Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Zombies continues the franchise’s tradition of hidden Easter eggs, and few are as impactful as the Permanent Double Points reward in Ashes of the Damned. This secret unlock transforms melee kills into a powerhouse of Essence, making early-game upgrades, Perks, and Pack-a-Punch progression much faster.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about unlocking Permanent Double Points, step by step, and provide tips for maximizing its potential in both standard and Cursed Mode matches.
What Are Permanent Double Points in Ashes of the Damned?
Permanent Double Points is a hidden Easter egg that doubles the Essence earned from melee kills for the entirety of a match. Unlike standard Double Points power-ups, this bonus:
·Does not expire
·Does not require activation
·Applies exclusively to melee kills
Once activated, players can leverage this bonus to:
·Max out Perks quickly
·Upgrade weapon rarity early
·Fully Pack-a-Punch multiple weapons
·Maintain full armor and field upgrades effortlessly
Even in Cursed Mode, where resources are scarce, Permanent Double Points can dramatically accelerate progression and give you a massive economic advantage.
Step-by-Step Guide to Unlock Permanent Double Points
Players who want to practice the mechanics safely or learn the route without pressure often test strategies in controlled environments like Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies, where movement, positioning, and melee timing can be refined before attempting the Easter egg in a live match.
Step 1: Acquire Death Perception
Death Perception is a Perk-a-Cola that allows you to see hidden interactables through walls critical tool for this Easter egg.
·Location: Barn at Vandorn Farm
·Cost: Standard Perk price
With Death Perception, you’ll be able to locate the glowing pawprints that trigger the melee Zursa encounter.
Step 2: Enter the Fog Roads
The next step involves venturing into one of the fog-covered roads connected to Ashwood:
·Crashed Rocket Road: Ashwood → Zarya Cosmodrome
·Orda Graveyard Road: Ashwood → Exit 115
A glowing bear pawprint will appear along one of these paths. Use Death Perception to spot it and interact.
Step 3: Follow the Bear Pawprints
Interact with the initial pawprint to activate a trail leading deeper into the fog:
·Follow the sequence carefully
·Missing a pawprint halts progression
Upon reaching the final pawprint, a cutscene triggers, transporting you to the melee Zursa miniboss arena.
Step 4: Prepare Inside the Boss Arena
When you arrive, your HUD may appear empty. This is a visual glitch. Immediately:
·Pick up all dropped weapons and equipment
·Ensure all Perks and Armor are restored
Failure to retrieve your gear will make the fight significantly harder.
Step 5: Defeat the Zursa Bear Using Melee Only
This is the crucial step. To succeed:
·Use only knife or melee weapon attacks
·Avoid shooting, explosives, or other damage sources
·Armor and Perks can be used for defense, but damage must be melee-only
Once defeated, the Zursa bear explodes, dropping a black orb into a nearby chest.
Step 6: Claim the Claw Talisman
Interact with the chest to acquire the Claw Talisman, which grants:
·Permanent Double Points for melee kills
·A bonus that lasts for the entire match
·No cooldown or activation needed
From this point forward, every melee elimination generates massive amounts of Essence, allowing you to snowball upgrades efficiently.
Best Strategies for Using Permanent Double Points
To maximize your earnings:
1. Early Round Melee Focus: Clear low rounds with melee weapons to generate exponential Essence.
2. Melee-Boosting Perks: Combine with perks that increase melee damage for faster kills.
3. Early Pack-a-Punch: Use the extra points to unlock Pack-a-Punch and higher weapon rarities quickly.
4. Cursed Mode Advantage: Offset difficulty spikes by maintaining consistent resource generation.
Why Permanent Double Points Is a Game-Changer
Permanent Double Points is one of the strongest hidden rewards in Ashes of the Damned, giving players near-infinite Essence potential for the remainder of the match. The benefits include:
·Accelerated progression through the Pack-a-Punch system
·Rapid Perk maxing for survivability
·Increased weapon rarity upgrades early, making mid- and late-game rounds much easier
·Total control over in-match economy for both standard and Cursed Modes
Completing this Easter egg also showcases mastery over Ashes of the Damned and is a must-do objective for players aiming for competitive efficiency.
Final Thoughts
Unlocking Permanent Double Points in Ashes of the Damned gives Black Ops 7 Zombies players an unparalleled edge. While the melee-only Zursa fight requires skill and precision, the reward-continuous double Essence from every melee kill is unmatched.
Whether you’re farming early rounds, rushing Pack-a-Punch, or tackling Cursed Mode challenges, the Claw Talisman is an essential tool. Practicing the steps in Bot Lobbies or choosing to buy CoD Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies can save time, reduce frustration, and ensure you complete this powerful Easter egg.
