If you have been hammering away at the new Ashes of the Damned map since the big launch of Black Ops 7 Zombies, you definitely know the vibe. You are trying to blitz through the Main Quest, you have got your setup dialed in, but then the game just hits the brakes. It is honestly super frustrating that Elite Enemies, which have been a staple mechanic for years, do not naturally show up until Round 16. That feels like an eternity when you just need one specific item drop from the new Zursa zombie bear. While some folks might jump into a CoD BO7 Bot Lobby just to test out weapon damage against these things in a controlled setting, doing it in a real match is a different beast. This massive undead bear is terrifying, sure, but it is the only way to push the story forward. Thankfully, the community figured out you do not actually have to wait that long. There is a sneaky Skulls Easter Egg that forces a spawn right when you want it, which is huge for speedrunners.

Getting the Right Gear

Before you go running around looking for this monster, you have got to make sure your inventory is sorted. You cannot just start blasting these hidden skulls with your starting pistol or even a standard Pack-a-Punch weapon because it simply won't work. You specifically need the map's Wonder Weapon, the Necrofluid Gauntlet. If you do not have this weird alien weapon in your hands yet, make that your priority. Once you have acquired the Gauntlet, head straight over to the Zarya Cosmodrome area. The mission here is pretty straightforward: there are three hidden skulls tucked away in the environment. You need to shoot them with the Wonder Weapon until their eyes glow a creepy green. The cool part is you can hit them in any order, and they are always in the same spot.

Locating the First Two Skulls

Let's talk about where these things are actually hiding because they can be easy to miss. For the first one, head to the center of the Cosmodrome and keep your eyes peeled for the ramp. If you look to the east from the top of that ramp, check the base of the wall. There is a small, dark hole down there, and the skull is sitting right inside. It is super easy to walk past if you are sprinting away from a horde, so take a second to check. The second skull requires a bit of awkward positioning. Go over to the southeast corner where the zipline is. Do not go up it; instead, stand near it and look out of the Zombie spawn window. You need to look up and to the right. There is a metal beam out there, and the skull is perched right on top. It is a tricky angle, so make sure you are safe before you start aiming.

Triggering the Boss Fight

For the final skull, you need to find the Wallbuy in the area. Look behind it and scan the environment. There is another metal beam structure back there, and the last skull is resting on it. Once you pop that third skull with the Necrofluid Gauntlet, get ready for a scrap. A Zursa with glowing purple eyes is going to spawn immediately. It is not necessarily stronger than a normal one, but it is still a tanky enemy that can ruin your run if you are careless. It is worth noting that using BO7 Bot Lobbies can be a decent way to practice these specific locations without zombies swarming you, but once you are in the real game, you have to be quick. Remember, you can only do this trick once per match, so make it count if you are rushing for that quest item.