- For other uses, see The Tomb (disambiguation).
- "Cursed catacombs guard a gate to a world of darkness. Follow in the footsteps of a doomed explorer. Pass the Trials of the Damned. Claim the fabled Sentinel Artifact."
- — Mission Briefing
The Tomb is a Zombies map featured in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The map was released on January 28th, 2025 as part of the Season Two update.
Overview[]
The Tomb is set at an abandoned excavation site set up by Archibald Fotherington-Smythe at the ancient Roman tomb of Lucius Ranius Optatus, located in the Principality of Avalon bordering the Mediterranean Coast.
After the former operatives of Requiem and Maya Aguinaldo obtain the Obscurus Altilium at a nearby castle, the group heads to the excavation site not far away in pursuit of the Sentinel Artifact.
The map is divided into two major sections; the excavation site and its sprawling cave network, and the Dark Aether Nexus.
Layout[]
Dig Site[]
Players will spawn at the Dig Site, an open area littered with scaffolding and ancient ruins with varying elevations. From here the player can branch out into two different sections of the excavation site's cave network by opening one of two doors; the Tombs in the northeast, and the Neolithic Catacombs in the southeast. Between these two doors are two sets of stairs that lead up to the Roman Mausoleum. A Vermin sculpture tied to the map's Main Quest can also be found near the lowest point of the area.
Available Utilities:
Roman Mausoleum[]
The Roman Mausoleum is the highest point of the Dig Site. The blue portal leading to the Dark Aether Nexus will open here once the aforementioned area has been opened.
Available Utilities:
- Exfil (when available)
- Gold Armor Vest (via easter egg)
- Marine SP
- Pack-a-Punch Machine (will randomly cycle with the Dark Aether Nexus location once the nexus has been opened)
Neolithic Catacombs[]
The Neolithic Catacombs contains two branching paths that converge to the doorway leading to the Ossuary. The upper path has a drop off halfway through that allows quick access to the lower path and vice versa.
Available Utilities:
- Ammo Cache
- Crafting Table
- Deadshot Daiquiri
- Kompakt 92
- Mystery Box (potential initial spawn)
Tombs[]
The Tombs is a small three-lane area with elevated platforms on the sides that funnel downward into a large oval-shaped opening leading toward the Shrine of the Hierophants.
Available Utilities:
- Ammo Cache
- Death Perception
- Mystery Box (potential initial spawn)
- Tanto .22
Ossuary[]
The Ossuary, like the Neolithic Catacombs before it, has two branching paths that eventually converge with one another, as well as an connecting point in the middle of the two paths. One path branches upward into a large circular area while the other is a straight path to the room containing a Doppelghast sculpture, which the upper path naturally converges into. Within this convergence room is the doorway leading into the Subterranean Temple. The green portal leading into the Dark Aether Nexus will appear in the upper path's open room once the nexus has been opened.
Available Utilities:
Shrine of the Hierophants[]
The Shrine of the Hierophants features a large open corridor that wraps alongside an open area housing a Parasite sculpture in the center of it. At the end of the main corridor is the doorway leading to the Subterranean Temple. Once the Dark Aether Nexus has been opened, a yellow portal leading into the nexus will open along the south wall of the corridor.
Available Utilities:
Subterranean Temple[]
Both the Ossuary and Shrine of the Hierophants funnel into the Subterranean Temple. Within this area is a small altar that the player can place the Obscurus Altilium on, opening a red doorway into the Dark Aether Nexus within the area and three other portals around the map elsewhere.
Available Utilities:
Deep Excavation[]
Heading east of the Subterranean Temple down the rocky cliffs will bring the player to Deep Excavation, the deepest point in the map. This area features a large circular area with several rocky formations around it and an Amalgam sculpture in the center.
Available Utilities:
Dark Aether Nexus[]
The final area of the map is the Dark Aether Nexus, which can be accessed through any of the four portals around the excavation site once the player has opened the Door to Nowhere using the Obscurus Altilium in the Subterranean Temple. This area is roughly shaped as a diamond, featuring an outer trench that wraps around the base of an uphill incline in the center of the area. On the top of the incline is a large plinth used to forge and upgrade the Staff of Ice. Located on the northeast side of the nexus is a smaller diamond-shaped arena with multiple levels housing the Sentinel Artifact that can be accessed during the main quest.
Available Utilities:
- Ammo Cache
- Crafting Table
- Der Wunderfizz (spawns on round 25)
- Juggernog
- Pack-a-Punch Machine (initial spawn; will randomly cycle with the Roman Mausoleum location)
Features[]
Weapons[]
| Off-Walls Weapons |
|---|
| Mystery Box / Trials |
|---|
 Cypher 091 (Season 2 Reloaded)  Kilo 141 (Season 3 Reloaded)  CR-56 AMAX (Season 3 Reloaded)  FFAR 1 (Season 4 Reloaded)  ABR A1 (Season 5 Reloaded)  PPSh-41 (Season 2 Reloaded)  Ladra (Season 4)  LC10 (Season 4 Reloaded)  Feng 82 (Season 2 Reloaded)  PML 5.56 (Season 5 Reloaded)  TR2 (Season 2 Reloaded)  Essex Model 07 (Season 4 Reloaded)  HDR (Season 3 Reloaded)  Gravemark .357 (Season 6)  Katanas (Season 3)  Bo Staff (Season 3)  Sai (Season 3)  Nunchaku (Season 3)  Skateboard (Season 3)  Kali Sticks (Season 3 Reloaded)  Pickaxe (Season 5)  Boxing Gloves (Season 5 Reloaded)  D1.3 Sector (Season 3)  Nail Gun (Season 3 Reloaded)  Olympia (Season 5)  Ray Gun Mark II (Season 3 Reloaded) |
Perks[]
Easter Eggs[]
Main Quest[]
- Main article: The Tomb/Main Quest
The Main Quest for The Tomb has the ex-Requiem heads and Maya Aguinaldo embark on the Trials of the Damned to acquire the fabled Sentinel Artifact from the depths of the Dark Aether Nexus deep within the excavation site.
Weaponry Easter Egg[]
- The Staff of Ice can be built within the map and is required for Main Quest.
Musical Easter Egg[]
- The song Dig can be activated by interacting with three Mister Peeks-themed headphones scattered around the map.
- In the Ossuary, on a ledge alongside a wall to the right-most stairs that lead to the green portal.
- In the Shrine of the Hierophants, underneath a ledge to the left of the Stamin-Up machine.
- In the Dark Aether Nexus, in the southeast edge section, next to a blue and orange glowing spore.
- A remix of Aether can be activated by shooting the symbols I, I, and V on both Staff of Ice murals rapidly.
Miscellaneous Easter Eggs[]
Golden Armor Easter Egg[]
- It is possible to obtain self-regenerative Armor (Golden Armor) by completing a side Easter Egg.
Skeleton Army Easter Egg[]
- A small army of Brain-Rotted zombies can be summoned after shooting certain skulls in a specific order.
- Have the Brain Rot Ammo Mod equipped on a bullet weapon.
- There are four skulls with an X marked on their forehead that can be shot. They are located:
- In the Ossuary, at the bottom right of the northern-most wall in the room with the sacrificial table.
- On the floor between the spike traps of the Ossuary, also close to the sacrificial table.
- Next to the green portal of the Ossuary, by the floor placed above a circular stone.
- Amongst the pile of skulls at the bottom of the Doppelghast statue.
- Shoot the skulls in the order mentioned above and in quick succession. After the previous step is completed, four zombies will rise from the ground and explode right away, leaving behind a piece of intel to be picked up (Potts and Pains Pt 4).
Jumpscare Easter Egg[]
- There is a stone statue of a woman with her back turned towards the player. She can appear in three different locations:
- Behind and to the left of the Mystery Box in the Neolithic Catacombs.
- Outside of the window of the room where Deadshot Daiquiri is located.
- On top of the stone pillar that sits above Quick Revive.
- After shooting her, the statue will slowly turn around, have her eyes turn red and quickly disappear; afterwards, the player may hear voices and whispers at random times. After a short while, the player will be jumpscared with a quick flash of a demonic face.
- It is possible to pass the jumpscare onto another player by melee hitting them after shooting the statue; this will earn the player the "Friendship Ended" Dark Ops Calling Card.
Free Essence[]
- Equip the Dead Wire Ammo Mod on any bullet weapon.
- Head to the Dig Site and shoot two blue generators located within:
- One is below the Tier 2 Armor wall buy.
- The other is to the left of the bottom stairs that lead to the Gobblegum machine.
- After both generators have been shot, a Full Power Power-Up will spawn atop of the fallen pillar, as well as two x500 Essence cannisters.
Free Ray Gun Easter Egg[]
- Around the map there are several dig sites that the player can interact with if equipped with a shovel. These will dispense either Salvage, Armor Plates, weapons, melee weapons, lethal and tactical equipment, and Perk-a-Colas. However, if the player has Death Perception equipped, green gems named "Ancient Gems" will sometimes pop out alongside them. Upon collecting all three of the gems and bringing them to the left-most statue when facing the bull drawing in the Tombs, the player can deposit the gems, which will summon an Elite Doppelghast and a couple of regular Doppleghasts for the player to fight. When all of the enemies are defeated, interacting with the statue again will reward the player with 1000 Essence and a free Ray Gun.
Free Tier I Pack-a-Punch & Ammo Mod Easter Egg[]
- In the Dark Aether Nexus, a floating rock in the sky sparks blue when the player enters. If shot at, five rocks start moving and must all be successfully shot, which will reward a Raw Aetherium Crystal and a Cryo Freeze Ammo Mod.
Free Aether Tool Easter Egg[]
- In the Dark Aether Nexus, near the green door, the player can encounter two waterfalls which need to be shot at with a weapon equipped with Cryo Freeze. After doing such, an Aether Tool will be dropped and its rarity will be based on the current round.
- 1-11 Rare Aether Tool
- 12-21 Epic Aether Tool
- 22+ Legendary Aether Tool
Free Essence and Full Power Power-Up Easter Egg[]
- Shooting the two generators in the Dig Site with weapon equipped with Dead Wire Ammo Mod will spawn two large Essence canisters and a Full Power along the slanted pillar.
Free Random Perk Easter Egg[]
- In the Speed Cola room of the Ossuary, there are six unlit stone braziers, two beside each entrance. Igniting the braziers with a weapon that has the Napalm Burst Ammo Mod equipped or with Molotovs will spawn a Random Perk in the middle of the room.
Free Power-Up Easter Eggs[]
Hidden around the map are various miniature renditions of each power-up that the player can collect.
- Bonus Points: In a small hole in the wall to the left of the blue portal in the Dark Aether Nexus.
- Max Ammo: On a ledge directly above the foglight near the Arrow Trap between the Shrine of the Hierophants and Subterranean Temple.
- Double Points: Along the trench between the red and green portals in the Dark Aether Nexus, above a mushroom on the opposite wall from the Ammo Cache.
- Full Power: In the opening to the left of the Crafting Table in the Shrine of the Hierophants.
- Insta-Kill: To the bottom right of the vase on the rock formations in Deep Excavation.
- Max Armor: In a small alcove on the wall to the right of Speed Cola in the Ossuary.
- Nuke: On a rock outside of the map behind the Mystery Box location in the Neolithic Catacombs.
- Fire Sale: In the fire above the red foglight between PhD Flopper and the Rampage Inducer in the Dig Site. This power-up will only appear once all of the previous hidden power-ups have been collected.
Musical Themes[]
- Main article: Round Transition Themes
- Main article: Deathsong
- Round Change
- End of Round
- Deathsong
Version A 
Version B Version C End of Round Deathsong Cutscene[]
| Ending Cutscene Transcript |
|---|
|
In the Dark Aether Nexus, the Sentinel Artifact fully materializes. Grigori Weaver, Elizabeth Grey, Mackenzie Carver and Maya Aguinaldo step forward and reach out for the relic as the screen goes white. Raptor One: (on radio) Raptor One — I'm at the LZ. Let's get the hell outta here. The scene shifts to the dig site in Avalon as Raptor One flies overhead with his UH-60 Blackhawk. He begins to touch down as the crew emerge from the caves with the Sentinel Artifact in their possession. The screen fades to black and the scene shifts to S.A.M.. S.A.M.: There is more to be done now that you secured the Sentinel Artifact. Bring it directly to me. S.A.M. shows a layout of the dig site entrance. S.A.M.: I have gathered every available file on the history and previous uses of this ancient device. S.A.M. zooms out from the dig site to a larger view of Avalon. S.A.M. then zooms out further until the map becomes a hologram of the Sentinel Artifact. S.A.M.: It appears several times in the historical record. S.A.M. brings up numerous files regarding the history of the Sentinel Artifact as she closely examines the hologram. The first file is Rhodes File 2781: The Four Artifacts, which details the following information: "Ancient writings identify 4 known Sentinel Artifacts: the Odin Artifact, Danu Artifact, Ra Artifact and Zeus Artifact. All share a common morphology and function, with surface details corresponding to the cultures where they first appeared. The commonalities from such far-flung sources suggests widespread early contacts with a dark dimension and a point of origin beyond the terrestrial realm." S.A.M.: Some date back to ancient Egypt. The next file shown is Rhodes File 118, which notes that the Sentinel Artifact has appeared in historical records since Egypt's predynastic period. The file states the following: "...and thus did Kortifex render unto Amenhotep the instrument of eternal renewal, and bid him feed its shards of tempus that the Gates of Duat bend to his will." -Song of Amenhotep, 4100 B.C.E. S.A.M.: I have deciphered steps to activate and control it. S.A.M. pulls up the next file, Krafft File 4871: Odin Artifact, stating: "Rhodes' collection of ancient texts and depictions of Sentinel Artifacts led me to conclude they function as batteries for gathering, storing and manipulating the substance that came to be known in alchemical circles as "Prima Materia" - Descriptions of the rituals indicate each artifact is ringed with receptacles that need to be completely filled in order to render the artifact operational." S.A.M.: The Artifact requires an infusion of exotic materials. S.A.M. pulls up a small file, Richtofen File 3421: Parthenogenesis, which shows a couple of images. S.A.M.: Unique elements that can only be harvested here at Liberty Falls. S.A.M. pulls up the final file, Shem File 49: Liberty Falls Mansion, which states: "Hark, my flock! Your shepherd has heard the great voice from beyond. The voice that drew shamans and "medicine men" here for centuries before our arrival. The voice that designated us as its chosen, bade us seize the serpent mound, and built our dwelling upon it. Here in our mansion of eternal life shall the horned key open the way, breaking the bonds of mortality that we may dwell forever in our promised realm. Ready yourselves, for the day approaches for our final meal and farewell to the flesh." S.A.M. then zooms into the center of the Sentinel Artifact hologram to display a map of the United States with the locations of Portland, California, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Liberty Falls marked in orange. S.A.M.: I have already ensured everything we need is ready for your arrival. S.A.M. then zooms in to Liberty Falls, marking the nearby outbreak zone in the town and instructions to "find the mansion". S.A.M.: You will see your lost Agent Maxis soon. I'll be waiting. The screen then fades to black. |
Intel[]
- Main article: The Tomb/Intel
Gallery[]
[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- In solo, each character has conversations with Sergei Ravenov starting from round 4; however, they can only be triggered when the player is in the starting area.
- Whenever entering the Tomb itself, if there is a conversation being played between any of the characters over radio communications, excluding Archibald Fotherington-Smythe, the communications itself will become distorted, simulating poor signal reception. This clears up upon re-entering the Dig Site location.
- Despite being announced as being part of the main cast within the map, William Peck does not appear.
- The Tomb includes a handful of connections to other Zombies from earlier Black Ops games.
- There are multiple connections to Origins.
zm_tombis the console name for Origins.- The Staff of Ice was one of the four elemental staff Wonder Weapons in Origins.
- The shrine of the Dark Aether Nexus shares architecture with the Burial Mound in Origins. Both are the location of the Pack-a-Punch Machine in their respective maps.
- The Shrine's spires also invoke imagery similar to that of The Crazy Place.
- The Pack-a-Punch machine location in the Dig Site shares architecture with Ancient Evil.
- There are multiple connections to Origins.
- The Tomb's dig site can be found on the map Avalon in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as part of an expanded archaeological dig. Despite this, the tunnels no longer lead down into the caves.
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