Reckoning Aether Blade Easter Egg: Complete Season 5 Zombies Guide
Season 5 of Black Ops 6 Zombies has unleashed Reckoning upon the community, and with it comes one of the most coveted side Easter Eggs yet discovered. The legendary Aether Blade, making its triumphant return from MW3 Zombies, awaits those brave enough to uncover its secrets. This intricate quest combines mystery-solving with intense combat encounters, offering one of the most rewarding experiences in Black Ops 6's zombie-slaying arsenal.
The Art Collector's Quest: Retrieving the Lost Paintings
Your journey toward the Aether Blade begins with a seemingly simple task - returning three displaced paintings to their rightful home in the Executive Suites. These valuable artworks have been scattered throughout the facility during the chaos, and each successful return nets you a generous 1,500 essence reward.
What makes this step particularly efficient is that multiple players can work simultaneously, with each team member capable of carrying one painting at a time. This cooperative element speeds up the process considerably and makes the Easter Egg more accessible for squad-based gameplay.
Painting Location #1: Reception Area Discovery
The first painting rests in the Reception Area, which veteran players will recognize as the spawn location. Navigate to the compact red-walled side room - the same space that houses the teleporter leading to Pack-A-Punch. The painting leans casually against the wall, almost as if someone set it down temporarily and forgot about it during the evacuation.
Painting Location #2: Pack-A-Punch Upper Level
Your second target awaits in the Pack-A-Punch chamber itself. Head to the upper level platform - specifically the side where the GobbleGum Machine typically resides. The painting has been propped up near a small staircase, positioned as if someone intended to move it but never completed the task. This elevated location provides a good vantage point for spotting approaching zombies while you work.
Painting Location #3: Klaus Assembly Balcony
The final painting presents itself in the Klaus Assembly area, positioned on the balcony level. Look for it propped against a structural pillar, conveniently located next to a janitor's cart. If you're approaching from the T1 launcher, it'll be on your left side. This location often sees heavy zombie traffic, so clear the area before attempting retrieval.
The Hidden Safe: Mister Peeks' Secret Revelation
With all three paintings safely returned to the Executive Suites, your next destination is the Director's Office. This seemingly ordinary administrative space holds extraordinary secrets, waiting for the right tool to unveil them.
Position yourself in front of the painting located to the right of the Pack-a-Punch portal. This particular artwork appears innocuous enough, but it conceals one of Reckoning's most intriguing secrets. Deploy your Mister Peeks Field Upgrade directly at the painting, and watch as your mechanical companion springs into action.
Important Note: The Mister Peeks Field Upgrade may not be immediately available and could require future updates to access. Keep checking our other articles for the latest information on field upgrade availability.
Mister Peeks will enthusiastically knock the painting from the wall, revealing a sophisticated hidden safe built directly into the office structure. This discovery represents one of the most satisfying "aha moments" in Black Ops 6 Zombies, combining technology with old-fashioned detective work.
The RC-XD Mission: Acquiring the Safe Key
Discovering the safe is only half the battle - actually opening it requires a specific key hidden in one of Reckoning's most dangerous locations. Your mission leads you to the Dark Entity Containment Room, where the massive Forsaken entity awaits.
First, you'll need to craft an RC-XD using the map's crafting system. Once your remote-controlled explosive is ready, navigate to the area directly beneath the towering Forsaken creature. Search the containment barriers until you locate a damaged grate - it should be obviously broken open, creating a small passage that only your RC-XD can traverse.
The Crystal Destruction Sequence
Guide your RC-XD through the narrow opening and into the confined space beyond. Your target is a dark Aether crystal pulsing with otherworldly energy. Position your explosive device next to this crystal and detonate it, triggering a spectacular chain reaction.
As the primary crystal explodes, ethereal energy begins ascending toward the ceiling, but your work isn't finished. Additional crystals will materialize in the wake of this energy release, and you must destroy every single one to complete the sequence. This creates a time-sensitive challenge that requires quick reflexes and accurate shooting.
Successfully destroying all crystals causes the coveted safe key to materialize and drop to the ground. Grab this essential item and prepare for the final phase of your Aether Blade quest.
The Final Challenge: Safe Opening and Combat Trial
Return to the Director's Office with your hard-earned safe key and approach the revealed safe. Opening it isn't just a simple matter of turning a key - the facility's security system immediately detects the breach and initiates a full lockdown protocol.
This lockdown triggers one of Reckoning's most intense combat encounters. An elite disciple, far more dangerous than standard enemies, materializes to defend the safe's contents. Simultaneously, massive hordes of zombies flood the area, creating a chaotic battlefield that tests every skill you've developed.
The elite disciple possesses enhanced health, devastating attacks, and unique abilities that set it apart from regular zombie encounters. Focus your most powerful weapons on this priority target while using environmental advantages and movement abilities to manage the zombie swarms.
Victory Rewards: Claiming the Aether Blade
Surviving the lockdown encounter grants access to the safe's precious contents. Inside, you'll discover the legendary Aether Blade - a weapon that bridges the gap between MW3 Zombies and Black Ops 6's evolved combat system. This isn't just another melee weapon; it's a statement piece that demonstrates your mastery of Reckoning's most challenging side quest.
Additionally, the safe contains valuable intel pieces that expand the game's lore and provide context for the ongoing Dark Aether storyline. These narrative elements help connect Reckoning to the broader Black Ops 6 Zombies experience.
The Aether Blade Easter Egg represents everything that makes Black Ops 6 Zombies special - intricate puzzle-solving, cooperative gameplay mechanics, intense combat challenges, and meaningful rewards. We have additional guides covering other Reckoning Easter Eggs and Season 5 content available in our other articles, so be sure to explore those for the complete Zombies experience.