Dark Aether

Lore & Background

The Dark Aether storyline in Vanguard is explicitly considered an expansion of the narrative introduced in Black Ops Cold War. It functions as a prequel, setting the stage for the events that follow. The mode integrates classic Zombies gameplay items such as perks and the Pack-a-Punch machine alongside new elements like Essence and Salvage currencies. A defining feature is the Altar of Covenants, which permits players to purchase randomized buffs each round, fostering variety in combat builds. Post-launch updates expanded this lore significantly; a main quest for story progression was added to "Der Anfang", introducing additional objectives and new Covenants. The narrative arc continued into February 2022 with the addition of the map "Terra Maledicta" during Season 2. By April 2022, the story expanded further with classic round-based maps, beginning with a remake of "Shi no Numa" from Call of Duty: World at War in Season 4.

In Their Own Story

The narrative begins on the map "Der Anfang", which combines round-based survival with the objective-based gameplay of Outbreak and Onslaught. Here, players engage with field upgrades powered by the Dark Aether while surviving waves of enemies. The story progression was unlocked through post-launch updates that added a main quest to this initial location. In February 2022, Season 2 introduced "Terra Maledicta", an additional map that continued the expansion of the Dark Aether saga within Vanguard. The narrative reached its conclusion for the mode with the release of the second round-based map, "The Archon", in Season 5. This final map marked the end of new story content for the Zombies mode in Vanguard. Throughout these updates, the game maintained connections to Cold War elements, ensuring a cohesive timeline that leads directly into the events of the subsequent title.

Reader's Guide

Players enter the Dark Aether narrative through "Der Anfang", utilizing mechanics inherited from Black Ops Cold War such as Essence and Salvage currencies. To engage with the story, players must complete specific objectives added in post-launch updates, including a main quest line for progression on this map. The Altar of Covenants is essential for adapting to these challenges, offering randomized buffs every round. Season 2 brought "Terra Maledicta", providing new environments and objectives within the same narrative framework. For those seeking classic gameplay experiences, the introduction of round-based maps in April 2022 offered a return to traditional survival formats. The first of these was "Shi no Numa" (Season 4), followed by "The Archon" in Season 5. Completing these maps allows players to experience the full scope of Vanguard's contribution to the Dark Aether saga, which concludes with the final map release.

Did You Know?

• The Dark Aether mode in Vanguard acts as a prologue to the story of Black Ops Cold War.
• The map "Der Anfang" combines round-based survival with objective-based gameplay from Outbreak and Onslaught.
• Season 2 introduced the map "Terra Maledicta" in February 2022.
• The final map released for Vanguard Zombies was "The Archon", which came out in Season 5.