Biggest Cold War Zombies Leak Yet Reveals Armor System

Updated On:

October 28, 2020

Doug Dagnabbit

Doug Dagnabbit

Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies Dark Aether

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Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies Dark Aether
The Dark Aether in Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War Zombies. Source: Activision

Last night well known dataminer Nanikos published the biggest Cold War Zombies leak yet. This information is loaded with spoilers for how Black Ops Cold War Zombies will play, not so much about the storyline or any easter egg information. Proceed with Caution!

REMINDER: Some of what you see below may make you feel concerned about Cold War Zombies. Keep in mind that the same concerns were felt when Warzone was originally datamined and leaked, but the gameplay mechanics and changes that many Call of Duty fans were worried about are what make Warzone the unique and massive BR that it is today!

Keep an open mind heading in to Black Ops Cold War, and let the gameplay speak for itself.


Also a reminder that none of this information is official, and for now should be taken with a grain of salt and treated as a rumor.

Biggest Cold War Zombies Leak Yet

Now that you’ve been warned, let’s get into the nitty gritty of the biggest Cold War Zombies leak yet! The mechanics and information we will be covering include:

  • Character Names
  • Ammo Mods
  • Field Upgrades
  • Perks
  • Runes (New Upgrade System)
  • Wonder Weapons
  • The Dark Aether
  • Salvage (Crafting currency)
  • Armor (Keep an open mind for this one)

Let’s get started with the names of our new Cold War Zombies characters!

Black Ops Cold War Zombies Character Names

NOTE: As of right now no information is known about the characters in Black Ops Cold War Zombies other than their names. This list excludes Samantha Maxis and Grigori Weaver, who we’ve covered in a separate article.

  • Dmitriyev Kalashnik
  • Orlov Medved
  • Vogel Kurtz
  • Calen Peck
  • Dr. William Peck

Their backstories remain to be uncovered, but we wouldn’t want to spoil that for you anyways. Today’s post is more focused on the gameplay mechanics of Cold War Zombies.

Black Ops Cold War Zombies Samantha Maxis
Samantha Maxis as seen in Black Ops Cold War Zombies. Source: Activision/Treyarch

Cold War Zombies Ammo Mods

Ammo mods are the re-branded name for Alternate Ammo Types, which were seen in Black Ops 3 and Black Ops 4 Zombies. This time around we have 4 different alternate ammo types that you can actually choose yourself when pack a punching your weapon!

  • Cryofreeze – Slows enemies and deals Frost Damage
  • Dead Wire – Stuns enemies and deals Electric Damage
  • Napalm Blast – Burns Zombies and deals Fire Damage
  • Brain Rot – Turns a Zombie into an ally

That covers 3 different elements, electric, fire, and frost. This leads us to believe that certain types of zombies or bosses will have weaknesses to certain elements. Think Pokemon.

Cold War Zombies Leaked Field Upgrades

Cold War Zombies rebrands the specialist system as field upgrades this go around. These field upgrades work on a time based recharge system, unlike Black Ops 4. They cover a wide range of uses, whether you’re on the offensive or simply trying to support your teammates Field Upgrades will provide a way for you to do so!



There are currently 5 Field Upgrades that we know of:

  1. Aether Shroud – Acts like the previous “in-plain sight”, lasts 5 seconds.
  2. Ring of Fire – Rings that boosts damage inside for everyone as well as burning zombies who attempt to enter
  3. Healing Aura – Heal yourself and teammates to full health within the radius of the aura
  4. Frost Blast – Slows Zombies and does a wind blast of frost damage to enemies
  5. Energy Mine – Proximity Mine
Black Ops Cold War Zombies Aether Shroud
Aether Shroud field upgrade. Source: Activision/Treyarch

Zombies Unexplained Field Upgrades

There are also 3 other field upgrades mentioned in the code according to Nanikos. These are:

  1. Lightning Links
  2. Toxic Growth
  3. Frenzy Guard

We currently have no idea how these field upgrades will work of if they will even make it in to the release version of Black Ops Cold War Zombies. We will be sure to update you if any more information comes up about them over on our twitter, ModernWarzone.

Cold War Zombies: Perks

As of right now we only know of 7 perks that have been datamined to be in Black Ops Cold War Zombies.

  1. Quick Revive
  2. Juggernog 
  3. Speed-Cola
  4. Stamin-Up
  5. Deadshot Daquiri
  6. Elemental Pop
  7. Der Wunderfixx

Elemental Pop works as many Call of Duty Zombies fan’s expected it to. It activates random Ammo Mods / AAT’s, which mean’s it’s basically Treyarch’s version of Change Chews.

Black Ops Cold War Zombies Elemental Pop Perk
Elemental Pop Perk in Black Ops Cold War Zombies. Source: Activision/Treyarch

New Zombies Upgrade System: Runes

Runes appear to be the biggest innovation coming to Black Ops Cold War Zombies. Runes will act as a fully new upgrade system! This will be our longest section yet, so strap in. You can use Runes to upgrade:

  • Ammo Mods (AAT’s)
  • Perks
  • Field Upgrades
  • Weapon Classes
    • Assaults Rifles, Sniper Rifles, Tactical Rifles, LMGs, SMGs, Shotguns, Pistols and Melee Weapons

Each individual perk, ammo mod, field upgrade, and weapon class has 3 available upgrades. It was 5 in previous Call of Duty Zombie modes. This totals up to a WHOPPING 72 upgrades that can be unlocked in Black Ops Cold War Zombies.

Nanikos has provided two examples of the upgrade system and how it would evolve your perks or field upgrades from levels 1 to 3.

  • Stamin-Up
    • Level 1: Movement Impairing Effects reduced by 50%
    • Level 2: No Fall Damage
    • Level 3: Can run while Aiming Down Sights (ADSing)
  • Aether Shroud Field Upgrade
    • Level 1: Activation instantly reloads your weapon
    • Level 2: Increase duration to 8 seconds
    • Level 3: Warp up to 500 units in front of you.

Aethereum and How it Works

Aetherium is the new currency in Black Ops Cold War Zombies. Aetherium is earned simply by playing the game and is how you will be upgrading all of your items in Zombies this year.

It cost’s 1 Aetherium for the first tier of upgrades, 2 for the second, and 3 for the third. This totals up to 432 Aetherium required to max out all upgrades in Black Ops Cold War Zombies. This should provide a real grind for Call of Duty Zombies enthusiasts!

There are currently two types of Aetherium:

  • Raw Aetherium
  • Flawless Aetherium

It is unknown exactly how the two types of Aetherium will relate to each in Cold War Zombies. We will update you when we learn more about the new currency or receive any more Cold War Zombies Leaks!



Cold War Zombies: Wonder Weapons

Black Ops Cold War Wonder Weapon D.I.E.
D.I.E. Wonder Weapon as seen in the Zombies Reveal Trailer. Source: Activision

According to Nanikos, D.I.E. is one of the wonder weapons on the map Die Maschine. It has four upgrade types, and is similar to the Kraken from BO4 and how you could change the ammo type.

The four ammo types for the D.I.E. are:

  1. Nitro Stream
  2. Particle Beam
  3. Plasma Ball
  4. Gas Cloud

It’s still unclear exactly how the new Wonder Weapon will function in Black Ops Cold War Zombies. However there are also mentions and rumors of a “Ray Rifle” wonder weapon that exists. Sadly we currently know nothing about it.

Cold War Zombies: The Dark Aether

Dark Aether Orb
Dark Aether Orb as seen in the Cold War Zombies Reveal Trailer. Source: Activision

The Dark Aether was shown in the reveal trailer for Black Ops Cold War Zombies, and now we know more about how it will function! The Dark Aether can be accessed through the giant purple orb in the main room of Die Maschine. Players can only stay in the dark aether for a limited time, in which they should be hunting for pieces of the Pack-a-Punch machine.

Players can bring these parts back with them to construct the Pack-a-Punch on Die Maschine.

The Dark Aether orb will move around the map as you play.

There are also “Dark Aether Crystals” which contain drops that players can receive.

Cold War Zombies: Salvage Currency

Salvage is another new currency that will be obtainable while playing Black Ops Cold War Zombies!

In the spawn of Die Maschine there is a prebuilt crafting table that sits in a corner next to a building. You will use your salvage at this crafting table to craft all kinds of different items.

These item’s include:

  • Lethals
    • Frag
    • Semtex
    • C4
    • Molotov
  • Tacticals
    • Monkey Bombs
  • Support Equipment

Salvage also has another tier level which will allow you to upgrade the rarity of your weapons. Let’s move on to the most controversial part of the new Black Ops Cold War Zombies leaks, the Armor system.

Black Ops Cold War Zombies Salvage Currency
Salvage as seen in the “Cold War Zombies First Look” trailer. Source: Activision/Treyarch

Cold War Zombies: Armor System

The armor system is another new mechanic coming to Cold War Zombies. It works VERY similar to Warzone.

  • Players can have 3 armor plates at once
  • Armor can be upgraded 3 times at armor stations around the map
  • Juggernaut has a “theoretical” 10 hits from a zombie with fully upgraded Juggernaut and Armor

We don’t have any detailed information on how armor stations will work in Black Ops Cold War Zombies.

Remember when taking these leaks in that none of these details are confirmed officially and are subject to change.

Also please remember that just because a mechanic doesn’t sound good on paper doesn’t mean that it won’t function well in the full release of Black Ops Cold War Zombies.

Black Ops Cold War Zombies Armor
Armor as seen in the “First Look” trailer. Source: Activision

Cold War Zombies: Microtransactions Seem Non Existent

There is no sort of gobblegum or elixir system for Black Ops Cold War Zombies as far as we know.

Other than the battle pass, microtransactions appear to be non existent in Cold War Zombies.

Note: Aetherium may have some sort of MTX system assigned to them.

Cold War Zombies: Other Information

  • Cold War Zombies will drop random loot whilst playing after being killed. 
    • These drops range from armor plates, to grenades, to killstreaks such as the chopper gunner.
  • There is a jetpack in the game. Currently no clue how it will work.
  • There is a buildable bench at the bottom area where the machine is.
    • Currently unsure of what it’s used for.
  • There is a mini-map
    • Unsure if it can be toggled on or off at the moment
  • There is a compass
    • Unsure if it can be toggled on or off at the moment
  • Zombies have health bars and also show damage numbers when players shoot them.
    • This could have been scrapped.

Cold War Zombies Leak Overview

Black Ops Cold War Zombies looks to be trying to add some new innovations and mechanics to the traditional zombies gameplay loop.

Whether this is good or bad is all up to individual opinion, but overall we think a majority of the changes listed sound good for the Call of Duty Zombies fanbase as whole.

How do you feel about what you’ve just learned about Black Ops Cold War Zombies?

Concerned? Excited? Be sure to let us know in the comments down below!

Follow us on social medias to be sure to keep up with all the latest Black Ops Cold War Zombies leaks and news!

Our handle is ModernWarzone on twitter and youtube!

Sources: Nanikos, Activision, Treyarch



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14 Responses

  1. Definitely EXCITED! Can’t wait to see about the microtransactions and look forward to not have to deal with health bars on Zombies 🙄! Other than that….. I’M READY I’M READY I’M READY!!!!!

  2. Until the make grief mode again, Black Ops zombies will continue to suck. Want to make a winner BOs? Remake BO2 with all glitches/cheats patched and instantly permanently ban anyone who attempts to modify/hack game. I use to play BO Zombies exclusively until BO3 made it disappointing zombie appearance and it got even worse with BO4, which out side of the steal from Fortnight (Blackout) the game was a total and utter disappointment for the die hard Zombie fan.

  3. Not saying this isn’t 100% possible, buh with the ammo, that INS’T new. As u would remember if u played black ops 3 that if u just pack a punched the same gun twice u get 1 outa a couple of ammo’s; flames, turning zombies to allies (for brief second just like how this game will be), dead wire which electrocutes, and off the top of my head I can’t remember the rest bc, well I hated black ops 3. Buh I’m telling u now, there’s probably not different multiple bosses that take more damage and less damage from these ammos, they all do more damage then regular billeted that just make holes… u would know if u played a game like 2-3 years ago? It wasn’t that long right?

    1. Wait. You hated bo3? Well I guess that makes sense but the zombies was good. Sure the classics(bo1 and bo2) were great but, if you say you hated bo3 to the zombie community (which let’s face it is a really sensitive community). Almost all of them would debate with you. (Not trying to be rude this is my opinion, I just want to hear your opinion on bo3 zombies)

  4. My only concern as of now would be the armor system. Since Jug is back I feel like it might make the game too easy judging by what everyone is saying. Besides that, I think the new systems will freshen up the zombies expirence, if they pursue them properly. Over all, I’m vary exited. I’m hoping the Ray Gun is more viable this time around also.

  5. PLEASE DONT PUT HEALTH BARS ON ZOMBIES, its shoot shoot then knife for the extra points the boys know trust me

  6. Well I for one appreciate your insight into it and the possible paths they will take with cold war zombies. I’m not relating a new zombies to old ones until because it’s better to see just how the game as a standalone will work. So what if there are similar ideas in it? They can’t do completely new stuff all the time

  7. It’s a game, also, BO3 zombies was probably the best one. There’s no flinching when you get hit and you don’t get downed on 2 hits(that was annoying). Also grief was barely touched

  8. I can’t wait! The community hated bo4 zombies. I liked it but didn’t love it. Even if cold war zombies is worse than bo4. I’m still gonna like it. Because, let’s face it. The devs are just trying to improve things and add new things to make us like it. It’s a game, so enjoy it. Or hate it and keep it to yourself (unless you’re talking to the devs)

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