It is the sound. That high-pitched, chirping pew-pew that defined a generation of late-night gaming sessions. If you played World at War back in 2008, you remember the sheer panic of being cornered in Nacht der Untoten, desperately hitting the Mystery Box, and seeing that glowing green barrel rise from the chest. The ray gun isn't just a weapon. Honestly, it is the soul of the entire Zombies mode.
But things have changed. A lot.
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Back in the day, if you had the ray gun, you were essentially a god until round 20. Now? Players argue about whether it’s even worth a slot in your inventory when compared to modern "Wonder Weapons" like the Thundergun or the Apothicon Servant. Despite the power creep, the ray gun remains the most iconic piece of hardware in Treyarch's arsenal. It represents a specific era of gaming where secrets were found by accident and "revive me, I have the ray gun" became the universal plea of the downed teammate.
The Mystery of Porter’s X2 Ray Gun
Most people think the gun is just some random sci-fi asset the developers threw in. It isn't. According to the deep, often confusing lore of the Aether Storyline, the ray gun was developed by Dr. Ludvig Maxis of Group 935. It was actually based on designs stolen from the Imperial Japanese Army. Specifically, it was the brainchild of a researcher named H. Porter. That is why, when you shove it into a Pack-a-Punch machine, it becomes the Porter's X2 Ray Gun.
The upgrade doesn't just change the color of the bolts to red. It significantly bumps the ammo capacity. You go from 20 rounds in a mag to 40. Total reserve ammo jumps to 200. It’s a beast.
However, there is a massive downside that beginners always forget. Splash damage. If a zombie is chewing on your kneecaps and you fire the ray gun, you are going to hurt yourself. In the early games, without the PhD Flopper perk, you could accidentally end your own high-round run just by panicking. It's a weapon that demands respect and a bit of distance.
Why the Ray Gun Fell Out of Favor (and Came Back)
For a few years, the community actually started hating on the classic weapon. By the time Black Ops 3 rolled around, the "Wonder Weapon" meta had shifted. People wanted the bows from Der Eisendrache or the KT-4 from Zetsubou No Shima. The ray gun started to feel... weak.
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The problem was the damage scaling.
In older titles, the ray gun damage wasn't infinite. It did a fixed amount of splash and impact damage. By round 35 or 40, the zombies became "bullet sponges," and the green rings of light would just knock them over instead of killing them. This created "crawlers." While crawlers are great for taking a bathroom break at the end of a round, they are a nightmare in the middle of a horde.
Then came Black Ops Cold War.
Treyarch realized their mascot was falling behind. They buffed the ray gun into the stratosphere. In the Cold War era, the weapon gained rarity tiers. A "Legendary" or "Ultra" tier version of the gun became a legitimate tool for reaching round 100 again. It felt like 2008 all over over again, but with better textures. It’s funny how gaming cycles work. What was once old and "trash" becomes the must-have meta item again with just a few tweaks to the numbers.
The Physics of the Ray: Impact vs. Splash
Understanding how this thing actually works is key to not dying. It doesn't fire bullets. It fires "plasma envelopes."
- Direct Hits: These do the most damage but require precise aiming, which is hard when twenty screaming undead are sprinting at you.
- Splash Damage: This is what makes the weapon famous. You can shoot the ground at a zombie's feet to blow their legs off.
- Velocity: Unlike the assault rifles in the game, the ray gun is not hitscan. There is a travel time. You have to lead your shots.
If you're playing on a map like Kino der Toten, the strategy is simple: train the zombies in a circle on the stage, turn around, and fire into the feet of the pack. If you have the Mark II version—introduced in Buried—it’s even better because that one fires in three-round bursts and has zero splash damage. It’s a completely different beast.
Finding the Ray Gun: It’s Not Just Luck
Okay, mostly it's luck. The Mystery Box is a cruel mistress. We've all spent 10,000 points only to end up with a Teddy Bear and a move to a new location. But across the history of Call of Duty, there have been "Easter Eggs" to get the weapon for free.
In World at War's "Little Resistance" campaign mission, you can actually find the ray gun by jumping in specific puddles on the beach. It was the first hint that Zombies was going to be something special. In later maps, like Die Maschine, you can get it through the "Coffin Dance" Easter Egg or by completing high-level trials.
Basically, if you are relying solely on the box, you're playing a losing game. You've gotta use the side quests.
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The ray gun is a symbol of the struggle between Group 935 and Division 9. It’s a piece of history. When you hold it, you aren't just holding a powerful gun; you're holding the very thing that started the "Wonder Weapon" craze. Without it, we wouldn't have the Wunderwaffe DG-2 or the Ray Gun Mark III (the dual-wielded version from Gorod Krovi that literally creates black holes).
Actionable Tips for Your Next Run
If you want to actually survive into the high rounds using the ray gun, stop treating it like a pistol. It's a handheld rocket launcher.
- Prioritize PhD Flopper/Slider. If the map has it, get it. This negates the splash damage you deal to yourself. It turns the weapon from a liability into a point-blank powerhouse.
- Don't Pack-a-Punch too early. In some games, the ammo cost to refill a Pack-a-Punched weapon is way higher. Wait until the base version stops one-shotting zombies before you spend those 5,000 points.
- Aim for the waist. Aiming for the head with a ray gun is actually a waste of time due to the projectile size. Aiming for the mid-section ensures that even if you miss slightly, the splash damage still hits the legs and slows the horde down.
- Pair it with a "Bullet Weapon." You need something to generate points. The ray gun is terrible for point-building because it kills too fast or creates crawlers. Keep an SMG or an Assault Rifle in your second slot to rack up cash, then pull out the ray for emergencies.
The ray gun remains the gold standard for secret weapons. It is the rare case of a developer getting a design so right on the first try that they can't ever truly get rid of it. Whether you are a veteran of the Shi No Numa swamps or a newcomer in the latest seasonal update, that green glow is a welcome sight in a dark room full of zombies.
To maximize your efficiency, always track the box location by looking at the light in the sky, but never spend your last 950 points on a gamble. Use the weapon as a defensive tool to clear a path when you get trapped, rather than a primary tool for clearing the map. The reload speed is its greatest weakness, so Speed Cola isn't just a suggestion—it’s a requirement.