How to complete the Firebase Z Easter Egg in Black Ops Cold War Zombies

Liam Mackay
bocw zombies Firebase Z gameplay

Like all good Zombies maps, Firebase Z has a lengthy Easter Egg to complete that will unlock a secret cutscene, as well as a calling card to show off. Here’s how to complete it.

The Firebase Z Easter Egg went live on February 5 so everyone could begin on an even playing field. It didn’t take long for the most skilled hunters to solve it, but we’ve broken it down into easy-to-follow steps so you can solve it yourself. Buckle in though, it might take a while.

Before beginning the Easter Egg, you need to turn on the power, unlock the Pack-a-Punch machine, and get the RAI K-84 Wonder Weapon.

You don’t need to get the RAI K-84 before starting the Easter Egg, but it’ll be easier in the early rounds so we recommend getting it early by following our guide.

Here’s how to complete the Black Ops Cold War Firebase Z Easter Egg.

Step 1: Speak to Ravenov and Peck

Once the Pack-a-Punch machine is online, speak to Ravenov who will be marked with a waypoint. After talking to Ravenov, speak to Doctor Peck who’s located in the Mission Control Room where the leftmost Aether Reactor is.

Head back to the village and speak with Ravenov again, and he’ll give you a keycard. After picking it up, you’ll need to head to three lockers around the map.

Step 2: Open the lockers

The first locker can be found directly opposite Ravenov’s office beside the Quick Revive perk. Simply use the interact button to open it with the keycard, and take the Serum from inside.

quick revive bocw zombies firebase z

The second locker is in the Colonel’s Office above the right-most Aether Reactor. Again, open it and take the Serum.

The third locker is found through the gate at the left of the Portal. Go into building directly in front, and you’ll find the locker on the bottom floor.

Step 3: Create Truth Serum

After taking the Serum from the final locker, head to the Field Hospital near the Barracks by the Heli-Pad. There will be a Chemical Mixer on the table. Interact with it to insert the Serums.

The Serums will begin to mix and you’ll need to fight off a hoard of Hellhounds while you wait. Once the dogs have been defeated, you can pick up the Chemical Mixer and take it to Mission Control Room above Peck’s Office.

Rather than going inside, you can find a vent to the right of the door. Interact with the vent and you’ll administer Truth Serum to Peck below.

Head down to his office, and after doing a little dance, Peck will tell you to head to the Data Center.

Step 4: Capture the Mimics

The Data Center is the building below the satellite dish, so head there and make for the Speed Cola Machine on the top level. On the left of the door beside the machine, there will be a computer with radar on the screen.

speed cola bocw zombies firebase z

When you brush up against the computer, Peck will begin talking and you can unlock the machine. From the machine, you’ll be able to pick up four Essence Traps.

You’ll need to use these Essence Traps to capture Mimics.

Unfortunately, it needs to be specific Mimics. To find them, you’ll need to go around the map until you find a location with several Scorestreaks on the floor. One of the items will be a Mimic in disguise, and you won’t be able to interact with the rest.

Once the Mimic pops out, shoot it until it’s almost dead, throw the Essence Trap on the floor. As it walks over it double-tap interact and it’ll capture the Mimic.

Sometimes the Mimic will escape and if it does, you’ll need to get another Essence Trap from the computer and try again with another one.

bocw zombies firebase z

Once the Mimic is captured, take the Trap back to the computer and listen for one of three characters to talk. We recommend turning on subtitles so you can see if it’s either:

  • Sokolov
  • Brahms
  • Zabim

If it’s not one of these characters, you’ve captured the wrong type of Mimic. Start the next round, then look for the items on the floor again and capture the Mimic that spawns there.

Once you’ve done this three times, a Floppy Disk will pop out of the computer that you need to pick up.

Step 5: Get Aetherium Crystals

After getting the Floppy Disk, take it to the Planning Offices which is the room above where we found the third Serum in Step 2. Insert the Floppy Disk and you’ll be asked to head to the OPC. This is the circular building outside Peck’s Office.

Firebase Z in-game

You’ll find the door is now open, and once you’ve looked at the Aetherium Portal, go and talk to Peck. After a lengthy conversation, you’ll be tasked with finding Aetherium Crystals.

Open the locker on the wall opposite Peck’s Office and you’ll be given an Aethermeter. With this, you need to collect three Aetherium Crystals.

You’ll also need the RAI K-84 and a shovel for this next step.

The shovel can be found in the Scorched Defence outside the building with Peck’s Office. Look in the leftmost hut at the top of the hill and it should be easy to find.

Aetherium Crystal 1 location

With the shovel in hand, head to the Jungle Defence area by the Juggernog Machine, at the right-most Aether Reactor. Go down the hill until you’re almost out of bounds and listen for a beeping noise coming from the ground.

bocw zombies firebase z mangler

When you’re in the right spot, you’ll get a prompt to dig and after doing so, a bubble will form around you. You’ll need to survive inside this bubble for quite a while, battling zombies, Manglers, and Hellhounds.

Once the bubble breaks, you can pick up the Aetherium Canister off the floor.

Aetherium Crystal 2 location

To find the second Aetherium Crystal, you’ll need to head back to the Planning Offices from Step 5. Listen for the beeping on the ground outside again, and dig up the canister once you’ve found it.

After digging it up, lots of Aetherium Canisters will pop up and you’ll need to find the one without black smoke. Almost all of the canisters will have black smoke swirling around inside, so you need to pick up the one with the white smoke. If you get it wrong, you’ll need to try again in the next round.

Just pick up the one with the white smoke and you’ll have the canister in your inventory.

Aetherium Crystal 3 location

You will need to have the RAI K-84 equipped to get the final Aetherium Crystal.

Head to the steps up to the Data Center which is right beside where you created the Truth Serum in Step 3.

RAI K-84 bocw zombies firebase z

After digging up the canister, it will teleport around the Barracks area, moving if you get too close. To pick it up, you’ll need to shoot it with the RAI K’s secondary fire mode. The button defaults to ‘Up’ on the D-Pad or ‘B’ on keyboard, so change the fire mode to the grenade and shoot the canister from a distance.

While the grenade you’ve fired is swirling above the canister, you can pick it up.

Step 6: Activate the portal

Well done for getting this far! We’re almost at the end.

You’ll now need to visit all three of the Aeitherium Reactors you turned on at the start of the game. Deposit a crystal in each, and then visit the OPC again and Peck will destroy the portal.

Go back to Peck and he’ll close the blinds to his office. The characters will all have a chat, and decide that the satellite can be used to reopen the portal. Head to the Planning Offices and interact with the computer by the window.

bocw firebase z mimic

This will open up a mini-game where you need to click on the Satellite marked with a question mark. Some will have an American or Russian flag so only select the one with the question mark.

Head back to the OPC and you’ll now be ready to start the boss fight.

Step 7: Defeat Orda

After interacting with the control panel on the right-hand side of the OPC room, you’ll be teleported back to the starting village. Here, you’ll have to fight Orda, an Elder God.

Keep shooting him while being mindful of the zombies on the ground attacking you, and you shouldn’t have too much trouble taking him down.


Once he’s defeated, congratulations! You’ve finished the Black Ops Cold War Firebase Z Easter Egg.

This will show the final cutscene for Firebase Z, and you’ll also unlock a Calling Card to show off.

Image Credit: Activision