Reaching the rocket launch sequence in Ashes of the Damned is one of the most stressful moments in Call of Duty:Black Ops 7 Zombies. By the time players arrive at the Zarya Cosmodrome, resources are low, zombies are relentless, and the game suddenly throws a symbol-based logic puzzle into the mix. For many squads, this step ends promising runs simply because the mechanics aren’t immediately obvious.
While the puzzle appears chaotic at first glance, it is actually governed by a strict and repeatable system. Once you understand how the symbols translate and how the terminal inputs work, the rocket launch becomes straightforward every time. This guide walks through all required setup steps and explains exactly how to decode and complete the rocket puzzle without wasting rounds or risking a wipe.
You cannot access the rocket puzzle immediately. Several major easter egg steps must be completed beforehand.
Start by obtaining the Necrofluid Gauntlet, then collect all Serum components scattered throughout the map and complete the full Serum synthesis puzzle. Once the Serum step is finished, locate all three road keys found along the outbound routes from Ashwood and deliver them to their required locations.
After completing these objectives, you’ll unlock the DG-2 Turret Barrel upgrade for Ol’ Tessie. Install the upgrade, then use it to shoot the floating clock tower in Ashwood. When the tower begins glowing, fire the Necrofluid Gauntlet at it and immediately reload. If performed correctly, the gauntlet will turn spectral and emit a purple glow, indicating it has been successfully charged.
With the charged gauntlet ready, travel to the Zarya Cosmodrome. You can either drive Ol’ Tessie southeast from Ashwood or use the Jump Pad near Double Tap Root Beer to reach the area faster.
Once inside the Cosmodrome, locate the two high-speed rotating array towers positioned to the northwest and northeast. Shoot one of them with the charged gauntlet to slow its rotation. Then return to Ashwood, recharge the gauntlet at the clock tower, and repeat the process for the second array. Both arrays must be slowed before the rocket puzzle becomes accessible.
How the Rocket Launch Puzzle Works
After both arrays are disabled, head into the Control Room at the Zarya Cosmodrome, located near the Wisp Tea machine. On the northern wall, you’ll see two display screens cycling through six unfamiliar symbols.
Although the symbols look random, they always translate into one of four predetermined words. The symbols change every match, which is what confuses players, but the final answers never do.
The symbols use a Pigpen cipher, meaning each icon corresponds to a specific letter. Once translated into letters, each letter must then be converted into a number using a zero-based alphabet system:
A = 00
B = 01
C = 02
…
Z = 25
After decoding the word, turn around and locate the six computer terminals on the northwest side of the Control Room. Each terminal rapidly cycles through numbers. Shoot the red button on each terminal to lock in a value, entering the sequence from left to right.
For example, if the translated word is ROCKET, you would input:
R = 17
O = 14
C = 02
K = 10
E = 04
T = 19
Each terminal must be stopped on the correct number in order.
Avoiding Failed Inputs and Lost Rounds
Entering an incorrect number will immediately fail the launch attempt. When this happens, you must wait until the next round to try again—and worse, the array towers must be recharged once more. With nonstop zombie spawns in the Cosmodrome, repeating this process can quickly spiral into a run-ending mistake.
This is why memorizing the four possible solutions ahead of time is so important. Many experienced players practice this step in Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies to remove the pressure and fully learn the sequence flow. Some even choose to buy Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies specifically to drill easter egg steps like this without risking real matches.
When the correct six-number sequence is entered, the puzzle completes instantly. Alarms shut down, zombies despawn, and the rocket ignites before blasting off into the sky. This confirms successful completion of the rocket launch step and clears the way to continue the Ashes of the Damned main quest.
Despite its intimidating presentation, the rocket puzzle is entirely predictable once you understand the cipher and number conversion system. With proper preparation and fast execution, this step becomes one of the simplest parts of the easter egg rather than a run-ending obstacle.
Master this puzzle, and you’ll be one step closer to fully upgrading Ol’ Tessie and completing one of the most challenging Zombies quests Black Ops 7 has to offer.Practice better. Progress faster. Dominate smarter—with MMOexp CoD Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies for sale.
