In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies, survival doesn't have to end in defeat. While the classic round-based experience once forced players to fight until they fell to the undead, modern Zombies continues the Exfil system-allowing you to extract safely and end the match on your own terms. Ashes of the Damned, the launch map for Black Ops 7 Zombies, follows that same formula, offering players a high-risk, high-reward method of escaping the Dark Aether.

If you're wondering how Exfil works in Black Ops 7 Zombies, when you can trigger an extraction, how to defeat the HVT, and what rewards you get for escaping, this guide covers everything you need to know.

How to Exfil in Ashes of the Damned

Exfil in Ashes of the Damned revolves around three telephone booths scattered across the map. These booths act as your extraction points, but you can't use them freely-there are strict timing and gameplay requirements to trigger an Exfil attempt.

Exfil Availability

Exfil becomes available every 5 rounds starting at Round 11:

·Round 11

·Round 16

·Round 21

·Round 26

When an Exfil window begins, the game displays an on-screen notification letting you and your squad know that extraction is possible.

Exfil Phone Booth Locations

There are only three Exfil points in Ashes of the Damned:

1. Janus Towers Plaza

2. Blackwater Lodge

3. Ashwood

During an active Exfil window, only one of these telephone booths will glow and become interactable. This active booth remains available for only a few minutes. If the round ends-or if no one interacts with the opportunity disappears until the next 5-round interval.

Starting an Exfil Attempt

To begin the extraction process:

1. Locate the active telephone booth on the map.

2. Interact with the booth to call in the extraction.

3. A vote prompt will appear for all players.

§If you're playing solo, the vote automatically proceeds.

§In co-op, each player can vote independently.

Important: Not everyone needs to Exfil. You can extract alone even if your teammates stay behind.

Once approved, the Exfil encounter begins immediately.

Exfil Objective: Eliminate the HVT

Every Exfil attempt in Ashes of the Damned requires you to kill a single, extremely powerful target:

An elite Zursa bear variant acting as the HVT (High-Value Target).

This HVT is far tougher than a standard Elite. It features:

·High health

·Aggressive attacks

·Increased mobility

·Heavy damage output

You'll have 2 minutes to defeat it.

Tips for Surviving the HVT Fight

To make the encounter manageable, you should prepare ahead of time:

1. Pack-a-Punch Your Weapons

You're unlikely to kill the HVT in time without at least a PaP Tier 1 weapon. Higher tiers make the fight dramatically easier.

2. Bring Strong Perks

Prioritize:

·Jugger-Nog for health

·Speed Cola for reload speed

·Quick Revive (especially in solo)

·Stamin-Up for mobility

3. Upgrade Your Armor

Tier 2 or 3 Armor helps you tank stray hits from zombies or the HVT.

4. Use Scorestreaks

War Machine, Death Machine, or even something like Guard Dog can help melt the HVT quickly.

5. Ignore Regular Zombies

Although zombies spawn during the Exfil event, you don't need to kill them. The only objective is to eliminate the HVT. Keep your attention on the target and keep moving.

Failing to kill the HVT within the 2-minute timer results in instant death and game over, so make sure you're fully geared before starting an Exfil.

Finishing the Exfil

Once the HVT is killed, return to the active telephone booth. Interact with it again to enter the Exfil Portal.

You'll be transported to a Safe House, triggering the Successful Exfil game-over screen. This ends your match cleanly and counts as a legitimate extraction.

What Does Exfil Do in Black Ops 7 Zombies?

Exfilling is essentially the game's way of letting you "win" a round-based Zombies match.

Here's what Exfil provides:

1. A Clean Match Ending

Instead of dying or quitting, you can end the match at a moment of your choosing. This is especially useful for players completing challenges, grinding XP, or rotating through Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies for fast leveling.

·End your match on your own terms

·Avoid losing to a random mistake

·Stop whenever you're done grinding

2. Bonus XP

Exfilling awards extra experience for completing the extraction objective. While the bonus isn't massive, it's a nice reward and helps speed up Battle Pass and weapon progression.

3. Possible Gobblegum Rewards

There are indications that Exfil may occasionally grant Gobblegum rewards, though the drop rate appears to be low. It's not guaranteed, but it's another incentive to extract rather than die.

4. Individual Exfil in Co-Op

This is one of the best new features:

Players do NOT have to Exfil together.

If you want to leave but your friends want to keep going:

·You can vote to start Exfil

·Kill the HVT

·Enter the portal alone

·Your teammates can continue the match normally

This flexibility is fantastic for mixed-skill groups, long sessions, or players who buy CoD Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies and need to reset for a new farming cycle without interrupting others.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're grinding high rounds, farming XP, or pushing for challenges, Exfil is one of the most essential mechanics in Black Ops 7 Zombies. In Ashes of the Damned, mastering the timing, booth locations, and HVT encounters will help you extract safely and avoid losing a great run to a single mistake.