Cold War Zombies Augments Explained: All You Need to Know

(Opening Image: A cool action shot of a player using a perk/ability with visual augment effects in Cold War Zombies. Consider an image with vibrant colours.)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Have you ever found yourself staring down a relentless horde of zombies in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, desperately wishing you had just a little bit more firepower, survivability, or speed? Perhaps you’ve wondered how some players seem to breeze through rounds that leave you struggling? The answer might lie in a system you may not fully understand: Augments.

Cold War Zombies is a complex and engaging game mode, filled with layers of depth and strategy. While mastering weapon upgrades, perk selections, and map knowledge are crucial, understanding Augments elevates your gameplay to a whole new level. Augments provide unique and powerful modifications to your perks, drastically changing how those perks affect your character in the game.

This article is your comprehensive guide to understanding Augments in Cold War Zombies. We’ll explore exactly what they are, delve into their individual effects, discuss how to acquire them during matches, and provide effective strategies to maximize their potential. By the end of this read, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to dominate the undead and push your Zombies skills to their absolute limits. It’s time to unlock the full power hidden within the perk system and become a true Zombies master. Let’s get started!

What Exactly Are Augments?

At their core, Augments are modifiers that attach to perks and change the way the perk functions in the game. Imagine perks as the foundation, and Augments as the advanced upgrades that amplify their strength and unlock hidden potential. They’re not new perks themselves, but rather, transformative additions to the perks you already know and love (or maybe love to hate, depending on the situation!).

The primary function of Augments is to provide additional effects or enhance existing ones of any given perk in the game. For example, a perk might primarily grant increased health. However, an Augment could drastically change its function by providing the perk with the ability to repair broken armor over time. Each perk in the game features a list of augments which each provide the player with benefits.

Augments are randomly distributed throughout the game through means which we will explain later, and they appear as translucent modifications to each perk’s icon when one is found. The player must collect the modification in order to attach it to the perk and obtain its benefits.

Augments List and Details

The following section will detail all of the perks in the game, as well as any known Augments that can be attached to them to modify their benefits.

Juggernog

The original king of survivability in Zombies, Juggernog boosts your maximum health. With Augments, Juggernog becomes even more of a tank. Here are some examples of the types of Augments that Juggernog can obtain:

Armor Enhancement: Armor plates become stronger, reducing damage taken by a higher percentage.
Regenerating Plates: Armor plates will slowly regenerate after being broken, providing passive protection.
Emergency Health: When health is critically low, a burst of healing is applied.

Speed Cola

Speed Cola reduces reload times and equipment usage speed. Augments can dramatically improve its utility. A few examples include:

Faster Revives: Significantly speeds up the time it takes to revive downed teammates.
Equipment Recharge: Reduce the cooldown time for equipment, allowing for more frequent usage.
Weapon Swap Speed: Decreases the time it takes to swap between weapons.

Quick Revive

Quick Revive allows you to revive teammates faster, and when playing solo, allows you to revive yourself. Here are the Augments it might get:

Self-Revive Shield: While reviving yourself, create a temporary shield to deflect zombie attacks.
Team Healing Aura: When reviving a teammate, emit an aura that heals both you and the teammate.
Instant Revive: A chance for an instant revive when attempting to revive a teammate.

Stamin-Up

Stamin-Up increases your sprint speed and stamina. Augments can make you an even more agile target. For example:

Slide Speed: Significantly increases the speed and distance of slides.
Sprint Regen: Replenishes sprint stamina faster while sprinting.
No Fall Damage: Eliminates fall damage entirely.

Deadshot Daiquiri

Deadshot Daiquiri improves aim-assist and reduces weapon recoil. The augments that it obtains often boost your aim to make you even more deadly:

Headshot Damage: Increases the damage dealt by headshots.
Critical Hit Chance: Boosts the chance of landing a critical hit.
Stun Immunity: Provides immunity to stun effects from enemies.

Elemental Pop

Elemental Pop grants a random elemental effect to your weapon with each shot. The augments of this can add some extra effects:

Effect Potency: Increase the damage or duration of elemental effects.
Effect Frequency: Increase the frequency of elemental effects triggering.
Status Effect Resistance: Provides resistance to status effects inflicted by enemies.

Tombstone Soda

Tombstone Soda allows you to create a tombstone upon death, which contains your weapons and equipment. The augments on this perk are often very beneficial and helpful for regaining your setup in the event of a death:

Tombstone Protection: Provides a shield to the tombstone, making it harder for zombies to destroy.
Extra Tombstones: Creates an additional tombstone containing extra equipment.
Tombstone Regeneration: Tombstones are more likely to contain higher-tier weapons.

Death Perception

Death Perception highlights nearby enemies and reveals hidden items. The Augments can enhance its sensory abilities, such as:

Treasure Detection: Highlights nearby chests and hidden caches.
Weak Spot Identification: Highlights enemy weak points for increased damage.
Enemy Vulnerability: Reveals enemy vulnerabilities, increasing damage dealt.

How to obtain Augments

Acquiring Augments in Cold War Zombies is tied to player progression through the rounds and in a couple of other methods that could prove quite beneficial for you and your teammates alike. Here’s a breakdown of the primary ways you’ll obtain these upgrades:

Trials: Completing Trials is one of the most consistent ways to earn Augments. As you progress through the rounds, you’ll find Trial machines scattered throughout the map. Activating these machines gives you a challenge to complete (e.g., kill a certain number of zombies with a specific weapon type). Successfully completing a Trial rewards you with loot, and Augments are a possible reward tier. The higher the Trial rank (from Common to Legendary), the greater your chance of receiving a powerful Augment.
Loot Chests/Supply Boxes: Throughout the maps, you’ll find loot chests and supply boxes. These contain a variety of items, including weapons, equipment, and, of course, Augments. The rarity of the chest (indicated by its color) corresponds to the quality of loot it contains. Higher-tier chests have a greater chance of dropping Augments.
Mystery Box: While primarily known for providing random weapons, the Mystery Box can also occasionally reward you with Augments. This is a less reliable method compared to Trials, but it’s still a possibility.
Season Challenges & Battle Pass: Certain seasonal challenges or Battle Pass tiers may offer Augments as rewards for completing specific tasks. Keep an eye on the challenge list to see if any Augments are up for grabs.

Augment Strategy & Tips

Maximizing your effectiveness in Cold War Zombies requires more than just randomly collecting Augments. Strategic planning and understanding how Augments synergize with each other and your playstyle is key. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this system:

Prioritize Synergies: Consider which Augments work well together to create powerful combinations. For instance, combining Armor Enhancement from Juggernog with a Regenerating Armor plates augments will create a very survivable character.
Adapt to Your Playstyle: Choose Augments that complement your preferred weapons and playstyle. If you prefer using shotguns, focus on Augments that increase reload speed and damage. If you’re a support player, prioritize Augments that improve revive speed and team healing.
Communicate with Your Team: If you’re playing with friends, coordinate your Augment choices to create a balanced and effective team composition. A tank character with high health and armor, a damage dealer with increased critical hit chance, and a support player with fast revives can be a formidable force.
Consider the Map: Some Augments are more useful on certain maps than others. On maps with tight corridors, speed-boosting Augments might be less valuable than defensive ones. On larger maps, increased sprint speed and stamina can be a lifesaver.
Don’t Neglect the Basics: Remember that Augments are enhancements, not replacements for core skills. Mastering movement, aim, and map knowledge is still essential. Augments simply amplify your existing abilities.
Experiment!: The best way to discover powerful Augment combinations is to experiment with different options. Don’t be afraid to try new things and see what works best for you. You might be surprised at the combinations you discover.
Understand that randomness is king: Because of the way the Augment system functions, it’s not always possible to create a build on your favorite perks or with augments that synergise well. It is very important that you play around with what is given to you so you can be as versatile as possible in any given scenario.

Conclusion

Augments in Cold War Zombies are a game-changing feature that adds a layer of strategic depth to an already engaging experience. By understanding what Augments are, how to obtain them, and how to use them effectively, you can drastically improve your performance and push your Zombies skills to new heights. Don’t underestimate the power of these modifications. They can turn a struggling run into a triumphant victory.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive into Cold War Zombies, start collecting Augments, and experiment with different combinations. Share your favorite Augment strategies and discoveries in the comments below! What are some of the augment combinations that you find to be extremely helpful when slaying the hordes?