Black Ops 7 Zombies: Upgrade Ol' Tessie in Ashes of the Damned
The hordes of the undead are relentless in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies, and the sprawling new map, Ashes of the Damned, presents a unique challenge. Navigating its treacherous, broken roads is a deadly affair, but thankfully, Treyarch has given operatives a powerful new tool: the Ol' Tessie Wonder Vehicle. This customizable truck is your key to survival, but in its initial state, it's little more than a heap of junk.
Getting Ol' Tessie running is just the beginning. To truly dominate the map and survive into the high rounds, you'll need to complete a full upgrade quest to transform this clunker into an unstoppable zombie-crushing machine. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, from finding the initial parts to installing the powerful Pack-a-Punch Core and unlocking its ultimate form.
How to Find and Repair Ol' Tessie
Before you can upgrade the truck, you first need to find it and get it running. Ol' Tessie can be found in a dilapidated garage at the center of the map, located in the "Dustbowl Downturn" district. It's marked on the map with a special vehicle icon after you've restored power to the area.
Upon finding it, you'll see that Ol' Tessie is in rough shape. You must find three key parts scattered around the Dustbowl Downturn to complete the initial repairs. While their exact locations can vary slightly each match, they are always within that district.
- Damaged Truck Battery: Look for this large battery connected to sparking cables. It is often found near one of the district's inactive power generators or inside a derelict auto-shop.
- Shredded Tire: You'll need to find a replacement tire. Check the back of pickup trucks or tire racks in the vicinity of the main garage.
- Leaky Gas Can: A red gas can is needed to fuel the engine. This part is typically located near the abandoned gas station on the edge of the district.
Once you have collected all three parts, return to Ol' Tessie in the garage. Interact with the prompts on the truck to install each component. After the final part is in place, the engine will roar to life, and Ol' Tessie will be ready for you and your squad to drive.
Activating the Pack-a-Punch Machine
The standard version of Ol' Tessie is useful for transportation, but its true potential is locked behind the main upgrade quest. This process requires the use of the map's Pack-a-Punch machine. Before you can proceed, your team must first turn on the power and assemble the Pack-a-Punch.
Activating the power in Ashes of the Damned involves flipping three separate generator switches located in the map's primary districts. Once all three are active, the central Pack-a-Punch machine parts will become accessible, allowing you to build it and begin upgrading your weapons and, eventually, your new Wonder Vehicle.
How to Fully Upgrade Ol' Tessie
With the power on and the Pack-a-Punch active, you can begin the main quest to transform Ol' Tessie. This multi-step process involves a unique item called the Pack-a-Punch Core and the map's powerful Necrofluid Wonder Weapon.
Step 1: Obtain the Pack-a-Punch Core
The Core is the key to the entire upgrade. To acquire it, you must use Ol' Tessie to run over a special, glowing "Anomalous Crystal" that spawns on one of the main roads after Round 10. Smashing the crystal with the truck will cause it to shatter, dropping the Pack-a-Punch Core. Pick it up to begin the next step.
Step 2: Install the Core in Ol' Tessie
Drive the truck back to the garage where you first found it. You will see a new interaction point on the truck's engine block. Place the Pack-a-Punch Core into the engine. The truck will shudder, and ethereal energy will begin to glow from under the hood, but it's not yet fully powered.
Step 3: Charge the Core with the Necrofluid Wonder Weapon
To energize the Core, you must infuse it with the strange liquid that powers the new Wonder Weapon. First, you must acquire the Necrofluid Condenser from the Mystery Box or by completing the "Unstable Mixture" side quest.
Once you have the Wonder Weapon, you must charge three conduits that will appear on the body of Ol' Tessie—one on the hood, and one on each side. To charge a conduit, you must shoot it with the Necrofluid Condenser. This will cause the conduit to glow intensely. While it's glowing, you must eliminate approximately 15 zombies within its immediate vicinity. The energy from the defeated zombies will be siphoned into the conduit. Repeat this process for all three conduits.
After the third conduit is charged, a massive energy pulse will erupt from the truck. Ol' Tessie is now fully upgraded and ready for war.
Ol' Tessie's Upgraded Abilities
A fully upgraded Ol' Tessie is a formidable asset for any squad. It gains a significant health boost and a host of new offensive and defensive capabilities.
- Aetherium Turret: A mounted Pack-a-Punched machine gun appears on the roof of the truck. Any player in the passenger seat can control this devastating, high-damage turret.
- Undead Plow: The front bumper is reinforced with jagged metal and Aetherium crystals, allowing it to instantly destroy normal zombies and deal massive damage to special and elite enemies on impact.
- Necro-Boost: The driver can now activate a temporary speed boost. This not only increases the truck's speed but also leaves behind a trail of Necrofluid that slows and damages any zombies that pass through it.
- Self-Repair System: The upgraded truck will now slowly regenerate its health over time when not taking damage, making it much more durable during intense fights.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can more than one player ride in Ol' Tessie?
A: Yes, Ol' Tessie is a full four-person squad vehicle. One player drives while the other three can ride as passengers, with one able to control the Aetherium Turret after the upgrade.
Q: What happens if Ol' Tessie is destroyed?
A: If the truck's health is depleted, it will explode. It will then respawn at its original garage location in the Dustbowl Downturn after a 90-second cooldown period. Note that if it was upgraded, it will respawn in its basic, un-upgraded state.
Q: Do I need to repair and upgrade the truck in every match?
A: Yes. Like all major quest steps in Zombies, the entire process of repairing and upgrading Ol' Tessie must be completed in each new game you start.