The Aether is calling, and it’s up to you to brave the undead horrors in search of the invaluable resource. Courtesy of The Heat, the sixth season of Call of Duty: Mobile, the Aether Hunt themed event celebrates the return of zombies with a host of undead-themed rewards. Zombified Richtofen, anyone?

Read on for an overview of the event plus tips to start you out right when Aether Hunt goes live on August 6 at 5pm UTC. 

The Aether Hunt Begins

The infamous Dr. Edward Richtofen is performing experiments on Aether and its effect on the undead menace. To assist in his research and development—possibly our only hope for survival—it’s up to you to help him collect and process the Aether.

Complete tasks in the new Undead Siege mode, Multiplayer, and Battle Royale to collect ore containing Aether. Yellow ore is acquired by completing Daily Tasks in Multiplayer and Battle Royale; the more valuable purple ore can only be earned by completing Main Tasks in Undead Siege, assigned by Richtofen himself. Thus, zombie slaying is your best means of progressing quickly.

The more Aether you collect, the more rewards you’ll unlock, including the zombified Richtofen – Turned Operator Skin and the FR .556 – Undead Watcher. On the way you’ll earn Weapon Blueprints and Vehicle Skins from the Horde and Infected Series, the Sticker – Crack Skull, and Charm – Zombie Head.

Undead Siege – The Fundamentals

The most lucrative means of acquiring Aether is by completing tasks for purple ore in the new Undead Siege mode. If you haven’t yet jumped into the new mode, or if you’re still learning the ropes, here’s a quick guide to help you earn the most Aether possible in each run:

Day: Eliminate Zombies, Collect Resources

In Undead Siege, your squad deploys to the Isolated Battle Royale map where you must survive over a period of five days and five nights. During the day your goal is to collect as many resources as possible. Find resources by eliminating wandering zombies, exploring the environment, and—best of all—completing missions. 

Night: Battle the Horde, Protect Your Base

At night, the horde attacks in relentless waves, intent on destroying your mobile base. To improve your chances of survival, spend Essence and other acquired materials in Turret Management to place and upgrade turrets for a massive boost to your squad’s firepower.

Through Richtofen’s ingenuity, you will gain access to a variety of turret options, from fast-firing Sentry Turrets to the slower but more powerful Grenade Turret. The mobile base also features a Shop where you can buy ammo, Scorestreaks, and weapons.

Face off against new and tougher zombies as the nights progress, like Necromancers, who provide barriers for other nearby zombies; Hazmat zombies that emit poisonous AOE clouds; and Igniters, who will run right at your turrets or base and explode on impact. Other enemies like the Warden, Pulverizer, and Heavy Gunner will push your squad’s skills to the limit. Use everything at your disposal to counter the growing menace and protect your base.

Face off against new and tougher zombies as the night progresses, like energy-infused support types who provide barriers for other zombies; toxic elite zombies that emit poisonous AOE clouds; and fiery elite zombies, who will run right at your turrets or base and explode on impact. There are many other enemy types that will challenge your survival as well and push your squad’s skill to the limit. Use everything at your disposal to counter the growing menace and protect your base.

5 Tips for Expert Aether Hunters

5. Get Purple Ore and More in Undead Siege. Not only will you earn Aether at a faster rate by playing Undead Siege, but you’ll also progress through the new mode’s unique 25+ grindable rewards. Why not work toward Tank Dempsey – Turned at the same time as Richtofen – Turned?

4. Share Your Resources. The better equipped your team, the better your chances of surviving the next night attack. In Undead Siege, utilize the mobile base’s Public Warehouse to dump items from your Bag Storage into an inventory that everyone can access. This is great for sharing resources and items amongst the team.

3. Check Back with Richtofen. Richtofen’s Main Tasks are more challenging than the event’s Daily Tasks, and they’re sequential, too. Check back with the doctor between matches so you know exactly what he needs from you in the next deployment.

2. Upgrade Your Turrets! Even with all four of your turrets deployed, they won’t last long against the tougher enemies unless you upgrade them accordingly. This is where daytime resource gathering becomes so important, allowing you to transform your turrets into a variety of deadly configurations.

1. Improve Your Talents for the Long Run. Between matches you can spend earned Aether to permanently upgrade your abilities via Talents. Talents come in five varieties: Turret Weapon, Turret Armor, Weapon Upgrade, Toughness, and Advanced Tools. Each offers its own advantages, with ten levels in each category. The more Talents you have, the better your chances against the horde.

See you online.

For the latest Call of Duty Mobile news, visit the Call of Duty: Mobile website, as well as Call of Duty: Mobile on YouTube. Also follow Call of Duty: Mobile on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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