When I first set out to unlock the Necrofluid Gauntlet on the Ashes of the Damned map, I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I didn’t expect how rewarding the entire experience would feel. While running early rounds, experimenting with routes, and juggling zombie trains, I compared the process to the strategic grind you find in bo7 bot lobbies, where planning and execution matter just as much as raw firepower. The Gauntlet immediately caught my attention because of its ability to fire spikes, retract them for massive damage, and deliver a vicious melee claw attack. I wanted it badly—and getting it turned into one of my favorite quests on the map.

My journey began in Ashwood. After powering the generators at the Farm, Blackwater Lake, and Ashwood, I opened Pack-a-Punch so I wouldn’t struggle later. From there, I made my way to the sheriff’s office where I found Claus powered down inside a jail cell. I needed to reboot him, so I traveled to Janice Towers Plaza and approached the area facing the Blackwater Lake gate. There was a large Project Janice storage crate—my signal that the Mecha Claus fight wasn’t far off.

At round eight, stepping closer triggered the Mecha Claus to burst from the crate. The fight was simple in theory—hit both weak points—but chaotic in execution as hordes swarmed me while I tried to aim precisely. When I finally destroyed the core, I grabbed the stabilizer chip and brought it back to Claus. Rebooting him required three to four stuns thrown almost directly at his feet. It was finicky, but watching him spark awake and launch into the sky felt incredibly satisfying.

With Claus now controllable, I brought him to the lower Cosmodrome area and called him in front of the sealed door. After he hacked the keypad, I flipped the switch and entered a red circle that appeared on the floor. I had to stare at a security camera without stepping outside the circle—a deceptively intense lockdown that becomes tough in higher rounds.

After completing it, I earned the Aether canister and transported it between Ashwood, Blackwater Lake, and Van Dorne Farm, defending each generator in sequence. Once the canister was fully charged, I carried it into the basement of Van Dorne Farm and installed it into the Cortifax box. The next step involved riding the jump pads to observe three symbols on top of the barn, house, and silo—symbols I later had to input into the box.

Once all symbols were inserted correctly, I interacted with the eyeball and finally claimed the Necrofluid Gauntlet. Testing it required shooting and retracting spikes at green symbols around the room, and once complete, I had full access to the weapon.

This entire quest felt like a perfectly balanced challenge—part exploration, part combat, and part puzzle-solving. The Gauntlet itself is powerful, stylish, and deeply satisfying to use, especially once Pack-a-Punched. It’s one of the standout wonder weapons of Black Ops 7 and worth every step of the journey.

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