story without the overwhelming complexity.
Quest Guidance: Unlike Standard Mode where you must discover Easter egg steps through exploration and experimentation, Directed Mode provides clear objectives and waypoints. You'll always know what to do next.
Reduced Complexity: Side quests and optional content take a backseat, keeping you focused on the main narrative path. This prevents the confusion and backtracking that can frustrate new players.
Same Map, Different Approach: You'll still explore Ashes of the Damned with access to the same weapons, Perks, and equipment, but the experience is curated to be more approachable.
It's important to note that Directed Mode will not be available at launch. Similar to Black Ops 6, Treyarch will release Directed Mode in a post-launch update, likely within the first few weeks after November 14, 2025. This gives dedicated players time to solve the Easter egg naturally in Standard Mode before the guided version becomes available.
Directed Mode is perfect for:
Survival Mode marks the return of a fan-favorite format that hasn't appeared in Call of Duty since Black Ops 2 in 2012. This mode strips away all narrative elements and focuses on one simple objective: survive as long as possible.
Concentrated Battlegrounds: The first Survival map, Vandorn Family Farm, is a focused section of the larger Ashes of the Damned map. You're confined to the farmstead area with fewer escape routes, making tactical positioning essential.
No Quests, Just Survival: There are no Easter eggs, side quests, or story objectives. Your only goal is to defeat endless waves of zombies and reach the highest round possible before calling for exfil.
All Essential Equipment: While Ol' Tessie is unavailable in Survival Mode, all accessible caches and machines from Standard Mode appear in identical locations. Any Crafting Tables, Wall Buys, or machines not normally in the farm area are relocated into the Survival map, ensuring you can fully gear up with Essence and Salvage.
Pack-a-Punch and Der Wunderfizz: Since Vandorn Farm doesn't have these machines in Standard Mode, they're specifically added to the Survival map so players can upgrade weapons and access all Perks.
Treyarch is giving players an early opportunity to experience Survival Mode during the Black Ops 7 Beta, which runs from October 2-8, 2025. This marks a rare occasion where Zombies content is included in a Call of Duty Beta, demonstrating confidence in the mode's appeal.
Beta Access Details:
Playing Survival during the Beta gives you a taste of the full Ashes of the Damned experience and allows you to test new features like the updated movement system, GobbleGums, and weapon mechanics before launch.
Know Your Territory: The limited play area means you must memorize every corner, door, and training spot. Effective kiting routes become crucial for high-round survival.
Resource Management: With restricted movement options, Essence and Salvage management becomes more critical. Prioritize Armor upgrades and Ammo Mod applications through the Arsenal.
Exfil Timing: Unlike Standard Mode, there's no narrative endpoint. You must judge the right moment to call for exfil before being overwhelmed. The new Phone Booth exfil system summons a High Value Target (HVT) that must be defeated within a time limit.
Future Survival Maps: Treyarch has confirmed that all six major locations from Ashes of the Damned will eventually receive their own Survival variants throughout post-launch seasonal content updates.
Cursed Mode is Black Ops 7's biggest innovation, specifically designed for veteran players seeking the most punishing Zombies experience ever created. This mode strips away modern conveniences and reintroduces classic mechanics while adding a unique layer of challenge through the Relic system.
Old-School Starting Conditions: You begin each Cursed match with only a pistol, no custom loadout weapons, no minimap, and a classic points system inspired by Black Ops 3. This forces you to earn everything through gameplay rather than starting with advantages.
Relic System: The core of Cursed Mode revolves around discovering Relics—archaic artifacts of great power hidden throughout the Dark Aether. Each Relic is themed around a totem from Black Ops Zombies history and has unique, often unforgiving requirements to unlock.
Cumulative Difficulty: Once discovered, Relics provide debuff modifiers that make subsequent matches even more challenging. These can include restrictions like:
Unique Rewards: The harder the challenge, the greater the reward. Cursed Mode offers exclusive unlocks including Blueprints, Calling Cards, and other cosmetics not available in other modes. Specific rewards remain classified.
Treyarch has been deliberately vague about unlock requirements, wanting players to discover the method naturally. However, based on reliable leaker information and development patterns, Cursed Mode likely requires completing the main Easter egg in Standard or Directed Mode first.
This makes sense from a design perspective—players should experience the complete Ashes of the Damned story before tackling the hardcore challenge. Once Directed Mode releases post-launch, it will provide an easier path for players struggling with the Easter egg in Standard Mode.
Private Match Progression: Relics are collected permanently in your account. When playing Cursed Mode in private matches, the host's Relic collection determines which modifiers can be applied, allowing friends to experience challenges you've unlocked.
Seasonal Expansion: Each Black Ops 7 Zombies map released throughout post-launch seasons will include additional Relics to discover, continuously expanding the challenge options.
Risk-Reward Balance: You must strategically choose which Relics to activate. More Relics increase difficulty but also improve reward quality. Finding the right balance for your skill level is key to progression.
Many players have drawn comparisons between Cursed Mode and the "classic" Zombies experience from earlier Black Ops titles. While Cursed Mode does incorporate old-school mechanics, it's more than just nostalgia—it's a modernized hardcore experience that tests veteran players while incorporating new systems like the Relic progression.
While not traditionally counted among the main Zombies modes, Dead Ops Arcade 4: Papaback in Black deserves mention as it's returning for the first time since Black Ops Cold War in 2020. This twin-stick shooter offers a completely different Zombies experience with:
80 Levels of Chaos: Battle through 20+ arenas, Silverback Challenges, and new Slayer Maps in pursuit of Papaback.
Round-Based Mechanics: For the first time, DOA4 incorporates Ammo Mods, Field Upgrades, and GobbleGums, though "purist" modes without these mechanics are available.
Perspective Options: Play in traditional twin-stick top-down view or first-person mode for a more intense experience.
Unified Progression: Player level progression is linked across Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies, Dead Ops Arcade 4, and Call of Duty: Warzone (starting Season 1).
One of Black Ops 7's most significant features is the fully connected progression system. For the first time in Call of Duty history, everything you do counts toward the same XP systems:
This means dedicated Zombies players can fully participate in the game's progression ecosystem without touching Multiplayer, and vice versa.
Several features enhance the experience across multiple or all Zombies modes:
Black Ops 7 launches with 66 new Augments (192 total), providing unprecedented customization for Perks, Ammo Mods, and Field Upgrades. Each enhancement now has eight Augments including two brand-new ones, with the ability to equip one Major and two Minor Augments once fully researched.
All GobbleGums obtained in Black Ops 6 transfer to Black Ops 7, and the system includes 47 different types (six new, 41 returning) spanning five rarity tiers. A new recycling feature lets you convert unwanted GobbleGums into Essence during matches.
Melee weapons can now inflict Critical hits when aimed at enemy heads, providing more control and damage potential. Heavy attacks deal increased damage but execute more slowly.
The new "Overheal" system allows temporary health boosts above your maximum through specific Augments and Equipment, stacking up to +100 additional health. This bonus health doesn't regenerate but can be refreshed.
Exfiltration has changed dramatically. Instead of helicopter extraction, you'll answer ringing phone booths throughout the map, which summon portals and dangerous High Value Targets. Defeat the HVT within the time limit to successfully exfil.
New for Black Ops 7: Individual players can decline exfil attempts and continue playing even after teammates evacuate, offering unprecedented flexibility.
Stay connected with the Black Ops 7 Zombies community through these official and fan-run channels:
Official Call of Duty Discord: Join the largest English-speaking Call of Duty community with nearly 670,000 members for LFG (looking for group), strategy discussions, and event announcements at discord.com/invite/callofduty.
r/CODZombies Reddit: The primary Reddit community for all Call of Duty Zombies content, featuring Easter egg solutions, high-round strategies, and community events at reddit.com/r/CODZombies.
Official Call of Duty Blog: Get the latest intel, patch notes, and developer insights directly from Treyarch at callofduty.com/blog.
@CallofDuty Twitter/X: Follow for real-time updates, announcements, and community highlights. For Zombies-specific updates, also follow @Treyarch.
@CODUpdates Twitter/X: The best source for patch notes, hotfixes, and game updates as they happen.
Call of Duty Wiki: Comprehensive database of weapons, Perks, Easter egg steps, and historical Zombies information at callofduty.fandom.com.
Black Ops 7 Zombies features four modes at launch: Standard, Survival, Cursed (unlock required), and Dead Ops Arcade 4. Directed Mode will be added post-launch, similar to Black Ops 6's release pattern.
Yes! Survival mode on the Vandorn Family Farm map will be playable during the Black Ops 7 Beta from October 2-8, 2025. Early Access begins October 2 (requires pre-order or Game Pass), with Open Beta starting October 5 for all players.
While Treyarch hasn't officially confirmed the requirements, reliable sources suggest you must complete the main Easter egg quest in either Standard or Directed Mode to unlock Cursed. The developers intentionally kept this secret for players to discover naturally.
Yes! All GobbleGums obtained in Black Ops 6 will be accessible in Black Ops 7 at launch. Your GobbleGum inventory transfers automatically, and you can continue building your collection with 47 different types available in BO7.
Ashes of the Damned in Black Ops 7 is the largest round-based Zombies map ever created, featuring six distinct locations connected by treacherous roadways. The map draws inspiration from Black Ops 2's TranZit but is significantly larger and more detailed.
No. Cursed Mode strips away custom loadouts entirely. You start with only a pistol, no minimap, and must earn everything through classic gameplay mechanics. This is intentional to create a more challenging, old-school experience.
Yes! Treyarch has confirmed that additional Survival maps will be released throughout post-launch seasons. Eventually, all six major locations from Ashes of the Damned (Janus Towers, Vandorn Farm, Blackwater Lake, Ashwood, Exit 115, and Zarya Cosmodrome) will receive Survival variants.
Ol' Tessie is Black Ops 7's Wonder Vehicle—a vintage farm truck that serves as your primary transportation across the map. It can be upgraded with attachments like a DG-2 turret and T.E.D.D.'s head, and even hosts the mobile Pack-a-Punch machine. The vehicle can take damage and requires repairs during extended matches.
Yes! The new Wisp Tea Perk summons a companion wisp after killing enough zombies. This ethereal creature attacks nearby zombies for approximately 30 seconds before disappearing. With the right Augments, the wisp can revive you, attract enemies, heal you periodically, or even fetch items.
Standard Mode is the classic Zombies experience with full access to all content, requiring players to discover Easter egg steps independently. Directed Mode provides clear objectives and guided progression, streamlining the main quest path for newcomers or those primarily interested in the story rather than discovery.
Black Ops 7 Zombies represents Treyarch's most ambitious and comprehensive offering yet. With four distinct modes plus Dead Ops Arcade 4, every player can find an experience tailored to their skill level and preferences.
For your first playthrough, Standard Mode is recommended to experience the complete Ashes of the Damned story, explore the massive map, and master new mechanics like Ol' Tessie and the Necrofluid Gauntlet. Once you've completed the main Easter egg, Cursed Mode awaits as the ultimate test of your Zombies mastery.
Survival Mode provides endless replayability and is perfect for practicing high-round strategies or competing with friends for leaderboard positions. And when you want a completely different experience, Dead Ops Arcade 4 offers chaotic twin-stick action with progression that benefits your main account.
Don't forget to jump into the Black Ops 7 Beta starting October 2, 2025 for early access to Survival mode. This is your chance to get hands-on experience before the full launch on November 14, 2025, and start mastering the new systems that will define the Black Ops 7 Zombies experience.
The Dark Aether awaits. Which mode will you conquer first?