The Ashes of the Damned main easter egg throws some genuinely tricky puzzles at you, and the Cosmodrome rocket launch sequence is one that trips up a lot of players. This step involves decoding symbols, understanding number sequences, and executing everything in the right order—all while fighting off hordes of zombies.
I’ve run through this easter egg multiple times now, and while the rocket puzzle seemed overwhelming at first, it’s actually pretty straightforward once you understand the system. The randomized element means you can’t just memorize one solution, but the good news is that there are only four possible outcomes. Let me break down everything you need to know to get that rocket airborne.
Prerequisites: What You Need Before Starting
Before you can even attempt the rocket launch, you’ll need to complete several earlier steps in the Ashes of the Damned walkthrough. Here’s what’s required:
- Necrofluid Gauntlet: This wonder weapon is essential for charging the spectral shot
- DG-2 Turret Barrel upgrade for Ol’ Tessie: You’ll need to complete the Serum puzzle and collect three keys to unlock this upgrade (check our Ol’ Tessie upgrades guide for details)
- Access to Zarya Cosmodrome: You should already have this unlocked through natural progression
If you’re still working through the basics, our zombies beginner tips can help you get up to speed.
Step 1: Charging Your Necrofluid Gauntlet
With the DG-2 Turret Barrel equipped on Ol’ Tessie, head to Ashwood and look for the floating clock tower. Here’s the process:
- Shoot the clock tower with Ol’ Tessie’s DG-2 Turret Barrel – The clock will activate and start glowing with energy
- Switch to your Necrofluid Gauntlet and shoot the glowing clock tower
- Reload your Necrofluid Gauntlet immediately after shooting
- Your weapon should now have a spectral purple glow – this indicates it’s charged
Pro tip: The spectral charge only lasts for one shot, so you’ll need to return to Ashwood multiple times during this step. Plan your route efficiently to minimize downtime.
Step 2: Slowing Down the Array Towers
Now head to the Zarya Cosmodrome. You can get there two ways:
- Drive Ol’ Tessie southeast from Ashwood
- Use the Jump Pad near the Double Tap Root Beer perk location (faster option)
Once you arrive, look for two large array towers—one to the northwest and one to the northeast. They’ll be spinning rapidly. Here’s what to do:
- Shoot the first array tower with your charged Necrofluid Gauntlet – It should slow down significantly
- Return to Ashwood and recharge your Necrofluid Gauntlet using the clock tower again
- Go back to Zarya Cosmodrome and shoot the second array tower
Both towers need to be slowed before you can proceed. This back-and-forth can feel tedious, especially with zombies constantly spawning, so consider using good training spots to manage the horde while you work.
Step 3: Decoding the Launch Sequence
Head into the Control Room in Zarya Cosmodrome (the room where Wisp Tea perk is located). On the north wall, you’ll see two screens displaying six unique symbols. These symbols represent one of four possible words using the Pigpen cipher.
Symbol Translation Chart
Here are all four possible combinations you might encounter:
| Symbol Pattern | Word | Number Sequence |
|---|---|---|
| FE-LU-□ | ROCKET | 17-14-02-10-10-04-19 |
| LJ-□-LN | LAUNCH | 11-00-20-13-02-07 |
| Y□-J|- | WEAPON | 22-04-00-15-14-14 |
| □□-”|”-□ | ENGINE | 04-13-06-08-13-04 |
The system works by converting each letter to a number, where A=00, B=01, C=02, and so on up to Z=25. For example, if your symbols spell “ROCKET,” the letter R is the 18th letter of the alphabet, which translates to 17 (since we start counting at 00).
Important: Take a screenshot of the symbols on your screen or write them down. You’ll need to reference this information in the next step.
Step 4: Inputting the Launch Codes
On the northwest side of the Control Room, you’ll find six computer terminals arranged in a row. Each terminal displays rapidly cycling numbers, and each one has a red button you can shoot.
Your goal is to shoot each terminal’s red button when the correct number appears, working from left to right to spell out your word:
- Identify your word using the symbol chart above
- Match each terminal to the corresponding number in your sequence
- Shoot the red button on each terminal when your target number appears
- Work left to right through all six terminals
Example: If Your Symbols Show “LAUNCH”
Your number sequence would be: 11-00-20-13-02-07
- Terminal 1: Shoot when it shows 11 (L)
- Terminal 2: Shoot when it shows 00 (A)
- Terminal 3: Shoot when it shows 20 (U)
- Terminal 4: Shoot when it shows 13 (N)
- Terminal 5: Shoot when it shows 02 (C)
- Terminal 6: Shoot when it shows 07 (H)
Timing tip: The numbers cycle fairly quickly, but not so fast that it’s impossible. Stay calm, focus on one terminal at a time, and don’t rush. If you miss a number, just wait for it to come around again before shooting.
What Happens If You Mess Up?
If you input the wrong sequence, you’ll need to restart the entire process in the next round. This includes:
- Recharging the Necrofluid Gauntlet at the clock tower
- Shooting both array towers again
- Re-entering the correct number sequence
This can be frustrating, especially on higher rounds when zombies are more aggressive. Take your time with the terminals—accuracy is more important than speed here.
Success! The Rocket Launches
When you’ve input all six numbers correctly, you’ll know immediately:
- All zombies on the map will despawn (giving you a brief moment of peace)
- The rocket will launch dramatically into the sky
- You can proceed to the next step of the main easter egg
Honestly, watching that rocket take off after all the work feels pretty satisfying, especially if you’ve had to retry the sequence a few times.
Additional Tips for This Step
From my experience running this easter egg, here are some extra strategies that make this step smoother:
- Use a top-tier weapon to manage zombies while you’re running between locations
- Grab all available perks before attempting this—Speed Cola and Quick Revive are especially helpful (see our free perks guide)
- Communicate clearly if you’re playing co-op—assign one player to handle zombies while another works on the puzzle
- Pack-a-Punch your weapons beforehand at the Pack-a-Punch machine to make zombie management easier
- Consider setting up custom wall buys near the Cosmodrome for quick ammo refills
Ending with the lines
The Cosmodrome rocket launch is one of those puzzles that seems complicated until you understand the underlying system. Once you know how the Pigpen cipher works and have the number sequences memorized (or bookmarked on this page), it becomes a manageable step rather than a frustrating roadblock.
The randomized nature means you can’t just follow the same pattern every time, which actually keeps things interesting on repeat playthroughs. Just remember to stay patient with the terminal inputs—one wrong number means starting over, and nobody wants to redo those array towers.
For more help with Black Ops 7 Zombies, check out our complete level unlocks guide and our best field upgrades tier list. Good luck with the rest of the easter egg!
Useful Resources
- Official Call of Duty Site: https://www.callofduty.com/blackops7
- Black Ops 7 Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_of_Duty:_Black_Ops_7
- Community Discussion: https://www.reddit.com/r/CODBlackOps7/
- Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/codcommunity
