How To Upgrade the Staff of Ice in Black Ops 6 Zombies

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

The Staff of Ice, while initially underwhelming, transforms into a powerful weapon—Ull's Arrow—after an upgrade. This guide details the process. Its upgraded form is crucial for high-round survival and Easter egg completion.

Prerequisites:

Before upgrading, you need the Staff of Ice itself. This can be obtained from the Mystery Box or by collecting its three parts. 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

Quickly freeze three Dark Aether Crystals using the Staff of Ice. These crystals are located within glowing purple lanterns in The Tomb's underground areas. Perks like Stamin-Up and PHD Flopper (with Tribologist) significantly aid in this fast-paced step. Optimize your route; starting in the tomb area, then the Shrine of the Hierophants, and finally the Subterranean Temple entrance lantern is often the most efficient. Ensure at least one of the lanterns shown in the image is active. Successful completion triggers dialogue from Archibald, signaling progression to the Dark Aether Nexus.

Step 2: Targeting Floating Runes

Within the Dark Aether Nexus, locate three floating rocks bearing glowing purple runes. Each rune displays a unique symbol. Note these symbols; they vary each game. Shoot each rune with the Staff of Ice. A hitmarker confirms a successful shot. This lowers the rock, making rune identification easier. A scoped weapon can improve accuracy. The order of shooting is inconsequential.

Step 3: The Rune Symbol Puzzle

After Step 2, a stone wall replaces a portal in the Dark Aether Nexus. Return to the corresponding map area. A wall displays several runic symbols. Three match the runes you noted earlier. Shoot these three with the Staff of Ice. This action opens and closes the portal. While the portal opens regardless of accuracy, incorrect symbols teleport you to a random location within the Dark Aether Nexus. Multiple failures may require waiting for the next round. Correct symbols lead to a floating rock with a purple orb. Interact with the orb.

Step 4: Orb Escort

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

Ull's Arrow Abilities:

Ull's Arrow boasts a powerful charged attack with high area-of-effect damage, and a secondary fire mode capable of reviving downed teammates.

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