Call of Duty: Vanguard

Vanguard Season 2 Zombies: Patch notes, Terra Maledicta map, Wonder Weapons, more

Liam Mackay
Vanguard Zombies Ray Gun and Decimator shield wonder weapons

Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies is set to receive a huge update in Season 2, bringing in features that many felt were missing from the mode at launch. Here’s everything arriving, including a new map, Wonder Weapons, patch notes, and more.

Call of Duty players have been desperate for the new content and bug fixes that Vanguard and Warzone Season 2 is set to bring, but perhaps not as much as the Zombies community.

Fans were excited to learn that Treyarch would be continuing Cold War’s Zombies storyline in Vanguard but the mode was panned by the community for its lack of classic features, with our review calling it an “empty experience.”

However, Treyarch and Sledgehammer are bringing a huge Zombies update with Season 2, introducing a brand-new map, new and returning Wonder Weapons, and a Main Quest. Here’s everything you can expect in February 14’s Season 2 update.

New Vanguard Zombies Terra Maledicta map

Vanguard Zombies Terra Maledicta map

Vanguard Zombies will receive a brand-new map with the Season 2 update called Terra Maledicta, “set in Egypt’s Eastern Desert and abroad.” Translated from Latin, it means ‘Cursed Earth’ or ‘Cursed Land.’

Portals will open that allow players to visit the Dark Aether “alongside other new arenas.” The devs revealed that Professor Krafft and his team have established a “beachhead” inside the Dark Aether, which will be an “entirely new location.”

Vanguard Zombies Season 2 Wonder Weapons

Vanguard Zombies player firing Ray Gun

Vanguard Zombies’ Season 2 update will bring a brand-new Decimator Shield Wonder Weapon, as well as see the return of the classic Ray Gun.

The Decimator Shield offers “superior protection and the mighty Decimation Blast ability,” and also has a “unique personality of its own.”

The Ray Gun is as old as the Zombies mode itself, which fires a “circular energy beam that can tear zombies apart in just one shot.” You’ll be able to get it through Mystery Boxes and as a “lucky loot drop during a match.”

New Vanguard Zombies Artifact Power: Healing Aura

Vanguard Zombies players using Healing Aura

Vanguard Zombies will be able to call upon Dark Aether entity Vercanna in Season 2, who will grant them the Healing Aura Artifact Power.

Healing Aura’s base power will instantly bring a team to full health, but here are all of the upgrade tiers:

  • Tier I (Base): The Wand of the Wilds summons Vercanna’s Life Energy to instantly heal yourself and allies to full health.
  • Tier II: Knock down normal enemies and stun Special enemies near each player.
  • Tier III: Revive all downed allies.
  • Tier IV: Revived allies have their lost Perks returned.
  • Tier V: The Life Energy persists at each player’s location for 10 seconds and continues to heal and revive players.

New Vanguard Zombies Artifact Ward Covenant

Vanguard Zombies Artifact Ward Covenant

Plus, players can use the new Artifact Ward Covenant, which “has a chance to trigger your Artifact for free when hit by a melee attack from the rear, which can come in clutch when your squad’s in trouble during higher rounds.”

Here’s the Artifact Ward’s base ability and upgrades:

  • Rare: Being hit by a melee attack on the back has a chance to trigger your Artifact
  • Epic: Being hit by a melee attack on the back has a higher chance to trigger your Artifact.
  • Legendary: Being hit by a melee attack anywhere has a higher chance to trigger your Artifact.

Vanguard Zombies Story Quest & Easter eggs

Vanguard Zombies Syphoncores

Players were extremely disappointed to discover that Vanguard Zombies didn’t include a story Quest or Easter Eggs, but that changes with the Season 2 update.

The devs confirmed that Terra Maledicta will offer a “special Story Quest that introduces Vercanna the Last to the action and gives players access to the mighty Decimator Shield,” and ties into the ongoing Dark Aether Saga storyline.

And there will also be some Black Ops II-themed Easter eggs, inspired by the classic Origins map. Players will need to “Pick up a shovel and find loot hidden throughout the Eastern Desert, and dig even deeper to uncover all the secrets ‘Terra Maledicta’ has to offer.”

Vanguard Zombies Season 2 patch notes

Vanguard Operator using Ray Gun

Maps

  • “Terra Maledicta”
    • New Zombies experience located in Egypt available on Feb. 14th.
  • Arenas
    • Three new Arenas available in “Terra Maledicta”: Eastern Desert, Corrupted Lands, and Hall of Truth.

Story Quest

  • New Story Quest available in “Terra Maledicta” starting at 9AM PT / 12PM ET on Feb. 14th.

New Intel

  • New narrative intel available in “Terra Maledicta” to advance the Dark Aether story.

Wonder Weapons

  • Ray Gun
    • Ray Gun Wonder Weapon available via the Mystery Box and loot drops on Feb. 10th.
  • Decimator Shield
    • Available via the Story Quest in “Terra Maledicta.”
    • Added to the Mystery Box once it has been obtained from the Story Quest.
    • Offers players superior protection and the unique Decimation Blast ability.

New Ally

  • Vercanna the Last
    • New Dark Aether entity available, featuring the Healing Aura ability via her Artifact, the Wand of the Wilds.

Enemies

  • Zaballa the Deceiver
    • New enemy type added to “Terra Maledicta” and “Der Anfang.”

Objectives

  • Sacrifice
    • New Objective type available in “Terra Maledicta,” and added to “Der Anfang” at a later date.
    • Keep the Syphoncores from feeding on undead essence to stop the hordes from being unleashed. Prevent zombies from filling all three Syphoncores to stop the dark ceremony and complete the Objective.
  • Void
    • Modified the way the Objective complete XP bonus is awarded when returning to Stalingrad after a Void Objective in “Der Anfang.”
  • Harvest
    • Closed exploits related to the Sin Eater in “Der Anfang.”

Artifacts

  • Healing Aura
    • New upgradable ability available via Vercanna the Last’s Artifact.
    • Tiers:
      • Tier I – The Wand of the Wilds summons Vercanna’s Life Energy to instantly heal yourself and allies to full health.
      • Tier II – Knock down normal enemies and stun Sturmkriegers near each player.
      • Tier III – Revive all downed allies.
      • Tier IV – Revived allies have their lost Perks returned.
      • Tier V – The Life Energy persists at each location for 10 seconds and continues to heal and revive players.
  • Energy Mine
    • Energy Mine now triggers the Splatterfest Covenant.
  • Frost Blast
    • Frost Blast Tier I now freezes Sturmkriegers.
  • Aether Shroud
    • Addressed an issue where players weren’t being ignored by zombies after activating Aether Shroud immediately following a Self-Revive.

Covenants

  • Artifact Ward
    • New ability with three rarities added to the Altar of Covenants on Feb. 10th.
    • Equip for a chance to trigger your Artifact for free when hit by a melee attack from the rear.
    • Rarities:
      • Rare: Being hit by a melee attack on the back has a chance to trigger your Artifact
      • Epic: Being hit by a melee attack on the back has a higher chance to trigger your Artifact.
      • Legendary: Being hit by a melee attack anywhere has a higher chance to trigger your Artifact.

Weapons

  • Season Two
    • KG M40 and Whitley available in Zombies loadouts once unlocked via the Season Two Battle Pass.
  • Unlock Challenges
    • New Weapon Unlock Challenges added to Zombies for the Cooper Carbine and Gorenko Anti-Tank Rifle.
  • Support
    • The Warmachine and Deathmachine can now be obtained from the Mystery Box, chests, and as loot drops from enemies. 
    • Addressed an issue where critical damage was not being correctly displayed for the Warmachine.
  • General
    • Addressed various issues with attempting to swap out a melee weapon for a weapon from the ground.

Pack-a-Punch Camos

  • New Camos
    • Three new camos available at the Pack-a-Punch machine in “Terra Maledicta.”
  • General
    • Pack-a-Punch Camos in “Der Anfang” are now animated.
    • Pack-a-Punch Camos now properly apply to Weapon Blueprints, weapons found in the Mystery Box, and weapons dropped by enemies.

Challenges

  • Season Challenges
    • New Season Challenges available at the start of Season Two.
    • Addressed an issue where the Season One Mastery Calling Card was not displayed correctly.
  • General
    • Addressed an issue where Launchers and the Combat Shield were not correctly contributing to certain Challenges.
    • Addressed various UI issues related to Challenges.

Stability

  • Fixed various stability issues related to Covenants, Objectives, Perks, Power-Ups, and Equipment

And that’s everything you need to know about Vanguard Zombies Season 2, which goes live on February 14!

If you’re intersted in multiplayer or battle royale modes, you can also check out everything you need to know about Season 2 of Vanguard and Warzone.

Source: Call of Duty Blog / Sledgehammer Games

Image Credit: Activision

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