Guide to Solving the Astra Malorum Zombies Easter Egg in Black Ops 7
Tackling the Black Ops 7 Astra Malorum zombies Easter egg can be quite the challenge. With numerous steps and tasks to complete, figuring it all out on your own can be a daunting task. That’s where this comprehensive guide comes in to help you navigate through it all.
This is the second Zombies map in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and it takes a different approach by replacing the upgradable truck with a relentless, unkillable boss that will pursue you and return even after you think you’ve defeated it. There’s a lot to accomplish if you want to see this through to the end, so let’s dive in.
As with all COD zombie Easter eggs, the main quest for Astra Malorum kicks off by locating and activating the power, as well as unlocking the Pack-a-Punch machine.
First, you’ll need to repair the Harmonic Oculus located in the Observatory Dome. To do this, gather two Harmonic Components: one is in the Luminarium, and the other can be found in the Machina Astralis. Once you have both, you’ll need to defend the Oculus against a horde of zombies.
After successfully repairing the Harmonic Oculus, the Pack-a-Punch machine will be available, so upgrade your weapon to move on to the next phase.
The LGM-1 is the new Wonder Weapon in Astra Malorum, and you won’t be able to progress without it. To obtain it, you must defeat OSCAR, the map’s roaming boss. As mentioned, OSCAR is essentially unkillable and will keep coming back. To get the LGM-1, you’ll need to take him down three times using various traps scattered throughout Astra Malorum. Each time you defeat him, he will respawn, allowing you to repeat the process in different ways.
To activate the traps needed to defeat OSCAR, you’ll require three spare parts:
To find the Car Battery, use a Pack-a-Punched weapon to shoot the hood of Ol’ Tessie in the spawn area. The battery will be inside.
For the Aberrant Wiring, check the lamp posts around the map. One will be flickering; shoot this light to collect the Aberrant Wiring.
To acquire the Destroyed Drone, engage OSCAR and take out one of his shield drones. You don’t need to defeat him yet; just grab the drone once it’s down and make your escape.
Once you have all three parts, you can start taking down OSCAR using the traps in Astra Malorum.
Begin by heading to the Observatory Dome (the Pack-a-Punch room). Look around and shoot five steaming mechanisms on the wall.
Next, use the device next to the Harmonic Oculus. Align the telescope’s crosshair with the sun to summon a laser beam on the Pack-a-Punch platform. Lure OSCAR into the beam to eliminate him.
Then, go to the Luminarium and activate the trap in the center of the room. It will gradually damage OSCAR, so lead him around while shooting down his shield drones as they appear.
For the final trap, equip the Cryo Freeze ammo mod on your weapon. Use it to shoot the purple crystals scattered across the map, which will drop special items known as Absolute Zero Fragments.
Once you have three Absolute Zero Fragments, bring OSCAR to the Museum Infinitum and activate the rocket trap. The fragments will create a frozen trail behind the rocket, damaging OSCAR if he passes through the icy blast. Position him correctly, and he’ll go down quickly.
After OSCAR is defeated for the third time, he will drop the LGM-1. You can tackle these traps in any order, so feel free to mix it up if it makes things easier.
Next, you’ll need to follow OSCAR around the map without being detected and listen to some audio logs he plays. Stick close to him after he respawns, and he’ll eventually start broadcasting the logs through his speakers.
Eventually, he’ll play a recording of elimination 20, which targets Doctor Thurston. This is crucial, as Thurston will mention three planets that you need to remember.
Each planet corresponds to a number based on its position in our solar system: Mercury is 1, Venus is 2, Earth is 3, and so on. Convert the three planets into a three-digit code and head to the Pack-a-Punch room to input that code into the machine attached to a pillar.
Entering the correct code will activate a nearby lift. Ascend to this new area and collect the Cryo Chamber Key next to the corpse above.
Once you have the key, go to the Museum Infinitum and break open the glass display case in the southwest corner to obtain a Rock Saw.
With the Rock Saw in hand, head to the Machina Astralis and open the green cryo chamber. Interact with the body inside to extract its brain using the Rock Saw.
Take the brain to the Luminarium and interact with the glowing purple container called the Perfusion Machine by the door to swap the brain for… another brain. Then, interact with the brain again to initiate a one-minute survival challenge where you must defend the area.
After successfully fending off the undead, collect the brain and return to the Machina Astralis, where you’ll find another Perfusion Machine. Connect the brain to complete this step.
Now, head back to the Observatory Dome and use the telescope again. This time, align the crosshair with Mars.
When you locate Mars, note the numbers displayed in the bottom corner of the screen next to DEC. Input those numbers into the code machine near the stairs in the Machina Astralis room.
After entering this code, return to the Perfusion Machine and check the screen next to the brain. It will show Dr. Thurston’s reading list, which you’ll need to memorize.
In the Archive of Orbis, you’ll find the listed books on the shelves, along with three busts in the adjacent room. Interact with each bookshelf to see the titles, and for every title that appears on Dr. Thurston’s reading list, rotate the nearby bust once.
For instance, if the statue in the corner is next to bookshelves containing Witchlight Codex, Silence at Singularity, and Pyramids of Cydonia, and you see Pyramids of Cydonia and Witchlight Codex on the reading list, you’d rotate the bust twice.
After correctly rotating all the busts to solve the reading list puzzle, the attic will open up. Climb the ladder into the newly opened hatch to grab Planet Neptune.
Take Neptune to the upper level of the Machina Astralis room and place it on the empty pole that’s missing a planet. This will complete the solar system diorama, and you’ll need to align the planets in a specific order.
Scattered around the map are scraps of paper with cardinal directions and planets written on them.
The first piece of paper is on a table near Stamin-Up in the Archive of Orbis.
The second paper is on a desk on the eastern side of the Machina Astralis.
The third paper is on a table by a lamp in the Luminarium.
Once you’ve gathered all three notes, return to the Machina Astralis and shoot the planets hanging above to rotate them into the correct positions.
After adjusting the planets, interact with the Perfusion Machine to trigger a two-minute lockdown. Defend the teleporter from OSCAR and the undead, and make sure to destroy OSCAR’s drones as they appear, as they will attempt to disable the teleporter.
Once you’ve successfully defended the area, you’ll be teleported to Mars. Pick up the Perfusion Machine ahead and place it into the strange machine overlooking the courtyard. A strange noise will signal you to run to the window to the north.
You’ll see four alien pylons in the distance. Shoot them in order: back right, back left, front right, and then front left. Finally, shoot the pylon above the teleporter that brought you to Mars.
If done correctly, a bird will start flying around the area, carrying a key item called the Ascendant Eye. To obtain it, jump up and interact with the bird. Shoot the final pylon to freeze the bird, making it easier to grab.
Once you have the Ascendant Eye, place it into the pyramid pedestal in the southeastern corner of the area.
There are five more pylons atop pillars around Mars. Use the LGM-1 to shoot and activate them.
After activating the pylons, return to the Observatory Dome and use the Harmonic Oculus. It will display a set of five symbols on the circular display to the right of the organ’s keys, although one symbol will be obscured by static.
Take note of the symbols and their order, as they correspond to the pillars on Mars. Interact with each pillar’s symbol in the order shown on the Harmonic Oculus to complete this puzzle. There are only five pillars and symbols, so use a process of elimination to identify the missing symbol hidden by the interference.
At this point, you’re ready for the final boss fight. Ensure you’re equipped with Pack-a-Punched weapons, Gobblegums, and anything else you might need.
Finally, it’s time for the climactic showdown: Caltheris. This multi-stage boss fight involves a lot of mechanics, which can be overwhelming for solo players, so teaming up is advisable. Interact with the Perfusion Machine to kick off the battle.
In the first phase, Caltheris appears as a giant floating skull. To damage her, you need to eliminate zombies in the arena to charge a towering pylon. Once it’s fully charged, interact with the Perfusion Machine to blast Caltheris, taking off a third of her health.
While you’re charging the tower, Caltheris will target players with a slow-moving laser. Keep moving to avoid damage. Repeat the charging process with the other pylons to complete phase one.
When phase two begins, Caltheris transforms into a golem and will chase you around the arena. Use the LGM-1 to destroy her armor and expose glowing blue weak spots for extra damage.
Stay agile during this phase—Caltheris has a deadly slam attack that can easily take you out. She’ll also throw rocks from a distance, so keep dodging to stay safe.
In phase three, she becomes Caltheris Ascendant, a more dangerous version of phase two, with even larger rocks and a more lethal slam. Keep moving and use the LGM-1 to break her armor so your teammates can target her weak spots again.
In the final phase, Caltheris grows even stronger and transforms into Caltheris the Needle. She deals significantly more damage in this phase, and her rocks will leave electrified purple clouds around the arena. Stepping into one of these clouds is fatal, so plan your movements carefully.
After gradually whittling down Caltheris’ health bar, you’ll finally emerge victorious. Enjoy the concluding cutscene of Astra Malorum!
