- Zombies Maps: Master all six survival arenas in the game, from TranZit to Origins.
- Pack-a-Punch: Learn the specific activation steps required for upgrading weapons on each map.
- Wonder Weapons: Discover how to craft or pull iconic weapons like the Sliquifier and Elemental Staffs.
- Easter Eggs: Coordinate with your team to solve the main cooperative questlines.
- Best Progression: Follow our recommended map order to build your survival skills.
Call of Duty Black Ops II Zombies Maps Overview
The cooperative survival mode in Call of Duty: Black Ops II offers some of the most complex, atmospheric, and mechanically diverse maps in franchise history. Players travel from a post-apocalyptic wasteland in the green run area to crumbling skyscrapers in China, Alcatraz Island, an underground western town, and a muddy World War I battlefield. Each map introduces unique movement mechanics, buildable equipment, and distinct wonder weapons.
Understanding the layout and core objectives of each map is essential for high-round survival. Whether you are playing the base-game content or exploring the DLC expansions via the PlayStation Store for the 2026 PS4/PS5 release, this guide provides the vital strategies you need.
| Map Name | DLC Pack | Setting | Main Wonder Weapon | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TranZit | Base Game | Post-Apocalyptic USA | Jet Gun | Hard |
| Nuketown | Standalone / Season Pass | Nuclear Test Site | Ray Gun Mark II | Medium |
| Die Rise | Revolution (DLC 1) | Ruined Chinese Skyscrapers | Sliquifier | Hard |
| Mob of the Dead | Uprising (DLC 2) | Alcatraz Island | Blundergat / Acid Gat | Medium |
| Buried | Vengeance (DLC 3) | Underground Old West Town | Paralyzer | Easy |
| Origins | Apocalypse (DLC 4) | World War I Excavation Site | Elemental Staffs | Very Hard |
The newly launched 2026 PS4 and PS5 versions are original ports rather than remakes. They do not support cross-platform multiplayer, meaning you can only matchmake with players on the same console family.
Zombies Maps Tier List and Map Profiles
Every map in the game caters to a different playstyle, ranging from tight, survival-focused arenas to massive, objective-driven sandboxes. Our tier list ranks these maps based on their design, replayability, mechanics, and overall community popularity.
S-Tier: Masterpieces
- Mob of the Dead
- Origins
- Exceptional atmosphere, deep progression systems, and legendary wonder weapons.
A-Tier: Great Fun
- Buried
- Highly accessible, unique friendly giant mechanic, and powerful camping spots.
B-Tier: Specialized
- Die Rise
- Nuketown Zombies
- Fun vertical movement and survival challenges, but heavily punished by fall hazards or RNG.
TranZit (Green Run)
Included with the base game, TranZit links several smaller sub-maps (Bus Depot, Diner, Farm, Power Station, and Town) via a bus route. Players must deal with thick fog, teleporting Denizens, and lava cracks. It is a challenging map that demands teamwork and careful resource management.
Nuketown Zombies
A compact, fast-paced map based on the classic multiplayer layout. There are no complex buildables or long Easter egg quests here. Instead, players must adapt to perk machines and the Pack-a-Punch machine falling randomly from the sky as rounds progress.
Die Rise
Set atop crumbling skyscrapers, Die Rise introduces verticality. Players use elevators to travel between floors and must time their jumps carefully to avoid falling to their death. The Sliquifier wonder weapon makes clearing hordes incredibly easy when used correctly.
Mob of the Dead
Widely considered one of the greatest zombies maps of all time, Mob of the Dead takes place in Alcatraz Prison. It introduces the Afterlife mechanic, allowing players to enter a spectral form to power up doors, portals, and perks. Players build a plane on the roof to escape to the Golden Gate Bridge, where the Pack-a-Punch machine awaits.
Buried
Buried is set in an underground western town trapped inside a cavern. It is highly beginner-friendly due to its generous banking system and Arthur, a friendly giant who can be manipulated with booze and candy to clear debris, lock down mystery boxes, or build equipment.
Origins
The most complex map in the game, Origins takes players to a dieselpunk World War I battlefield. Players must dodge giant stepping robots, activate six generators to power the map, and construct four powerful Elemental Staffs (Fire, Ice, Wind, and Lightning) to survive the deadly Panzer Soldat bosses.
Unlike other maps, Die Rise features lethal fall hazards. Always look down before dropping from a ledge, and ensure the elevator cabin is present before stepping into an elevator shaft.
How to Unlock Pack-a-Punch on Every Map
Upgrading your weapons via the Pack-a-Punch machine is critical for surviving past round 15. Each map features a unique, multi-step puzzle to unlock access to the machine.
Unlocking TranZit Pack-a-Punch
Place a Turbine at the green power door inside the Power Station. Travel to the Town bank, blow open the vault doors with explosives, and enter the newly opened underground lab door powered by your Turbine. Assemble the three machine parts inside.
Unlocking Die Rise Pack-a-Punch
The Pack-a-Punch machine in Die Rise is located inside one of the moving elevator cabins. You do not need to build it, but you must monitor the elevator shafts and step inside when the correct cabin aligns with your floor.
Unlocking Mob of the Dead Pack-a-Punch
Collect the five plane parts scattered around Alcatraz (Oxygen Tank, Coil, Watch, Battery, and Rigging). Build the Icarus plane on the prison roof, board it to fly to the Golden Gate Bridge, and find the machine sitting on the bridge.
Unlocking Buried Pack-a-Punch
Make your way through the haunted mansion (avoiding the ghost who drains your points), navigate the hedge maze, and drop down the spiral staircase beneath the central gazebo.
Unlocking Origins Pack-a-Punch
Locate and activate all six generators scattered across the muddy battlefield. Once all six are running simultaneously, the Pack-a-Punch machine will open at the central Excavation Site.
On Nuketown Zombies, you do not need to complete any steps to unlock the Pack-a-Punch machine. It drops from the sky in a random backyard at a random round, usually between rounds 5 and 20.
Wonder Weapons and Buildables Guide
Each map features powerful buildable items and wonder weapons that can be crafted at workbenches using parts scattered across the playable areas. Learning these locations is vital for survival.
| Map | Buildable Item | Key Wonder Weapon | Crafting Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| TranZit | Zombie Shield, Turbine | Jet Gun | Town / Diner / Highway |
| Die Rise | Trample Steam | Sliquifier | Starting Building / Sweatshop |
| Mob of the Dead | Zombie Shield, Acid Gat Kit | Blundergat / Acid Gat | Docks / Cafeteria |
| Buried | Subsurface Resonator, Head Chopper | Paralyzer / Time Bomb | Saloon / Courthouse |
| Origins | Maxis Drone, Zombie Shield | Four Elemental Staffs | Excavation Site / Crazy Place |
Crafting the Acid Gat Kit (Mob of the Dead)
The Acid Gat is an incredibly powerful variation of the Blundergat that fires exploding, crowd-attracting acid darts. To craft the upgrade kit, collect the motor from the wardens office, the case from the docks, and the acid bottle from the infirmary, then assemble them at any workbench.
Constructing the Elemental Staffs (Origins)
The four Elemental Staffs are the ultimate defensive weapons in Origins. Each staff requires three parts, a specific elemental record, a gramophone, and a crystal from the Crazy Place. Once built at the bottom of the Excavation Site, they can be upgraded through individual puzzles inside the Crazy Place.
The Paralyzer in Buried has infinite ammunition but operates on a overheat mechanic. Furthermore, firing it at the ground allows you to hover and fly over barriers, making it the ultimate tool for map traversal.
Map Progression Checklist
For players looking to experience everything the game has to offer, we recommend mastering the maps in this specific order to gradually build your mechanical skills.
Recommended Mastery Order:
- Survive to Round 20 on Nuketown Zombies to master basic movement and positioning.
- Build the Zombie Shield and turn on the power in TranZit.
- Fly the plane to the Golden Gate Bridge and Pack-a-Punch a weapon in Mob of the Dead.
- Use Arthur to build all four buildable traps in a single match on Buried.
- Navigate the vertical elevators of Die Rise and craft the Sliquifier.
- Build and upgrade at least one Elemental Staff in Origins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which call of duty black ops ii zombies maps are included in the base game?
TranZit (along with its survival sub-sections: Town, Farm, and Bus Depot) is the only Zombies experience included with the base game. All other maps require DLC purchases or the Season Pass.
Q: Can I play the 2026 PS5 port of Black Ops II Zombies offline?
Yes, local play supports one or two players in split-screen offline mode. However, an active PlayStation Plus subscription is required to play online cooperative matches with up to four players.
Q: Is there an easy way to save points between matches?
Yes, both TranZit and Buried feature a bank system. You can deposit points into the bank vault in one match and withdraw them in a future match, which is extremely helpful for setting up early-round upgrades.
Q: What is the best wonder weapon in Black Ops II Zombies?
The upgraded Elemental Staffs in Origins and the Sliquifier in Die Rise are widely considered the best due to their massive area-of-effect damage and ability to clear entire hordes of zombies instantly.