H1 How to Upgrade the Ice Staff in Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies
Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies’ Origins map is notorious for its complexity, but also revered for its intricate Easter eggs and powerful Wonder Weapons. Among these, the Ice Staff stands out as a fan favorite, capable of freezing hordes of zombies solid. However, its true potential is only unlocked when upgraded into the Ullrs Wrath. This upgraded form boasts increased damage, a larger freezing radius, and the ability to charge shots for even more devastating effects. This guide will walk you through every step required to upgrade the Ice Staff, ensuring you can harness its full power and survive the undead onslaught.
**Prerequisites: Building the Ice Staff**
Before you can even think about upgrading the Ice Staff, you need to acquire it first. This involves locating three parts hidden around the map and placing them on the Ice Pedestal inside the Ice Cave.
* **Part 1: The Mine Cart**
The first part is found inside a mine cart located in the Excavation Site (also known as the dig site). To access this area, you’ll need to restore power to the entire map by activating all six generators. Once powered, head to the bottom of the Excavation Site. The mine cart will spawn randomly in one of three locations:
* **Location 1:** On the upper level near Generator Station 4. Look for a cart that is attached to a crane.
* **Location 2:** On the lower level near the center of the excavation site, close to the path that leads to Generator Station 5.
* **Location 3:** On the lowest level, near the exit that leads toward the Church.
Shoot the mine cart until it falls off the tracks, revealing the Ice Staff part. Pick it up.
* **Part 2: The Frozen Zombie**
The second part is held by a frozen zombie. These zombies are located in three possible locations. To get the part, you must kill them with a melee attack. It is important to use a melee attack and not a grenade or bullet. It is also important to note that only one of the zombies will be holding the part, so you must check all three locations. These locations are:
* **Location 1:** In the tank station (next to generator station 5) in the back corner of the main room. You should see a zombie frozen solid in a dark corner near the back of the station.
* **Location 2:** In the church, on the upper level. If you go up the stairs and turn to the right, you should see a frozen zombie stuck to the wall, right near the mystery box location.
* **Location 3:** In the Wind Tunnel, which is located between the church and the tank station. Inside the wind tunnel, you will see the frozen zombie stuck to the wall.
Once you have located the zombie, simply melee the frozen zombie, and it will drop the part. Pick it up.
* **Part 3: The Footprints**
The third part is found by following footprints that appear when it is snowing. It will only snow when it is raining. You will be able to tell that it is snowing because the screen will turn white, and you will see snow falling from the sky. When it is snowing, look for footprints on the ground. Follow these footprints as they appear, and they will eventually lead you to a pile of snow, where you can dig up the final part. Make sure you follow the footprints from the beginning. The digging location also varies based on the rain cycle.
* **Dig Site/Excavation Site:** The first possible location is next to generator station 4 in the dig site. When it snows, you may see footprints appear next to the generator. Simply follow these footprints, and you will be led to a digging site next to the generator.
* **Church:** The second location for the part is in the church. When the weather is correct, footprints will appear near the entrance. Following the footprints will lead to a dig site near the back of the church.
* **Tank Station:** The final location for the footprints is the Tank Station, which is near generator station 5. When it snows, footprints may appear near the tank station, which will lead to a dig site in that area.
* **Assembling the Ice Staff**
Once you have collected all three parts, head down to the Ice Cave (located beneath the Excavation Site). Place each part onto the Ice Pedestal, and the Ice Staff will appear. You can now pick it up.
**The Upgrade Process: Unlocking Ullrs Wrath**
Now that you have the Ice Staff, the real challenge begins: upgrading it to Ullrs Wrath. This process involves three distinct steps:
1. **Solving the Tombstone Puzzle:**
* **Location:** The first step takes place inside the Crazy Place (Aether). This can be accessed via one of the portals scattered around the map. The portal that is required for upgrading the Ice Staff is the one near the Ice Cave. Make sure you use this portal when attempting to solve the puzzle.
* **The Puzzle:** Inside the Crazy Place, you will find four tombstones with symbols on them. These symbols correspond to various locations around the map. Your goal is to adjust the dials below each tombstone until the symbols match the ones displayed above them. You will be looking for symbols with white stars and can rotate them by shooting at them.
* **Tombstone 1:** The first symbol can be found near the church, on the stone sticking out of the water.
* **Tombstone 2:** The second symbol can be found to the right of Generator 6, on a pile of rocks.
* **Tombstone 3:** The third symbol can be found on the excavation site, on one of the wooden wheels that are on the wall.
* **Tombstone 4:** The fourth symbol can be found on the tank station, next to generator station 5. The symbol will be on the wall above the generator.
* **Solution:** Shoot each dial until the symbol displayed matches the corresponding location. Once all four symbols are correctly aligned, you’ll hear a chime indicating that you’ve solved the puzzle.
2. **Freezing the Three Hidden Orbs:**
* **Objective:** Next, you need to locate three stone spheres hidden around the map and freeze them with the Ice Staff. The stone spheres are hidden in the robot footprints around the map. You will have to wait for the robots to walk through these locations to activate the orbs. The stone spheres are only visible when the robots (Odin, Thor, and Freya) step on the respective locations. Once activated, use the Ice Staff to freeze the stone sphere. The three locations are:
* **Location 1 (Thor):** Located near the church, on the path that leads to the tank station. You will see a large footprint on the ground. Wait for the robot to walk through the location, and a stone sphere will appear, quickly use the Ice Staff to freeze the stone.
* **Location 2 (Odin):** Located near generator station 4 and the excavation site. A large footprint can be seen on the ground. Wait for the robot to walk through the area, and quickly freeze the stone sphere when it appears.
* **Location 3 (Freya):** Located near generator station 6, next to the bridge. You will see a footprint in the area. When the robot walks through it, quickly freeze the sphere with the Ice Staff.
* **Note:** You must freeze the spheres in the robot footprints, and the robot must step on the location for the sphere to appear. If you fail to freeze the stone sphere in time, the stone sphere will disappear and reappear the next time the robot steps on the location.
3. **Charging the Ice Staff in the Crazy Place:**
* **Returning to the Crazy Place:** Go back to the Crazy Place via the portal near the Ice Cave. You should see four pedestals in the Crazy Place, which are where you built the staffs. The pedestals are for the fire, wind, lightning, and ice staff. When looking at the pedestals, make sure you place the Ice Staff on the correct one.
* **Charging:** Place the Ice Staff on the Ice Pedestal. Kill zombies near the Ice Pedestal until the Ice Staff is fully charged. You will know the Ice Staff is fully charged when you can pick it up again. You must kill zombies near the pedestal for the staff to charge. Killing zombies in other areas will not work.
**Final Step: Claiming Ullrs Wrath**
Once you’ve completed all three steps, return to the Ice Pedestal in the Crazy Place and retrieve your Ice Staff. Congratulations! You now wield Ullrs Wrath, the upgraded Ice Staff.
**Ullrs Wrath: Unleashing the Frozen Fury**
Ullrs Wrath is a significant upgrade over the standard Ice Staff. Here’s what you can expect:
* **Increased Damage:** Ullrs Wrath deals considerably more damage, making it more effective against higher-round zombies.
* **Larger Freeze Radius:** The freezing effect covers a wider area, allowing you to control larger groups of zombies more effectively.
* **Charged Shots:** You can charge Ullrs Wrath to unleash a powerful, long-range freezing blast that can take out entire hordes.
**Tips and Strategies**
* **Teamwork:** Upgrading the Ice Staff can be time-consuming and dangerous. Coordinate with your teammates to cover each other and efficiently complete the steps.
* **Perks:** Juggernog is essential for surviving the zombie onslaught. Speed Cola and Quick Revive are also highly recommended.
* **Training:** Use training strategies to group zombies together, making them easier to freeze and eliminate with Ullrs Wrath.
* **Don’t Give Up:** The upgrade process can be challenging, but the reward of wielding Ullrs Wrath is well worth the effort.
**Troubleshooting**
* **Symbols Not Appearing:** Ensure you’ve activated the generators and accessed the Crazy Place correctly.
* **Spheres Not Spawning:** Make sure the robots are stepping on the correct locations and that you’re using the Ice Staff to freeze the spheres.
* **Staff Not Charging:** Only kills near the pedestal count toward charging the staff. Ensure you are killing zombies in close proximity to the pedestal.
**Conclusion**
Upgrading the Ice Staff to Ullrs Wrath is a challenging but rewarding endeavor in Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies’ Origins map. By following these detailed steps and strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to harness the power of the frozen elements and dominate the undead horde. Good luck, and happy zombie hunting!
Here’s some more tips that will improve your gameplay:
* **Understanding Zombie Spawns:** Familiarize yourself with zombie spawn locations to anticipate their movements and plan your strategies accordingly. Knowing where they’ll come from allows for better positioning and crowd control.
* **Effective Weapon Usage:** While the Ice Staff (and especially Ullrs Wrath) is incredibly powerful, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Learn when to use it and when to switch to other weapons. For instance, using the Ray Gun or other wall weapons to deal high damage and use the Ice Staff to create crowd control.
* **Utilizing Grenades and Tactical Equipment:** Don’t underestimate the power of grenades and other tactical equipment. Grenades can clear out tight spaces, while Monkey Bombs can provide temporary distractions, allowing you to reposition or revive teammates.
* **The Importance of Reviving Teammates:** Teamwork is crucial in high-round zombie games. Prioritize reviving downed teammates, especially when using Quick Revive. A full team is always more effective than a player down.
* **Learning to Train Zombies:** Training is a fundamental skill in Zombies. This involves leading a horde of zombies in a circular path, allowing you to thin them out strategically. Good training spots on Origins include the areas around the Excavation Site, the Church, and the Tank Station.
* **Managing Your Points:** Points are essential for buying weapons, opening doors, and purchasing perks. Be mindful of your spending and prioritize upgrades that will enhance your survivability and damage output.
* **Utilizing the Tanks:** The tanks scattered around the map can be used to traverse the map more quickly, and they also provide an extra layer of protection. They are especially helpful in escaping from tight situations or reaching objectives quickly.
* **The Importance of Communication:** If playing with teammates, communication is key. Call out zombie locations, coordinate strategies, and share information about your progress.
* **Practice Makes Perfect:** The more you play Origins, the better you’ll become at navigating the map, understanding zombie behavior, and mastering the upgrade process. Don’t be discouraged by early failures; keep practicing, and you’ll eventually become a zombie-slaying expert.
* **Mastering the Map Layout:** Understanding the map layout is crucial for efficient movement and strategic positioning. Familiarize yourself with key locations, such as generators, perk machines, and crafting tables.
* **Using Melee Attacks Effectively:** Melee attacks can be useful for conserving ammo and stunning zombies. Learn the timing of melee attacks to maximize their effectiveness.
* **Optimizing Perk Selection:** Choose perks that complement your play style and address your weaknesses. For example, if you tend to run out of ammo quickly, Bandolier Bandit can be a valuable asset. Deadshot Daiquiri can also be useful to maximize your weapon accuracy. Also, Mule Kick can be useful for equipping another staff.
* **Utilizing the Teleporters:** The teleporters on Origins can be used to quickly travel between different parts of the map. Learn the locations of the teleporters and use them to your advantage.
* **The Importance of Patience:** Upgrading the Ice Staff and surviving high rounds requires patience. Don’t rush into risky situations, and take your time to plan your moves.
* **Adaptability:** Be prepared to adapt your strategy based on the situation. If your initial plan isn’t working, don’t be afraid to try something new.
**Advanced Strategies:**
* **High-Round Strategies:** For reaching high rounds, it’s essential to develop a consistent strategy. This includes choosing a safe training spot, optimizing your weapon loadout, and managing your resources effectively.
* **Efficient Point Farming:** Maximize your point income by using strategic killing methods. Headshots provide more points than body shots, and using wall weapons can be a cost-effective way to eliminate zombies.
* **Exploiting Zombie Behavior:** Learn to exploit zombie behavior to your advantage. For example, you can use obstacles to funnel zombies into a narrow path, making them easier to eliminate with grenades or powerful weapons.
* **Managing Special Zombies:** Origins features several types of special zombies, each with unique abilities and weaknesses. Learn how to counter each type of zombie to avoid being overwhelmed.
* **Utilizing Glitches and Exploits (Use at Your Own Risk):** While not officially supported, some players choose to use glitches and exploits to gain an advantage. However, keep in mind that using glitches can sometimes lead to unexpected consequences or even game crashes.
By mastering these advanced strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer the Origins map and reach new heights in your zombie-slaying journey. Remember to practice, experiment, and adapt your play style to overcome any challenge that comes your way. Good luck, and have fun!