Ascension is the third Zombie Map for Call of Duty: Black Ops. It is set in a Russian spaceport or cosmodrome. The entire map will be in black and white until you turn on the power, which also activates the traps and the Perk-A-Cola machines.
There are only two types of traps, fire traps and auto turrets. The fire traps are similar to the electric traps in past games, and will kill anything that crosses them for 30 seconds, and cost 1000 points. The automatic turrets will target and shoot nearby zombies for 30 seconds, and cost 1500 points.
The map contains special transportation called “Lunar Landers.” These allow players to fly around the map from one point to the starting room. After traveling back to the starting point, the lander will take 30 seconds to refuel before it can be used again. The Lunar Lander can also be taken from the starting position to one of the other locations, if the Lunar Lander was already taken from the original location to the starting room. Each trip costs 250 points. Do not stand underneath the Lunar Lander or you will be downed!
There are no Hell Hounds in Ascension, instead there are tiny Space Monkeys which appear every few rounds. Space Monkeys run to Perk-A-Cola machines to steal whichever Perks have been purchased. If they’re successful, you must re-buy your perks. Once all are defeated, players will earn a Max Ammo. If you kill all Space Monkeys before they steal any perks, players will earn a Max Ammo and a random Perk. Space Monkeys will throw grenades back, so do not use grenades unless cooked perfectly to explode on impact.
The Pack-A-Punch Machine is available after a few steps. To gain access to the Pack-A-Punch Machine, you must use all three Lunar Landers from their location to the starting room, then go the Power Switch and press a button to the right. This will launch the rocket allowing you to enter the Pack-A-Punch Room beneath.
Perk-A-Colas
Three of the Perk-A-Cola Machines return, along with two new Perk-A-Cola Machines. However, a player can only buy four perks at one time.
Quick Revive
1500 Points / 500 Points on Solo
Quick Revive allows you to revive your downed teammates in half the time. When playing solo, you can buy revive without having to turn on the power. The perk will revive you if you are downed, and your weapon will turn into the mustang and sally. You can only buy it three times on solo.
Starting Room
Speed Cola
3000 Points
Speed Cola allows you to reload your weapon twice as fast.
Building Behind Starting Area
Jugger-Nog
2500 Points
Jugger-Nog give you about four times more health.
Second Floor Tower near Starting Area
PhD Flopper
2000 Points
PhD Flopper is a new perk that allows you to resist fall damage, resist your own explosive damage, and create a small explosion that can kill when you dive off a high point. The height has to be about the height of the character models.
Area near Lunar Lander and broken down truck
Stamin-Up
2000 Points
Stamin-Up is a new perk that allows you to run faster and for longer distances.
Corridor by Lunar Lander
Power-Ups
All the older power ups return from the past zombie maps with the exception of Bonfire sale. A new power up is added along with the Space Monkeys.
Double Points
This award gives you double the points you would normally earn for 30 seconds.
Insta-Kill
Insta-Kill allows you to kill anything with one bullet or one melee attack. Lasts for 30 seconds.
Max Ammo
Max ammo gives you the maximum ammunition your gun can hold. If you are down you will only receive max ammo on the M1911.
Carpenter
Carpenter rebuilds all barriers on the map. You are also awarded 200 XP after all barriers are rebuilt.
Nuke / Tactical Bomb
The tactical bomb kills all zombies around you. The blast wave may take longer to reach the zombies further away from the bomb. No matter how many zombies there are, you are awarded 400 points.
Death Machine
The death machine gives one person the death machine mini gun. The Death Machine has infinite ammo for 30 seconds. You cannot revive anyone nor buy perk a colas while holding the gun.
Fire Sale
Fire Sale brings the mystery box to every mystery box location on the map. The mystery box will only cost 10 points instead of 950 for 30 seconds.
Perk-A-Cola
A random perk can be earned as a power up if you kill all Space Monkeys in Ascension without them taking any Perks or touching a Perk-A-Cola machine. The perks will be random for everyone if there are multiple players.
Wall Weapons
M14
Semi-Automatic
8/96 Ammo
500 Points to Buy
250 Points for Ammo
Starting Room Ground Floor
Olympia
Double Barreled
2/38 Ammo
500 Points to Buy
250 Points for Ammo
Starting Room Balcony
MPL
Fully-Automatic
24/120 Ammo
1000 Points to Buy
500 Points for Ammo
Ground Floor of Tower
PM63
Fully-Automatic
20/100 Ammo
1000 Points to Buy
500 Points for Ammo
Second Floor of Tower near Jugger-Nog
Stakeout
Pump-Action
6/54 Ammo
1500 Points to Buy
750 Points for Ammo
Third Floor of Tower
MP5K
Fully Automatic
30/120 Ammo
1000 Points to Buy
500 Points for Ammo
Near PhD Flopper Lunar Lander
M16
3 Round Burst Fire
30/120 Ammo
1200 Points to Buy
600 Points for Ammo
Area near Speed Cola Lunar Lander
AK74u
Fully Automatic
20/160 Ammo
1200 Points to Buy
600 Points for Ammo
Near Stamin-Up Corridor
Claymores
2 Claymores that refill after each round.
1000 Points to Buy – One time only.
Near Stamin Up Lunar Lander
Frag Grenades
Cookable Frag Grenades
4 Given for 250 Points
Near PhD Flopper Lunar Lander
Sickle
Melee Weapon similar to Bowie Knife
3000 Points to Buy
Area near Speed Cola Lunar Lander
Mystery Box Weapons
Commando
Fully-Automatic Assault Rifle
30/270 Ammo
FN FAL
Semi-Automatic Assault Rifle
20/180 Ammo
Galil
Fully-Automatic Assault Rifle.
35/315 Ammo
Famas
Fully-Automatic Assault Rifle
30/150 Ammo
AUG
Fully-Automatic Assault Rifle
30/270 Ammo
Comes with Special ACOG Scope.
G11
3 Round Burst Assault Rifle
48/144 Ammo
Comes with Low Power Scope
Spectre
Fully-Automatic Submachine Gun
30/120 Ammo
HK21
Fully-Automatic Light Machine Gun
125/500 Ammo
RPK
Fully-Automatic Light Machine Gun
100/400 Ammo
SPAS-12
Semi-Automatic Shotgun.
8/32 Ammo
HS10
Semi-Automatic Shotgun
6/36 Ammo
Dragunov
Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle
10/40 Ammo
L96A1
Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle
5/45 Ammo
Python
Semi-Automatic Revolver
6/84 Ammo
CZ75
Semi-Automatic Handgun
15/135 Ammo
CZ75 Dual Wield
Two Semi-Automatic Handguns
12 Rounds for each Gun, 228 Rounds extra.
China Lake
Pump-action Grenade Launcher.
2/20 Ammo
Explodes on Impact instead of requiring distance.
M72 LAW
Single Shot Rocket Launcher
1/20 Ammo
Crossbow
A crossbow with explosive tip ammo.
1/12 Ammo
Ballistic Knife
A special single shot weapon that fires knifes.
1/4 Ammo
Matryoshka Doll
Russian Cluster Bomb (4 Explosions)
3 Given. Takes Up Special Grenade Slot
Gersch Device
Also known as the Black Hole Bomb. Creates a black hole which sucks zombies in.
3 Given. Takes up Special Grenade Slot
Thundergun
A Semi-Automatic Wonder Weapon
2/12 Ammo
3 Second Reload Time
Ray Gun
Full Auto Wonder Weapon (Pistol)
Replaces M1911 if you are downed, but only gives you one magazine of ammo.
20/160 Ammo
2.3 Second Reload Time
Musical Easter Egg
This is the Musical Easter Egg for the Zombie Map Ascension. You need to find three Teddy Bears around the map to play the song. Press the Activate Button on each bear once you found them. The Activate Button is X (Xbox 360), Square (PS3), or F (PC). The song is called “Abracadavre” by Elena Siegman and Kevin Sherwood. The bears can be found at:
- The second floor of the starting area
- On top of a wall near the Sickle
- Behind a fence near the Claymore Lunar Lander
Radio Easter Egg
There are several radios spread out throughout the Zombie Map “Ascension.” Each radio will appear after you found the last radio. The radios give a bit of back story to what happened at the space station before the Zombie Character came. Press the activate button on each Radio to play the message. The activate button is X (Xbox 360), Square (PS3), or F (PC). The radios are found at the following locations:
- Between the steps near the PhD Flopper Lunar Lander
- In a cage near the Claymore Lunar Lander
- In the starting area near some crates on the ground floor
- In the Pack-A-Punch room on some pipes down below
- Next to the Speed Cola and Matryoshka Doll
- Next to the Stamin-Up
Matryoshka Dolls Easter Egg
Four Matryoshka Dolls can be found around the Ascension Zombies Map and are connected to an easter egg. The dolls are found near the PhD Flopper, Claymore, Speed Cola, and the floor above the Jugger-Nog.
Press the activate button on each of the Matryoshka Dolls around the map to play a small sound byte. The activate button is X on Xbox, Square on PlayStation, and F on PC. The sound byte will vary depending on your character. Your character will then respond with one of four replies. This video below has all four characters and all replies.
Story Easter Egg Repairing the Kassimir Mechanism Easter Egg
This Easter Egg requires four players to complete. You can do the first step with one player, but step two must be done with four people. Each step will have short pauses between for dialogue between your character and the trapped character. You will need the Gersch Device, Matryoshka Dolls, Upgraded Ray Gun, Upgraded Thundergun, and possibly an Upgraded Crossbow and Ballistic Knife.
At the start of the game you will hear a voice asking for help. He asks you to repair “the mechanism.” The Kassimir Mechanism is a metal pod looking thing near the Lunar Lander by the Stamin-Up machine.
First, you need the Gersch Device from the Mystery Box. Take it to the area next to the PhD Flopper and Lunar Lander. To the right of the stairs is a blinking generator. Throw your Gersch Device near it to suck it in. If you throw it too far, it will disappear and you will hear a Samantha laughing.
Second, you must wait for a wave with Space Monkeys. Have each player wait next to each Perk-A-Cola machine, with the exception of the Quick Revive machine. When the round starts, a button will pop out of the wall near each machine. All players must hit the buttons at the same time. You will hear a beep if done correctly or a buzz if done incorrectly.
Third, requires the Pack-A-Punch room to be open. Make a crawler and take it FAR off from the room. This step requires about two minutes of standing. All players must stand in front of a clock near the Pack-A-Punch room. It will be right under where the rocket took off. The clock will start counting down when all players are ready. Players can still shoot if the crawler gets too close, but hopefully that doesn’t happen. Once the countdown is complete, a Nuke Power-Up will go off, ending the round/wave. Some say you must have the Ballistic Knife in your group to get the clock to countdown. We had a Ballistic Knife in our group, so I can’t confirm or deny that rumor.
The fourth step involves the Lunar Landers. Have one person on the Lunar Lander, one person at the Starting area near the Lunar Lander, one person near the Sickle Lunar Lander, and one person near the Claymore Lunar Lander. The objective here is to collect letters in the sky that spell out L-U-N-A in that order. Activate the Lunar Landers in this order:
- Start > Claymores
- Claymores > Start
- Start > Sickle
- Sickle > Claymores
The fifth, and final, step requires the Gersch Device, the upgraded Ray Gun, the upgraded Thundergun, and the Matryoshka Dolls. Some people say you need the upgraded Crossbow too. Head over to the Kassimir Mechanism over by the Claymore Lunar Lander. Throw the Gersch Device near the light that’s shooting on the ground and start shooting the Ray Gun, Thundergun, and throw Matryoshka dolls inside the black hole. If done right, you will hear more dialogue, ending the Easter Egg. There is no known amount of power you need. If you do too much, Gersch will tell you there was a power overload. If you did to little, he will say you need more power.
Ascension Achievements
The Eagle has Landers (35G/Bronze)
In Ascension, escape on all three lunar landers.
There are three lunar landers in Ascension. You must turn on the power to use any of them. Click the terminal next to one of the landing pads to call the lander. Once the lander arrives at one of the three locations, you can buy a ride on it for 250 points. The lander will take you back to the starting position. You can also take the lunar lander from the starting position to one of the already used locations. It takes about 30 seconds to refuel after using it once. Use all three, not one lander three times, to unlock this achievement and the pack-a-punch room. You must launch the rocket first.
They are going THROUGH! (35G/Bronze)
In Ascension, kill at least 5 zombies with 1 Gersch device.
The Gersch Device is a new device in Zombies – AKA Black Hole Bomb. Obtainable only through the mystery box. Each mystery box use is 950 points. You will get three devices if you’re lucky enough to get them. They take up the special grenade slot. Wait for enough zombies to come by, then throw it. All zombies in the vicinity will be sucked into the black hole. Get 5 zombies in it to unlock this achievement.
Space Race (45G/Silver)
In Ascension, Pack-a-Punch a weapon before round 8.
This achievement can be done with a full team of 4. Use only the M1911, M14, and your knife all the way to round 8. Do not buy any perks and be careful with which doors you buy. Use the knife as much as possible. Let the zombies through the barriers to gain points for repairing. Hopefully you’ll earn some double points too. Open the door from the second floor of the starting point, then open the gate which leads back to the main building. Open the doors up to the power. You must turn on the power to use the three lunar landers. You must use all three lunar landers to unlock the pack-a-punch room. Open up the doors that lead to the lunar landers only. Once all three lunar landers are used, launch the rocket by pressing a button next to the power switch. Open the gate next to the power switch to walk down stairs towards the newly opened pack-a-punch room. Stay inside with your team until you earn 5000 points. Upgrade your weapon, preferably the M1911, and grab it to unlock the achievement. If one person has unlocked the achievement, have them support the others until they earn 5000 points to upgrade a weapon.
Chimp on the Barbie (35G/Bronze)
In Ascension, kill a space monkey with a fire trap.
All the traps around Ascension that aren’t auto turrets are fire traps. Wait for Space Monkeys to come by to unlock this achievement. Space monkeys come on after you turn on the power. You may need to buy a perk-a-cola. Buy Stamin-Up to get this achievement early on. They space monkeys will run towards whatever machine you bought your perk from. Stand near the Stamin-Up machine to wait for the monkeys. Next to the machine and AK74u is a fire trap. Activate it for 1000 points to kill any monkey that touches it instantly. The trap lasts for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, you must wait 90 seconds to use it again.