Call of Duty Vanguard Zombies: Release Date, Der Anfang Map, Easter Egg Leaks, and More


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Ever since the Zombies mode made its debut in Call of Duty: World at War, the survival mode has gained immense popularity from within the community. Since its debut, Zombies has frequently appeared alongside the single-player campaign and multiplayer and thanks to Sledgehammer Games, the mode will be returning as part of Call of Duty: Vanguard, with Zombies pioneers Treyarch leading development.

With an all-new experience in the works, many are beginning to wonder what Treyarch has in store for the next chapter of the Zombies storyline. With that said, find absolutely everything you need to know about Vanguard's Zombies experience in our dedicated hub!

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Latest News

4 November 2021 - Der Anfang Intro

During the Vanguard showcase event, we were treated to the introduction of Der Anfang, revealing the backstory behind the Dark Aether entities and how Von List and Kortifex built their army of undead. Check it out below:

3 November 2021 - Weapon Tiers

Treyarch has reworked Weapon Tiers in Vanguard Zombies, making it very easy to tell whether a weapon has been through the Pack-a-Punch machine. The new Tiers range from white to orange.

2 November - New Perks

Even though Stamin-Up has already been spotted, Der Anfang will feature a range of new Perks complete with a range of abilities to help players fend off the undead. Find a full list of confirmed Vanguard Zombies Perks by clicking here.

1 November - Zombies Gameplay Leaked

With just four days until the launch of Vanguard, some players that have managed to get their hands on a physical copy of the game have managed to load into Zombies. One user has posted 20 minutes of gameplay from Der Anfang onto YouTube. To avoid any spoilers, we've not posted the video but the link can be found above if you want to see Vanguard Zombies in action.

29 October 2021 -

Within the Season 1 preview posted by Activision, the publisher revealed that a range of new updates to Zombies will be released on December 2nd. Exact details on what the updates entail have yet to be revealed but it's good to see Treyarch already having content available in the first season of post-launch content.

28 October 2021 -

With eight days until Vanguard launches across the world, Activision has announced the file sizes for the console versions of the game. Unlike previous releases, Vanguard will be significantly smaller, meaning your hard drive will have space for other games!

27 October 2021 -

With the events of the first Dark Aether story in the books, players will be battling a new enemy when Der Anfang makes its debut on November 5th. One demonic Dark Aether Entity has joined forces with a Nazi commander to create an army of undead, causing Task Force One to intervene.

26 October 2021 -

Fans of classic Zombies maps will have been quick to spot the presence of Shi No Numa within the reveal trailer for Der Anfang. The map that made its debut when World at War was released is one of the playable areas in the first chapter of a new Dark Aether storyline.

25 October 2021 -

With under two weeks until the release of Vanguard, players are wondering when the first round-based map will be released. Der Anfang is described as a mixture between round-based and Outbreak but fans of the classic Zombies experience are hoping more news about a more traditional map will be coming soon.

20 October 2021 -

With information about Der Anfang out in the open, many are beginning to wonder whether the new map will contain a main Easter Egg quest similar to the previous chapter of the Dark Aether storyline. With Treyarch at the helm, it's highly likely that there will be some kind of quest for players to complete shortly after Vanguard launches.

15 October 2021 -

Within one of the official screenshots for Der Anfang, eagle-eyed players have managed to spot the first Perk that will be available to use in the new map. In the background of the image below, you'll be able to see the Stamin-Up symbol underneath the demonic fountain.

14 October 2021 -

Activision has officially revealed the first look at Vanguard Zombies! Your mission: Stop the undead army with a new set of Dark Aether skills. Check out the trailer below, and yes, that is the Billie Eilish track 'bury a friend' you can hear (It's actually a Chris Avantgarde Remix, but still)

Vanguard Zombies Der Anfang Map

Contrary to previous rumours, the first map for Vanguard Zombies will be known as Der Anfang, a play area featuring a number of multiplayer maps and the return of Shi No Numa. Treyarch has also confirmed that Der Anfang will be the beginning of a brand-new story arc within the Dark Aether.

Vanguard Zombies Perks

Perks have been a staple of COD Zombies for several years, so it's no surprise to see them making a return in Der Anfang. Here are the first five Perks and the benefits they provide:

  • Fiendish Fortitude – Increases health.
  • Diabolical Damage – Increases critical damage.
  • Venomous Vigor – Boosts health regeneration speed.
  • Demonic Frenzy – Boosts reload speed.
  • Aethereal Haste – Boosts movement speed.

Vanguard Zombies Dark Aether Entities

Der Anfang will feature five artefacts that were created within the Dark Aether. Each one links to a Dark Aether entity which can provide useful upgrades when dealing with the undead. Here's a list of the entities:

  • Bellekar The Warlock
  • Inviktor The Destroyer
  • Norticus The Conqueror
  • Saraxis The Shadow

The fifth entity is Kortifex The Deathless who has joined forces with Oberführer Wolfram Von List, who has been gifted with the power of raising the undead. The other four entities are in revolt against Kortifex and will assist you by providing a range of powers that include Frost Blast and Ring of Fire.

Der Anfang Zombie Types

Der Anfang Zombie Types
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Alongside the usual group of undead trying to halt you in your tracks, there are two new Zombie types that you will encounter in Der Anfang. The first is known as the SturmKrieger and comes fully equipped with a rapid-fire machine gun in a bid to eliminate you and your squad.

The next is known as a Boom Schreier, which explodes when it gets within a certain distance, dealing a huge amount of damage to anyone in close proximity.

Der Anfang Wonder Weapons

Zombies and Wonder Weapons go hand in hand. Within the in-depth trailer, we were able to spot some kind of sword capable of dealing incredible damage but exact details have yet to be revealed. When they are, we will update this article with all the latest intel.

Altar of Covenants

One of the new innovations arriving with Der Anfang is the Altar of Covenants. Once an objective has been completed, players can offer a Sacrificial Heart to the Altar and get their hands on a variety of randomised upgrades that include Brain Rot.

Vanguard Zombies Stamin Up Perk
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Vanguard Zombies Map Release Date

Players can jump straight into Der Anfang when Vanguard releases on November 5th.

As soon as more information is revealed, we will be sure to update this article with the latest intel on Vanguard Zombies. For more intel, check out everything you need to know about the Vanguard campaign and the game's multiplayer.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Call of Duty: Vanguard and Guides page.