Black Ops 7 Zombies: Complete Exfil Guide – Leave the Dark Aether Like a Pro

How to Successfully Exfil in Black Ops 7 Zombies

Remember the old days when your only options in Zombies were fight until you drop or rage-quit? Yeah, those days are thankfully behind us. Black Ops 7 brings back the Exfil system, giving you a proper way to end your run without becoming zombie chow or hitting that embarrassing disconnect button.

If you’re jumping into Ashes of the Damned and want to know how to make a clean getaway from the Dark Aether, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s break down everything you need to know about exfilling successfully.

Understanding the Exfil System: When Can You Leave?

Here’s the deal with Exfil timing – you can’t just bounce whenever you feel like it. The system operates on a schedule:

• First opportunity: Round 11
• Subsequent chances: Every 5 rounds after (Round 16, 21, 26, etc.)
• Time window: A few minutes per round before the phone booth goes inactive

When an Exfil becomes available, you’ll get an on-screen notification. Don’t sleep on it – those telephone booths won’t stay active forever. Miss your window, and you’re stuck waiting another five rounds.

Pro tip: Start preparing for your Exfil one round early. Stock up on ammo, grab those essential perks, and position yourself near your preferred extraction point. Nothing worse than scrambling across the map while dodging zombies only to miss the activation window.

All Telephone Booth Locations in Ashes of the Damned

There are exactly three spots where you can call for extraction in Ashes of the Damned:

1. Janus Towers Plaza

This central location offers decent cover and multiple escape routes if things go sideways before you activate the Exfil.

2. Blackwater Lodge

A bit more isolated but manageable if you’ve been setting up your loadout properly throughout the match.

3. Ashwood

Another solid option with nearby wall buy locations for last-minute ammo grabs.

My personal recommendation? Scout these locations early in your run and pick the one closest to where you’ve been training zombies. Familiarity with the terrain can make or break your extraction.

The Exfil Boss Fight: Defeating the HVT

Once you interact with the telephone booth and your squad votes to extract (or if you’re solo), the real challenge begins. The game spawns a High-Value Target (HVT) – essentially a roided-out Zursa zombie bear that means business.

What You’re Up Against

• Enemy type: Enhanced Zursa (the Elite Enemy of Ashes of the Damned)
• Time limit: 2 minutes to eliminate it
• Failure consequence: Instant game over
• Additional spawns: Regular zombies appear but aren’t required kills

Essential Preparation Checklist

To give yourself the best shot at success, make sure you have:

• ✅ Pack-a-Punched weapons – This is non-negotiable. Check out the Pack-a-Punch locations guide if you haven’t upgraded yet
• ✅ Full perk loadout – Invest in the best perk augments for maximum survivability
• ✅ Armor plates – Grab the highest tier you can afford
• ✅ Scorestreaks ready – Don’t be shy about using them here
• ✅ Field upgrades charged – Optimal field upgrade augments can save your life
• ✅ Strong ammo mods equipped – Best ammo mod augments deal devastating damage

Combat Strategy

Here’s what works best against the HVT:

Focus fire on the boss only. Those regular zombies spawning around you? Ignore them unless they’re physically blocking your movement. Your entire two-minute window needs to be dedicated to burning down that Zursa bear.

Keep moving. This isn’t a stand-and-shoot situation. Circle-strafe, use the environment for cover, and don’t let the HVT corner you. The bear hits hard, and one mistake can end your run.

Save your wonder weapons or best DPS guns for this moment. If you’ve been hoarding that sniper loadout for critical shots, now’s the time to use it.

If you’re experiencing lag or stuttering issues during this crucial fight, you’ll want to address those performance problems before attempting high-round Exfils.

Completing Your Extraction

Once the HVT drops (and celebrate that moment – you earned it), head back to the telephone booth. Interact with it to open the Portal to the Safe House, and you’ll receive the “Successful Exfil” screen.

This is your official victory lap. No death screen, no last stand, just a clean escape from the Dark Aether.

Why Bother Exfilling? The Benefits Explained

Some players wonder if Exfil is even worth the hassle. Here’s what you get:

XP Bonus

You’ll earn bonus experience for a successful extraction. It’s not game-changing amounts, but it’s respectable and adds up over time, especially if you’re grinding through prestige ranks or trying to unlock augments through research.

Potential Gobblegum Rewards

There’s speculation that successful Exfils can award Gobblegums, though this isn’t 100% confirmed. Either way, it doesn’t hurt your chances.

The Satisfaction Factor

Let’s be honest – there’s something incredibly satisfying about ending your Zombies run on your own terms rather than watching your character get overwhelmed. It’s a proper conclusion to your session.

Squad-Friendly Design

Here’s where Black Ops 7’s Exfil system really shines: individual players can extract while others stay.

This is huge for public matches or friend groups with different schedules. Need to log off for dinner while your squad wants to push for Round 50? No problem. Vote to Exfil, complete your extraction, and your teammates can keep fighting without you. No more awkward “I need to leave but don’t want to screw everyone over” moments.

Common Exfil Mistakes to Avoid

After watching countless failed extractions, here are the biggest mistakes players make:

Starting unprepared: Don’t initiate Exfil if you’re running on fumes. Low ammo, no armor, and weak weapons are a recipe for disaster.

Getting greedy: If you’re struggling on Round 16, don’t convince yourself you’ll be better prepared on Round 21. Sometimes the earlier Exfil is the smarter play.

Poor communication: In squad play, make sure everyone’s on the same page. The HVT hits harder with more players, so coordination matters.

Panicking during the fight: Two minutes feels short, but it’s enough time if you stay calm and focus your fire. Don’t waste ammo spray-and-praying at regular zombies.

Making Your Escape Count

The Exfil system in Black Ops 7 Zombies isn’t just a quality-of-life feature – it’s a legitimate endgame challenge that tests your preparation and combat skills. Whether you’re a Zombies beginner looking to secure your first successful extraction or a veteran grinding out those level unlocks, mastering the Exfil is essential.

Remember: there’s no shame in extracting at Round 11 or 16 if that’s your limit. The entire point is to survive on your terms. Build your skills, learn the maps, and gradually push for higher-round extractions as you get more comfortable with the system.

Now get out there, find those telephone booths, and show that HVT who’s boss. The Dark Aether can wait – you’ve got an escape to make.

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Have your own Exfil strategies or close-call stories? The community always loves hearing about clutch extractions and near-miss disasters. And if you’re still working on your overall Zombies game, don’t forget to check out our other guides to maximize your survivability in Ashes of the Damned.