Mastering the Staff of Ice Upgrade in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies

The Staff of Ice, a unique Wonder Weapon in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies, starts weak but transforms into a powerhouse after an upgrade. This guide details the upgrade process for the Ull's Arrow, crucial for high-round survival and Easter egg hunts.

Upgrade Prerequisites:

Before upgrading, you need the Staff of Ice itself. Obtain it either from the Mystery Box or by collecting its three components. Early access to the Dark Aether Nexus, achieved by opening the Door to Nowhere, is also essential.

Upgrade Steps:

Step 1: Freezing Dark Aether Crystals:

Freeze three Dark Aether Crystals consecutively using the Staff of Ice. These crystals reside within glowing purple Dark Aether lanterns found in The Tomb's underground sections. Perks like Stamin-Up and PHD Flopper (with Tribologist) significantly aid this step by boosting movement speed. Optimize your route; a suggested path involves the tomb area, the Shrine of the Hierophants, and the lantern near the Subterranean Temple entrance (avoiding the lantern near Quick Revive due to distance). Successfully freezing the crystals triggers a quote from Archibald, signaling progression to the Dark Aether Nexus.

Step 2: Targeting Floating Runes:

Within the Dark Aether Nexus, locate three floating rocks with glowing purple Runes. Each Rune displays a unique symbol. Shoot each Rune with the Staff of Ice (a hitmarker confirms a successful shot). This causes the rocks to descend, making the Runes easier to target. A scoped weapon can improve accuracy. The order of shooting the rocks is inconsequential.

Step 3: Solving the Rune Puzzle:

After completing Step 2, a stone wall replaces a portal back to the main map. Locate the corresponding area on the map; a wall with glowing Runes will appear. Shoot the three Runes matching the symbols from the floating rocks using the Staff of Ice. This reopens the portal, regardless of whether the correct Runes were targeted. Incorrect Runes result in a mid-air drop in the Dark Aether Nexus; try again after a round or two. Correctly shooting the Runes places you on a floating rock with a purple orb. Interact with the orb.

Step 4: Escorting the Soul Chest Orb:

After interacting with the orb, it begins moving. Kill zombies near the orb; their essence fuels its movement. Guide the orb to the central structure in the Dark Aether Nexus. Once settled, a small purple portal appears. Interact with it to upgrade the Staff of Ice to the Ull's Arrow.

Ull's Arrow Abilities:

The Ull's Arrow boasts a powerful charged AoE attack and an alternate fire mode for reviving downed teammates, similar to its predecessors in Black Ops 2 and 3.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.