Unlocking The Fire Staff Code: Your Ultimate CoD Zombies Origins Guide
For dedicated Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Zombies players, the "Origins" map stands as a monumental challenge, a masterclass in intricate puzzles and powerful wonder weapons. Among these coveted armaments, the Fire Staff holds a special place, not just for its devastating elemental power but also for the complex journey required to acquire and, more importantly, upgrade it. Many consider the process of obtaining and upgrading the Fire Staff to be the most difficult part of a full Easter Egg run, primarily due to the various puzzles you’ll encounter partway through. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, focusing specifically on deciphering the elusive Fire Staff code and ensuring you emerge victorious with one of the most potent weapons in the game.
Navigating the treacherous trenches of Origins demands more than just quick reflexes; it requires strategic thinking and a keen understanding of the map's hidden mechanics. The elemental staffs are the key to survival and progression, and mastering their upgrades is paramount. If you've ever found yourself stuck, unable to get or upgrade the Staff of Fire, or simply want to streamline your process, you've come to the right place. We'll delve deep into the crafting process, the infamous Fire Staff code puzzle, and the subsequent steps needed to unleash its full upgraded potential, transforming your gameplay experience on this iconic map.
Table of Contents
- The Legendary Fire Staff: An Overview
- Forging the Infernal Blade: Crafting the Fire Staff
- The Journey to Power: Initiating the Fire Staff Upgrade
- Deciphering the Fire Staff Code: The Church Puzzle
- The Agartha Sacrifice: Feeding the Flames
- The Final Step: Upgrading the Fire Staff
- Troubleshooting Common Issues with the Fire Staff Code
- Why the Fire Staff Remains a Fan Favorite
- Conclusion
The Legendary Fire Staff: An Overview
In the expansive and lore-rich world of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Zombies, particularly within the fan-favorite "Origins" map, players are introduced to a unique mechanic: buildable elemental staffs. The Staff of Fire, commonly referred to in the community as the Fire Staff, is one of four such powerful tools, each representing a different element – Wind, Ice, Lightning, and Fire. These staffs are not merely weapons; they are integral to surviving high rounds and completing the map's elaborate Easter Egg quest.
The Fire Staff, with its fiery projectiles and explosive area-of-effect capabilities, quickly became a staple for many players. It's a powerful weapon right out of the box, but its true potential is unlocked only after a series of challenging upgrade steps. These upgrades transform the staffs into even more devastating instruments of destruction, essential for pushing into later rounds where hordes of zombies become overwhelming. The satisfaction of wielding an upgraded staff, particularly the Fire Staff, is immense, making the effort to acquire and upgrade it well worth the time and strategic planning.
Forging the Infernal Blade: Crafting the Fire Staff
Before you can even think about the Fire Staff code, you first need to get your hands on the staff itself. This initial crafting process involves gathering three distinct components and an elemental gem, all scattered across the vast "Origins" map. While this guide primarily deals with how to solve the upgrade code for the Fire Staff in CoD Black Ops 3, understanding the foundational steps of crafting is crucial.
Gathering the Components
To obtain the Fire Staff components and gem in CoD Black Ops 3 Zombies Chronicles, you'll need to explore specific areas of the map. The staff's three components and elemental gem are spread across different locations, often requiring you to interact with specific game mechanics or defeat certain enemies:
- Fire Staff Gem (Red Crystal): This is typically obtained by shooting down the glowing red plane that occasionally flies over the map. Once shot down, the crystal will land in the excavation site.
- Fire Staff Part 1 (Head Piece): After powering up Generator 6, a box will appear that will give you the head piece. This is a straightforward step once the generator is active.
- Fire Staff Part 2 (Disk): This part is found in the Church, usually on the second floor near the tank path.
- Fire Staff Part 3 (Record): This piece is located in the tank station, often on a table or shelf.
Once you have these two items (the gem and the record), you’ll need three separate parts (the head, disk, and rod pieces) to forge the Fire Staff. The game sometimes refers to the "parts" generally, but you need the crystal, the record, and the three physical components.
Assembling the Staff
Once you've collected all the necessary pieces – the red crystal, the record, and the three staff parts – you can craft the Fire Staff. The crafting table for all elemental staffs is located deep within the Excavation Site, at the very bottom level. Approach the crafting table, and with all components in your inventory, you'll be prompted to build the Fire Staff. Congratulations, you now possess the base version of this formidable weapon!
The Journey to Power: Initiating the Fire Staff Upgrade
Acquiring the Fire Staff is just the beginning. To truly unlock its devastating potential, you must upgrade it. Upgrading the wonder weapons on Origins requires you to do two puzzles per staff, followed by a final step. The Fire Staff's upgrade path, while challenging, is less complicated in terms of outdoor traversal compared to, say, the Purple Staff (Wind Staff), which has a more complicated outdoor puzzle. The Fire Staff just wants you to focus on specific actions and code deciphering.
The very first step in initiating the Fire Staff upgrade sequence is to place the staff in its designated pedestal. This pedestal is located at the bottom of the Excavation Site, specifically in the area where you initially built the staff. All you need to do is place the Staff of Fire in the new pedestal at the bottom of the excavation site. Once it beeps, indicating successful placement, you go to the Staff of Fire pedestal and take the staff again. This action signals to the game that you are ready to begin the upgrade process and will trigger the first puzzle related to the Fire Staff code.
Deciphering the Fire Staff Code: The Church Puzzle
This is arguably the most critical and often confusing part of the Fire Staff upgrade process: solving the Fire Staff code. This puzzle takes place primarily in the Church area of the map and involves a sequence of numbers and corresponding torches. This page primarily deals with how to solve the upgrade code for the Fire Staff in CoD Black Ops 3, so let's break it down.
Head to the Church, specifically the area with the stained-glass windows and a large circular diagram on the wall. Here you will notice that the numbers from a specific list (which we'll discuss) will be painted white on the wall. Above these numbers will be torches that you need to light with the Fire Staff.
The core of this puzzle relies on a system that, for the Ice Staff and Fire Staff, uses a form of ternary (base-3) or a similar numerical representation. While binary uses 1 row of bits and is base 2 (e.g., 2^2 + 2^1 + 2^0 = 7), the system here involves three columns of circles, where each column represents a place value. Think of it like this: each column of circles (from left to right) represents a digit in a number, and the lit circles within that column determine the value of that digit.
For example, take the circles that match with '11' on the Fire upgrade. There are three different columns of circles. Each column represents a place (like how the number '1' has 1 place, 10 has 2 places, etc., but here it's about the value within the column). You look at the ones that are bright, or lit up, as these are the torches you need to shoot with your Fire Staff.
The Fire Staff code always reads from left to right. The numbers you need to derive from the torches on the wall correspond to a specific sequence. While the exact visual representation on the wall might vary slightly in terms of which torches are lit, the underlying code sequence remains consistent. The community has widely confirmed that the code always reads 11, 5, 9, 7, 6, 3. Many players, including myself, always memorize the full 11, 5, 9, 7, 6, 3 sequence for efficiency.
To clarify how you derive these numbers from the wall:
- Identify the Torches: Look at the torches above the white numbers painted on the wall. Some will be lit, others unlit.
- Read the Circles: Below each number (11, 5, 9, 7, 3, 6, 4 – as mentioned in the data, though the primary code is 11,5,9,7,6,3), there are sets of circles. These circles are arranged in three columns.
- Determine the Number: The pattern of lit circles in these columns corresponds to a number. For instance, if the first number is '11', you'll see a specific pattern of lit circles that represents '11'. Similarly for '5', '9', '7', '6', and '3'. The "Data Kalimat" mentions "The code was 11,9,6,4 (the last one was two filled in dots which is 4)". This is an example of a specific instance of the code derived from the lit torches. The "11,5,9,7,6,3" is the general sequence of numbers you are aiming to shoot.
- Shoot the Correct Torches: Go to the Church and use the chart above to shoot the Fire Staff at the torches corresponding to the numbers 11, 5, 9, 7, 6, 3, in that exact order, reading from left to right. Only shoot the torches that are lit according to the pattern for each number in the sequence.
It's crucial to be precise here. If you shoot the wrong torch, you might have to restart this step. Some players have reported that "the Fire Staff puzzle is legitimately glitched" occasionally, where even if you shoot the correct torches, it doesn't register. If this happens, try restarting the round or even the game. Sometimes, simply shooting the lit torches kind of makes the puzzle work, even if it feels a bit finicky. Everty time I have played the remaster and tried (and succeeded) upgrading Fire, those torches are lit, and shooting them correctly advances the puzzle.
The Agartha Sacrifice: Feeding the Flames
Once you've successfully completed the Church puzzle and entered the Fire Staff code by shooting the correct torches, the next step in upgrading your Fire Staff involves a macabre ritual: feeding zombies to the fiery grates in Agartha. This step is often referred to as the "soul collection" phase for the Fire Staff.
Head down into Agartha, the mystical realm beneath the Excavation Site. Here, you'll find several fire grates near the cauldrons. Your objective is to feed around 30 zombies using the Fire Staff on these fire grates until they are all lit up and on fire. This means you need to kill zombies while they are standing on or very close to these grates using the Fire Staff. The staff's fiery projectiles will ignite the grates as zombies burn on them. You'll know you're making progress when the grates glow intensely with an orange flame.
Continue this process until all the designated fire grates in Agartha are fully lit. This typically requires a significant number of zombie kills on these specific spots, so be prepared for a sustained fight. Once all the grates are ablaze, you've successfully completed the second major puzzle for the Fire Staff upgrade.
The Final Step: Upgrading the Fire Staff
With the Church puzzle solved and the Agartha grates burning bright, you're on the cusp of wielding the upgraded Fire Staff. There's just one final step to complete this powerful transformation.
Returning to the Excavation Site
After successfully lighting all the grates in Agartha, return to the Excavation Site. Specifically, head back to the very bottom level where the elemental staff pedestals are located. If you've done everything correctly, you should now see a glowing orange ball floating above the Fire Staff pedestal. This orange ball signifies that the staff is ready to be fully charged and upgraded.
However, it's worth noting that "the Fire Staff puzzle is legitimately glitched" for some players, and sometimes the orange ball isn't there even after completing the previous steps. If you encounter this, try re-checking your previous steps, restarting the round, or even the game. Persistence often pays off in Origins.
Claiming Your Upgraded Power
To claim your upgraded Fire Staff, simply interact with the glowing orange ball above the pedestal. Your Fire Staff will be absorbed into the ball, and after a brief animation, it will return to you as the fully upgraded "Kagutsuchi's Blood." This enhanced version of the Fire Staff boasts increased damage, a larger area of effect, and a more powerful charge shot, making it an absolute beast against zombie hordes and giant robots alike.
Troubleshooting Common Issues with the Fire Staff Code
Despite following guides, players sometimes find themselves unable to get or upgrade the Staff of Fire. Here are some common issues and troubleshooting tips:
- Incorrect Code Input: The most common mistake is misinterpreting the Church puzzle. Remember, the code always reads 11, 5, 9, 7, 6, 3 from left to right. Ensure you're shooting the *lit* torches corresponding to these numbers in the correct sequence. Double-check your interpretation of the ternary-like system for each number.
- Puzzle Glitches: As mentioned, "the Fire Staff puzzle is legitimately glitched" for some players. If you're certain you've done everything right but it's not progressing (e.g., the orange ball doesn't appear), try:
- Restarting the Round: Sometimes advancing to the next round can reset the puzzle's state.
- Re-doing the Previous Step: Go back and re-place the staff in the pedestal, then re-shoot the torches.
- Game Restart: In rare cases, a full game restart might be necessary.
- Host Migration: If playing co-op, a host migration can sometimes cause issues.
- Agartha Zombie Kills: Make sure you're killing zombies directly on the grates using the Fire Staff. If they die off the grates, it won't count. Ensure all grates are fully lit.
- Shooting Torches: "Everty time I have played the remaster and tried (and succeeded) upgrading Fire, those torches are lit, shooting them kind of makes the" puzzle work. This implies that if you shoot an unlit torch, it might reset your progress or prevent it from advancing. Stick strictly to the lit ones for the corresponding code.
- General Game Bugs: CoD Zombies, while beloved, isn't immune to bugs. Patience and repetition are sometimes the only solutions.
Why the Fire Staff Remains a Fan Favorite
The Fire Staff, and indeed all the elemental staffs in Origins, represent a pinnacle of Zombies gameplay design. The intricate steps, the teamwork required (for co-op), and the sheer satisfaction of solving complex puzzles contribute to its enduring appeal. The "CoD Zombies community," with its 572k subscribers, consistently ranks Origins as one of the best maps, and the staffs are a huge reason why. The Fire Staff, in particular, offers a balance of crowd control and high damage, making it versatile for both defensive stands and aggressive pushes.
The journey to acquire and upgrade it, from gathering scattered components to deciphering the Fire Staff code and performing the Agartha sacrifice, creates a memorable and rewarding experience. It's not just about getting a powerful weapon; it's about mastering the map's mechanics and proving your expertise in the face of relentless undead hordes. The challenge of the Fire Staff code, while sometimes frustrating, is ultimately what makes its successful acquisition so gratifying.
Conclusion
Mastering the Fire Staff code and the subsequent upgrade steps in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Zombies "Origins" is a rite of passage for any serious player. From meticulously gathering the components and crafting the base staff to deciphering the enigmatic Church puzzle and performing the Agartha sacrifice, each step builds towards wielding one of the most formidable weapons in the game. Remember the consistent Fire Staff code: 11, 5, 9, 7, 6, 3, and apply it diligently to the Church torches. While glitches can sometimes pose a challenge, persistence and precise execution will ultimately lead you to the upgraded "Kagutsuchi's Blood."
We hope this detailed guide has illuminated the path to obtaining and upgrading your Fire Staff, empowering you to conquer high rounds and complete the Easter Egg with greater ease. What are your favorite strategies for the Fire Staff upgrade? Have you encountered any unique glitches with the Fire Staff code? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below! And if you're interested in learning more about other Origins staffs or general Zombies strategies, feel free to explore more of our guides.
"Origins" Ultimate Fire Staff Code/Symbols - YouTube
Steam Community :: Guide :: Guide for Origins
Fire Staff Code and Upgrade Guide in COD: Black Ops 3 - Zombies
