Let’s be real for a second. If you’re booting up Der Riese for the hundredth time, you aren't there for a complex, soul-crushing quest like Revelations or Gorod Krovi. You’re there because you want that hit of nostalgia. You want the Pack-a-Punch open by round six. But more importantly, you’re probably trying to trigger the COD BO3 The Giant Easter egg to get that extra perk slot or just to see the Annihilator pistol sitting in the furnace. It’s a classic. It’s simple. Yet, people still mess it up because they overthink the fly trap.
The Giant is a weird map in the Black Ops 3 cycle. It was a pre-order bonus that basically rebooted the entire storyline, giving us the "Primis" versions of Dempsey, Nikolai, Takeo, and Richtofen. It’s a remake of a 2008 map, but the 2015 mechanics changed the flow.
Why the Fly Trap is Still the Best "Mini" Quest
Most players call it the "Fly Trap." Technically, it’s the only real "main" quest on this map, even if it feels tiny compared to the madness of Shadows of Evil. The beauty of it is the speed. You can do the whole thing in about three minutes once the power is on.
First off, you need a Pack-a-Punched weapon. Don't bother trying it with a wall-buy or a base ray gun; it won't work. The game specifically checks for that "Upgraded" flag on your weapon. Most people grab the RK5 or the Shieva early on, pack it, and head straight to the back of the map.
Go to the area near the animal testing labs—you know, where the power switch is. Look through the chain-link fence toward the snowy forest. You’ll see a little control panel or a "trap" setup way out in the distance. Aim down sights. Fire. If you hear Samantha's voice giggling, you’ve started it. It’s that simple, yet I’ve seen people dump three magazines into the woods because their aim was off by a pixel.
Hunting the Hidden Items
Once the giggling starts, you’re on a scavenger hunt. It isn't random. There are three specific items you need to find, and they’re all tied to the history of Group 935.
The Teddy Bear is the first one. It’s hiding in a balcony window near the teleporter in the garage area (Teleporter Z-A). You have to jump to see it sometimes, or just aim high. When you shoot it, it disappears with another giggle.
The Monkey Bomb is next. This one is tucked away inside one of the furnaces. Not the big one in the center, but the one located in the room with the Bowie Knife. It’s small. It’s dark. Turn your brightness up if you’re struggling.
Finally, you need to find the Teddy Bear in the water. Head over to the power-up drop area near the cooling towers. Look into the murky water vat. Once you hit that third item, Samantha will say something along the lines of "Thanks for playing," and the Annihilator will spawn back in the furnace near the starting area.
The Secret Perk That Everyone Forgets
The COD BO3 The Giant Easter egg isn't just about a pistol that loses its one-shot-kill capability by round 25. It’s about the hidden perk bottle.
There is a mound of snow near the teleporter farthest from the power switch. If you look closely, there’s a perk machine buried under there. To get it, you have to use the teleporters repeatedly. Specifically, you need to trigger the "link" process and hope the RNG gods are on your side.
Back in the day, the community spent weeks trying to figure out if there was a specific sequence. "Do I have to jump while teleporting?" "Does it only happen on dog rounds?" Honestly, no. It’s a random drop chance associated with using the teleporters after the Fly Trap is active. Eventually, the snow will clear, and you’ll have access to either Stamin-Up or Deadshot Daiquiri. On this map, Stamin-Up is a life-saver for training in the spawn room. Deadshot? Not so much, unless you’re grinding headshot camos for the Drakon.
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The Story Significance (For the Lore Nerds)
We have to talk about why this map exists. This isn't just a remake for the sake of a remake. This is the moment Richtofen 2.0 kills Richtofen 1.0. It changed everything in the Aether story.
When you complete the COD BO3 The Giant Easter egg, you aren't just getting a weapon; you're acknowledging the shift in the timeline. The radios scattered around the map—which you should definitely listen to if you care about the plot—detail Maxis’s desperate attempts to find his daughter and the rising tension between the four characters. They don't trust Richtofen. Why would they? He just shot himself in the face.
The Annihilator itself is a nod to Black Ops 3 multiplayer, but in the context of Zombies, it represents the bleeding over of different realities. It's a Specialist weapon, a concept that became a staple in later maps like Der Eisendrache with the bows or Zetsubou No Shima with the skull.
High Round Strategy Post-Easter Egg
Once you’ve got your Annihilator and your extra perk, what’s next? The Giant is the fastest map for XP grinding. Period.
Most veteran players don't stay in the catwalk anymore. The "Catwalk Strategy" is iconic—everyone lines up with Drakons and Dingos and just sprays heads—but it fails around round 35 or 40 because you get trapped too easily.
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If you want to go for round 100, you train in the spawn room. Leave the door to the Shieva room closed. This forces the zombies to come from only a few directions. Use the Alchemical Antithesis Gumball to keep your ammo up. Use the Annihilator sparingly; it’s great for clearing a path if you get cornered, but it doesn't give you drops, which is a huge downside.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the Pack-a-Punch: You cannot trigger the first step with a regular Vesper. I've watched players waste 10 rounds trying to hit the panel with a base gun.
- Missing the "Giggle": If you don't hear Samantha laugh, the next items won't spawn. Check your audio settings. Sometimes the game sounds are drowned out by the constant gunfire.
- The Wrong Furnace: There are several glowing spots in the map. The Annihilator only appears in the one near the Bowie Knife/Power area.
- Grenade Fails: You don't need grenades for this. Some old World at War guides suggest using them—ignore that. This is Black Ops 3. Use bullets.
Your To-Do List for the Next Match
Next time you drop into the snow, follow this specific flow to maximize your efficiency. Don't just wander around.
- Round 1-4: Stay in the spawn room. Knife only. Maximize points.
- Round 5: Open the way to the power. Turn it on immediately.
- Round 6-8: Get enough points to Pack-a-Punch your favorite wall gun (the KN-44 is solid).
- The Trigger: Immediately go to the fence and trigger the Fly Trap.
- The Loop: Hit the balcony bear, the furnace monkey, and the water vat bear in one single loop around the map.
- The Reward: Grab the Annihilator.
- The Long Game: Start spamming the teleporters to uncover the hidden perk machine in the snow.
There is no "major" cutscene here. No boss fight. No ending credits. But completing the COD BO3 The Giant Easter egg is a rite of passage. It marks the transition from the old-school survival style to the objective-heavy gameplay that defined the rest of the Black Ops 3 season. It’s the ultimate warmup for the harder maps. Now, get back in there and stop letting the dogs corner you in the teleporter rooms.