Overview
This summary outlines the complete Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies storyline, covering its mythological origins, key characters, major events, and how everything leads into Black Ops 6. The narrative spans multiple universes, timelines, and generations, revealing how ancient cosmic conflicts intertwine with historical events and shape the zombie outbreaks throughout the series.
Cosmos and Origins
- The Ether existed first, inhabited by godlike Keepers led by the Shadowman and Dr. Monty.
- Celestial artifacts like the summoning key, elemental shards, the Vril device, and the Kronorium hold immense power.
- The Keepers discovered the Dark Ether, a corrupted mirror realm moving at 30x normal time, which mutated some Keepers into Apothicons.
- The Apothicons, led by the Shadowman, waged war but were banished to the Dark Ether after losing.
Early Earth and Element 115
- Apothicons sent Element 115 meteors to Earth, sparking conflict and eventually opening the gateway back to Agartha.
- The Great War saw humans and Keepers defeat them; four humans known as Primis wielded special staves and became legendary.
- A mysterious device called the Agarthan Device requires rare components, setting up future quests.
World War II to Moonbase Events
- WWII nations discovered and weaponized Element 115, leading German scientists (Maxis, Richtofen) to accidental zombie creation.
- Richtofen went mad from 115 exposure; Samantha Maxis entered the MPD on the Moon, gaining control of zombies.
- Richtofen, brutalized by his own experiments, manipulated events to seize power, causing global catastrophe with Earth's destruction.
Multiverse and Time Loops
- Groups like Primis, Ultimis, and Victis repeatedly battle zombies across timelines, manipulated by Dr. Monty and the Shadowman.
- Characters absorb alternate versions’ souls, break and reset time loops, and engage in cyclic universe-rebooting events.
- Dr. Monty seeks to create a perfect world, while the Shadowman and Apothicons continually attempt to corrupt reality.
- Blood vials and soul links trap characters in endless cycles until sacrificial actions finally collapse the cycle.
Dark Aether and Vanguard Timeline
- Vanguard introduces Elder Gods and the Dark Ether wars, with artifacts granting powers to humans and gods seeking dominion.
- A new era unfolds without the old Keepers/Apothicon war, focusing on WWII, the Cold War, and new outbreaks.
- Key actors like Gabriel Kraft and Von List expand the connection to modern zombies lore.
Cold War to Modern Day Outbreaks
- Russian Omega Group and US Requiem battle over access to Dark Ether, artifacts, and containment of zombie outbreaks.
- Samantha Maxis, a survivor of universe resets, assists in fighting outbreaks, regaining lost powers and new allies.
- Betrayals and power struggles between Omega, Requiem, and dark ether entities dictate the fate of the world.
Project Janus and New Characters
- The true director of Requiem is revealed as Edward Richtofen, now called Eddie, one of the last pre-reset survivors.
- Legacy characters are arrested or killed; new faces like AA Jansen (daughter of Samantha Maxis and Ren), Miller, and Maya join the narrative.
- AA's powers and lineage make her central to new conflicts and cosmic threats.
Recent Events Leading Into Black Ops 6
- AA battles the Entity, her dark reflection, and learns about her unique heritage and purpose.
- Liberty Falls and Terminus Island are core settings for new outbreaks and missions against evolving zombie threats.
- Richtofen and Samantha Maxis’s fates intertwine again as breaches across dimensions escalate.
- The storyline sets up new mysteries and threats for players to face in Black Ops 6.