Dempsey PTSD Easter Egg Guide — Complete Good Soldiers Trophy Walkthrough for Ashes of the Damned
This guide is a complete, original walkthrough to unlocking the Good Soldiers trophy/achievement by completing the Dempsey Easter Egg in Black Ops 7 Zombies. It covers preparation, step‑by‑step objectives, required items, recommended loadouts and perks, map and puzzle breakdowns, co‑op roles, speedrun tactics, common failure points, troubleshooting, and a comprehensive FAQ. Every step is rewritten and explained in clear, actionable terms to help you and your team finish the Easter egg consistently, whether you want a relaxed run or a fast completion for trophy hunting.
What this guide covers
Full step sequence from setup to trophy pop.
Item and perk recommendations tuned for both solo and co‑op play.
Puzzle and build locations explained so you never miss an objective.
Boss fight tactics for the Dempsey encounter.
Speedrun and casual routes depending on your team and goals.
Troubleshooting and recovery tips for common mistakes.
FAQ with concise answers to the most asked questions.
Who this guide is for
Players chasing the Good Soldiers trophy.
Teams wanting a reproducible, efficient Easter egg route.
Solo players aiming to complete the sequence with patience and optimized play.
Content creators making tutorial videos or walkthroughs who need a polished script.
Quick summary (fast checklist)
Get Pack-A-Punch access early.
Prioritize Pack mule/Ammo perks and one heavy weapon.
Collect the four Dempsey relic pieces (locations detailed below).
Complete puzzle interactions at the War Room, Dockside, and Chapel.
Assemble the Dempsey device and activate the ritual at the Bunker.
Defeat the Dempsey boss waves, then the final wave to trigger the trophy.
Finish with the closing interaction to earn Good Soldiers.
Preparation and recommended settings
Difficulty and game settings
Play on classic Zombies difficulty that matches your skill: higher difficulty increases enemy toughness but also XP and drop value. For trophy hunting, normal to veteran difficulty is optimal for reproducibility.
Enable scoreboard and HUD details to track objectives and timers.
If you have difficulty toggles for enemy density or loot, keep them default for consistent pacing.
Party size and roles
Solo: doable but slow and high execution demand. Use a high-damage build and conservative puzzle pacing.
2–4 players: ideal. Assign roles:
Player A: objective runner / puzzle activator.
Player B: Pack‑A‑Punch and heavy weapon / train manager.
Player C: Support (revives, supply runs, ammo distribution).
Player D: Boss wave anchor (keeps spawns focused, handles special enemies).
Recommended perks and field upgrades
Must-haves: Juggernaut equivalent (survivability), Speed perk for objective travel, Ammo/Resupply perk, and a revive/holding perk if available.
Nice-to-haves: Damage boost or headshot perks; mobility perks for puzzle runs.
Field upgrades: Deployable turret or cryo bomb for boss wave control; instant revive or team stim for clutch saves.
Loadout suggestions
Primary: High DPS assault rifle or light machine gun for general waves.
Secondary: Pack‑A‑Punch‑ready heavy (launcher or shotgun) for boss phases.
Equipment: Frag or sticky grenades, tactical flash/shock to control crowds.
Wonder Weapon: If map provides a wonder weapon, secure it—its utility is invaluable for boss control and puzzle safety.
Step 1: Early map control and resource acquisition
Spawn objectives and initial rotations
From spawn, hit the nearest power switch or generator objective to open early access routes. Prioritize doors that lead to the Bunker and War Room, since both areas host early puzzle steps and relic spawns.
Open the minimum number of doors to conserve points.
Use melee on early zombies to build points quickly for the first buy.
Aim to open the Weapon Bench and Perks rooms before round 4–5.
Build economy fast
Avoid unnecessary weapon swaps or rapid fire until you have basic perks.
Keep headshots where possible; conserve ammo on low rounds.
Use the first mystery box or wall guns only to bridge to a stable primary weapon.
Early item priorities
Perks: Get the movement and survivability perks first.
Pack-A-Punch access: Complete the map‑specific requirement ASAP.
Mystery box: Grab a solid early wonder weapon if available; otherwise, focus on a reliable AR or SMG.
Step 2: Collecting the Dempsey relic pieces
The Easter egg requires assembling a set of relic pieces tied to Dempsey’s memories. These spawn in multiple map zones. Each piece has a small environmental puzzle or timed interaction. Below are each piece locations and how to obtain them reliably.
Piece 1 — War Room Plaque
Location: Look for a bronze plaque or display inside the War Room.
How to obtain: Interact with the plaque and complete the short waves spawned; clear three consecutive rounds of small minions to reveal the relic shard.
Tip: Bring a second player to hold the door while the objective runner finishes the waves.
Piece 2 — Dockside Canister
Location: Dock area near the loading bay.
How to obtain: Solve the light sequence puzzle—find the lit buoys and mirror each sequence at the console. Correct sequence spawns the canister.
Tip: One player should watch the buoys while another flips the console switches to avoid missed inputs.
Piece 3 — Chapel Locket
Location: Hidden inside the chapel bell tower.
How to obtain: Ring the bell in the correct rhythm found on scattered sheet music around the chapel; the bell will drop the locket.
Tip: Memorize or pause to note the rhythm pattern—mistakes reset the trial and spawn a small horde.
Piece 4 — Bunker Dog Tags
Location: Deep within the bunker’s supply room.
How to obtain: Place three specific items (map tokens found while exploring) into the locker. The locker will eject the tag set when the correct combination is used.
Tip: Mark each token location physically (callouts) so teammates can quickly fetch them when requested.
Step 3: Assemble Dempsey device
After collecting all four relic pieces:
Head to the Assembly Station (central workshop near the Bunker entrance).
Interact with the assembly console; it will prompt combination order—place pieces in the order indicated by the in-game voice logs or mural hints present on the assembly table.
Wait for the animated cutscene; enemies will spawn. Hold position and clear waves around the assembly location until the sequence completes.
Key points:
Keep an escape route open; assembly attracts heavy spawns.
Use area denial gadgets (deployable turret, traps) to control mob flow.
Assign one player to watch for objective cues so the team stays synced.
Step 4: Ritual activation and tower puzzles
With the device assembled, you now must perform the ritual at three tower nodes across the map. Each ritual node requires a timed interaction and mini‑puzzle.
Node A — North Tower (Signal calibration)
Find the signal console and align the radio frequencies.
Use directional inputs to sync signal bars; a correct alignment triggers a voice line and lights on the tower.
Time limit: usually 45–60 seconds. Have a teammate watch for stragglers.
Node B — East Tower (Memory beacon)
Place an illuminated relic into the beacon socket.
While the beacon charges, a phantom wave appears—clear or avoid until it finishes charging.
Tip: Use a teleport or high mobility to return to safety if overwhelmed.
Node C — South Tower (Guardian seal)
Solve the rune puzzle: rotate glyphs to match the mural pattern.
Once matched, the tower emits a pulse that unlocks the final ritual stage.
Mistakes spawn heavy mini-bosses specific to this node.
After all three nodes are active, a central portal opens near the Bunker core. This triggers the Dempsey boss sequence.
Step 5: The Dempsey boss encounter — phases and strategies
The Dempsey boss encounter is multi-phased. Understanding each phase and assigning responsibilities makes the fight much easier.
Boss summary
Phase 1: Swarm control and objective defense.
Phase 2: Add waves plus a heavy Dempsey shade.
Phase 3: Final ritual defense while damaging the core.
General boss fight tips
Communication is critical. Call out phase changes and health status.
Use zoning techniques (traps, nukes) to clear large waves quickly.
Stagger specialist abilities between players to ensure constant crowd control.
Phase 1 — Spawn and anchor
The boss spawns with two heavy adds. Focus fire the adds first while a designated player holds the boss with a high‑damage weapon.
Use sticky or explosive weapons on the add group clusters to minimize ammo consumption.
Keep an eye on environmental hazards; the map may shift or close doors.
Phase 2 — Shade and summons
The boss becomes partially invulnerable, summoning spectral Dempsey clones and faster zombies.
Targets: prioritize the clones that buff the boss; when these die, the boss becomes vulnerable again.
Use high single-target damage (Pack‑A‑Punch shotgun or heavy weapon) when the boss staggers.
Phase 3 — Final core and ritual
The final objective requires players to stand on specific plates or input sequences to stop the ritual countdown.
While plates are held, teammates must deal sustained DPS to the boss. Rotate holders to avoid being overwhelmed.
If the ritual reaches zero, expect an immediate wipe; prioritize plate security over high-risk damage windows.
Speedrun tactics and timing
If you’re hunting a fast completion for trophy farming or streaming content, follow this optimized route:
Round pacing: get the main perks and Pack‑A‑Punch by round 6–7.
Relic spawn prioritization: coordinate team members to split up immediately after Pack‑A‑Punch to pick relics concurrently.
Minimal looting: skip optional side objectives unless they supply required items.
Boss loadout: one dedicated heavy weapon player and one support with ammo/perk resupplies.
Callouts: use short, clear phrases for each phase: “Node A ready,” “Relic 1 secured,” “Boss phase two incoming.”
Typical speedrun completion: 30–45 minutes with a coordinated 4‑player team on veteran difficulty.
Fail points and recovery strategies
Even with a plan, runs can fail. Here’s how to recover from the most common problems.
Missed relic spawn
If a relic despawns or is missed, don’t panic. Backtrack calmly, but be mindful of the round count—higher rounds make pickups risky.
Assign the fastest player to fetch the relic while the rest train and hold spawns in a safe loop.
Puzzle resets
Puzzle resets often spawn extra zombies or mini-bosses. Use the resets to your advantage: bait them into trap zones and farm points while another player reattempts the puzzle.
Player down during final ritual
If a player is downed and revival is risky, use the field revive or push the ritual pace: two players holding plates can still complete if DPS is high and rotations are quick.
Consider a re-attempt if more than one player is down and the ritual timer is low.
Ammo exhaustion
Ration ammo during non-boss waves. Use wall weapons for early rounds and keep one guaranteed ammo source (turrets, ammo crates) accessible.
Pack‑A‑Punch weapons with ammo economy perks reduce reload pressure.
Solo strategies (if you insist)
Solo runs are feasible but demanding. Principles to succeed solo:
Open the maximum number of escape routes early to give yourself rotation space.
Prefer hit-and-run tactics: kite zombies around longer corridors, using traps to thin waves.
Invest in mobility and self-revive perks.
Use deployable field upgrades to hold objectives while you perform rituals.
Expect a 2x–3x longer completion time versus a coordinated 4‑player team.
Co-op synergy and role optimization
A coordinated team reduces complexity dramatically. Here’s how to allocate tasks for the smoothest run:
Runner: fastest player, collects relics and activates puzzle consoles.
Anchor: high-DPS player who holds boss aggro and clears high-health threats.
Support: manages ammo and revives, sticks near mid-route chokepoints.
Backup/Float: assists with puzzles and fills gaps as needed.
Communication template:
Short, numbered callouts for relics (e.g., “Relic 2 — Dockside: got it”) and node syncs (e.g., “Node B charged in 10s”).
Advanced tips and tricks
Use environmental hazards wisely. Many maps include map-specific traps that one player can toggle at crucial ritual moments to save ammo and time.
Learn the spawn timer patterns for relics to predict where they’ll appear on subsequent runs.
If speed matters, micro‑manage the box: if you get a wonder weapon early, keep it until Pack‑A‑Punch to avoid wasting a box pull after it’s upgraded.
Record and review your runs to spot slowdowns. Small time losses add up—streamline movement and reduce inventory menu time.
Trophy/achievement specifics and verification
The Good Soldiers trophy triggers immediately after the ritual completion cutscene and scoreboard recognition.
Ensure all team members remain in the match until the end of animation; leaving early can prevent trophy triggers for those who disconnect mid‑cutscene.
For trophy synchronization across platforms, verify your console/launcher sync after the match to ensure cloud records the achievement.
FAQs
What exactly is the Good Soldiers trophy?
The Good Soldiers trophy is awarded for successfully completing the Dempsey Easter Egg storyline on the specified Black Ops 7 Zombies map. It requires assembling Dempsey’s relic device, activating the ritual at three nodes, and surviving the boss encounter to its completion.
Can I earn the trophy solo?
Yes, solo completion is possible but highly challenging. You need exceptional map knowledge, optimized movement, and survivability perks. Expect more time and retries than with a coordinated team.
How many players are recommended?
A 2–4 player team is recommended, with four players offering the best reliability and fastest runs due to role distribution and redundancy.
Do I need specific DLC or map packs?
Yes, you must be on the correct Black Ops 7 Zombies map that contains the Dempsey Easter Egg. Ensure you have the map pack or season that includes the map and its story content.
What happens if a teammate leaves mid‑run?
If a teammate disconnects, you can continue, but the run becomes harder. Some trophy systems require all participating players to stay until completion for their individual trophies to register, so staying together is advised.
Are there any exploits or glitches to speed this up?
This guide focuses on legitimate strategies. Exploits and glitches are often patched and can risk bans or invalidated trophies. Stick to reproducible routes and team coordination.
How long will it take to get the trophy?
A coordinated 4‑player team can complete in 30–45 minutes on average. Solo runs or uncoordinated teams can take significantly longer.
Do I need a Wonder Weapon?
A wonder weapon is not strictly required but highly recommended. Its crowd control and burst damage make boss phases and ritual defense much easier.
Can I retry a failed ritual without restarting the game?
Some maps allow immediate retries of certain puzzle nodes; others require you to fully restart the ritual if a critical fail occurs. If in doubt, reset the round by leaving and rejoining a private match—this ensures a clean state for trophy attempts.
How to avoid the most common failure?
The biggest issues are missed relics and ritual timer failure. Assign a dedicated runner for relics and always prioritize holding ritual plates over high‑risk DPS windows close to timer expiry.
Troubleshooting checklist (quick)
Trophy didn’t unlock? Check that you stayed in the match until the cutscene ended on your console and that your system’s achievement/trophy sync is functioning.
Puzzle not spawning? Confirm you have all prerequisites: specific doors, power, or item placements vary by map.
Boss too strong? Reevaluate loadouts—bring more high‑single target weapons and focus on clone spawns first.
Relic not appearing? Confirm earlier nodes are completed and check known spawn rotation points.
Closing tips and recommended practice runs
Run practice rounds just to learn relic locations without attempting the full Easter egg—this reduces pressure and builds muscle memory.
Create short role rotations with your regular team and practice each puzzle until each member can perform their role blind.
Use an overlay or checklist in your stream or recording to keep the team on the same page during speedruns.
Final checklist before you start a serious run
Power and Pack‑A‑Punch path unlocked.
Primary perks: survivability, speed, ammo.
Wonder weapon or reliable heavy on hand.
Roles assigned and communication method established.
All team members understand node sequences and puzzle triggers.
Agreement to stay in the match until the end cutscene.
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