Ah, Shi No Numa in Vanguard Zombies! A classic map brought back with a Vanguard twist, and a real challenge for those looking to conquer its secrets and the formidable Echo boss. You're in for a treat, or perhaps, a terrifying time, but with this guide, you'll be well on your way to claiming victory.
So, you want to beat Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies? Excellent! Let's dive deep into the murky, zombie-infested swamps and emerge victorious. This isn't just about surviving; it's about mastering the map, understanding its mechanics, and ultimately, putting an end to Saraxis's torment.
The Ultimate Guide: Conquering Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies
This guide will take you through the main quest, also known as the Easter Egg, to defeat the final boss, Echo (Saraxis). While you can definitely play for high rounds without completing the Easter Egg, mastering these steps will not only grant you unique rewards but also give you a deeper understanding of the map's dynamics.
Before You Begin: Essential Preparations
Before we even think about confronting the Echo, we need to set ourselves up for success. This isn't a walk in the park!
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Loadout Selection:
- Weapons: For general zombie slaying and boss damage, shotguns are king in Vanguard Zombies. The Einhorn Revolving and Combat Shotgun are top-tier choices due to their raw damage and ability to clear hordes. The Panzerfaust can be surprisingly effective with the right Covenants, especially for clearing groups. The Wunderwaffe DG-2 (which we'll be building) is essential for the boss fight.
- Field Upgrade: Aether Shroud is highly recommended for solo players, offering invincibility and repositioning during hairy situations, especially in the boss fight. Ring of Fire is fantastic for co-op or if you prefer to hold a tight train and dish out massive damage.
- Covenants: This is where Vanguard Zombies truly shines with customization. Look out for these:
- Death Blow: Critical kills return bullets to your magazine. This is a game-changer for shotguns, allowing near-infinite ammo without reloading.
- Cull the Weak: Deal more damage to slowed or stunned enemies. Pairs wonderfully with Cryofreeze.
- Cryofreeze: Slows and freezes enemies on hit. Great for crowd control and activating Cull the Weak.
- Explosives Expert: Increased explosive damage and reduced self-damage. Crucial if you're using the Panzerfaust.
- Brain Rot: Turns a zombie into an ally. Can provide a distraction or help thin out the horde.
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Understanding the Map Layout: Shi No Numa is a relatively small map with several key areas. Familiarize yourself with:
- Main Hut: Your starting point, contains Pack-a-Punch access.
- Comm Room: Leads to the Radio Tower.
- Storage Hut: Contains a trap and a crafting table.
- Doctor's Quarters: Contains the Monolith and a cipher paper.
- Flogger Courtyard: Features the Flogger trap and an empty Perk Fountain.
- Fishing Hut: Another area with a trap.
- Dig Site: Central to many Easter Egg steps.
Step 1: Get Familiar with the Surroundings & Prep Your Arsenal
Alright, my fellow zombie slayers, let's get you acquainted with the eerie beauty of Shi No Numa! First things first, what's your plan? Are you diving in solo, or bringing a squad? This map, while classic, has its own unique flow in Vanguard.
- Open Doors & Accumulate Essence: Your immediate goal is to open up the map. Focus on earning Essence (points) by killing zombies and completing initial objectives.
- Tip: Aim for headshots! They provide more Essence and are crucial for many Covenants.
- Locate the Perk Fountains: Unlike traditional perk machines, Vanguard uses gothic-looking fountains. There's no limit to how many perks you can have, and the base perks are free! Find them and grab them all as soon as you can.
- Activate the Altar of Covenants: This skeletal altar is crucial for buffs. You'll earn Sacrificial Hearts every three rounds (or after objectives on other maps). Spend these hearts to get powerful Covenants. Prioritize Death Blow if you can get it early!
- Power Up Your Weapons:
- Pack-a-Punch: This is located in the Main Hut. Interact with it to upgrade your weapons. You'll need to kill zombies near it to charge it up initially. Pack-a-Punch your primary weapon as soon as possible.
Step 2: Crafting the Legendary Wunderwaffe DG-2
The Wunderwaffe DG-2 is not just a powerful weapon; it's essential for the Easter Egg. Building it requires collecting three parts.
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Sub-step 2.1: The Weapon Barrel (Radio Tower)
- Head to the Comm Room.
- Locate the Radio Tower outside the Comm Room. There's a panel on it.
- Defend the Radio Tower: Interact with the panel. A lightning bolt will strike the tower at the start of the next round. You'll need to defend the tower from zombies until the event completes.
- Once defended, the panel will open, and you can collect the Weapon Barrel.
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Sub-step 2.2: The Electrical Fuse (Storage Hut Trap)
- Go to the Comm Room and locate the radio inside. Interact with it to pick up the Charged Tube.
- Proceed to the Storage Hut. Inside, behind a wall, you'll find a trap.
- Activate the trap (1,000 Essence). Let it run until it stops and a red box opens.
- Insert the Electrical Fuse into the box to repair the trap.
- Now, you need to charge the Vacuum Tube. Activate the trap repeatedly, killing zombies with it, until you see a sparking fuse on the workbench inside the Storage Hut. This might take a few activations.
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Sub-step 2.3: The Vacuum Tube (Zaballa & Tesla Coil)
- This step requires a specific enemy: Zaballa the Deceiver. She typically starts spawning around Round 15.
- Lure Zaballa to the Excavation Room (starting building) where there's a Tesla Coil.
- When Zaballa uses her electric attack near the coil, it will charge up. You'll see visual progress on the coil.
- Repeat this process, luring Zaballa and letting her attack near the coil, until it's fully charged. This usually takes about 3-5 attacks.
- Once charged, you can collect the final Vacuum Tube from the coil.
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Sub-step 2.4: Assemble the Wunderwaffe DG-2
- With all three parts (Weapon Barrel, Electrical Fuse, Vacuum Tube) collected, return to the crafting table in the Storage Hut.
- You can now craft the Wunderwaffe DG-2! This powerful wonder weapon will be invaluable for the boss fight.
Step 3: Solving the Cipher and Unlocking the Monolith
This step involves finding hidden papers and a bit of symbol matching.
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Sub-step 3.1: Find the Cipher Paper
- Head to the Doctor's Quarters.
- Locate a paper with symbols on a table. Throw a Molotov Cocktail or Thermite at it to reveal the full list of symbols. Take a screenshot or make a note of these!
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Sub-step 3.2: Retrieve Cypher Wheel Parts
- You need to find three Cypher Wheel parts:
- On a table in the Dormitory.
- In the room right of the Demonic Fountain at the Doctor's Quarters.
- On a table at the Dig Site in front of the Pack-a-Punch.
- You need to find three Cypher Wheel parts:
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Sub-step 3.3: Place & Align the Cypher Wheels
- Return to the Monolith in the Doctor's Quarters Exterior.
- Place the three Cypher Wheels on the Monolith.
- Using the list of symbols you found on the paper, rotate each wheel to align the symbols from top to bottom, creating a code.
Step 4: The Ceremony Lockdown & The First Echo Encounter
Once the code is entered, prepare for a lockdown and your first interaction with the boss.
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Sub-step 4.1: Start the Ceremony
- After aligning the symbols, several stones will light up around the Doctor's Quarters Exterior (one for each player).
- All players must interact with their respective stones simultaneously to "start the ceremony." This will trigger a lockdown.
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Sub-step 4.2: Blue Zombie Souls
- During the lockdown, zombies shrouded in a blue mist will spawn.
- You must kill these blue zombies near the Monolith using your Wunderwaffe DG-2. Their souls will be absorbed into the Monolith to charge it.
- Keep an eye on the timer! If it runs out, you'll have to repeat the lockdown phase.
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Sub-step 4.3: Damaging the Echo
- Once the Monolith is charged, a blue bubble will form around the central area.
- Lure the Echo (Saraxis) into this blue bubble.
- When she's inside, she'll enter a damage phase. Shoot her mask with your weapons (Wunderwaffe and Pack-a-Punched primary).
- Continue to deal damage until you see the "Immune" indication. The orb will disappear, and the first phase is complete. You'll receive power-ups.
Step 5: Flogger Juice, Mirror Pieces & Charging Podiums
This step involves using the Flogger and collecting mirror pieces.
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Sub-step 5.1: Flogger Juice (Zombie Blood)
- Go to the Flogger Courtyard.
- Use the Flogger trap to fill the empty Demonic Fountain.
- Drink from the fountain to gain "Zombie Blood" vision for a limited time. This allows you to see hidden objects.
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Sub-step 5.2: Find Mr. Peek's Parts (Optional but Recommended for Lore/Rewards)
- While in "Zombie Blood" mode, you can find parts of "Mr. Peek," a mysterious bunny. Finding these typically rewards you with points or other bonuses.
- The head is under the zipline platform (grab it as the platform comes down).
- A part is in the water outside the Fishing Hut.
- The final part often spawns after using the Mystery Box enough times.
- While in "Zombie Blood" mode, you can find parts of "Mr. Peek," a mysterious bunny. Finding these typically rewards you with points or other bonuses.
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Sub-step 5.3: Retrieve Mirror Halves
- Two mirror halves need to be retrieved:
- One half is found in the water to the right of the Fishing Hut. You'll need "Zombie Blood" to see and grab it.
- The second half is hanging on the bottom of the zipline. Again, "Zombie Blood" is required.
- Two mirror halves need to be retrieved:
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Sub-step 5.4: Form the Relic & Start the Orb Chase
- Once both mirror pieces are retrieved, go to the Dig Site.
- Place them on the central altar to form the relic.
- A blue orb will appear on a stone near the altar. Interact with it. It will fly away.
- Follow the orb and shoot it to make it move. This will happen several times across the map.
Step 6: The Final Confrontation: Echo Boss Fight (Saraxis)
The orb will eventually return to the Dig Site. This signifies the start of the final boss encounter with Saraxis.
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Sub-step 6.1: Summon the Echo
- Once the orb is back at the Dig Site, several stones (one for each player) can be interacted with to "summon the Echo." This will trigger another lockdown and the boss fight itself.
- Saraxis will appear, and a short conversation/cutscene will play.
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Sub-step 6.2: Phase 1: Blue Zombies
- Similar to the initial encounter, zombies with a blue glow will spawn.
- Kill these blue-glowing zombies with your Wunderwaffe DG-2 near the central podium/relic. Their souls will charge the relic.
- Once enough souls are collected, a blue bubble will form. Lure Saraxis into the bubble and shoot her mask until she is immune.
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Sub-step 6.3: Phase 2: Blue Boom Schreiers
- The next phase is similar, but this time you'll need to kill Boom Schreiers (the red, exploding zombies) with a blue glow near the central relic.
- Again, a blue bubble will form. Lure Saraxis in and damage her mask until she becomes immune.
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Sub-step 6.4: Phase 3: Blue Sturmkriegers
- For the final phase, you'll need to kill Sturmkriegers (the heavy armored zombies with machine guns) with a blue glow near the central relic. These are tougher, so be careful and use your Wunderwaffe effectively.
- Once more, a blue bubble will form. Lure Saraxis in and this time, defeat her by continuing to shoot her mask.
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Boss Fight Tips:
- Movement is Key: The boss area is relatively open. Keep moving to avoid Saraxis's attacks and the regular zombie horde.
- Artifact Usage: Save your Artifact (Field Upgrade) for the damage phases or when you need to escape a tight spot. Aether Shroud is excellent for safely dishing out damage to Saraxis.
- Ammo Management: You'll get max ammo drops after each damage phase, but be mindful of your ammunition throughout the fight.
- Stay in the Bubble: When the blue bubble forms, ensure Saraxis is inside before you start shooting her. Damage outside the bubble is minimal or non-existent.
- Prioritize Blue Enemies: Focus on the glowing zombies or special enemies required for each phase to charge the relic.
Victory!
Once Saraxis is defeated, a short cutscene will play. You'll hear her scream, she'll disappear, and you'll receive the end cutscene along with a bounty of rewards, including the fully formed mirror relic! Congratulations, you've successfully beaten the Shi No Numa Easter Egg in Vanguard Zombies!
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies:
How to get the Wunderwaffe DG-2 in Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies? You get the Wunderwaffe DG-2 by collecting three parts: the Weapon Barrel from the Radio Tower defense, the Electrical Fuse from the Storage Hut trap, and the Vacuum Tube by luring Zaballa the Deceiver to the Tesla Coil in the Excavation Room. Once all parts are collected, craft it at the Storage Hut workbench.
How to quickly earn Essence (points) in Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies? Focus on headshots, as they grant more Essence. Use wall buys in early rounds for quick weapons, and utilize traps like the Flogger for crowd control, though traps give less Essence per kill.
How to unlock Pack-a-Punch in Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies? The Pack-a-Punch machine is located in the Main Hut. Interact with it, and then kill zombies near it to charge it up until it activates.
How to get the best weapons for high rounds in Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies? The Einhorn Revolving and Combat Shotgun are excellent choices when Pack-a-Punched and combined with the Death Blow Covenant. The Panzerfaust with Explosives Expert is also highly effective.
How to survive high rounds in Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies? Training zombies (herding them into a line) in open areas like the Flogger Courtyard or Comm Room is crucial. Utilize Covenants like Death Blow and Cryofreeze, and keep your Field Upgrade ready for emergencies.
How to find all Perk Fountains in Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies? Perk Fountains are scattered throughout the map's huts and areas. Explore each opened section thoroughly, and you'll find them as they are not hidden too well and are free at base level.
How to deal with special zombies like Boom Schreiers and Sturmkriegers in Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies? Boom Schreiers should be killed at a distance to avoid their explosive burst. Sturmkriegers are heavily armored; aim for critical hit spots (head) and use Pack-a-Punched weapons or the Wunderwaffe for quick elimination, especially during the boss fight.
How to get Sacrificial Hearts for Covenants in Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies? You earn one Sacrificial Heart for every three rounds completed on Shi No Numa. These can then be exchanged at the Altar of Covenants for powerful buffs.
How to improve your loadout for Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies? Beyond weapons, focus on Covenants that synergize with your playstyle (e.g., Death Blow for shotguns, Cryofreeze for crowd control). Max out your chosen weapon's attachments in the pre-game lobby for maximum effectiveness.
How to play Shi No Numa Vanguard Zombies effectively in co-op? Coordinate with your teammates for opening doors and activating Easter Egg steps. Designate roles (e.g., one person trains while another focuses on objectives). Resurrectionist Covenant is highly beneficial for faster revives in co-op.
