Black Ops 7 Zombies introduces Cursed Mode, where players can enter all maps, including Survival, with a set of unique modifiers that will reward players with different bonuses. The end goal of Cursed Mode is to reach Tier 3, but with each Relic offering a unique challenge, some players might struggle to find the right Relics to equip to reach Tier 3 without having a hard time.
Below, we've detailed the best Relics to use in Black Ops 7 Cursed so that you will have an easier time reaching high rounds, completing easter eggs, and having fun with Pack-a-Punch Tier 4. Check out what Relics we recommend you run in your next match!
How to Get All Relics in Ashes of the Damned's Cursed Mode (Black Ops 7 Zombies)
Black Ops 7 Zombies features a unique Cursed Mode that holds 9 Relics for players to discover, and here's where to get them all and what they do.
Teddy Bear (Grim Relic)
Round Start Delay is Cut Down by 75%
- Obtained in: Ashes of the Damned (Tier 0)
- How to Get the Teddy Bear Relic
The Teddy Bear Relic is one of the best Relics to use to reach Tier 3, as it doesn't really provide any disadvantages. The round start delay is cut down by 75%, which means that you get less time to breathe between zombies start spawning on the next round.
However, this is a good thing, as there's not much preparation to do between round transitions, and anything you need to get done, you should be doing at the end of the round with your final few zombies, instead of waiting for the already short round transition.
Seed (Grim Relic)
Mystery Box is Disabled
- Obtained in: Astra Malorum (Tier 0)
- How to Get the Seed Relic
The Mystery Box might seem like a useful addition to have, but it's actually rendered pretty useless, so the Seed Relic comes in clutch as it will disable it. The Mystery Box isn't needed, because you can find the best guns as wall-buys across all maps, you can get the map's specific Wonder Weapon through a quest, and you can grab a free Ray Gun or Ray Gun Mark 2 through easter eggs and T.E.D.D. Trials.
If you are desperate for the Mystery Box (for some reason), then you can still activate it through the Mr. Peeks Field Upgrade, and you can also use the Immolation Liquidation GobbleGum to activate a Fire Sale to spawn the Mystery Box temporarily. However, the Mystery Box isn't really needed in this mode.
Focusing Stone (Sinister Relic)
No Self-Revive Kits
- Obtained in: Ashes of the Damned (Tier 1)
- How to Get the Focusing Stone Relic
It might seem rather alarming to have no Self-Revive Kits thanks to the Focusing Stone Relic, but it's also going to become a non-issue pretty quickly. You can negate the need for Self-Revive Kits thanks to Quick Revive's Dying Wish Augment, which will allow you to survive on 1 HP with temporary immunity, at the cost of losing Quick Revive and having to buy it again, up to three times.
You can also get Self-Revive Kits from T.E.D.D. Trials, so you'll never be without them. Even during easter egg runs or high round clears, you won't need a Self-Revive Kit, especially when you can only craft three of them anyway, so try to forfeit relying on them and just wait to get one from a T.E.D.D. Task.
Spider Fang (Sinister Relic)
Perks Costs at Machines Never Decrease
- Obtained in: Astra Malorum (Tier 1)
- How to Get the Spider Fang Relic
The Spider Fang Relic is another freebie without consequence. When using the Spider Fang Relic, the cost of Perks at machines will never decrease. This means that if you buy your final Perk for around 7,000 Essence, but you die and need to buy Perks again, the price will keep increasing by 500 Essence past 7,000.
Points really aren't an issue to acquire in Cursed thanks to the old hit-based system (and the Akita generates thousands of points in seconds). However, you won't even need to worry about Perk costs, as once you have all Perks, T.E.D.D. Trials will reward Eternal Perks, which means that even when you go down or die, those Perks remain on your person.
Bus (Wicked Relic)
Enemy Health Regenerates
- Obtained in: Ashes of the Damned (Tier 2)
- How to Get the Bus Relic
The final Relic, and the only Wicked Relic that you should use, is the Bus. The Bus Relic will make it so that enemy health regenerates, but this isn't as difficult as you might think, as health only regenerates after a period of time where they haven't been damaged.
With a constant stream of zombies training behind you, you should be able to wipe them out quickly, and the health regeneration is pretty slow. As for Elite Enemies, they can regenerate, but you should be focusing on these without stopping anyway. Be warned, the Bus Relic will make it so that the boss's health regenerates, but never past the activation of their next phase.
Best Relics for Tier 3 Cursed Mode in Black Ops 7 Zombies
|
Relic |
Type |
|---|---|
|
Teddy Bear |
Grim |
|
Seed |
Grim |
|
Focusing Stone |
Sinister |
|
Spider Fang |
Sinister |
|
Bus |
Wicked |
With all 5 Relics listed above, you'll have enough Relics active to reach Tier 3, which will allow you to get Golden Armor, Ultra Weapon Rarity, and Pack-a-Punch Tier 4. Below, you'll find Relics we recommend avoiding completely.
Relics to Avoid Using in Black Ops 7 Cursed Mode
Below, we'll showcase some of the worst Relics you can use. While these do offer a unique challenge, the challenge involved is far too stressful to warrant an easier time in Tier 3. When it comes to Cursed Mode, you'll want to avoid running these Relics:
|
Relic |
Why It's Bad |
How to Get |
|---|---|---|
|
Lawyer's Pen |
Shock Mimics constantly spawn, ruining the game with an abundance of Special Enemies. |
|
|
Dragon Wings |
You can no longer get Power-Up spawns, meaning no Insta-Kills, Max Ammos, and more. |
|
|
Gong |
Field Upgrades only charge with Full Power Power-Ups, so kills won't help charge them. |
|
|
Matryoshka Doll |
Reduces Salvage drop rate by half, meaning you'll have a harder time purchasing items from the Crafting Table and reaching Ultra Weapon Rarity. |
|
|
Blood Vials |
All Augments are turned off, meaning Perks, Ammo Mods, and Field Upgrades have no additional bonuses. |
|
|
Golden Spork |
All enemies will now deal double damage, which will kill you pretty quickly. |
|
|
Civil Protector Head |
Every 100 kills, you lose a random Perk. While this doesn't remove Eternal Perks, it's going to be hard to get all Eternal Perks when you're constantly losing them just by killing zombies. |
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 65 /100 Critics Rec: 34%
- Released
- November 14, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
