Call of Duty Black Ops II Die Rise Easter Egg Guide: Mastering High Maintenance

Completing the Call of Duty Black Ops II die rise easter egg, famously known as "High Maintenance," is a rite of passage for any serious Zombies fan looking to master the Victis storyline. This quest is notoriously difficult due to the map's vertical layout and the precision required for its platforming-heavy steps. To successfully navigate the Call of Duty Black Ops II die rise easter egg, players must coordinate with a full team of four, as solo attempts are impossible for the main quest.

Whether you are seeking to aid the manipulative Edward Richtofen or the desperate Ludvig Maxis, this guide provides the tactical breakdown necessary to activate the second Pylon and mend the rift. Below, we explore the prerequisites, the divergent paths, and the community-reported strategies to overcome the glitches that often plague this skyscraper-bound nightmare.

Preparation and General Requirements

Before you drop into the crumbling skyscrapers of Shanghai, you must ensure your game settings are correct. The Call of Duty Black Ops II die rise easter egg cannot be completed on "Easy" difficulty; the game must be set to "Original" for the quest items and symbols to trigger. Furthermore, while some later maps allowed for smaller groups, High Maintenance strictly requires four players from start to finish.

It is also highly recommended that players build the NAV Table. While the table itself isn't a direct part of the "steps" in the way a weapon is, it is essential for the overarching "Super Easter Egg" that concludes in the Buried map. Player experience suggests that standing on the golden symbols in Step 2 may occasionally fail to trigger if the NAV Table hasn't been established in the world.

Table 1: High Maintenance Overview

Step 1: Power and the Elevator Symbols

The first objective is universal for both paths: turn on the power. The power switch is located in the building with the elevators, near the Sliquifier buildable table. Once the power is active, the elevators will begin to move, and the quest officially begins.

For Step 2, all four players must locate the golden symbols on top of the elevators. These symbols are etched into the floor of the elevator cars. Each player must stand on a symbol simultaneously. Be extremely careful; if an elevator reaches the top floor while you are standing on it, you will be crushed and instantly downed.

Table 2: Elevator Symbol Locations

Once all four players are positioned correctly, the symbols will glow, and you will hear dialogue from both Maxis and Richtofen. This indicates the step is complete.

Step 3: The Floor Symbols and the Sniper Shot

Following the elevator step, four golden symbols will appear on the floors throughout the map. These are identical to the ones found on the elevators. Players must step on these symbols in a specific sequential order. This order is randomized every game, so community reports suggest a "trial and error" method. If a player steps on a symbol and it stays lit, they have found the next one in the sequence. If it flashes and turns off, the sequence has reset.

Floor Symbol Locations:

• Near the M14 in the spawn building.
• Above the AK74u wall-buy.
• On the rooftop, to the left of the Semtex grenades.
• Past the SVU-AS, near the cafeteria area.

After the symbols are lit, you must acquire a Sniper Rifle (the SVU-AS or DSR-50 work best). Look toward the giant decorative dragons on the roof. Inside each dragon's mouth is a small, glowing ball. You must shoot both balls out of the mouths. Once successful, the balls will teleport to the starting room, resting under the paws of the lion statues near the Olympia.

Choosing Your Path: Richtofen vs. Maxis

At this stage, the Call of Duty Black Ops II die rise easter egg splits into two distinct paths. Your choice will determine the color of the tower at the end and which "side" is saved to your profile for the Buried endgame.

Table 3: Path Comparison

Richtofen’s Path: The Blood Sacrifice

If you choose Richtofen, the player with the Sliquifier must go to the lion statues in the spawn room. You must shoot the balls with the Sliquifier until they begin to spin rapidly. This usually requires about 20 direct hits per ball.

Once the balls are spinning, Richtofen will demand a "blood sacrifice." Players must then place four Trample Steams on specific zombie symbols located around the map. These symbols are golden circles with a zombie silhouette.

Table 4: Richtofen's Zombie Symbol Locations

The Trample Steams must be oriented to face the radio tower. Once placed, you must kill zombies using the Trample Steams. Community reports indicate that you don't necessarily need to kill them; simply having the Trample Steams "fling" zombies or players toward the tower can trigger the completion. Richtofen will speak to Samuel Stuhlinger once this is done, signaling you to move to the final step.

Maxis’ Path: Reincarnation and the Buddha Room

The Maxis path is significantly more complex and requires specific weapon upgrades. First, players must pick up the balls from the lion statues. Note that there is no inventory icon for this; you simply interact with the statue.

Next, head to the "Buddha Room." Maxis will ask for "reincarnation." You must kill approximately 15 zombies on the floor of the Buddha room. If any zombies are killed outside the room during this process, the counter may reset.

One player must have the Ballistic Knife and Pack-a-Punch it to become "The Krauss Refibrillator." Crucial Note: The player holding this weapon must NOT have purchased the Galvaknuckles or the Bowie Knife, and they must not have bled out during the game. Fire the Refibrillator at the floor in the Buddha room to satisfy Maxis' requirements.

The Trample Steam and Ball Step

Players must place their Trample Steams on the four lion symbols found on the ground (different from the zombie symbols used by Richtofen).

1. Spawn: Near the left staircase.
2. Quick Revive: At the bottom of the escalator.
3. Rooftop: Near the dual elevators.
4. Rooftop: Near the lone elevator in the east corner.

Place the balls onto the Trample Steams. They should begin to bounce back and forth between the devices. If done correctly, an orange energy surge will emit from the radio tower.

The Mahjong Tiles: The Ultimate Puzzle

The final step for both sides involves the Mahjong tiles. There are eight tiles hidden across the map in eleven possible spawn locations. These tiles correspond to the four directions (North, South, East, West) and numbers 1 through 4. You must find them to determine the order in which to hit the four corners of the radio tower with Galvaknuckles.

Table 5: Common Mahjong Tile Spawns

Pro Tip: The tile for the number "1" is often a bird symbol (bamboo) rather than a standard digit, which frequently confuses new players. Once you have determined the order (e.g., North is 1, East is 2, etc.), have a player with Galvaknuckles hit the tower legs in that specific sequence.

Completing the Quest and Rewards

Once the tower is struck in the correct order, it will erupt with energy—blue for Richtofen or orange for Maxis. All four players will immediately receive all six perks available on the map (Juggernog, Speed Cola, Quick Revive, Double Tap II, Mule Kick, and Who's Who).

Unlike the rewards in maps like Moon, these perks are not permanent. If a player is downed, they will lose their perks and must rebuy them or wait for a Max Ammo/Perk Bottle drop. However, the completion is saved to your Call of Duty profile, and the Die Rise icon on the world map will now glow with the color of the side you completed.

For many, the Call of Duty Black Ops II die rise easter egg is a test of patience. The map is prone to glitches, particularly during the Mahjong step. If the tower stops glowing after an incorrect hit, you must wait until the start of the next round to try again.

FAQ: Call of Duty Black Ops II Die Rise Easter Egg

Can I do the Call of Duty Black Ops II die rise easter egg with only two players?

No, the "High Maintenance" quest requires exactly four players. Several steps, such as the elevator symbols and the Trample Steam placements, are hard-coded to detect four players simultaneously.

What happens if I fail the Mahjong tile sequence?

If you hit the radio tower legs in the wrong order, the tower will lose its glow. You cannot attempt the step again during the same round. You must progress to the next round for the tower to reset and become interactable again.

Do I need the Sliquifier for the Maxis path?

While the Sliquifier is a powerful tool for survival, it is only mandatory for the Richtofen path of the Call of Duty Black Ops II die rise easter egg. For Maxis, your primary focus should be the Ballistic Knife (Krauss Refibrillator) and the Trample Steam.

Is the Maxis or Richtofen ending canon?

According to the official Zombies Timeline released by Treyarch, the Maxis side of the quest is the canon ending for the Victis crew's journey through Die Rise, leading directly into the events of Buried.