Black Ops 7 Zombies: Every Relic & Best First Pick

In Black Ops 7 Zombies, relics are equippable artifacts that grant passive bonuses or active abilities, and the best one to equip first is the Blood Relic for its universal survivability boost. This article explains what each relic does, how to unlock and upgrade them, and which one to prioritize based on your playstyle.

What Are Relics in Black Ops 7 Zombies?

Relics are a new equipment slot introduced in Black Ops 7 Zombies, separate from your tactical, lethal, and field upgrades. Each relic provides a passive bonus that persists for the entire match, and some have an active ability triggered by a button press (usually LB+RB on console or L+Shift on PC). Relics are earned through gameplay—completing main quests, reaching high rounds, or finding them in the map—and can be upgraded at the Relic Altar using Salvage and Essence.

Every Relic and Its Effect (Full List)

There are currently six relics in the base game (more may be added via DLC). Here’s what each one does:

• Blood Relic – Passive: +50 max health and regenerates health faster. Active: “Blood Rage� – for 10 seconds, melee attacks deal 3x damage and you take 50% less damage. Unlock: Reach round 15 on any map.
• Shadow Relic – Passive: Move 10% faster and reload 15% faster. Active: “Shadow Step� – teleport forward a short distance, leaving a decoy that draws zombies for 5 seconds. Unlock: Complete the Liberty Falls main quest.
• Storm Relic – Passive: 20% chance to chain lightning to a nearby zombie when you deal damage. Active: “Storm Call� – strike all zombies within 15 meters with lightning, stunning them for 3 seconds. Unlock: Reach round 25 on Terminus.
• Solar Relic – Passive: 10% faster weapon swap and 10% faster field upgrade charge. Active: “Solar Flare� – emit a blinding flash that stuns all zombies in a 20-meter radius for 4 seconds and reveals enemy health bars. Unlock: Complete the Terminus main quest.
• Umbral Relic – Passive: 25% more Essence earned, and you take 10% less damage from special enemies. Active: “Umbral Ward� – become immune to all damage for 3 seconds, but you cannot move or shoot. Unlock: Reach round 20 on any map.
• Frost Relic – Passive: 15% chance to slow enemies on hit. Active: “Frost Nova� – freeze all zombies within 10 meters for 5 seconds. Unlock: Find the hidden Frost Relic in the Citadelle des Morts map.

How to Unlock and Upgrade Relics

Relics are not available from the start. You must unlock each one by meeting specific in-game conditions (as listed above). Once unlocked, you can equip them in the Loadout menu before a match, or change them at a Relic Altar during a game (found near the spawn area on each map).

Upgrading a relic costs Salvage (earned by killing zombies and completing objectives) and Essence (the main currency). Each relic has three tiers:

• Tier 1 (Base) – Unlocks the passive and active ability.
• Tier 2 (Upgraded) – Enhances the passive and active (e.g., Blood Relic max health +75 instead of +50).
• Tier 3 (Master) – Adds a bonus effect (e.g., Blood Relic also gives a 10% damage reduction).

Upgrade costs increase per tier, so prioritize the relic you use most.

Which Relic Should You Equip First? (Tier List)

For most players, the Blood Relic is the best first choice because it increases your health and survivability, which is crucial in the early rounds when you don’t have many perks. It’s a passive bonus that helps every playstyle, from beginners to veterans.

If you prefer a faster, aggressive playstyle, the Shadow Relic is a close second—its movement speed and reload speed boost are excellent for training zombies and getting out of sticky situations.

For high-round players, the Umbral Relic becomes more valuable because of the Essence bonus and damage reduction against specials. However, its active ability is situational (you can’t move or shoot), so it requires practice.

Here’s a quick tier list based on general usefulness:

• S-Tier: Blood Relic (survivability), Shadow Relic (mobility)
• A-Tier: Storm Relic (offensive), Umbral Relic (economy)
• B-Tier: Solar Relic (utility), Frost Relic (crowd control)

But the “best� relic ultimately depends on your playstyle. If you’re a rusher, Shadow Relic is better; if you’re a camper, Storm or Frost might suit you better.

How to Use Relics Effectively (Tips & Combos)

Relics are not just passive buffs—they can be combined with perks, field upgrades, and wonder weapons for powerful synergies. Here are some practical tips:

• Blood Relic + Juggernog: With Juggernog (which gives +100 health), Blood Relic’s +50 health pushes you to 200 max health, making you extremely tanky. This combo is ideal for solo players.
• Shadow Relic + Stamin-Up: The movement speed bonus stacks with Stamin-Up, letting you outrun zombies even on higher rounds. Use the active to escape when cornered.
• Storm Relic + Electric Cherry: The chain lightning from Storm Relic triggers Electric Cherry’s effect, creating a devastating area-of-effect damage combo.
• Umbral Relic + Crate Power: The Essence bonus helps you buy more perks and pack-a-punch earlier, so pair it with a weapon that benefits from early upgrades.

Also, remember that you can only have one relic equipped at a time. If you want to switch mid-match, you must find a Relic Altar, which is usually in the starting area or near the pack-a-punch machine.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Many players misunderstand how relics work. Here are the most common pitfalls:

• Thinking relics are permanent unlocks: Relics are not permanent upgrades. They are consumable in the sense that you have to equip them each match, and they don’t carry over between games.
• Ignoring the active ability: Some players only focus on the passive bonus and forget to use the active ability. The active can be a lifesaver, so bind it to an easily accessible button and practice using it.
• Upgrading every relic equally: Since Salvage is limited, focus on upgrading one relic to Tier 3 before investing in others. A Tier 3 Blood Relic is far better than three Tier 1 relics.
• Not switching relics for different maps: Some relics are better on certain maps. For example, the Frost Relic’s freeze effect is great on tighter maps like Liberty Falls, while the Shadow Relic’s teleport is useful on larger maps like Terminus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use multiple relics at once?

No, you can only equip one relic at a time. However, you can switch relics at a Relic Altar during a match, but this costs a small amount of Essence (500 Essence).

Do relics work in co-op games?

Yes, relics work in co-op, but only the person who has the relic equipped gets its benefits. They do not affect teammates unless the active ability has an area-of-effect (like Storm Call, which can stun zombies near teammates).

How do I upgrade a relic?

Go to a Relic Altar and interact with it. You’ll see the upgrade menu. You need Salvage and Essence to upgrade. The cost increases with each tier: Tier 2 costs 500 Salvage and 5000 Essence, Tier 3 costs 1000 Salvage and 10000 Essence.

What is the best relic for high rounds?

For high rounds (50+), the Blood Relic is generally best because the extra health and damage reduction help you survive hits that would otherwise down you. The Umbral Relic is also good if you’re farming Essence to buy perks, but its active ability is risky.

Are relics available in all game modes?

Relics are only available in Zombies mode. They are not usable in Multiplayer or Warzone. In Zombies, they are available in all maps, but you must unlock them first.

Can I get relics from the Mystery Box?

No, relics are not in the Mystery Box. They are unlocked via specific achievements or found in hidden locations on maps. Once unlocked, they appear in your Loadout menu.

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