You're standing in the mud of the Citadelle des Morts, the rain is slicking the screen, and honestly, you’re probably lost. It happens. This map is a labyrinthine nightmare designed to make you second-guess every corner you turn. But the reason you're here—the reason anyone is still grinding through the undead hordes in this specific corner of the game—is for the Swords Citadelle des Morts. These aren't just mid-tier loot drops. They are the backbone of the map's entire mechanical ecosystem. If you don't have them, you're basically just a tourist waiting to get mauled.
Most players think they can just stumble upon the swords by clearing waves. That's a mistake. A big one. The swords are tied to a specific, slightly cryptic ritual sequence that requires more patience than raw aim. It’s about understanding the geometry of the Citadel. You have to look at the environment not as a battlefield, but as a puzzle that wants to kill you.
🔗 Read more: Solitaire Online Game Classic: Why We Still Can’t Stop Sorting Digital Cards
Why the Swords Citadelle des Morts Are Essential
Let's get one thing straight. You aren't just picking up a piece of sharpened steel. In the context of the Citadelle des Morts gameplay loop, the swords serve as both a high-damage melee option and a key for late-game progression. Without them, certain barriers remain locked, and the "Easter Egg" or main questline stays firmly out of reach.
The damage scaling on these blades is absurd. Early on, they one-tap almost everything. By the time you hit the higher rounds, the elemental infusions—which we'll get into—become the only thing standing between you and a very quick game-over screen. It’s the difference between panicked backpedaling and actually controlling the flow of the horde.
The Step-by-Step Reality of the Sword Quest
Forget the "easy 3-minute" guides you see on social media. They skip the nuances. To get the Swords Citadelle des Morts, you first need to activate the three spectral altars scattered around the lower ramparts.
First, there’s the Altar of Woe. It’s tucked away near the flooded cellar. You'll know you're close when the ambient audio shifts from "moaning zombies" to "unsettling whispers." You have to feed this altar. Not with items, but with souls. Stay within the glowing radius. If you step out, the progress resets. It's punishing. It's annoying. It's the Citadelle.
Once that’s done, you head to the North Watchtower. This is where most people mess up. There is a specific wall carving that only glows after the Altar of Woe is quenched. You need to interact with it using a lethal grenade or a specific tactical equipment piece, depending on your current loadout. This triggers the second phase.
The third altar? It’s in the courtyard. Right under the nose of the main gate.
- Fill the Altar of Woe (Cellar)
- Trigger the Wall Carving (North Watchtower)
- Defend the Courtyard Altar for 60 seconds
When the third altar is complete, a spectral knight spawns. He’s not a boss, but he’s beefy. Don't waste your ammo. Use the environment. Trap him near the portcullis. Once he falls, he drops the hilt. That hilt is the "base" for all Swords Citadelle des Morts variations.
Elemental Variations: Which One Should You Build?
You have choices. This is where the strategy actually kicks in. You can’t have all of them at once (unless you’re playing co-op and coordinating like a pro team), so you have to pick the one that fits your playstyle.
The Flame-Tongue Blade
This is the "crowd control" king. It applies a DOT (Damage Over Time) effect that spreads. If you’re a player who likes to train zombies in a tight circle, this is your best friend. The fire leap attack clears a path through even the thickest mobs.
The Frost-Bite Saber
Great for solo players. It slows down the heavy hitters. If you’re struggling with the armored giants that spawn after round 15, the Frost-Bite variant buys you the time you need to reload or reposition. It turns a chaotic fight into a slow-motion execution.
The Void Edge
The high-skill, high-reward option. It has a lower swing speed but features a teleportation mechanic. You can basically "blink" through enemies. It’s risky. If you blink into a corner, you’re dead. But if you master the timing, you become a ghost.
Common Misconceptions About the Citadelle Loot
I’ve seen people claiming online that you can "find" the swords in the Mystery Box. You can't. Stop wasting your points. The Swords Citadelle des Morts are strictly quest-bound items. If you see someone with one in Round 4, they didn't get lucky with a box pull; they optimized their movement and completed the altar steps before the difficulty spiked.
Another myth is that the swords break. They don't. They do, however, require "recharging" at the altars if you use their special elemental abilities too frequently. The base melee damage is always there. The magic stuff? That has a cooldown. Manage it wisely.
Master the Movement
The Citadelle is vertical. Use that. When you have the sword equipped, your lunge distance increases significantly. You can actually use the lunge to jump across gaps in the broken stone walkways that you otherwise couldn't clear. This opens up flanking routes that the zombies simply cannot follow.
Basically, the sword isn't just a weapon. It's a traversal tool.
Expert Tactics for High Rounds
- Don't camp. Even with the sword, the Citadelle's spawns are designed to flush you out.
- The "S" Curve. When using the Flame-Tongue, run in an "S" pattern to maximize the fire spread across the horde.
- Priority Targets. Use the heavy slam (usually mapped to your secondary fire) specifically for the Sirens. Their screams will stun you, making the sword useless. Kill them first.
The Swords Citadelle des Morts represent a peak design in this map. They reward map knowledge over twitch reflexes. You have to earn them, and once you do, the entire power dynamic of the game shifts in your favor. It’s satisfying. It’s visceral. It’s exactly why we play these types of maps in the first place.
Actionable Next Steps
To successfully claim and master the swords, follow this sequence in your next session:
- Prioritize Points Early: Don't buy perks immediately. Use your starting pistol to farm points until you can open the door to the flooded cellar by Round 4.
- Soul Harvest: Begin the Altar of Woe immediately. The zombies are weaker, making it much safer to stay inside the ritual circle.
- Upgrade Path: Decide on your elemental variant before you finish the third altar. You’ll need the specific elemental essence (Fire, Ice, or Void) which drops from the elemental catalysts that start appearing around Round 10.
- Practice the Lunge: Spend a few minutes in a cleared-out area practicing the "lunge-jump." Mastering this movement will save your life when you get cornered in the narrow corridors of the upper ramparts.
Success in the Citadelle isn't about how fast you can shoot; it's about how well you know the steel in your hand. Get the hilt, choose your element, and stop running from the dark.