You're standing in the middle of a literal graveyard. It’s foggy. The air smells like ozone and rotting flesh, and frankly, if you haven’t optimized your movement speed yet, you're basically zombie food. Most people jumping into Black Ops 6 Zombies think they can just wing it in Liberty Falls. They’re wrong. The citadelle des morts guide isn't just about knowing where the Pack-a-Punch machine sits; it’s about understanding the rhythmic chaos of a map that wants to trap you in a corner of a bowling alley.
Liberty Falls feels small. It’s deceptive.
Compared to the sprawling complexity of Terminus, this map is a tighter, more frantic experience. You’ve got the church, the comic shop, and the Hilltop cabin, but the real meat of the "Citadel of the Dead" experience lies in the Main Quest and those weirdly specific side encounters that most players miss because they're too busy panic-spraying a Ray Gun.
The Absolute Basics Everyone Screws Up
Before you even think about the Easter Egg, you have to survive the first ten rounds without blowing all your Essence on random wall buys. It’s tempting to grab that early SMG. Don’t. Use your starting melee or a high-damage pistol to maximize points. You need to reach the Church—the actual Citadelle des Morts—as fast as possible.
The flow of this map is circular. If you get stuck in the middle of the street near the white van, you’re dead. The spawns here are aggressive. Manglers will rip through your armor faster than you can say "Max Ammo." You need to learn the zip-line routes. They aren't just for travel; they are your primary escape pods when a Horde decides to sandwich you against a storefront.
Opening the Map Without Going Broke
The barrier costs in BO6 are a bit steeper than some veterans might expect. Start by clearing the path toward the Riverside area. You’re looking for the Ground Control. Honestly, the most efficient path is heading through the back alleys behind the comic shop. It keeps you out of the open until you’ve actually got enough firepower to handle a Mangler spawn. Once you hit the Church, you’re in the heart of the Citadel. This is where the Jet Gun—the Thrustodyne M23—comes into play.
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Building the Thrustodyne M23 (The Jet Gun)
You cannot call yourself a master of the citadelle des morts guide without crafting the Jet Gun. It’s not just a "wonder weapon." It’s a tool for the Easter Egg. It sucks things up. It blows things up. It’s messy and perfect.
- First, you need the Water Pressure Gauge. Head to the Lily’s Flowerpot shop. There’s a valve outside. You have to turn it, but here’s the kicker: zombies will swarm you the second you touch it. Bring a friend or a Decoy grenade.
- Next is the Electrical Hand Brake. Go to the bowling alley. There’s a maintenance panel. It's usually tucked away near the back.
- Finally, the Programmed Handheld. This one is in the comic book shop. You’ll need to interact with the boxes under the counter.
Once you have these, head to the workbench in the motel. The motel is a deathtrap, by the way. Don’t stay there longer than you have to. Build the gun, grab it, and get out. The Jet Gun has a cooldown, so don't just hold the trigger like a maniac. Use it in bursts to clear paths or suck up the specific quest items needed for the Main Quest.
Cracking the Citadelle des Morts Main Quest
This is where things get sweaty. The Easter Egg in Liberty Falls involves the SGD (Standard Gravitational Device) and a whole lot of soul-trapping. You’ll be dealing with Dr. Panos, a voice that sounds like he’s had one too many espressos in the dark.
The LTG and the Aether Canisters
You have to build the LTG device. It’s a multi-part process involving the rooftop of the bank and the church. Once it’s built, you have to place it in specific "Aether Storm" locations. This is effectively a "defend the objective" mode. If you’re playing solo, use the Sentry Turret. It is the MVP of this stage.
The canisters are the real headache. You have to carry them. While carrying them, you move like a snail in molasses. You can’t shoot. Your teammates have to babysit you. If you’re solo, you have to drop the canister, kill the wave, pick it up, and repeat. It’s tedious but necessary. You’re looking to trap a "Big Shot" soul—specifically a high-tier HVT (High Value Target) Mangler or Abomination.
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The Church Finale
Once you’ve fed the machine enough souls, the Church transforms. The "Citadel" part of the name really starts to make sense here. You’ll be locked in. The final encounter isn't a traditional boss fight with a giant health bar at the bottom of the screen; it’s a test of endurance. You’ll face waves of elites.
- Priority 1: The Abominations. If they charge, you’re done.
- Priority 2: The Screamers. They disorient you.
- Priority 3: The basic shamblers. They’re just there to block your movement.
If you have the Ray Gun as a secondary, use it for crowd control. If not, the GS-45 with explosive rounds (if you've leveled it up) is a surprisingly viable alternative.
Things Most People Get Wrong About Liberty Falls
I see it every time I matchmake. Players think the bowling alley is a good place to camp. It’s not. It has two exits, and both can be easily overrun. The best place to hold out is actually the rooftop near the Quick Revive machine. You have clear lines of sight and an easy jump-down point if things get hairy.
Another mistake? Ignoring the crafting table. In Black Ops 6, salvage is king. You should be constantly upgrading your weapon rarity. A legendary tier wall-buy is better than a Pack-a-Punched "Common" weapon every single time. The math just works out that way.
Why the Citadelle des Morts Atmosphere Matters
There’s a lot of debate in the community. Is Liberty Falls too "bright"? Does it feel like a "Warzone" map? While the daytime setting is a departure from the traditional gothic horror of Der Eisendrache, the citadelle des morts guide highlights that the horror is in the details. The environmental storytelling in the church, the blood-stained pews, and the weird machinery protruding from the altar—it’s all very "mad scientist meets cosmic horror."
The difficulty spike around Round 25 is real. The game stops playing nice. You’ll start seeing multiple Manglers per wave. This is where your Augments come into play. If you haven't researched your Major and Minor Augments for the Juggernog or Speed Cola, you’re basically playing on Hard Mode for no reason.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
If you want to beat the Citadel today, follow this exact sequence:
- Round 1-5: Melee only. Build points. Do not buy a single door until Round 5.
- Round 6: Open the path to the Church. Activate the terminal.
- Round 7-10: Collect the Jet Gun parts. Don't worry about Pack-a-Punch yet.
- Round 12: Build the LTG. This is the "sweet spot" for difficulty before the heavies start spawning in groups.
- Equipment Check: Always carry Kazimir grenades or Monkeys. If you get cornered in the comic shop, a well-placed Kazimir is the only thing saving your run.
The reality of Liberty Falls is that it rewards players who move. Static players die. Whether you're chasing the "Bye-Bye, Dark Aether" trophy or just trying to see how high you can round-flip, the Citadel is a test of your ability to manage resources under pressure. Use the rooftops. Abuse the zip-lines. Keep your armor plates full.
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Go get 'em.
Next Steps:
Focus on unlocking the Major Augment: Proximity Mine for extra crowd control during the canister escort phase. Also, ensure your Weapon Classes for Shotguns are maxed out, as the Marine SP is currently the most broken point-blank weapon for clearing the Church interior.