Zombies Mode Perk-a-Cola Guide

Welcome, Slayers! In the relentless world of Black Ops II Zombies, Perk-a-Colas are your lifeblood, offering crucial advantages that can turn the tide against the undead horde. This comprehensive guide will detail each Perk-a-Cola, its effects, typical locations, and strategic applications to maximize your survival.

Understanding Perk-a-Colas

Perk-a-Colas are special drinks dispensed from unique vending machines found throughout each Zombies map. Each perk costs a certain amount of points and grants a specific, permanent buff for as long as you remain alive. Losing all your health and being downed will cause you to lose all your purchased perks. Therefore, strategic perk acquisition and preservation are paramount.

Essential Perk-a-Colas and Strategies

Quick Revive

Cost: 1500 points (Solo), 500 points (Co-op)
Effect:
- Solo: Automatically revives you three times per game if you go down. After the third revive, the machine disappears.
- Co-op: Significantly reduces the time it takes to revive downed teammates.
Strategic Use:
- Solo: This is your absolute first purchase. The three self-revives are invaluable for early rounds and saving high rounds from an unexpected down. Prioritize getting this as soon as possible, ideally by round 2 or 3.
- Co-op: While not as critical for personal survival as in solo, it's a strong support perk. If you're often the one reviving teammates, or playing with less experienced players, Quick Revive is a solid investment.
Typical Locations: Often found in the starting room or very close to it on most maps (e.g., the bus depot in TranZit, the main room in Green Run).

Juggernog

Cost: 2500 points
Effect: Increases your maximum health from 100 to 250, allowing you to take significantly more hits from zombies before going down.
Strategic Use: This is arguably the most important perk for survival. After Quick Revive (if playing solo), Juggernog should be your next priority. The increased health dramatically improves your survivability, especially in later rounds when zombies hit harder. Always aim to get Juggernog before round 5 if possible.
Typical Locations: Often in a central or high-traffic area, requiring a few doors to be opened (e.g., the Diner in TranZit, the main building in Nuketown Zombies).

Speed Cola

Cost: 3000 points
Effect: Doubles your reload speed and reduces the time it takes to repair barricades.
Strategic Use: Essential for any weapon, but particularly vital for weapons with long reload times (e.g., LMGs, shotguns, rocket launchers) or when facing overwhelming numbers. Faster reloads mean less vulnerability and more consistent damage output. It also helps immensely with keeping barricades up, though this is less of a priority in higher rounds.
Typical Locations: Can be found in various accessible areas, sometimes requiring power to be turned on (e.g., the Power Room in TranZit, the main street in Buried).

Double Tap II Root Beer

Cost: 2000 points
Effect: Increases your weapon's fire rate by 33% and fires two projectiles per shot instead of one (effectively doubling damage per shot for most weapons).
Strategic Use: A game-changer for damage output. This perk is crucial for progressing into higher rounds, as it significantly boosts your ability to kill zombies. It's especially effective with high-damage, low-fire-rate weapons or when combined with Pack-a-Punch upgrades. Aim to get this after Juggernog and Speed Cola for maximum efficiency.
Typical Locations: Often found in areas that require some progression into the map (e.g., the Town in TranZit, the bank in Buried).

Stamin-Up

Cost: 2000 points
Effect: Increases your sprint speed and the duration you can sprint.
Strategic Use: While not a direct combat perk, Stamin-Up is incredibly useful for kiting zombies, creating space, and navigating large maps quickly. It's a strong choice for players who prefer to run trains or need to escape tight situations. Consider it a high-priority perk on larger maps like TranZit.
Typical Locations: Often in more open or expansive areas of the map (e.g., the Farm in TranZit, the outside area of Die Rise).

PhD Flopper (Only on specific maps, e.g., Die Rise via Wonderfizz)

Cost: 2000 points
Effect: Grants immunity to explosive damage (from your own weapons or zombie attacks) and creates an explosion when diving from a height.
Strategic Use: If available, this perk is fantastic for players who enjoy using explosive weapons like the RPG or grenades without self-damage. The dive explosion can also clear out small groups of zombies. Its utility is highly map-dependent.
Typical Locations: Primarily found through the Wonderfizz machine on maps like Die Rise, where perks are randomized.

Deadshot Daiquiri

Cost: 1500 points
Effect: Improves hip-fire accuracy, reduces weapon sway, and automatically snaps your aim to a zombie's head when aiming down sights (ADS).
Strategic Use: A solid perk for players who prioritize headshots. It makes precision aiming much easier, especially with high-recoil weapons. While not as universally critical as Juggernog or Speed Cola, it can significantly boost your point generation and kill efficiency.
Typical Locations: Can be found in various locations, sometimes in less central areas (e.g., the Power Room in TranZit, the rooftop in Die Rise).

Electric Cherry (Specific to Mob of the Dead, Buried, Origins)

Cost: 2000 points
Effect: When reloading, an electric shockwave is emitted, damaging and stunning nearby zombies. The more ammo in your magazine, the stronger the shockwave.
Strategic Use: An excellent defensive perk, especially when cornered or surrounded during a reload. It provides a crucial buffer and can save you from being downed. Highly recommended on maps where it's available, particularly in tight spaces.
Typical Locations: Found on maps like Mob of the Dead, Buried, and Origins.

Who's Who (Specific to Die Rise)

Cost: 2000 points
Effect: When downed, you respawn as a ghost-like entity with a pistol. You can then attempt to revive your own body. If successful, you keep your perks. If you fail or are killed as a ghost, you fully die.
Strategic Use: A high-risk, high-reward perk. It offers a second chance, but requires careful play to succeed. It's more viable in co-op where teammates can clear a path for your ghost, but can be a lifesaver in solo if you're skilled at navigating.
Typical Locations: Exclusively found on the map Die Rise.

Vulture Aid Elixir (Specific to Buried)

Cost: 2500 points
Effect: Zombies drop small bags of points and ammo more frequently. You can see perk machines, wall weapons, and the Mystery Box through walls. Zombies also emit a green gas when killed, which deters other zombies.
Strategic Use: A fantastic utility perk for point generation, ammo conservation, and situational awareness. The ability to see key items through walls is incredibly helpful on a complex map like Buried, and the zombie-deterring gas can provide crucial breathing room.
Typical Locations: Exclusively found on the map Buried.

General Perk Strategies

Prioritize Survival: Always get Quick Revive (solo) and Juggernog first. These two perks are the foundation of any successful high-round run.
Damage and Reload: Speed Cola and Double Tap II Root Beer should be your next acquisitions to ensure you can effectively kill zombies and maintain a steady stream of fire.
Situational Perks: After the core four, consider perks like Stamin-Up for mobility, Deadshot Daiquiri for headshot precision, or map-specific perks like Electric Cherry or Vulture Aid Elixir based on your playstyle and the map's layout.
Perk Limit: Remember that you can only hold a limited number of perks (usually 4, unless a specific Easter Egg or Gobblegum allows more). Choose wisely!
Power First: Most Perk-a-Cola machines require the power to be activated before they can be used. Prioritize turning on the power early in your game.
Wonderfizz Machines: On some maps, a "Wonderfizz" machine dispenses random perks for a higher cost. This can be a way to get perks not normally available on that map, but it's a gamble.

Mastering the use of Perk-a-Colas is a cornerstone of becoming a true Zombies veteran. Plan your purchases, adapt to the map, and keep those sodas flowing!