Alright, Operator! You're diving into the murky, undead-infested waters of Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies, and you want to know just how many battlegrounds await your glorious zombie-slaying endeavors? Well, prepare yourself, because we're about to uncover all the chilling details.
How Many Zombie Maps Are in Vanguard? A Comprehensive Guide to Your Undead Battlegrounds
Many players often wonder about the total number of maps in a Call of Duty Zombies experience, especially with the evolving nature of the mode. Vanguard's Zombies, developed by the legendary Treyarch, brought a somewhat different approach compared to previous iterations. Let's break down exactly what you'll encounter.
In total, Call of Duty: Vanguard features four main Zombies maps. These maps tell a continuous story within the Dark Aether narrative, expanding on the lore established in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. While the initial launch offered a unique, objective-based experience, subsequent seasons introduced more traditional round-based gameplay.
Let's delve into each of these chilling locations and what makes them stand out!
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| How Many Zombie Maps Are In Vanguard |
Step 1: Embarking on Your First Undead Adventure - "Der Anfang"
Are you ready to face the very beginning of the horror? If you're just starting your Vanguard Zombies journey, "Der Anfang" (The Beginning) is where it all kicks off. This map was the launch offering for Vanguard Zombies, and it introduced a new, objective-based mode that differed significantly from the classic round-based survival.
Sub-heading: Understanding the "Der Anfang" Experience
Instead of simply surviving waves, "Der Anfang" presents a series of objectives spread across various interconnected areas within a supernatural version of Stalingrad. You'll activate portals, complete tasks like Transmit (defending a point) or Harvest (collecting souls from specific enemies), and then return to the central hub, Stalingrad Main Hub, to purchase upgrades and new Covenants.
QuickTip: Short pauses improve understanding.
- Key Features:
- Objective-based gameplay: This was a fresh take, focusing on completing specific tasks rather than endless rounds.
- Covenants: A unique system where you sacrifice "Sacrificial Hearts" (earned from completing objectives) for temporary, powerful buffs. Experimenting with different Covenant combinations was crucial for survival!
- Perk Fountains: Scattered across the map, these provided classic Zombies perks.
- Pack-a-Punch: Essential for upgrading your weapons to deal more damage to the increasingly tough undead.
While "Der Anfang" wasn't a traditional round-based map at its core, it still offered plenty of challenge and introduced players to the new Dark Aether entities assisting (or hindering) your fight.
Step 2: Journeying to the Desert - "Terra Maledicta"
Once you've braved the initial onslaught of "Der Anfang," your next stop on the Vanguard Zombies tour will be "Terra Maledicta" (Cursed Earth). This map was introduced in Season Two and continued the Dark Aether storyline, taking you to a desolate Egyptian desert.
Sub-heading: Unveiling the Secrets of the Cursed Earth
"Terra Maledicta" expanded upon the objective-based formula of "Der Anfang" while introducing new enemies and a new Wonder Weapon, the Decimator Shield. The map's layout and objectives encouraged more movement and strategic planning as you navigated its sandy dunes and ancient ruins.
- New Location: A stark contrast to the ruined city of Stalingrad, "Terra Maledicta" brought a fresh aesthetic.
- Decimator Shield: This new Wonder Weapon offered a powerful defensive and offensive tool, capable of stunning and eliminating hordes of zombies. Mastering its charge-up ability was vital!
- Story Progression: The narrative deepened in "Terra Maledicta," with more revelations about the Dark Aether entities and their conflict.
Step 3: Returning to a Classic - "Shi No Numa" (Vanguard Version)
Ah, a name that sends shivers down the spine of veteran Zombies players! For Season Three, Vanguard's Zombies finally brought back a traditional round-based map: "Shi No Numa" (Swamp of Death). This wasn't just a simple port; it was a reimagining of the classic World at War map, rebuilt within the Vanguard engine and integrated into its unique gameplay mechanics.
Sub-heading: The Return to Round-Based Mayhem
The community had been vocal about its desire for round-based Zombies, and Treyarch delivered with "Shi No Numa." While retaining the familiar layout and feel of the original, it incorporated Vanguard's Covenants, artifacts, and weapon progression systems.
Tip: Focus more on ideas, less on words.
- Classic Round-Based Gameplay: The core of the Zombies experience returned – survive waves, open doors, earn points, and go for high rounds.
- Familiar Layout, New Twists: While the huts and swamp were recognizable, new pathways and secrets were added to keep things fresh.
- Vundava Wonder Weapon: A new take on a classic Wonder Weapon style, offering electrifying power against the undead.
- Easter Egg Quest: A proper, intricate main Easter Egg quest was a welcome return for many fans, providing a clear objective beyond just survival. Solving the puzzles and uncovering the story was a highlight!
Step 4: The Final Confrontation - "The Archon"
The culmination of the Vanguard Zombies saga arrived in Season Four with the fourth and final map: "The Archon." This map brought the Dark Aether storyline to an explosive conclusion, pitting players against the primary antagonist, Kortifex the Deathless.
Sub-heading: Facing the Ultimate Threat
"The Archon" offered a challenging and intense experience, serving as the epic finale to Vanguard's Zombies narrative. It built upon the round-based foundation of "Shi No Numa" while incorporating new enemy types and a climactic boss battle.
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- Story Conclusion: This map provided closure to the Dark Aether narrative within Vanguard.
- Intense Boss Fight: The final confrontation with Kortifex was a multi-phase battle that tested players' skills and strategies.
- New Challenges: Expect new types of formidable zombies and environmental hazards to keep you on your toes.
Beyond the Four Main Maps: What Else is There?
While the four maps listed above are the primary, story-driven experiences, it's worth noting that Vanguard's Zombies also utilized existing multiplayer maps in a more limited capacity within "Der Anfang" objectives. However, these were not standalone, dedicated Zombies maps in the traditional sense, but rather segments of multiplayer maps repurposed for specific objective types.
There were no additional full-fledged DLC Zombies maps released beyond these four for Vanguard. The focus shifted to evolving the existing "Der Anfang" experience and eventually introducing the standalone round-based maps.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vanguard Zombies Maps
How to start playing Zombies in Vanguard? To start playing Zombies in Vanguard, simply launch the game, navigate to the "Zombies" menu, and select your desired map from the available options. "Der Anfang" is the starting point for the narrative, but you can jump into any unlocked map.
QuickTip: Reading carefully once is better than rushing twice.
How to unlock all Vanguard Zombies maps? All main Vanguard Zombies maps ("Der Anfang", "Terra Maledicta", "Shi No Numa", and "The Archon") were released as part of free seasonal updates. As long as your game is updated, they should be available to you without any extra purchase.
How to Pack-a-Punch your weapon in Vanguard Zombies? The Pack-a-Punch machine is always found in the main hub area of "Der Anfang" (Stalingrad Main Hub) and in dedicated locations within "Shi No Numa" and "The Archon." Simply approach it and interact to upgrade your weapon for a cost.
How to get perks in Vanguard Zombies? Perks are obtained from "Perk Fountains" scattered across all Vanguard Zombies maps. Each fountain offers a specific perk for a certain amount of Essence (in-game currency).
How to get Sacrificial Hearts in Vanguard Zombies? Sacrificial Hearts are earned by completing objectives in "Der Anfang" and "Terra Maledicta." These are then used at the Altar of Covenants to acquire powerful buffs.
How to use Covenants in Vanguard Zombies? Covenants are accessed via the Altar of Covenants in the main hub of "Der Anfang" and "Terra Maledicta," or by interacting with specific altars in "Shi No Numa" and "The Archon." Spend Sacrificial Hearts to roll for and select powerful temporary buffs.
Tip: Reread if it feels confusing.
How to survive high rounds in Vanguard Zombies? Surviving high rounds involves a combination of effective weapon upgrades (Pack-a-Punch, rarities), strategic perk selection, smart Covenant choices, map knowledge for training zombies, and utilizing Field Upgrades effectively.
How to complete the Easter Egg in Shi No Numa (Vanguard)? The "Shi No Numa" Easter Egg is a multi-step quest involving various interactions and puzzles. Many video guides are available online that provide step-by-step instructions for completing it, often best done with a team.
How to find the Wonder Weapon in Vanguard Zombies maps? Wonder Weapons are usually acquired through specific Easter Egg steps, Mystery Box luck, or by completing certain challenges within a map. For example, the Decimator Shield is part of the main quest in "Terra Maledicta," and the Vundava is integral to the "Shi No Numa" Easter Egg.
How to play with friends in Vanguard Zombies? To play with friends, navigate to the Zombies menu, select your desired map, and then invite friends to your party before starting the match. Vanguard supports cross-platform play, so you can team up with players on different systems.
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