Along with the four new multiplayer maps offered in the downloadable content, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’s Ascendance pack also comes with the second chapter in the EXO Zombies series, this time having you outlast waves of brain-eating zombies. You’ll fight your way through the small town, complete with a Burger Town location, using whatever means necessary to stay alive.
Grab your friends because these tips will help you survive against both the regular and armored zombies you’ll encounter.
The EXO Suit is Your Friend
The map is set up like a small portion of the town, separated between a gas station, a hardware store and warehouse; you begin inside the latter.
You’ll first want to head to either the hardware store or the security checkpoint located on the map. This may require you to storm through a few zombies in the process, but it’ll be worth it. That’s because these two areas have access to a sewer, and once you climb down you’ll be able to access a new area where you’ll find the EXO Suits. You can also reach Burger Town once you open the sewer, which provides another advantage with a new area to battle zombies.
Picking up the EXO Suit results in a stronger melee attack, along with boosts and the ability to purchase upgrades that may keep you alive a bit longer.
Try to get this whenever you can, even though the odds may be against you. The better equipped you are, the longer you’ll last against incoming waves.
Opening Up the Map, and Using the Microwave Gun
How wide open your Infection map becomes depends on how many credits you’re willing to spend to reach new areas. You’ll need to spend said credits in order to unlock doors and access these spaces, giving you more room to run around when the zombies pile up. It’s vital that you try and open up the space, because if too many undead cram into a small area, you and your team are done for.
You’ll earn credits by successfully getting through waves, but you can also use this virtual cash to purchase weapons via 3D Printers – and you’ll want to make sure you balance the two. While opening up new areas is nice, having new weaponry is a plus, since you begin with a melee attack and an Atlas 45.
This includes eventually picking up the Magnetron Microwave Support Weapon offered exclusively with this pack. This is an outstanding gun that shoots energy streams that fry monsters. These are especially useful against stronger zombie types, including ones armed with EMZ (similar to EMP, but on zombies) tactics that can disable your EXO suit. You’ll need to watch its energy, represented as a percentage, and once it runs out of juice, you’ll need to recharge.
The Armored Goliaths Take a Beating
After you get through 10 different waves of zombies, you’ll eventually come across a Goliath, an armored zombie that takes a huge amount of damage to bring down. Battling this creature solo is practically suicide, even if you’re heavily armed with the Microwave gun. That’s because it focuses all of its attention on you, and unless you’re speedy enough to get away from its lunges, you’re in big trouble.
It’s best to take it out as a team, since you can have at least two gunners pouring ammunition into it while the other two serve as distractions. You’ll also need to keep an eye open for other zombies that pop out, as they provide secondary damage while you concentrate on the Goliath.
Fill the Goliath with enough lead and eventually it will die. However, it’ll return after the next 10 waves, and it’ll be more ruthless than when you faced it previously. Make sure you’re ready for the challenge.
Survivors are Vital
On occasion you’ll run across a survivor in the map, and it’s your job to make sure he gets out of harm’s way via helicopter. That’s easier said than done, especially with the later waves of zombies that appear.
However, the survivor is important. Keeping him alive will unlock a new upgrade for your weapon, allowing you to carry more ammunition or increase reload speed, among other perks. If he dies there’s a penalty, such as not being able to acquire a new weapon from a 3D printer.
Traps and Picking Up Perks
Finally, you’ll be able to activate certain traps on the maps that can stop groups of zombies in one shot. You’ll need to set up a trap beforehand and make sure the undead run into it.
Activating traps and catching zombies provides a nice little bonus, as some will drop perks that you’ll be able to use, such as a faster reload or more strength.
If you prefer, you can head over to EXO upgrade stations (after acquiring your suit) and upgrade that way, though they cost quite a few credits, ranging from 1,500 for the basic EXO Medic upgrade up to 2,000 for Juggernaut, Speed Reload, etc. You’ll want to invest in the perks that best suit your character’s type, so make sure you use them to your advantage.
Finally, make sure you get a good lay of the land, and see where your 3D printer and perk stations are when you need them the most. The traps will give you a little extra time in terms of making these purchases, and killing several zombies will give you the credits necessary to buy them. It never hurts to upgrade, especially when that Goliath comes calling.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Ascendance is available for download now on Xbox One and Xbox 360, and will release next month for PC, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.
Published: Apr 2, 2015 05:15 pm