Hard Mode Dark Ops on Black Ops 7 Zombies: Ashes of the Damned isn’t the kind of thing you “try out” for fun. You commit to it. Before you even hit Ready Up, I’d treat it like a checklist run, the same way folks prep for a CoD BO7 Bot Lobby session where every little detail matters. This Dark Ops sits behind the Wicked tier, so if you haven’t already secured the three Tier 3 relics, you’re not even in the conversation.



Unlock Requirements
You need The Bus, The Dragon, and the Blood Vials Relic, and you’ve got to equip all three at once. Don’t bring one “just in case.” All three, or the challenge won’t trigger. People mess this up more than they’ll admit, then wonder why the run feels normal.



What Changes in Hard Mode
The second you spawn, you’ll feel it. Your build’s basically been gutted. Most augments you lean on? Not happening. And the zombies aren’t politely lining up to die either, because they’ve got nasty health regen. If you’re not finishing kills cleanly, you’re burning ammo and time while they patch themselves back up.



Early-Round Priorities
Start with the boring stuff, fast: get power moving at Blackwater Lake and Ashwood. Dragging your feet here is how runs die. Keep your route tight, keep your purchases sensible, and don’t chase side problems when the map is begging you to move forward.



Build the Tools That Matter
Your run really starts once you’re building toward Ol’ Tessie. Fully upgrade it, no half measures. While you’re at it, lock down the Necrofluid Gauntlet and craft the special serum in Yuri’s Lab. And yeah, Pack-a-Punch is non-negotiable. Walking into late steps underpowered is how you end up “saving” points you never get to spend.



Boss Fight Approach
Veytharion is a brick wall with anger issues. Solo is possible, but it’s rough, and it punishes every small mistake. Co-op makes it feel fairer: one player drives Ol’ Tessie aggressively and keeps the boss eating rams, another stays on the turret, and the rest focus on steady damage and clearing adds. When the beam phase shows up, don’t get cute. Move, reset, then re-engage.



Keep Your Nerves Steady
The run’s less about hero moments and more about not slipping. Call out armor breaks, rotate when someone’s low, and don’t panic-buy junk mid-step. If you’re chasing that calling card, treat every minute like it counts, because it does, and if you want a calmer path to practice your flow before the real attempt, buy BO7 Bot Lobby options can help you get reps in without the same pressure.

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