- For the DLC in Call of Duty: Black Ops III, see Awakening (DLC).
- "Infiltrate the Ancestor Ark and retrieve the Cortex bioweapon."
- — Mission Description
Awakening is the fourth Extinction map of Call of Duty: Ghosts. It is featured in the Invasion DLC. It features Intel like in Nightfall and Mayday. There are three new enemies: Gargoyles, Bomber and Mammoths. Schematics also return. There is also an attachment known as the ARK, which can be equipped on selected weapons.
Characters[]
- Rapid Reaction Force - CIF Team 1 (playable)
- "Godfather" Castle
- Samantha Cross (heard, seen through intel)
- David Archer (K.I.A.)
- 2 American soldiers (K.I.A.)
- Ancestor (Seen and mentioned through intel)
Description[]
Awakening takes place underground in an infested hive of Cryptids. Armed with a range of new hi-tech weapons and equipment, the players main goal is to reach the Ark and retrieve “The Cortex”, a key element to unlocking the secrets of the Ancestors’ psychic powers.
Awakening marks the introduction of three new Cryptid species, each posing a unique and lethal threat. Players will have to quickly learn to observe the sky to defend against airborne assaults from the flying Gargoyles, as well as explosive strikes from the swarming Bombers. At ground level, good tactics and teamwork will be needed to defeat the Mammoths that guard the Ancestors’ lair.
Story (Based on Intel)[]
Prologue[]
Captain David Archer and two American soldiers are fighting Cryptids inside the Ball's Pyramid colony. One soldier calls out last mag while the other runs out. Archer tells them to stand fast as the Ark is just a short distance ahead. But then a Gargoyle attacks the first soldier, who then drops a grenade upon death. Archer quickly pushes the other soldier in front of him in order to shield himself from the blast. The soldier dies as a result, but the explosion still knocks Archer backwards, his arm brushes against a Cryptid bush, then he is knocked back on an Obelisk. Dr. Samantha Cross then walks towards him, holding a machete blade. She examines his injured arm and explains that the poison is lethal. Archer realizes that in order to be kept alive his arm should be removed, but he believes that what is happening right now is not real. Cross retorts that this shouldn't hurt; she cuts his arm off, saving him from the Cryptid poison, and Archer screams in pain. Archer agonizingly asks what she wants, she says she wants the same as everyone else: to make a deal.
Intel[]
- Main article: Awakening/Intel
Classified Intel are found randomly in search boxes, while Encrypted Intel are found in laptops hidden around the map.
- Classified 1: Guardian Angel (Intel 01)
- Encrypted 1: Fugitive (Intel 02)
- Encrypted 2: Defector (Intel 03)
- Classified 2: Dead or Alive (Intel 04)
- Classified 3: The Cortex (Intel 05)
- Encrypted 3: Executioner (Intel 06)
Epilogue[]
Breaking news shows the Cryptid outbreak has been unleashed throughout the entire world; every colony under the earth has erupted and released Cryptids to ravage its surface. Back at Ball's Pyramid, V-22 Pilot callsign: Arclight picks up CIF Team 1 with the Cortex, the pineal gland of one of the Cryptid Ancestors. Godfather copies and orders Arclight to take the team to the "Exodus launch site" and he will save four seats for them. But Arclight says to make it five as he finds Cross waving at him from the top of the island, which Godfather finds it unbelievable. The President calls Godfather asking for options, but Godfather says that the war is over, and that the human race has lost; he predicts 80% of the earth's surface will be overrun within 200 hours. The only option left would be the play "Scorched Earth," a worldwide nuclear response which will sacrifice the planet in an attempt to destroy the Cryptids. The President believes that it is over for mankind. Godfather says that the ancestors survived the last apocalypse with their Arks under the surface, but as the 2 V-22’s carrying CIF Team 1 and Cross approach the West Coast and the Exodus launch site, Godfather says the humans have an Ark of their own, "hanging right over their heads."
Features[]
Here are some major differences in Awakening compared to previous Extinction episodes:
Enhanced Jumping - Archer mentions that human biochemistry is enhanced near Arks. Thanks to this, players can jump over twice their normal heights while playing Awakening. Jumping on the large mushrooms launches players even higher into the air, granting access to certain parts of the cave which cannot be accessed with regular jumps.
Schematics - These buildable items return from Mayday in the form of computer tablets found in hidden rooms where Mammoths often appear. Parts for schematics are once again found in red toolboxes. Unlike other maps with schematics, the specific placement of schematics are randomized each game in Awakening.
ARK Attachment -In some hidden rooms, players will find a deceased soldier with a special ARK attachment which turns weapons into laser weapons, greatly increasing their power. Cryptids killed by ARK weapons explode upon death, slightly damaging nearby aliens. Note: The ARK attachment automatically transfers to newly purchased weapons. Unlike other attachments, it isn't lost in the exchange.
Optical Scanner - Instead of the laser drill used in previous maps, Awakening features a drill chassis outfitted with an optical scanner. Players use this scan Obelisks found on the map. Once all the Obelisks in an area are scanned, they must be destroyed in order to bring down an energy barrier that barricades the next area.
Gargoyles - These large new aliens spend most of their time flying in the air. Their rapid-firing acid attack can down players in one volley, similar to the Breeder's attack in Nightfall. Gargoyles can also absorb quite a lot of damage and can be difficult to hit with great accuracy, making them one of the more deadly foes encountered so far in Extinction. Gargoyles typically stay in the air until they are injured, in which case they will sometimes land on the ground for a few moments. They appear to have a weakness to Venom attacks—particularly the new Venom Grenades, which can kill a Gargoyle in one strike. Of course, good aim is needed to hit a flying creature with a grenade in mid-air.
Bombers - Flying Bombers replace Seekers in Awakening. Bombers are small, making them difficult targets to hit, but can normally be killed in just a few rounds. Once they lock on to a player, they turn red, dive at extreme speeds, and explode on impact. Green turret plants similar to those planted by Seeders in Mayday also spawn that allow for more Bombers to spawn in. These turret plants also release acid clouds when approached or shot. Several of these turret plants will spawn in close proximity to the optical scanner when it is deployed. Walking through certain spaces in the first and second areas of the map will prompt a varying amount of Bombers to spawn.
Mammoths - These new Cryptids are essentially blue Rhinos in all but with some key differences. They can unleash a ground-pounding attack which spawns one to three additional Hunters. These Hunters can accumulate and become quite a pain if the Mammoth isn't dealt with quickly. Mammoths can burrow underground and reappear at just about any location in very close proximity to another player. Mammoths are also immune to the Hypno Knife and will give an enormous $2000 kill reward. Due to these differences, Mammoths usually require extensive planning and teamwork to bring down. Mammoths only spawn when a player enters hidden rooms and will not spawn randomly during the course of the game. There is always at least one Mammoth per area.
Vanguard -The Vanguard is a manually controlled quadrotor, much in the same function as the Gryphon. Armed with a machine gun and explosive ordnance, the Vanguard deals significant damage to the Obelisks and is by far the most effective means of destroying them. When in use, the character controlling the Vanguard is shielded and will not be targeted by Cryptids. However, Cryptids will target the Vanguard and attempt to destroy it. If destroyed, the player(s) must wait fifteen seconds before the Vanguard can be used again. Bombers will home in directly on the Vanguard and try to explode, while Scorpions and Gargoyles will fire at the Vanguard to try and damage it. If riding low enough to the ground, ground-based Cryptids can also damage the Vanguard.
Cortex - CIF One is tasked with retrieving the Cortex as their ultimate goal in Awakening. A psychokinetic battery containing the brain tissue of a living Ancestor, it is a weapon that is charged through the death of living organisms. When fully charged, the Cortex can unleash a pulse that flash fries the brains of Cryptids within its blast radius, near-instantly killing them. Samantha Cross will announce when the Cortex can be activated to fire a pulse.
Layout[]
Starting Area[]
This is where the players start. This is the cave-like area and the tunnel. It usually has some Search Piles in the cave part, and the tunnel part has the Maverick.
Available weapons[]
- Maverick for $1500
First Area[]
This is the whole first area the player goes to which has numerous obelisks and the first force field. It will also have an ARK and four schematics, which switch places each game, between two side areas. Going to one of these areas will also summon a Mammoth, while the other will summon two Scorpions. There is also an enclosed tunnel near one of the side areas that will spawn a Rhino or Mammoth. In addition, the area has enough schematic parts to build at least one of the two schmatics the player obtains, if not more. The area also features several weapons the player can buy.
Gargoyles will usually spawn in one of two spots. The first spot is directly above the Electric Trap, the second spot is above the bouncy mushrooms.
There are four separate traps in this area. The Electric Trap is right below a tall cliff and consists of a pool of water. The remaining three are fire traps - the first is on a narrow walkway leading up to the enclosed cave with the Rhino/Mammoth spawn. The second and third fire traps are near the cliff by the Gargoyle spawn.
Available weapons[]
- Tac 12 for $2000 on cliffs to the right of the spawn tunnel exit
- Remington R5 for $2000 in a short tunnel cave below the Rhino/Mammoth tunnel. Going through the tunnel that this weapon is placed in will spawn at least one Bomber.
- Chain SAW for $3000 on a ledge next to two separate Rhino/Mammoth side area spawns
- Kastet for $1500 along a shallow body of water extending from the Electric Trap
- IA-2 for $2000 leaning against the lower of the two mushrooms
- VKS for $1500 on a step leading to the higher mushroom
- Ameli for $3000 in the tunnel below the cliffs with the two mushrooms. Going through this tunnel a certain manner can spawn at least one bomber.
- MK14 EBR for $2000 across from a potential Obelisk spawn
- Ripper for $1500 leaning against a wall by the gate blocking the tunnel to the second area
- K7 for $2000 on an elevated position that is also near the gate
Second Area[]
Once the first force field is broken, a tunnel becomes open which will allow passage into the second area of the map. This is a mostly enclosed cave system with minimal airspace throughout. The west side of this area has a lot of open airspace to allow for Bombers and Gargoyles to fly. Like the first area, there are multiple Obelisks that need to be scanned and then later destroyed via Vanguard. Like the first area, there is slight variation in Obelisk spawns.
There are three side areas for this area, all of which will spawn either a Rhino or a Mammoth. The first one is near one of the potential easter egg spots, high up near the entrance to the area. The second is behind a waterfall near a potential Obelisk spot. The third is a hidden cave near the open area on the west side. Like the first area, there is one ARK available, as well as four separate schematics.
The map's second and last Electric Trap is available in this area, consisting of a pool of water near the Bulldog purchase spot.
There are two primary spawns for Gargoyles in this area. The first is near the entrance to the second area near one of the potential easter egg spots, the other is on the west side of the area. Gargoyles that spawn in the west side of the map will have a tendency not to move from their area even if the player(s) is on the opposite side of the area. This part of the map also has the potential to incorrectly spawn Phantoms in the sky, where they cannot move and will remain stuck. These Phantoms can be killed and do not pose a risk to players if they are left unattended to.
Once the player(s) has scanned all Obelisks in the area, the Vanguard once again becomes available, and the player(s) will have to break the Obelisks again in order to disable the barrier blocking the tunnel.
Available weapons[]
- Remington R5 for $2000 leaning against the entrance to the second area
- Ripper for $1500 in the tunnel directly in front of the entrance
- Bulldog for $2500 on a ledge above the Electric Trap
- Chain SAW for $3000 directly across from the Electric Trap in a tunnel
- Maverick for $1500 in a tunnel to the west side of the entrance. Going through this tunnel in a particular way can spawn at least one Bomber.
- MK14 EBR for $2000 across from a jagged rock formation, past the Maverick
- Ameli for $3000 along a river on the west side of the area
- K7 for $2000 on ground above the Ameli
- USR for $1500 leaning against the entrance into the tunnel leading into the third area
Third area[]
This is the last area before entering the Ark itself. This area is much more open than the previous area, with much more open airspace for flying Cryptids. Unlike the first and second areas, the third area always has three Obelisks in the exact same positions every time, and these Obelisks are much taller than the previous ones. Once all three of these Obelisks are scanned, they will extend a drawbridge that leads into the Ark, and the Scanner will break after scanning the last Obelisk, making it impossible to pick up afterwards.
There are two primary spawn points for Gargoyles in this area. The first is above the first Obelisk near the VKS. The second - and much more common choice - is above the lowermost Obelisk by the Fire Trap. However, a Gargoyle will spawn when exploring the outside side area alongside a mountain cliff, and will usually sit directly over this side area point. This is the only time a Gargoyle spawns in an unusual area in this part of the map.
This area has two side areas, both of which will spawn Mammoths. The first side area is along the west side of the area. Entering this side area will also spawn Bombers and a Gargoyle. The second side area is in a cave right in front of a pit across from the lowermost Obelisk. These side areas are guaranteed to have both ARKs and schematics available in each one, making for two ARKs and four schematics total in this area.
This area does not have any Electric Traps, but has two Fire Traps. The first one is near the entrance and ignites a narrow walkway. The second Fire Trap is at low ground by the low Obelisk, igniting the area behind the Obelisk.
Available weapons[]
- VKS for $1500 directly east from the entrance into the third area
- Maverick for $1500 across from a small waterfall
- K7 for $2000 directly across from the bridge leading to the Ark
- Bulldog for $2500 right in front of the control tower near the tall waterfall
- Remington R5 for $2000 across from the tall waterfall and the control tower
- Ripper for $2500 right behind the lowest control tower
- Ameli for $3000 in the optional side area cave. Going deep enough to get to the Ameli can trigger the Mammoth/Rhino spawn.
The Ark[]
The Ark is the final area of the map. David Archer is wounded and sitting right next to the Cortex, which is placed in the middle of the room. Rows of Ancestors are visible in this room, with a dead Ancestor in the middle, which was the source for the Cortex bioweapon. The Ark is an enclosed arena that has four terminals, two of them on high ground and two below. The Ark has no traps inside it. Cross will begin talking to Castle and CIF Team One about the need to melt down the Ark using the Cortex. The player(s) can interact with the Cortex to begin the defense sequence.
When the defense sequence begins, the doors leading into the Ark will lock. Cryptids will spawn and attempt to attack the four terminals. The Cryptids will either spawn in from up top or from areas very close to the terminals themselves. Flying Cryptids cannot spawn in during this sequence. The Cryptids will attempt to attack the terminals to try and disable them. The mission fails if all four terminals are brought offline at the same time. If a terminal is brought offline, a player can repair the terminal to bring it online again. As the player(s) kill Cryptids, the Cortex gradually charges. Periodically, the Cortex will become available to detonate, which will kill all active Cryptids. As the charging process continues, the Ark's defenses will activate, which can be seen in two separate ways. The first is that a laser will begin to fire periodically which can hurt the player. The second is when a distinct roaring noise is heard, which will always spawn in a Rhino. Samantha Cross will be talking to the player(s) throughout this entire sequence, commonly alerting the player(s) to when the Ark defenses activate or when the Cortex is ready to be detonated.
If the Cortex charging process is completed, the doors leading into the Ark will slowly unlock themselves again, and the Ark will begin to melt down. The player(s) will take the Cortex out of the Ark and begin the escape sequence. David Archer is left behind, and dies from being crushed by falling Ark debris.
Available weapons[]
- Maverick for $1500 on the left side of the entrance to the Ark room
- Chain SAW for $3000 on the right side of the entrance to the Ark room
Escape sequence[]
The player(s) must return the Cortex back to the original spawn point, but during the escape sequence, every single tunnel barrier has been re-activated. This will force the player(s) to stop at three separate intervals in order to charge the Cortex. Every time the Cortex is dropped at the intended drop point, a wave of Cryptids will spawn in, and a Rhino will always spawn very close by as soon as this happens. Once the Cortex is charged, a player can detonate it to kill remaining Cryptids and bring down the nearby barrier. The mission is completed once the Cortex and all players in the game are in the circle surrounding the spawn point.
Achievements/Trophies[]
| Name | Description | Points | Trophy level | Image |
| Targets Acquired | Past the first Gate in Regular or Hardcore difficulty. | 20
|
Bronze
|
|
| A Bridge To Somewhere | Extend the bridge on Regular or Hardcore difficulty. | 20
|
Bronze
|
|
| Escaped Awakening | Escape for the first time in Regular or Hardcore difficulty. | 30
|
Silver
|
|
| Twice The Fun | Escape using two Relics on Regular or Hardcore difficulty. | 30
|
Silver
|
|
| Awakening Completionist | Complete all Challenges and escape on Regular or Hardcore difficulty. | 30
|
Silver
|
|
| Spelunker | Find all Intel in Awakening. | 20
|
Bronze
|
|
| Dog Fight | Kill a Gargoyle with the Vanguard on Regular or Hardcore difficulty. | 20
|
Bronze
|
|
| Like a Glove | Kill five Cryptids with the Ark attached to every compatible weapon on Regular or Hardcore difficulty. | 30
|
Bronze
|
|
| Well Rounded | Escape Awakening four times using the different classes. | 30
|
Bronze
|
|
Weapons[]
Extinction[]
- Remington R5 - ($2000)
- Maverick - ($1500)
- K7 - ($2000)
- Ripper - ($1500)
- Ameli - ($3000)
- Chain SAW - ($3000)
- MK14 EBR - ($2000)
- IA-2 - ($2000)
- USR - ($1500)
- VKS - ($1500)
- Bulldog - ($2500)
- Tac 12 - ($2000)
- Kastet - ($1500)
- Venom-X - (free; built with schematics)
Chaos Mode[]
Gallery[]
Video[]
Trivia[]
- If the player shoots two eggs in the first area and one in the second area, it triggers an easter egg where the player receives 3:00 of Hand Boosters & Feral Instincts. Any Cryptid killed will leave a trace of mushrooms behind within the 3:00 time limit.
References[]
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