Black Ops 4 Zombies – Voyage Of Despair Starter Tips (Pack-A-Punch, Drain The Water)

TL;DR

  • Zombies mode combines cooperative survival with deep progression systems and customizable difficulty
  • Black Ops 4 introduces Rush mode and dual storylines (Aether and Chaos) expanding the experience
  • Strategic point management and team coordination are essential for surviving higher waves
  • Voyage of Despair’s confined spaces require different tactics than more open zombie maps
  • Custom loadouts and 100+ difficulty variables allow personalized zombie-slaying experiences

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 brings significant innovations to the franchise while maintaining beloved features. The battle royale Blackout mode represents a major addition, but the iconic Zombies cooperative experience returns with enhanced complexity and depth that both veterans and newcomers will appreciate.

For those unfamiliar with Zombies gameplay, the learning curve can appear steep initially. Each installment in the Call of Duty series has progressively layered additional mechanics and systems onto the mode, transforming Black Ops 4’s iteration into a substantially more sophisticated experience compared to the original Nazi Zombies from 2008’s World at War. In the embedded video content, GameSpot’s Jean-Luc Seipke provides an expert walkthrough of Voyage of Despair’s layout—one of Black Ops 4’s premier Zombies maps—while sharing crucial survival techniques against the relentless undead hordes.

The cooperative foundation remains central to Zombies gameplay, supporting up to four players working collectively to withstand escalating waves of zombies. Eliminating enemies accumulates points that can be invested in superior weaponry and tactical equipment. Team success depends on coordinated efforts to solve environmental puzzles and overcome specific map obstacles. For tailored challenge levels, Black Ops 4’s Zombies mode permits customization of over 100 distinct parameters, including zombie movement speed, health attributes, and damage capabilities. The custom loadout system from World War II returns, granting players increased flexibility in their initial weapon and equipment selections.

Black Ops 4 introduces several groundbreaking features to the Zombies experience. The new Rush game type delivers a faster-paced, more accessible version of Zombies that appeals to time-constrained players. Additionally, Black Ops 4 breaks tradition by featuring two distinct Zombie narratives instead of a single storyline. The Aether storyline continues the established Zombies narrative from previous Black Ops titles, while the Chaos storyline presents an entirely original tale featuring a completely new cast of characters. Voyage of Despair serves as the introductory map for this fresh narrative arc.

Common beginner mistakes include poor point management early in matches and inadequate communication about weapon purchases. Advanced players should focus on optimizing their point accumulation during initial waves by maximizing melee kills (which yield more points) and strategically timing box hits. Most standard Zombies matches require 45-90 minutes to reach higher waves, while Rush mode typically completes in 15-30 minutes depending on team efficiency.

With Black Ops 4’s shift away from traditional single-player campaigns toward an online-focused multiplayer ecosystem, evaluation required observing performance under live server conditions before final assessment. In GameSpot’s early review analysis, Kallie Plagge details her preliminary evaluations of standard multiplayer, Zombies, and Blackout battle royale modes. Regarding Zombies, Plagge noted, “The mode presents substantial complexity initially, requiring deeper exploration of each map environment. Voyage of Despair particularly stands out—both for its Titanic-inspired setting and because its confined spaces create significantly greater challenges compared to IX’s more expansive combat arenas.”

Effective zombie management involves creating choke points in narrow corridors and maintaining constant movement to avoid being surrounded. Team composition should balance roles between crowd control, objective specialists, and support players. Understanding spawn patterns and training zombies efficiently can dramatically extend survival time.

For those looking to master the broader Class Guide mechanics that translate well to cooperative gameplay, many principles from team-based shooters apply here. Weapon selection should prioritize versatility, with shotguns excelling in tight spaces like Voyage of Despair while assault rifles perform better in open areas such as IX.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is accessible on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC platforms.

The Titanic-themed Voyage of Despair map presents unique challenges with its multi-level layout and confined interior spaces. Strategic positioning becomes critical, with upper decks providing better sightlines but limited escape routes, while lower areas offer more mobility but increased vulnerability to being trapped. Understanding the map’s pack-a-punch machine location and shield buildable parts spawn points can significantly improve survival chances beyond wave 15.

Mastering Voyage of Despair requires adapting your playstyle to leverage the environment effectively. Breaking windows strategically can create new pathways, while certain rooms can be used as effective training grounds for zombie hordes. For comprehensive strategies that apply across different game modes, consult our Complete Guide to tactical shooter fundamentals.

As you progress in Zombies mastery, you’ll find that many skills translate well to other cooperative experiences. The weapon proficiency you develop will serve you well when exploring the extensive arsenal detailed in our Weapons Unlock guide, which covers similar progression systems in modern shooters.

Action Checklist

  • Practice point accumulation strategies in early waves (focus on melee kills)
  • Master zombie training techniques in open areas before attempting confined spaces
  • Experiment with custom difficulty settings to gradually increase challenge
  • Learn map-specific pack-a-punch locations and shield buildable parts
  • Coordinate with teammates to balance roles and optimize loadout combinations

No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Black Ops 4 Zombies – Voyage Of Despair Starter Tips (Pack-A-Punch, Drain The Water) Master Black Ops 4 Zombies with expert strategies, map breakdowns, and survival tactics for new players