You’re staring at a wall in the basement of a tavern, zombies are screaming in the distance, and you have no idea why you’re looking at a scorpion or a pair of bird skulls. Welcome to the Citadelle Des Morts experience. Honestly, the void sword cheat sheet isn't just a luxury in Black Ops 6 Zombies; it’s a survival requirement if you don’t want to be the guy who dies while trying to remember if Pisces is a water or air sign.
Getting the Balmung (the fancy name for the upgraded Void Sword) is a multi-step headache. But it’s worth it. Imagine a melee weapon that doesn’t just slice—it creates a literal black hole that sucks in every shambling corpse within ten yards. It’s basically a pocket-sized Gersch Device that recharges.
The Zodiac and Element Cheat Sheet
Before you even touch the sword, you have to find an antiquity. This is a random drop, usually found on a desk in the Alchemy room. Depending on what you pick up, your "password" for the puzzle changes. You’ve basically got five variations. Don’t guess. If you mess up the rotation, you’re just wasting time.
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Here is the quick-reference guide for matching your trophy to the symbols:
- The Fish Fossil: This is Pisces. You need to align the Pisces zodiac symbol with the Water element (the inverted triangle).
- The Horn: This represents Aries. Match it with the Fire element (the standard upright triangle).
- Two Bird Skulls: This is Gemini. You’ll need the Air element, which is the triangle with a horizontal line through the top.
- The Jawbone: This is Leo. Like Aries, this matches with the Fire triangle.
- The Scorpion: This is Scorpio. Match this with the Water symbol (the inverted triangle).
Basically, you go to the pub basement, stick your sword and the antiquity in the wall, and rotate those rings until the correct symbols are sitting right over that little green arrow at the bottom.
Filling the Portals Without Dying
Once you enter the code, a portal opens. This is where it gets kinda sweaty. Purple orbs will start floating around. You need to lead these orbs into the portal. You need three per location.
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The portals move. They don't just stay in the basement. First is the cellar. Then it’s the first floor of the bar. Finally, the second floor.
Pro tip: Don’t try to do this in the middle of a high round unless you have a teammate babysitting the last zombie. The orbs move slow. You move fast. If you get too far ahead, they lose interest. You have to stay close, basically kiting them like a shepherd leading weird, glowing sheep.
Is the Balmung Actually Good?
Look, I’ve seen people say it’s not worth the effort. They’d rather just use the Light Sword or spam Kazimirs. They aren't entirely wrong—the recharge time on the Void Sword's special ability (the L2/R2 or LT/RT pull) is a bit long.
However, in the late game, having a "get out of jail free" card that doesn't cost salvage is huge. The standard melee swing is fast, but that void portal? It’s a lifesaver when you get cornered in the tight corridors of the Citadelle. It sucks them in, holds them, and lets you reload or reposition.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
- Grab the Antiquity early. It’s in the Alchemy room on the desk. Do this as soon as you open that area.
- Clear the basement. Make sure you have enough points to open the pub and the basement before you start the quest.
- Note your symbol. Check your inventory. If you see the Bird Skulls, you're doing Gemini/Air. If it's the Fish, it's Pisces/Water.
- Stay with the orbs. Don't sprint away. Walk backward and guide them into the floor portals.
- Upgrade at the wall. After the third portal, go back to the basement, interact one last time, and pick up your new purple death machine.
The void sword cheat sheet is really about memorizing those five pairs. Once you know them, you can finish the whole upgrade in about five minutes. Stop guessing at the zodiac wheel and just get the blade.