7 Shocking Secrets And Easter Eggs In Citadelle Des Morts (Black Ops 6 Zombies) - Updated 2025

The launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies introduced players to the grim, medieval fortress of Citadelle des Morts, a map absolutely brimming with dark secrets and complex Easter Eggs. This ancient French castle, whose name chillingly translates to "Citadel of the Dead," has quickly become a fan-favorite for its deep lore and challenging main quest. As of December 18, 2025, the community continues to uncover the smallest details and optimize the intricate steps required to complete its many hidden objectives, confirming its status as one of the most content-rich Zombies maps to date. This comprehensive guide breaks down the essential Easter Eggs, from the lengthy Main Quest to the crucial side activities that will help you survive the undead horde.

The developers at Treyarch have truly outdone themselves, weaving a narrative that ties into the broader *Black Ops 6* storyline, featuring key characters like Krafft and delving into the sinister history of the French Syndicate operating from the castle grounds. Mastering the map requires more than just surviving waves of Zombies; it demands understanding the mythology behind the four Elemental Swords and exploiting every hidden secret the map has to offer. Prepare to dive deep into the mysteries of Avalon’s oldest landmark and claim its powerful rewards.

The Main Quest: Unlocking the Citadelle's Darkest Secrets

The primary Easter Egg in Citadelle des Morts is a multi-step saga that serves as the map's main storyline quest, culminating in a challenging boss fight and a crucial cutscene for the *Black Ops 6* Zombies lore. This quest is a true test of teamwork, speed, and knowledge of the map's diverse mechanics.

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Key Steps of the Main Easter Egg

The Main Quest is an involved process that requires coordination and a significant amount of Essence (in-game currency) to unlock areas and activate devices. While the exact symbols and codes are randomized per game, the core objectives remain consistent:

• Initiation with Krafft: The quest begins by locating and interacting with the character Krafft, often found in a secure location on the map. He provides the initial objectives and lore context, setting the stage for the narrative.
• The Puzzle Phase: Players must solve a series of environmental or logic puzzles, which frequently involve activating mechanisms in the Knight Room, manipulating Light Symbols, or using specific Wonder Weapons or Ammunition Mods like Dead Wire in key locations.
• Collecting the Incantations and Pages: A crucial step involves retrieving multiple pages or Incantations scattered across the map. These items are often hidden behind mini-challenges, such as shooting a raven in the sewer or depositing orbs into three purple portals.
• The Elemental Sword Upgrades: The centerpiece of the mid-quest is acquiring and upgrading all four Elemental Swords. This is a mandatory step that requires significant preparation and is detailed in the next section.
• Final Ritual and Boss Fight: Once all preliminary steps are complete, the final ritual is initiated. This typically involves defending a location or interacting with a central device, leading directly into the map’s final confrontation. The boss fight is a high-stakes battle that requires players to utilize their upgraded weapons and swords effectively to survive and complete the main objective.

Completing this quest not only grants a permanent calling card and emblem but also provides a deeper understanding of the French Syndicate's operations and the dark, ancient power residing within the Citadel.

The Four Elemental Swords and Their Upgrades

No Easter Egg guide for Citadelle des Morts is complete without a deep dive into the four Elemental Swords. These powerful melee weapons are essential for the Main Quest and offer immense offensive power against the undead hordes.

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The base swords are acquired by completing specific challenges, but their true power is unlocked through a dedicated upgrade process, transforming them into the legendary Fire, Lightning, Dark/Void, and Light Swords.

Upgrading the Swords: A Detailed Overview

Each sword requires a unique, multi-step process to achieve its final, upgraded form. Mastery of these steps is vital for high-round success and Main Quest completion:

• The Fire Sword: The upgrade for the Fire Sword typically involves luring a specific type of zombie, such as the armored knights, to a designated fire-pit or brazier and killing them in the flames. This charges the sword's energy with the essence of the burning undead.
• The Lightning Sword: This upgrade is often tied to the map's electrical elements. Players must locate and charge multiple Lightning Rods across the map. A common method involves using the Elemental Pop Perk-a-Cola's electrical effect near the rods, or shooting them with a weapon equipped with the Dead Wire Ammunition Mod.
• The Dark/Void Sword: The path to the Dark Sword (sometimes referred to as the Void Sword) is usually the most mysterious. It often involves finding hidden symbols or glyphs in the darker, less-trafficked areas of the Citadelle, such as the sewers or underground crypts. A known step involves shooting a hidden horseshoe near the Deadshot Daiquiri machine with a specific weapon or mod to trigger a hidden event.
• The Light Sword: The Light Sword upgrade often involves a precision-based challenge, such as shooting a series of targets in a specific order or timing. It is associated with the more open, illuminated areas of the map and requires keen observation to solve the light-based puzzle.

Hidden Side Quests and Free Power-Ups

Beyond the epic Main Quest, Citadelle des Morts is packed with smaller, yet incredibly useful, side Easter Eggs and secrets. These are essential for gaining an early-game advantage, boosting your Essence count, and securing valuable free power-ups.

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The Wishing Well Easter Egg: Essence & Sharing

The Wishing Well is a key location for both lore and utility. It’s an excellent source of bonus Essence and even offers a unique mechanic for team play. The well is typically located near the Speed Cola machine, providing a quick, early-game objective.

• Free Points: The simplest interaction involves throwing a grenade—sometimes a cooked grenade is required—into the well. This action can instantly reward the player with a quick 1,000 to 2,000 bonus points, a significant boost in the early rounds.
• The Vermin Secret: During a special round, such as a dog round or a unique enemy wave, a Vermin (a special creature) may crawl out of the well. Throwing a grenade at this Vermin can yield a massive Essence reward, sometimes up to 10,000 points.
• Essence Sharing: The Wishing Well also serves as a mechanism for players to trade or share Essence with teammates, making it a vital strategic point for supporting a struggling player or funneling points to the designated Main Quest builder.

The Free Power-Up Locations

Mastering the free power-up secrets is a must for any high-round attempt. These challenges are quick, easy, and reward the player with valuable drops, including Max Ammo, Double Points, and even a free Fire Sale to clear the map of zombies and open up Perk-a-Cola machines.

The locations are often subtle and require shooting a specific, hidden symbol or object:

• Double Points: One of the most common free power-ups is the Double Points drop. It is often hidden in plain sight, such as a "x2" symbol found inside a small, accessible building or shack near the map's perimeter. Shooting this symbol with any weapon will instantly spawn the power-up.
• Max Ammo/Fire Sale: Other free power-ups, including Max Ammo and Fire Sale, are tied to similar environmental triggers. These are typically small, unmarked symbols or objects hidden in the corners of major areas, like the castle’s courtyard or the initial spawn area. Finding all of them is necessary to trigger the free Fire Sale, which is critical for quick setup.

Citadelle des Morts stands as a testament to the depth of *Black Ops 6* Zombies. From the intricate steps of the Main Quest to the hidden utility of the Wishing Well and the essential free power-ups, the map offers a rewarding experience for players willing to delve into its dark, medieval heart. The continuous discovery of secrets ensures that the Citadel of the Dead will remain a challenging and engaging experience for months to come.