The Staff of Ice stands out as a unique Wonder Weapon in *Call of Duty: Black Ops 6* Zombies. While its base form may seem underwhelming, its upgraded version, Ull's Arrow, becomes indispensable for tackling high rounds and completing main quest Easter eggs. Here's your detailed guide on upgrading the Staff of Ice in *Black Ops 6* Zombies.
To begin upgrading the Staff of Ice on The Tomb map, you'll need to meet two key prerequisites. Firstly, you must obtain the Staff of Ice itself. You can either try your luck with the Mystery Box or assemble it by collecting its three essential parts.
The upgrade process is deeply intertwined with the Dark Aether Nexus. To progress smoothly, ensure you open the Door to Nowhere early on to access the Dark Aether.
Start by targeting the Dark Aether Crystals found within the lanterns in The Tomb's underground areas. These lanterns, framed in black with a glowing purple fire, are your targets. You need to use the Staff of Ice to freeze three of these crystals in quick succession. To maximize your chances of success, consider equipping Stamin-Up and/or PHD Flopper with the Tribologist Minor Augment to boost your movement speed.
The efficiency of your route is crucial, as is managing the lantern spawns. You might want to wait a few rounds to optimize their locations. Start at the tomb area, then proceed to the Shrine of the Hierophants, and finally, the lantern at the entrance to the Subterranean Temple. Make sure one of the depicted Dark Aether lanterns is active; the one near Quick Revive is too distant to reach in time. Once you've successfully frozen the crystals, you'll hear a quote from Archibald. Then, head into the Dark Aether Nexus.
After completing the first step, locate three specific floating rocks in the Dark Aether Nexus, each adorned with a glowing purple Rune bearing a unique symbol. These symbols can vary with each game, so take note of them.
Shoot each Rune with your Staff of Ice. Aiming can be challenging, but a successful hit will be confirmed with a hitmarker, causing the rock to descend, making the Rune easier to spot. A sniper rifle or a weapon with a medium-high zoom scope can help in identifying the symbols more clearly. The order in which you shoot the rocks doesn't matter, as long as you target all three.
After completing the second step, search the Dark Aether Nexus until you find a portal replaced by a stone wall. Return to the corresponding area in the main map to find a wall with several glowing Runic icons. Identify the three icons that match the symbols you noted on the floating rocks, and shoot them with the Ice Staff to reopen the portal.
Be aware that the portal will open regardless of whether you've chosen the correct symbols. Incorrect choices will teleport you to the wrong location in the Dark Aether Nexus, potentially requiring you to wait until the next round to retry. If you've selected the correct symbols, you'll find yourself on a floating rock in the air upon re-entering the Dark Aether Nexus. Interact with the purple orb in front of you.
After interacting with the Orb, it will start moving. Follow it closely and kill zombies near it to keep it powered. A purple trail will flow from the zombies into the Orb, guiding its path. Continue killing zombies aggressively to ensure the Orb reaches the central structure within the Dark Aether Nexus. Once the Orb settles into the structure, a small purple portal will appear. Interact with it to upgrade your Staff of Ice to Ull's Arrow.
The upgraded Staff of Ice, now known as Ull's Arrow, offers powerful abilities reminiscent of its version in the classic Origins map. It features a high-damage Area of Effect (AoE) charge attack and an alternate fire mode capable of reviving downed teammates.
And that's how you upgrade the Staff of Ice in *Black Ops 6* Zombies to its formidable Ull's Arrow form.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC