TL;DR
- Vanguard’s perk fountains provide unlimited free buffs – collect all immediately
- Sacrificial Hearts from every 3 rounds enable powerful covenant upgrades at skeletal altar
- Strategic Dig Site navigation and Pack-a-Punch timing are crucial for weapon progression
- Delay Wunderwaffe usage until mid-rounds for maximum efficiency and ammo conservation
- Master zombie training routes around Main Hut and Comm Room for high-round survival
Mastering Shi No Numa’s enhanced gameplay requires understanding Vanguard’s revolutionary perk mechanics. Unlike traditional Zombies modes where you purchase perks from vending machines, this version introduces gothic-themed fountains that completely transform your strategic approach to survival.
Main Hut Fiendish Fortitude perk fountain
The most significant change is the elimination of perk costs – all base enhancements are completely free. This creates an immediate strategic advantage: prioritize locating every fountain during early rounds rather than saving points. Each fountain provides permanent buffs that stack without limitation, allowing you to build an increasingly powerful character as the match progresses.
Common mistake: Many players overlook the Fiendish Fortitude fountain near Main Hut during initial exploration. This perk significantly boosts health regeneration and should be among your first acquisitions. Optimal strategy involves activating fountains in this order: speed enhancements first, then defensive buffs, followed by offensive capabilities.
Positioned strategically between Main Hut and Comm Room, the skeletal Altar of Covenants represents Vanguard’s most powerful progression system. This horned altar enables you to exchange Sacrificial Hearts for randomized buffs that can dramatically alter your survival capabilities.
Shi No Numa’s Altar of Covenants
Advanced players should note the precise timing: you earn one Sacrificial Heart every three completed rounds on Shi No Numa, contrasting with objective-based maps where hearts come from completing specific tasks. The altar refreshes its three available covenant options every three rounds, creating strategic decision points throughout your match.
Pro tip: Don’t immediately spend your first Sacrificial Heart unless you encounter an exceptional buff combination. The covenant rotation system means suboptimal choices can be replaced with potentially game-changing abilities in subsequent cycles. Consider our Class Guide for similar strategic decision-making frameworks.
Critical optimization: Track which covenants you’ve already acquired, as duplicate selections provide diminishing returns. The most valuable covenants typically include ammo regeneration, damage multipliers, and movement speed enhancements for high-round efficiency.
Shi No Numa’s layout demands efficient route planning, especially when accessing the new Dig Site point of interest. This area contains crucial resources including the Pack-a-Punch machine and valuable wall buy weapons that can determine your high-round potential.
Pack-a-Punch machine located at Dig Site
The Pack-a-Punch machine undergoes significant functional changes in Vanguard. Rather than a single permanent upgrade, the system now incorporates tiered enhancements that require strategic point investment. Plan your weapon upgrade path carefully, prioritizing weapons with the highest ammo capacity and damage output for extended survival.
Wall buy locations have been strategically repositioned to create natural progression routes. Budget approximately 2500-5000 points for essential wall purchases during rounds 5-10, focusing on reliable weapons rather than experimental choices. For comprehensive weapon strategies, reference our Weapons Unlock guide for similar progression principles.
Navigation efficiency: Master the pathway from Main Hut through the Comm Room to Dig Site, as this route provides access to multiple critical resources with minimal backtracking.
The legendary Wunderwaffe DG-2 makes its triumphant return to Shi No Numa, but timing your acquisition of this powerful wonder weapon is crucial for maximum effectiveness. Unlike previous iterations, the Wunderwaffe in Vanguard features modified chain lightning mechanics that require strategic ammo conservation.
Shi No Numa’s Tome of Rituals
Critical strategy: Avoid using the Mystery Box during early rounds (1-15) unless absolutely necessary. The box consumes valuable points that are better invested in permanent upgrades, perk acquisitions, and wall weapons during initial progression phases.
Zombie training requires mastering specific routes around Main Hut and the Comm Room area. These zones provide optimal sightlines and escape routes when dealing with large hordes in rounds 30+. The Dig Site offers excellent training potential but requires careful management of spawn points and environmental obstacles.
Common high-round mistake: Over-reliance on the Wunderwaffe without proper backup weapons. Always maintain a fully upgraded conventional weapon as your primary, reserving the Wunderwaffe for emergency situations or clustered zombie groups. For broader strategic frameworks, consult our Complete Guide to similar advanced gameplay systems.
Ammo management becomes critical beyond round 40. Establish efficient routes between the Dig Site Pack-a-Punch and main training areas to minimize downtime between upgrades and combat engagements.
Action Checklist
- Activate all free perk fountains within first 10 rounds
- Master Main Hut to Dig Site route for efficient resource access
- Strategic Sacrificial Heart spending at Altar of Covenants
- Delay Wunderwaffe usage until round 20+ for ammo efficiency
- Establish zombie training patterns around Comm Room for high rounds
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Call Of Duty: Vanguard Zombies – Shi No Numa Tips Master Vanguard's enhanced Shi No Numa with expert perk strategies, covenant optimization, and high-round survival tactics