The Ultimate Solo Guide to Completing the Revelations Easter Egg in Call of Duty: Black Ops III

The first step isn’t a gunfight—it’s reconnaissance. Spawn at the main entrance, then sprint to the north wall and locate the three hidden consoles. Mark them mentally or with a quick screenshot. Each console powers a separate segment of the arena; missing one forces a restart later. While you’re at it, note the locations of ammo boxes and the single health station; solo runs run out of resources fast.

A handy trick is to throw a throwback grenade into each console’s line of sight. The explosion reveals the exact activation radius, preventing wasted attempts later. This upfront mapping shaves off at least five minutes of trial‑and‑error when you’re on a timer.

Once you’ve identified the consoles, head to the central hub and interact with the first power node. The node triggers a wave of zombie hordes that rush from the east corridor. Your goal is to hold the line while the node charges. Equip a rapid‑fire weapon—preferably the upgraded VMP with a Quickfire receiver—and keep the crowd at bay.

During this wave, the environment becomes hazardous: falling debris and electrified floors appear. Jump to the raised platforms whenever the floor flashes red; the damage can wipe out a solo player in seconds. After the node is fully powered, a short cinematic plays, and the next console lights up. Timing is key; the wave lasts exactly 45 seconds, so practice a quick reload and a single grenade toss to thin the crowd before the timer expires.

The second segment swaps raw combat for a brain‑teaser. You must retrieve three data cores hidden behind breakable walls. Each core requires a specific gobblegum to access: the Dark Ops Gobblegum for the first, the Firestorm for the second, and the Lightning for the third. If you’re avoiding gobblegums, bring a high‑damage weapon and shoot the walls until they crumble, but expect a longer completion time.

While you’re hunting cores, a secondary wave of zombies spawns from the south vents. Position yourself near the central column; it provides a temporary shield from the vent spawns. Use the Quick Revive to heal any missed shots, and keep an eye on the core countdown—each core must be collected within 30 seconds, or the arena resets. This phase typically adds 8‑10 minutes to a solo run.

The climax is a multi‑stage boss fight against the corrupted AI known as the “Revelation Core.” The arena is a circular platform with four rotating turrets that fire laser beams. Your strategy should revolve around turret control: destroy the nearest turret first, then use its exposed circuitry to hack the central console, temporarily disabling all laser fire.

When the core emerges, it alternates between melee swipes and ranged plasma blasts. Switch to your most powerful weapon—preferably a fully upgraded Ray Gun with a Quickdraw grip—and aim for the glowing weak spot on its chest. Each successful hit reduces its health bar by 12%; missing three consecutive shots triggers a shield phase that forces you to retreat to the outer ring for cover. A well‑timed Double Tap gobblegum can double your damage output, turning a 2‑minute encounter into a 90‑second sprint.

Solo players who follow this guide can finish the entire Easter egg in roughly 35‑45 minutes on Veteran difficulty. The breakdown looks like this: 5 minutes for mapping, 7 minutes for Phase One, 12‑15 minutes for Phase Two (depending on gobblegum usage), and 10‑13 minutes for the final boss. On higher difficulties, expect an additional 10‑15 minutes due to tougher zombie packs and faster boss attack patterns.

If you decide to go gobblegum‑free, add another 5‑7 minutes to Phase Two and a potential 3‑minute penalty during the boss phase, as you’ll need to rely on pure firepower rather than damage‑boosting consumables. Planning rest breaks between phases helps keep your focus sharp and prevents fatigue‑induced mistakes.

One frequent error is neglecting the ammo caches located behind the east wall. Solo runs deplete magazines quickly, and a missed cache forces you to scavenge from fallen zombies, which is both risky and time‑consuming. Another trap is forgetting to pause the timer during the respawn of the Quick Revive; the game counts down even when you’re dead, eating precious minutes.

A third mistake is over‑relying on a single weapon. Switch between a close‑range shotgun for early waves and a long‑range sniper for the boss’s ranged attacks. This weapon swap saves ammo and lets you adapt to changing enemy behaviors without panicking.

If you’re determined to go gobblegum‑free, prioritize weapon upgrades that increase damage per shot. The VMP with a Dragon’s Breath barrel and the Ray Gun with a Quickdraw grip become your lifelines. Carry at least three fragmentation grenades; they act as emergency crowd control when waves overwhelm you.

Another tip is to use the environment as a weapon: lure zombies into the electrified floor sections during Phase One, and let the floor do the work. This reduces the number of direct kills you need, preserving ammo for the boss fight.

The game allows you to pause the timer during cutscenes and when you manually hit the pause button, but not during active combat or respawn timers. Use this to your advantage: after each major phase, hit pause, drink a water bottle, and review your map notes. This short reset prevents mental fatigue and lets you plan the next move without the pressure of a ticking clock.

The Revelations Easter egg can be completed on any difficulty, but the experience varies dramatically. On Recruit, zombie health and damage are low, making the solo run feel like a walk in the park. Veteran introduces faster zombie spawns and a 20% health boost for the boss, demanding tighter movement and precise aim. On Prestige, the boss gains an extra shield layer, and the final wave includes a new “Specter” enemy that can phase through walls, requiring you to stay near the central console for a constant shield.

Solo players who want to attempt Prestige should invest in the highest‑level weapon mods and consider a single-use gobblegum like the Stopping Power for the final shield phase.

While solo completion is entirely possible, most speedrunners use a duo to split responsibilities—one handles puzzles while the other farms ammo. A three‑person team can shave off up to 10 minutes by assigning a dedicated “turret manager” to keep laser fire down during the boss fight. If you’re aiming for a world‑record time, consider recruiting at least one teammate; otherwise, the solo route remains a rewarding challenge.