Best Loadout in Ashes of the Damned - BO7 Zombies Complete Guide

Ashes of the Damned is one of the most intense and mechanically demanding Zombies experiences in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Whether you're attempting the full Easter egg, preparing for the brutal final boss fight, or simply trying to survive higher rounds consistently, your loadout matters more here than on almost any other map.

After extensive testing, this guide breaks down the best overall loadout for Ashes of the Damned, covering weapons, GobbleGums, perks, equipment, and Field Upgrade augments. If you want the smoothest possible run and the highest chance of success, this is the setup you should be using.

Best Weapon for Ashes of the Damned

Weapon Build Code: A01-2KGEJ-YVLPG-YD11

Our primary weapon recommendation is the M15 MOD 0, the first Assault Rifle unlocked in BO7. It's beginner-friendly, scales extremely well into late rounds, and-most importantly access to a critical attachment needed for the boss fight.

Why the M15 MOD 0 Is the Best Choice

The standout attachment here is the M335-X Cloak Underbarrel, which allows you to fire smoke grenades. These smokes are essential during the boss fight when repairing Ol' Tessie, as they cloak you from zombies and give you the breathing room needed to survive inevitable explosions.

Best Attachments Explained

·Monolith Suppressor (Muzzle): Grants extra salvage on kills and boosts bullet velocity and damage range

·16.5” Fusion Barrel: Further improves damage range and bullet velocity

·M335-X Cloak (Underbarrel): Fires smoke grenades to hide from zombies during repairs

·Backline Flip Mags: Faster reloads for constant sustained fire

·Hexcut Grip: Improves ADS, slide-to-fire, dive-to-fire, and jump ADS speeds

·Telescopic Stock: Boosts movement, strafing, and hipfire mobility

·5.56 NATO Overpressured: Increases bullet velocity

Alongside your primary weapon, you should always carry the Necrofluid Gauntlet. It deals massive damage, siphons health, and trivializes most encounters outside the boss arena. During the boss fight, you should only leave Ol' Tessie when it explodes-and even then, only briefly.

Best GobbleGums for Ashes of the Damned

GobbleGums aren't mandatory, but they can dramatically reduce difficulty and save failed runs.

Recommended GobbleGums

·Perkaholic: Instantly grants all perks

·Near Death Experience: Revive by proximity; revived players keep perks

·Power Keg: Activates a Full Power power-up

·Shields Up: Fully refills armor and doubles armor strength

·Gift Card: Grants 30,000 Essence

Gift Card is best used on Round 1, allowing you to open all doors, buy early Pack-a-Punch tiers, and rush Easter egg steps before zombie scaling becomes punishing.

For the boss fight:

·Solo: Power Keg, Shields Up, Perkaholic

·Co-op: Power Keg, Shields Up, Near Death Experience

Best Perks and Augments for Ashes of the Damned

While every perk has value, these five are essential for both the Easter egg and boss fight:

·Jugger-Nog - Increased health

·Quick Revive - Faster healing and revives

·Speed Cola - Faster reloads and armor application

·Stamin-Up - Increased movement speed

·Melee Macchiato - Boosted melee damage

Best Augments to Use

·Jugger-Nog(Iron Core, Durable Plates): Increases HP when armor breaks and boosts armor durability

·Quick Revive(Dying Wish, Karmic Return): Grants temporary invulnerability to lethal damage and full heal on revives

Dying Wish is especially powerful. Even though it consumes Quick Revive, it saves your run by preventing death and keeping all other perks active.

Best Equipment in Ashes of the Damned

Your tactical equipment can make or break boss phases and tight Easter egg steps.

Cymbal Monkey (Best Tactical Choice)

·Unlocks at Level 24

·Costs 1,000 Salvage

·Can carry two at once

·Recharges with Max Ammo

Cymbal Monkeys are perfect for distracting zombies while repairing Ol' Tessie or surviving laser-heavy boss phases. While slower than the Kazimir, their accessibility and recharge synergy make them the best option here.

Lethals and Scorestreaks are mostly irrelevant, though the Combat Axe is required for a side Easter egg (a free one spawns at Reba's Diner at Exit 115).

Best Field Upgrade and Augments

Aether Shroud (Best Overall Field Upgrade)

Aether Shroud is mandatory for Ashes of the Damned. While active, all enemies-including elites and bosses-ignore you entirely.

Best Augments

·Extra Charge: Grants an additional Aether Shroud charge

·Group Shroud (Co-op): Cloaks nearby allies

·Burst Dash (Solo): Short-range warp that kills normal enemies

·Extension (Extra Slot): Significantly increases Shroud duration

Two Aether Shroud charges during the boss fight can single-handedly secure success.

Final Thoughts and Bonus Tip

Ashes of the Damned is unforgiving, but with the right setup, it becomes far more manageable. This loadout is optimized for survivability, boss mechanics, and Easter egg consistency.

Players practicing Zombies mechanics or challenge setups often warm up in Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies, which can help refine movement, weapon handling, and perk synergy without pressure. Some players even choose to buy CoD Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies to practice high-level strategies before committing to full Easter egg runs.