Is Tombstone Soda in Black Ops 3 Zombies? A Deep Dive

The short answer is no, the Tombstone Soda Perk-a-Cola is not directly available in the Zombies mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. While the perk had its run in previous iterations, particularly Black Ops 2, it didn’t make the cut for the Perk-a-Cola lineup in BO3’s undead fray. However, its spirit, in a way, lives on through other mechanics and strategic approaches players adopt in the game.

Let’s delve into why this perk isn’t present, what alternatives exist, and how the overall zombie experience in Black Ops 3 compares to its predecessors concerning player survivability and strategy.

Understanding Tombstone’s Legacy

Before exploring its absence, let’s remember what Tombstone Soda did in Black Ops 2. For a cost of 2000 points, this perk essentially gave you a second chance upon death. When downed, you would drop a tombstone at your location. If your teammates survived the round, you could retrieve your tombstone at the start of the next round to regain all your perks except Tombstone itself and the weapon you were holding when you went down.

This perk offered a safety net, allowing players to recover from mistakes and keep their hard-earned perks without a complete reset. It was a popular choice for solo players or those attempting high-round strategies where losing perks could be catastrophic.

Why No Tombstone in Black Ops 3?

There are several potential reasons why Tombstone didn’t return in Black Ops 3:

• Perk Overload: Black Ops 3 Zombies introduced new and powerful perks alongside returning favorites. Adding Tombstone could have unbalanced the perk selection and made strategic choices less meaningful. The developers likely aimed for a curated perk list that encouraged diverse playstyles.
• Map Design and Difficulty: Black Ops 3 Zombies maps, particularly those included with the Zombies Chronicles DLC, often featured intricate layouts, challenging enemy spawns, and complex Easter Egg quests. These maps already presented significant challenges, and Tombstone might have made them too forgiving.
• Gobblegums: Black Ops 3 introduced Gobblegums, consumable items that provide temporary buffs and abilities. Some Gobblegums, like “Near Death Experience,” offered similar benefits to Tombstone, allowing players to survive downs or escape dangerous situations. These Gobblegums offered a wider range of tactical options than Tombstone alone.
• Gameplay Balance: The developers may have felt that Tombstone lowered the skill ceiling too much and that the recovery mechanic was too strong given the game’s other elements.

Alternatives to Tombstone in Black Ops 3

While Tombstone is absent, players aren’t without options to mitigate the consequences of death in Black Ops 3 Zombies. Here are some strategies and mechanics that provide a similar level of survivability:

• Quick Revive: This classic perk remains a staple for both solo and co-op play. In solo mode, it allows you to revive yourself after being downed (up to three times), and in co-op, it speeds up the revival process for your teammates.
• Self-Revive Gobblegums: As mentioned, Gobblegums like “Near Death Experience” provide temporary invincibility and self-revive capabilities. Other Gobblegums can instantly revive downed teammates or teleport you out of danger.
• Strategic Play: Careful map awareness, effective weapon choices, and coordinated teamwork are crucial for survival in Black Ops 3 Zombies. Avoiding risky situations and prioritizing crowd control can prevent downs in the first place.
• Weapon Upgrades: Utilizing the Pack-a-Punch machine to upgrade weapons is essential for high-round play. Upgraded weapons offer increased damage, larger magazine sizes, and special abilities that can significantly improve your survivability.
• Special Weapons: Each Black Ops 3 Zombies map features unique Special Weapons like the Apothicon Servant in Shadows of Evil or the Gauntlet of Siegfried in Der Eisendrache. These powerful weapons can clear hordes of zombies quickly and provide a significant advantage in tough situations.

The Black Ops 3 Zombies Experience

Black Ops 3 Zombies is known for its intricate maps, complex storylines, and challenging gameplay. While the absence of Tombstone might disappoint some players, it encourages a more strategic and skillful approach to survival. The game’s mechanics promote teamwork, resource management, and careful planning, making it a rewarding experience for dedicated zombie slayers.

The Black Ops 3 zombies mode also promotes learning by discovery, encouraging the use of wikis, the Games Learning Society, and social media. In fact, this is a great place to learn more: GamesLearningSociety.org.

Ultimately, the absence of Tombstone in Black Ops 3 does not diminish the overall quality or enjoyment of the Zombies mode. Instead, it encourages players to adapt, experiment, and master the game’s diverse mechanics to achieve success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Zombies in Black Ops 3:

1. What are the best perks in Black Ops 3 Zombies?

The “best” perks are subjective and depend on your playstyle, but popular choices include Juggernog, Quick Revive, Widow’s Wine, Double Tap Root Beer 2.0, and Speed Cola.

2. How do I unlock Gobblegums in Black Ops 3?

Gobblegums are unlocked by spending Liquid Divinium in the Gobblegum machine. Liquid Divinium is earned by spending points in-game and completing certain objectives.

3. What is the Pack-a-Punch machine, and how do I use it?

The Pack-a-Punch machine upgrades your weapons, increasing their damage, magazine size, and adding special abilities. Its location varies by map and often requires completing a specific objective to unlock it.

4. What are the best weapons to Pack-a-Punch?

Again, this depends on personal preference, but some popular choices include the Ray Gun, the Apothicon Servant (Shadows of Evil), the Thundergun (various maps), and any high-damage assault rifle or LMG.

5. How do I complete the Easter Egg on Shadows of Evil?

The Shadows of Evil Easter Egg involves a complex series of steps, including transforming into the Beast, completing rituals, and defeating the Shadowman. Numerous guides and videos are available online to assist you.

6. What is the significance of the “Giant” map?

The “Giant” map is a remake of Der Riese from previous Call of Duty games. It serves as a bridge between the old and new Zombies storylines and introduces the Gobblegum mechanic.

7. How do I get the Apothicon Servant on Shadows of Evil?

The Apothicon Servant is obtained by completing a specific series of steps involving the Margwa, the Pack-a-Punch machine, and certain ritual items.

8. What are the differences between the base Black Ops 3 Zombies maps and the Zombies Chronicles maps?

The Zombies Chronicles maps are remasters of classic Zombies maps from previous Call of Duty games. They feature updated graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, and sometimes slight alterations to the map layouts.

9. How do I unlock all the maps in Black Ops 3 Zombies?

The base game includes Shadows of Evil and The Giant. Other maps, such as Der Eisendrache, Zetsubou No Shima, Gorod Krovi, and Revelations, are available as part of the DLC season pass or can be purchased individually.

10. What is the best strategy for surviving high rounds in Black Ops 3 Zombies?

Effective strategies include training zombies in large circles, utilizing powerful weapons, mastering the map layout, and coordinating with teammates. Perks like Juggernog and Quick Revive are also essential for high-round survival.

11. What is Widow’s Wine, and what does it do?

Widow’s Wine is a perk that replaces your grenades with sticky webs. When zombies come into contact with the webs, they are slowed down and can be easily dispatched. The perk also grants you a chance to create a web explosion when hit by a zombie.

12. What is Double Tap Root Beer 2.0?

Double Tap Root Beer 2.0 increases the fire rate of your weapons and adds a small damage boost. It’s a valuable perk for increasing your damage output against hordes of zombies.

13. How does the point system work in Black Ops 3 Zombies?

You earn points by damaging and killing zombies, repairing barriers, and reviving teammates. Points are used to purchase weapons, perks, and open doors to new areas of the map.

14. What are the different types of zombies in Black Ops 3?

Black Ops 3 Zombies features a variety of zombie types, including regular zombies, crawlers, hellhounds, Margwas (Shadows of Evil), and elemental zombies (Der Eisendrache).

15. Is there cross-platform play in Black Ops 3 Zombies?

Unfortunately, no, Black Ops 3 Zombies does not support cross-platform play. You can only play with others on the same platform as you.