Ashes of the Damned Side Quest

Quest Overview

This side quest adds narrative context to Ashes of the Damned and unlocks a permanent salvage buff for your squad. You’ll open a sealed bunker, defend a prototype reactor, and earn free dragon cannon ammo crates every five rounds. The quest can be completed alongside the main Pack-a-Punch progression; total runtime is under 15 minutes with a coordinated team.

Prerequisites

• Reactor power restored.
• At least one contract completed in each district (Cryo Trenches, Rooftop Loop, Reactor Core).
• Access to the helipad via the grappling hook unlocked during Pack-a-Punch progression.

Step 1 – Reactor Contracts

Complete three reactor contracts—escort, bounty, or outlast—within the central district. After each success, look for a glowing rune on the reactor console. When all three are lit, the helipad glyph phase becomes available.

Tips

• Run contracts during dog rounds to minimize interference from elites.
• Use the Tesla turret blueprint; contracts spawn more mini-bosses than standard rounds.
• If playing solo, kite zombies in Cryo Trenches while objectives progress.

Step 2 – Helipad Glyph Puzzle

Travel to the helipad above the observation deck. Five glyphs are etched into the snowbanks and building walls. Shoot them in the correct order to unlock the bunker elevator.

1. Stand on the helipad center and listen for the humming tone.
2. Shoot glyphs according to tone pitch (lowest to highest). They glow orange when hit correctly.
3. If you hit the wrong order, zombie spawns intensify for 30 seconds—use this time to farm salvage and try again once they calm down.

Step 3 – Bunker Activation

With glyphs solved, a hidden elevator near the helipad railing opens. Ride it down to the bunker, interact with the terminal, and brace for a timed defense event lasting two minutes.

• Layout: Tight rectangular room with two doorways. Position one player at each doorway and two near the terminal.
• Enemies: Stormcallers, Manglers, and scorched zombies spawn in waves. Shock mines and molten traps are extremely effective.
• Objective: Keep the terminal health above 50%. Deploy Ring of Fire when double elites spawn simultaneously.

Step 4 – Audio Log and Reward

After surviving the defense, the bunker reveals an audio log plus loot crates. You’ll receive:

• Permanent +15% salvage drop rate for the remainder of the match.
• One free dragon cannon ammo crate every five rounds (spawns beside the Pack-a-Punch forge).
• A lore entry explaining how the bunker tied into the failed cryonic experiments.

Troubleshooting

• Terminal health dropping quickly? Drop claymores before starting and assign one player to repair the terminal with essence (interact prompt appears at 50% health).
• Glyphs not appearing? Re-check contract requirement. Each district must be cleared; missing one prevents glyph activation.
• Elites overwhelming solo players? Trigger the bunker event right after a dog wave. Fewer base zombies plus slower elite spawns make it manageable.

Recommended Loadout

• Cryo Freeze or Brain Rot for crowd control.
• Shotgun or Tyr pistol for elite burst damage.
• Energy Mine or Frenzied Guard to protect the terminal.
• Decoy grenades to redirect scorched zombies when reloading.

Complete this side quest once per match to keep your salvage economy thriving and to maintain dragon cannon uptime during deep-round pushes.

Lore Rewards and Audio Log Highlights

The unlocked audio log reveals details about Dr. Halstead’s failed attempt to weaponize cryonic storms. Listen closely: the second half hints at future DLC by mentioning “Terminus Antechambers” and a mysterious architect. Translating the Russian whisper at the end (“khvoynyy”) points to a conifer forest location—likely teasing the next map. Completing the side quest in multiple matches unlocks extra diary pages scattered throughout the facility, each offering XP bonuses when scanned.

Speedrun Tips

1. Contract Stacking: Activate two contracts simultaneously and end both within 90 seconds. The rune counter still increments, shaving minutes off the run.
2. Glyph Memorization: The glyphs always spawn in the same spots. Screenshot them on your first run and reference the numbering yourself to avoid mistakes.
3. Terminal Burst Windows: Use the dragon cannon alternate fire in short bursts during the defense. Continuous beams overheat and leave you exposed.
4. Resource Split: Assign one player to salvage collection mid-event. The loot piles that spawn around the bunker often contain rare salvage; grabbing them ensures everyone can craft self-revives before the next major objective.

Practicing these optimizations turns the side quest into a seven-minute errand that fits neatly between Pack-a-Punch cycles or story steps.

Timer Management

Keep an eye on the quest clock located above the helipad elevator. If it dips under three minutes, skip contract stacking and rush straight into the bunker defense. The timer pauses during cutscenes but not while looting, so grab drops only after the objective completes.