Operation Infestation – BO7 Christmas Zombies Guide

Listen up, operator. We’re dropping into the Black Ops 7 Christmas Zombies event on a mission to unlock the elusive Infestation camo. This is no ordinary camo – it's a mark of ultimate mastery in BO7 Zombies, earned through grit and completing a gauntlet of holiday challenges. Your objectives are clear: survive the Listkeeper Challenge (the event’s twisted holiday trial), complete all challenges (solo or with your squad), and take down the final boss to secure the Infestation camo. This guide will walk you through how to unlock the Infestation camo in Black Ops 7, step by step, with tactical tips at every turn. Stay sharp, use your tools, and remember: “Naughty or nice” isn’t just a saying here – it’s life or death.

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Before deployment, gear up with a loadout optimized for both survival and completing challenge objectives. Whether you run this solo or co-op, preparation is key. Here’s the recommended arsenal for solo operatives and fireteams:

Additional Gear: Always carry self-revive (if solo, an emergency Self-Revive kit is your lifeline). In co-op, craft or find Self-Revive Kits for each member so a downed teammate can get back up if others can’t reach them in time. Also, keep Stimshots or healing injectors in your tactical slot if available – a quick heal can save you when sprinting between fires or tanking a hit from the boss.

Now that you’re outfitted, let’s move to the mission proper. Remember: stick to the plan, but be ready to adapt.

The Listkeeper Challenge is the core of the Christmas Zombies event – a sequence of deadly trials set by some “holiday spirits” testing naughty vs. nice. Completing all objectives in this gauntlet is how you’ll earn the coveted event camos (like Mutilate and ultimately Infestation). Here’s your tactical walkthrough, both solo and co-op:

Objective 1: Ignite the Beacon Fires (Warm the Map)

Upon spawn, you’ll find the map engulfed in a bitter winter chill. Your first task is to light a series of beacon fires around the starting area. Sprint to each marked brazier and ignite it. There are several (reports say 3) fire locations – hit them quickly. Tip: Do this at the very start before rounds ramp up; in solo you have just moments to spark them all, so move fast. Co-op teams can split up and each take a fire to kindle simultaneously. Once all fires are lit, the deep freeze will subside (“the frost retreats”) and the challenge progresses.

Lighting these fires is straightforward, but it’s crucial for the rest of the event – it keeps you from freezing to death when outdoors and triggers the next trials. No camo reward yet here, just a pat on the back from the mysterious Listkeeper. Keep an eye out for a prompt or audio cue that confirms success. When you hear that line about frost retreating, you know you did it. Time to move on.

BO7 Christmas Zombies Guide | Objective 2: Prove Your Loyalty – Pack-a-Punch and Upgrade

Now that the map is warmed up, the Listkeeper tests your loyalty. In plain terms: Pack-A-Punch your weapon, apply an Ammo Mod, and upgrade its rarity. You need to fully invest in one gun. Quickly gather 5,000 Essence (points) to Pack-a-Punch at the machine. If power wasn’t already on, note that in this special mode it’s already activated from the start, so Pack-a-Punch is immediately accessible (one perk of the Listkeeper challenge). After PAP, attach an ammo mod (e.g. Cryofreeze as a good default) and use Salvage to rarity-upgrade your gun at the Arsenal bench.

Once your weapon is Pack-a-Punched, modded, and upgraded, you’ll get a completion cue: “Bound to your weapon. You stood firm. Your loyalty is noted.”. This means the Listkeeper acknowledges you didn’t shy from powering up. Moonstone Camo Unlocked: At this point players have reported unlocking the Moonstone camo, an “endgame” tier camo reflecting your commitment. Take a moment to admire it – “this beautiful Moonstone camo” on your gun is proof you’re on the right track.

Tactical Tips: During this step, maximize point gain – kill zombies efficiently (body shots if you want more points per kill, or melee early-round if plausible). In co-op, pool resources: have one player train zombies while another gets kills to reach 5000 Essence quickly, then swap roles for the next pack if needed. All players need to PAP at least one weapon eventually for survival, but typically only one needs to do it to satisfy the challenge (check if the objective is team-based or individual – usually one PAP is enough for the team). Once complete, make sure each team member Pack-a-Punches their weapon when able – you’ll need the firepower in later rounds.

With your upgraded gun in hand, you’re ready for what comes next. Keep that weapon close – you’ll rely on it heavily.

BO7 Christmas Zombies Guide | Objective 3: Free the Frozen Dead – Destroy Snowmen

This cryptic line points to the snowmen scattered around the map. These aren’t festive decorations – they entomb zombies, frozen in ice. Your task: find and destroy 10 snowmen that have trapped zombies inside. Each time you shatter a snowman, an undead will be “set free” (spawn) and you’ll likely have to kill it. Do this ten times.

Navigation: Snowmen can be hidden in corners and outdoor areas. Move methodically around the map’s open zones; the team can split up to cover ground (just be careful not to get isolated). Listen for the sound of crackling ice or zombie moans near snowmen. In solo, you might take a looping route around the map between rounds to find them, keeping one zombie alive to avoid interruptions.

When you destroy the final snowman, you’ll hear something akin to “You gave release and even frosted enemies felt gratitude.”. That indicates all required snowmen are smashed. As a reward, you might receive some mid-game loot or power-ups from the last few (sometimes destroyed snowmen drop goodies). More importantly, you’ve proven your mercy by freeing those frozen zombies.

(No specific camo is directly mentioned as unlocking here in the intel, but this is a required step to continue the quest. It’s possible this contributes toward another camo or reward later on. Keep pushing forward.)

Survival Tip: While hunting snowmen, watch your temperature – if this map has a frostbite mechanic, stay near heat sources (like the beacon fires you lit or other flaming barrels). The cold can still get you if you stray too long. One operator noted, “I am completely a freaking icicle right now. Look at that.” – don’t let that be you. Duck to a fire to thaw out if your screen starts frosting over. In co-op, cover each other: one keeps zombies busy while another shoots the snowman targets.

BO7 Christmas Zombies Guide | Objective 4: Wisdom of the Tools – 100 Lethal Equipment Kills

Now the challenge shifts to raw carnage. The Listkeeper wants to see if you can slay using equipment rather than bullets. You’ll need to kill 100 zombies with equipment (frag grenades, semtex, C4, monkey bombs, or the best option: Kazmir devices). This is where your lethal equipment prep comes into play.

A new round will likely begin – and conveniently, many Ravager zombies (heavy enemies) may spawn during this stage. Don’t waste ammo on them; instead, throw your Kazmir (Gersh) device into the horde. One well-placed black hole can suck in and annihilate a couple dozen zombies at once. Monkey bombs followed by frag grenades also work: toss a Monkey to cluster the zombies, then spam frag or C4 to rack multi-kills. If you have teammates, coordinate: you have plenty of equipment between you, and you’ll get a Max Ammo at the end of the round, refilling your gadgets – so use them freely!

You need a total of 100 equipment kills. The count is cumulative for the team, so in co-op divide and conquer (but be careful not to “overkill” beyond what you need, as advancing rounds too far can make later steps harder). Keep an eye on kill count if the game shows it, or just keep throwing until the challenge completion triggers. Solo, you might need to use several rounds’ worth of equipment; kite zombies into tight clusters to maximize each explosive.

By the end, you’ll hear confirmation of success – the operator in the field said: “There we go... That's wisdom using the tools of your trade.”. The Listkeeper approves of your creative carnage. (Possible Reward: This challenge may reward a camo or cosmetic; some reports suggest this could unlock a special camo or at least progress your challenge camo counts. Keep an eye out for on-screen rewards.)

Tactical Note: If you run low on craftable equipment, use the Salvage drops from killed zombies to craft more on the go at a Crafting Table. Also, an Instakill power-up (if one drops) is your friend: even a single frag will wipe a huge wave under Instakill, counting toward your 100. In co-op, cover the player deploying equipment so they don’t get smacked while tossing grenades. Aether Shroud can be used to safely plant C4 in the middle of a group, then exit and detonate.

(At this stage, take a breath. You’ve completed roughly half the trials. Ensure everyone regroups, restocks ammo/equipment, and perks up. Tougher challenges lie ahead.)

(Event Intel: A recon intercept confirms that as of Christmas 2025, a Double XP period is active throughout the holiday and likely until New Year’s. Take advantage of this window – every kill and challenge is yielding twice the rewards. This means faster weapon leveling and player ranking as you grind through these objectives. It’s the perfect time to farm XP while chasing the Infestation camo.)

BO7 Christmas Zombies Guide | Objective 5: Embrace Humility – 5 Minutes Outdoor Survival Challenge

Translation: survive for 5 minutes outside in the cold, without the safety of your powerful arsenal. After the wanton equipment slaughter, the Listkeeper humbles you by forcing an endurance trial. All players must remain outdoors in the icy areas for a full 5:00 timer. The twist – the timer only counts down when zombies are being killed. If you stop killing, the clock freezes (literally).

This creates a tricky balance: you must kill enough to keep the timer ticking, but if you kill too fast, you risk being overrun by new spawns or ending the round early. Strategy: do a slow kill train. “You don't always have to kill... get a kill and it goes like 5 seconds on the timer,” one operative noted. The ideal method (solo or co-op): run the zombies around in a loop near a heat source (e.g. a bonfire) and kill one every few seconds to gradually drain the timer. Each kill grants roughly 5 seconds of countdown. If you stop killing entirely, time stops – so don't go totally idle for long. But also don’t mow them all down at once or you might end the round prematurely and have to survive a fresh wave longer than necessary.

In co-op, coordinate so that only one person kills at a time. This prevents accidentally wiping the horde too quickly. Teammates can take turns: e.g. Player A gets a kill, then kites while timer ticks; once it’s about to pause, Player B gets a kill to keep it going. All players must stay outdoors – no hiding inside. If one person retreats indoors, it could fail the objective (or at least they won’t count for completion). Stick together near a bonfire so you all avoid freezing. You can use your guns normally here (the “strip away power” clue likely just refers to being out of your comfort zone), so your Pack-a-Punched weapons and perks are your lifeline. If things get dicey, pop a Field Upgrade (Ring of Fire can thin the herd, Aether Shroud can bail you out if trapped). Just remember to leave enough zombies alive to keep the timer going afterwards.

Survive the full 5 minutes and you’ll get the message: “Challenge completed. You endured humility and earned respect.”. Mutilate Camo Unlocked: This success unlocks the Mutilate camo for you – a grisly new camouflage marking your feat of endurance. Congratulations, you proved you can fight with patience and control.

Extra Tips: The biggest threat here is the cold and getting careless. If your screen edges turn icy blue, dash to the nearest fire barrel to warm up momentarily. Don’t be afraid to thin out the horde a bit if they get too dense – you can always slow the killing again once it’s safer. In co-op, have one player run a train (a loop of zombies) while another peels a kill off the conga line intermittently. Rotate roles if someone’s armor breaks or they need a breather. Teamwork will make this much easier than solo, where you have to manage kills and kiting alone. If solo, consider using a Decoy or Monkey Bomb if you need to pause kills – the decoy will occupy zombies without killing them, effectively a safe stalling tactic while you catch your breath or reload.

BO7 Christmas Zombies Guide | Objective 6: Precision is Tested – 25 Critical Kills in a Row

Next, the Listkeeper demands perfect accuracy under pressure: score 25 critical kills (headshots) consecutively without missing. Essentially, 25 headshots in a row. Every bullet must be lethal and on target – a body shot or a whiff can reset the count. This is a trial of skill (or a good aim-assist perk, which we have!).

Setup: Immediately buy Deadshot Daiquiri if you haven’t already – this perk will snap your aim to zombie heads, which is a godsend for this challenge. As one soldier joked, “They call my aim hacks Deadshot Daiquiri controller spam… it's OP.”. Equip a steady weapon – an assault rifle or LMG with low recoil or a tactical rifle are great. Avoid explosives or shotguns here (spread shots can ruin your streak). Also, remove any explosive ammo mods or turn off Elemental Pop; you don't want a random Brain Rot kill or Fireworks effect stealing a kill and breaking your chain. If you still have Cryofreeze on, that's fine (it mostly just slows zombies and makes their heads brittle, which can actually help ensure a headshot kill).

Execution: Find a medium sized train of zombies. Aim high and start popping heads one by one. Count your kills. In solo, each missed head = failure, so go slow. You have unlimited time as far as the challenge is concerned – better to pause and re-line up a shot than to panic-fire into the body. In co-op, it might be wise to let one player handle this challenge while the others cover them by weakening zombies or holding some back. Teammates should refrain from getting any kills themselves unless everyone needs their own 25 streak (usually it’s team-based completion – likely only one person needs to do it while others assist). Communication is key: call out if you’re going for the streak so your buddy doesn’t pop a zombie in the body by accident. In our recon, one player yelled “Wisp_T, if you kill a zombie, I am going to freak!” – highlighting the frustration if a partner unintentionally breaks the streak. So teammates, hold your fire or use melee if absolutely needed on an encroaching zombie, but try not to interfere.

If you mess up mid-way (hit a non-critical), don’t despair. You can try again in the same round as long as you didn’t get overwhelmed. It might be wise to save a zombie at round end and then gather a fresh train in a new round for a clean attempt if you fail. Armor up before trying again; you want to tank any hits while you line up headshots.

Once you nail 25 headshots in a row, you’ll get a triumphant cue, something like: “The frost retreats unwillingly… perhaps your courage isn't just a word.” (or another compliment – the intel wasn’t fully clear, but expect an approval line). No new camo is directly noted here, but completing this is mandatory to proceed. You’re proving your precision to the Listkeeper.

Pro Tips: Use Insta-Kill if it drops – during Insta-Kill, any shot that connects will kill, so as long as you aim at the head hitbox, it counts as a critical kill even if your aim was slightly off. One strategy is to hold an Insta-Kill power-up on the map (if one is dropped, let it sit) until you’re ready, then grab it and quickly pop 25 heads with ease. Also, equipping a scope or using ADS (aim down sights) will further engage Deadshot’s bonus (if on controller, ADS snap will target upper chest/head). On PC, just take your time and click heads carefully. Another cheesy tactic: if one zombie remains, you can shoot it in the head, let it respawn next round, and repeat – but that takes too long and is risky. It’s better to do it in one flowing chain on a group.

Challenge complete, you’re almost at the finish line. Only one task remains before the final showdown, and it’s a strange one…

This riddle introduces “Gary”, a forlorn robot (or some kind of mechanical companion) located at the spawn area. The challenge is to cheer up this joyless machine by giving it presents. How do we do that? By feeding it zombie drops. More specifically, you need to make zombies drop Holiday Presents and have Gary pick them up.

Here’s the procedure:

1. Equip Cryofreeze ammo mod on your weapon if you haven’t already (or craft a new weapon with Cryofreeze). Using Cryofreeze or snowballs to kill zombies will cause them to drop gift boxes.
2. Locate Gary – he should be a stationary robot somewhere at spawn, looking a bit like a sad animatronic. When you approach, he might not react until you start giving presents.
3. Kill zombies near Gary with Cryofreeze. When a zombie is killed by a Cryofreeze-effect shot, there’s a chance a green or red present will drop on the ground. You need to lead Gary to these presents.
4. Gary will automatically scoot over to any nearby present and “consume” it, which makes him a bit happier each time.

Your goal is to feed Gary enough presents until he is satisfied and the challenge completes. It may take several gifts (exact number unknown, possibly around 5-10). The difficulty is two-fold: getting the presents to drop, and doing this while surviving an ongoing zombie assault.

Solo: This step is hectic alone. You’re likely around round 30 by now with lots of zombies spawning. Train the horde in the spawn area, keeping Gary in the loop (he tends to wander a bit). Then use a Cryofreeze weapon to chip away at the train. Only Cryo kills count for presents, so ensure the killing blow is from the freeze effect or the bullet while they’re frozen. You might also find snowballs on the map (sometimes winter events have throwable snowballs that act like frost grenades). Snowball kills also count for present drops – use them if available for an easy slow kill. When a present drops, immediately loop near it so Gary can roll over it. He’s not very fast, and he does move around randomly, so sometimes getting him to actually pick the gift up is frustrating. Try to drop presents close to him. If he wanders, lead the zombie train toward him, kill one nearby, and hope the present spawns at his feet.

Co-Op: This task is much easier with friends. Have one player kite the last zombie of a round (or a small group) while another player focuses on Cryofreeze-killing one at a time near Gary. Alternatively, run trains and take turns dropping presents. More players = more Cryofreeze guns, which means potentially faster present farming. Just be careful – too many zombies can overwhelm Gary’s area. It might help to leave only a handful of zombies alive while you grind out the gifts (e.g. make a crawler or keep a slow zombie, then repeatedly weaken and freeze-kill it as it respawns next round until enough presents have been fed).

Troubleshooting: Initially, you might be confused what to do – the operative certainly was: “What do I do, Gary? ... Do I have to give him something?”. The trick was figured out: “We got to get Cryofreeze on our gun and have Gary pick up presents that zombies drop… Zombies will drop presents. Bada bing, bada boom. Gary picks ’em up, he’s happy.”. So if nothing’s happening, double-check you’re using Cryo mod and killing in Gary’s vicinity. If presents aren’t appearing, kill more zombies – it’s RNG-based. If Gary isn’t picking them up, try leading him directly over the box or clear debris around. He might also move from spawn to another spot if he wanders; keep an eye on him (we heard him going on a little journey, causing the player to shout “Gary, come back!”).

Complete this objective when Gary has had his fill of holiday cheer. You should get a line like “Even the lifeless feel joy” or some positive feedback that you showed compassion. With that, Gary’s job is done – and so is yours, for the main challenges. All primary objectives of the Listkeeper Challenge are complete. The only thing left now is the grand finale: the boss fight.

(You may wonder if this step unlocks a camo reward. It’s likely part of the chain leading to the final Infestation reward rather than a standalone camo. Completing Gary’s task essentially opens the path to the boss. However, the compassion you showed will not go unrewarded in the grand scheme.)

Strap in, this is it – an epic boss battle against a powerful entity often referred to by players as “Caltheris”, a frosty abomination ruling the Christmas event. He might be the embodiment of the winter’s fury (or just an overgrown ultra-zombie). Either way, this fight is unlike a typical Zombies round. Standard weapons will not damage the boss at first. The gimmick: you must use the Holiday Presents mechanic to arm yourself with the means to hurt Caltheris.

Mechanics: When the boss fight begins, you’re effectively starting a new phase. All your guns do zero damage to Caltheris – bullets just tickle him. Instead, you must kill waves of zombies during the fight to spawn presents, pick up those presents to obtain temporary powerful weapons, and use those to damage the boss. It’s similar to a gun-game: kill for a gift drop, gift gives a Pack-a-Punched weapon (random), use it on boss until ammo out, then repeat. The challenge is doing this under pressure, as Caltheris and other enemies will be attacking you constantly.

Phase strategy: Immediately equip Cryofreeze if not already on – continue the tactic from Gary’s step. Only Cryo kills (or possibly snowballs) will drop presents. During the fight, focus on crowd control first: you’ll have regular zombies (and possibly elite types) spawning infinitely. Train them around the arena, but don’t ignore the boss – he will likely have ranged attacks or slam moves. Keep moving to avoid getting cornered or hit by boss abilities. As you circle, pick off zombies with Cryofreeze shots. Keep an eye out for the telltale glow of a present drop on the ground. They are rare – the drop rate is unfortunately low. When a present appears, fight your way to it as soon as it’s safe, and grab it. It will swap out your current weapon for a fully Pack-a-Punched random gun (sometimes with a power-up). Now pour all that firepower into Caltheris! Finally, you can hurt the big bad. Deal as much damage as possible; when your gifted gun is empty or the boss becomes immune, go back to farming the next present.

Co-op coordination: This fight is brutal solo – in fact, it’s considered nearly impossible alone due to the poor present drop rate. In a team, you stand a much better chance. We recommend a division of roles:

• One/two players focus on killing zombies for presents, running the train and using Cryofreeze. These are your “Gift Farmers.”
• One player focus on boss aggro, keeping Caltheris’s attention, dodging his attacks, and dealing chip damage when possible (they can also help kill zombies once a present spawns).
• When a present drops, call it out. One of you grab it and immediately lay into the boss. If it’s a strong weapon (say an LMG, Ray Gun, or launcher), consider having the player with Ring of Fire grab it and activate the ring for massive DPS. Others cover that player from zombies while they beam the boss.
• Rotate tasks as needed (if someone’s low or out of equipment).

Survival tips: Use the Aether Shroud field upgrade (you did bring it, right?) to save yourself if trapped or to safely snag a far-away present amidst a horde. In co-op, a teammate popping Aether Shroud will draw the boss’s attention away from others momentarily – could be used tactically. Keep moving; Caltheris has heavy attacks – don’t stand in one place longer than a second. If you have any Kazmir devices or Monkey Bombs left, use them: for example, toss a Kazmir to clear the field of zombies temporarily – this gives you precious free seconds to shoot the boss without adds swarming or to go pick up a present safely. Be mindful: a Kazmir might kill zombies that don’t drop presents (since it’s not cryo), so use it sparingly – perhaps only when a present weapon is active and you want uninterrupted boss damage time.

Dealing damage: The boss likely has weak points – head or glowing areas. Aim there with your gifted guns. Make every shot count since present weapons aren’t infinite supply. If the weapon from a present isn’t great, you might still have to use it until another present drops – or if it’s truly awful, you could choose to keep your prior weapon by not picking up a bad present (risky, since you can’t hurt the boss otherwise). Generally, take whatever you get. Also, maintain your armor – if it breaks, prioritize picking up armor drops from zombies or using a carpenter power-up; the boss can one-shot or two-shot an unarmored player in late game.

Endurance: This fight can be long. The biggest complaint from our intel was the presents drop way too infrequently. “I have yet to get a single present... I've killed so many zombies so far. You definitely should have a higher chance at getting them.” one operative ranted mid-battle. Be mentally prepared for possibly several minutes of kiting and grinding between each chance to shoot the boss. This is where ammo can become an issue – if your Cryofreeze gun runs dry while farming, you may need to risk a Munitions refill on the map or have a teammate drop a Max Ammo (if there’s a way). There might be an Ammo Cache in the arena; use it during a lull or Shroud.

Eventually, with enough cycles, you will whittle the boss’s health down to zero. When Caltheris finally falls, rejoice – you have conquered one of BO7’s toughest events! Infestation Camo Unlocked: Defeating the final boss should reward you and your team with the Infestation Mastery Camo (provided you’ve completed all preceding steps). This is the culmination of the Christmas Zombies event – the camo that shows you mastered every challenge thrown at you. If Infestation is indeed the prize here, it will now be available on all your weapons as a Zombies mastery camo, glowing with the eerie green of the undead horde (or however it looks in BO7).

In case the boss proves too difficult, remember you can regroup and try again (practice makes perfect). It was noted that very few players can solo this boss in its current state. If you’re attempting the BO7 Listkeeper Challenge solo, know that it’s a steep uphill battle – doable, but you’ll need flawless execution and a bit of luck with drops. Don’t hesitate to bring in reinforcements (friends) if you’re struggling alone.

While the primary goal is unlocking camos, the Christmas event is also prime time for XP grinding. Treyarch has flipped on the Double XP switch for the holidays – as confirmed, a double XP event runs through Christmas and likely until the first days of January. This means faster leveling, both player rank and weapon XP, during this period. If you want to prestige or max out gun levels for those mastery camo challenges, now’s the time. And there’s more: a current glitch in BO7 Zombies can supercharge your farming if used wisely.

Present in this Christmas update is an exploit nicknamed the “free fire glitch.” It involves using the Free Fire field upgrade (an ability that normally grants temporary infinite ammo) in a way that removes overheating and ammo limits entirely for certain weapons. In particular, akimbo Aikita automatic shotguns become absolute monsters with this glitch – they never overheat and can fire endlessly without reload. Essentially, you turn into a walking turret, perfect for mowing down wave after wave of zombies for XP.

To do this, you normally activate Free Fire with the Akita shotguns out, and due to a bug, their overheating mechanic is disabled permanently until you swap off. You can just hold down the triggers and spray continuously, no cooldown. The operative who discovered this said, “You can pretty much just continuously shoot… making them one of the best, if not the best, things to use with free fire.” Other weapons that benefit include the crossbow and launchers (basically anything that usually has limited shots), but the Akitas stand out because you don’t even have to pause to reload or vent – true infinite fire. With Double XP active, this glitch lets you rack up insane XP with minimal effort. One report claimed you could hit round 100 in about an hour using the infinite crossbow method – but the shotguns are even easier since you can AFK-fire to a degree. As long as you keep an eye out for the occasional moving zombie or boss, you’re golden.

How to use for camo/XP: If you’re still working on other camo challenges (e.g. the normal Zombies mastery camos like Golden Dragon, Bloodstone, etc.), this glitch is your friend. You can grind out kill counts, elite kills, rapid kills, etc., very quickly by camping in a safe spot and letting the Akimbo guns rip. One recommended spot was near the Pack-a-Punch arehistorically a good camping ledge – but note, in the Christmas update zombies no longer path as simply there (they now throw projectiles if they can’t reach you). So if you use a known pile-up spot, be alert and kill any zombies as soon as they line up to prevent them from pelting you with meat. Or find a corner where zombies funnel in one direction and hold down the fire button. With Double Tap perk, the damage output is ludicrous, literally “absolutely crazy, dude… we never overheat”. You’ll be swimming in XP and zombie corpses.

Caution: This is a glitch, so use at your own risk. That said, intel suggests the devs are on holiday break and won’t patch it until after New Year. “Nobody’s in office… it shouldn’t be patched till the new year” the report noted. That means you have a green light to exploit it during this event window. Still, be discrete – if you care about leaderboards or any anti-cheat, consider that you’re using an unintended feature. For personal camo grind and leveling, though, it’s a boon.

Another exploit some players use is the meat throw spot: there used to be a glitch where zombies would pile up below you on a certain table or ledge. As mentioned, it half-works now – zombies might not climb up, but will throw stuff. It’s not as safe anymore. The best approach is just find a large open area (like spawn or an outdoor zone), train zombies and annihilate them with infinite ammo. You’ll complete weapon camo challenges (e.g. get X kills Pack-a-Punched, get kills without being hit, elite eliminations, etc.) very fast this way. If you specifically want to rush the Infestation camo via the standard route (which requires completing all weapon camo challenges in Zombies), this glitch plus double XP will help you finish the earlier camo tiers (Golden Dragon, Bloodstone, Doomsteel) at record speed, cutting down the otherwise hefty grind

During the event, apart from double XP, there may be specific challenges that give bonus XP (check the event tab for any “Holiday Challenges” – often they have daily objectives with XP rewards). Completing the Listkeeper quest itself might grant a big chunk of XP and a Dark Ops calling card. Every camo unlock also gives XP. So you’ll find that by following this guide – doing the Easter egg steps and using the free-fire trick – you are passively gaining levels. One operative noted that Endurance mode (“Endgame”) in BO7 Zombies yields tons of XP, so even your failed attempts aren’t a waste.

In summary, if you want the best BO7 Christmas XP farm, look no further than the akimbo shotguns + free fire glitch plus Double XP combo. It’s essentially a free ticket to max level while you enjoy the snow. Just remember to also savor the event itself – sometimes blasting without challenge is fun, but you’ve got a camo to earn, soldier!

Lastly, be aware of a few bugs and issues surrounding this event and camo progression:

• Low Present Drop Rate (Boss Fight Frustration): As discussed, the final boss’s present drop mechanic is currently tuned very low. This is making the fight extremely challenging, especially solo. Many players (and our own experience) feel that “every like three zombies should drop a present” instead of the sparse drops now. Treyarch may adjust this in a patch. In the meantime, go in expecting a grind. If you’re attempting it solo, it might take many tries or a perfect strategy – don’t feel bad if you need to enlist a friend or two to help. The Infestation camo is meant to be a rare prize, so it’s a tough road.
• Field Upgrade Activation Glitch: Some have reported that occasionally your equipment or field upgrade doesn’t activate when triggered (e.g. the Power Keg gobblegum/consumable failing to pop). One operative raged that his Power Keg didn’t deploy during the boss, which could be a bug. To mitigate, try not to spam activation – tap it once and give it a half-second. Also ensure you actually have the consumable equipped. If something fails, have a backup plan (for example, if your invincibility gobblegum fails, be ready to run or use Aether Shroud).
• Quick Revive/Auto-Revive Issue: It appears the self-revive (whether via Quick Revive tier or a kit) might be buggy in this mode. “No way… this stupid freaking augment doesn’t work. We fixed that like two updates ago and it’s [broken again]” – this suggests an auto-revive that was supposed to trigger did not. In solo, always keep a manual Self-Revive handy, and don’t rely solely on the perk to save you. In co-op, if you see a teammate’s revive isn’t kicking in, get to them and revive manually instead of assuming they’ll get up.
• Elemental Pop & Random Kills: As mentioned, having Elemental Pop or certain Pack-a-Punch effects can sabotage the precision challenge. Fireworks effect from a PAP’d gun was noted to be “so OP it made this way harder because it kept popping and killing my entire horde” unexpectedly. If you have a weapon with a undesirable effect (Fireworks, Brain Rot turning zombies, etc.), either swap the gun or re-pack it to try for a different effect before starting a challenge that requires controlled killing. You can also simply not shoot the weapon that has the effect during those challenges; rely on another gun.
• “Oscar” and Other Unseen Elements: The transcripts mention not dealing with “Oscar” in the Listkeeper challenge. Oscar might be a mini-boss or a side quest on the normal version of the map. In the Listkeeper event mode, some normal quest elements are bypassed (power was on, as noted). So don’t be alarmed if certain usual map events (like an intermediate boss named Oscar or others) don’t occur – that’s by design for this mode. Conversely, if you encounter an unexpected boss mid-challenge, handle it quickly with your beefed-up weapons; it might be an artifact of playing during an event (but likely, Listkeeper mode streamlines the experience).
• Co-Op Sharing: Ensure everyone in co-op gets credit for camo unlocks. Typically, if one person completes the objective in a joint Easter egg, all players get the reward (like Mutilate camo unlocked for all when the outdoor challenge was done). Just verify in your camo menu afterward that each camo is indeed unlocked for you. If not, you might need to each do certain feats (though in our intel, it unlocked for the team together). Communicate and work as a unit – it’s the season of giving, after all.
• Extraction (if available): Should you for some reason want to bail out after getting what you need (say you unlocked Mutilate and Moonstone and don’t care for Infestation right now), make sure you do it at a safe time. But remember, exfil might not even be an option during the final challenge/boss. Best to see it through or you could lose the progress if you quit early. If you die, you might have to redo the whole sequence, so try to survive or have a self-revive ready at all times.

Finally, take pride in what you’ve accomplished. You’ve essentially completed a full-blown Zombies Easter Egg under extreme conditions – and earned several unique Christmas camos along the way: Mutilate, a gruesome reward for your outdoor survival; Moonstone, a radiant camo that shines like a moonlit snow (likely obtained during the early trial); perhaps even Singularity, if rumors are true that it’s tied to mastering seasonal challenges (Singularity is another sought-after mastery camo this year, though not directly from this quest, it’s on every player’s wish list). And of course, the Infestation camo, symbol of your dominance over the undead horde.

You started with a spark (lighting the fires) and ended by extinguishing the biggest threat of the winter. What you hold now is more than a camo – it’s a badge of honor. In the words of our in-game veteran: “I came into this with eyes open about me dying… But if you've done it solo, let me know.” – a testament to how challenging this mission was. But you came out on top, whether solo or with a squad. Use that Infestation camo proudly; it tells the world you beat the BO7 Christmas Zombies event.

Now get out there and slay some zombies in style – mission accomplished. Happy holidays, and enjoy the carnage!