Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 may have the largest Zombies offering yet, taking players straight into the Dark Aether with Ashes of the Damned. Ashes of the Damned is by far the largest Zombies map yet, complete with terrifying enemies to face, like the Zursa zombified bear, along with a long Easter Egg Quest that is sure to put players' skills to the test.
As players jump into Ashes of the Damned for the first time, the biggest crucial step to get done right away is to go ahead and power up the maps Pack-a-Punch machine. However, doing so is a little different from what players are used to, as it is an upgrade for the map's Wonder Vehicle: Ol’ Tessie. Here is how to activate the Ashes of the Damned Pack-a-Punch in Black Ops 7 Zombies.
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How to Activate the Ashes of the Damned Pack-a-Punch in Black Ops 7 Zombies
To get to the Pack-a-Punch in Ashes of the Damned, players will first need to go through the process of powering up Ol’ Tessie and then head through two main locations and restore the power: Vandorn Farm and Ashwood. Those playing in both Standard and Directed Mode will be guided through this process, but for reference, we will go through these steps below:
Step #1: Investigate the Server Room & Find T.E.D.D.'s Head
Start by earning 1,250 Essence and opening the Server Room in the southeastern corner of the Janus Towers Plaza. Once inside, melee the grate on the floor and collect T.E.D.D.'s Head. After collecting the head, head to Ol' Tessie just outside the Server Room. Interact with Ol' Tessie to install T.E.D.D.'s Head onto the vehicle, allowing it to be driven.
Step #2: Drive to Vandorn Farm & Restore Power
Next, jump into Ol' Tessie and drive it to Vandorn Farm by following the path after smashing through the wooden barricade in the starting area. Once at Vandorn Farm, on the western side of the POI, head to the Power Pump and clear the infestation by destroying all the Cysts within 30 seconds. If you fail this step, you will need to wait until the next round to try again.
After all the Cysts have been destroyed, head to the barn and flip the power switch on the top floor to restore power to Vandorn Farm.
Step #3: Drive to Ashwood & Restore Power
Now that you’ve restored power at Vandorn Farm, head to Ashwood and repeat the same steps. Drive to Ashwood using the path leading out of Vandorn Farm. Once there, head to the left after entering Ashwood, go up the ascender, and open the first locked door for 1,000 Essence, then the second door just past it for 1,750 Essence.
From here, players will reach a bridge where they need to clear the infestation from another Power Pump by destroying the surrounding Cysts within 30 seconds. Just like before, if you fail this step, you’ll need to try again in the next round. Once complete, flip the power switch located just past the Power Pump to restore power.
Step #4: Drive Ol' Tessie to the Garage & Install the Pack-a-Punch Machine
Now that the power has been restored, a garage just ahead of the main entrance to Ashwood will open. Head back down the ascender you used to reach the Ashwood Bridge and drive Ol' Tessie into the garage. Inside, you’ll find a Vehicle Upgrade Station that allows you to install the Pack-a-Punch Machine onto Ol' Tessie by interacting with it. This will also be needed for all future Ol' Tessie upgrades that you find.
Doing so transforms Ol' Tessie’s exhaust into a Pack-a-Punch Machine, letting players take it with them anywhere they go. When you want to upgrade your weapons, simply head to the back of Ol' Tessie to do so.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Released
- November 14, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Franchise
- Call of Duty, Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
