Black Ops Cold War Zombies: How to Get Aetherium Crystals Fast & All Upgrades

Aetherium Crystals are one of the currencies in CoD Black Ops: Cold War’s Zombies mode. They’re earned through gameplay progression only and are used to upgrade your perks, ammo mods, field upgrades, and classes. In this guide, we’ll talk you through how to get Aetherium Crystals in Black Ops Cold War’s Zombies, and all upgrades you can buy with them.

How to Get Aetherium Crystals in Black Ops Cold War Zombies

There are two ways to get Aetherium Crystals in Black Ops Cold War.

The first is to simply reach wave milestones in any zombies game mode. Once you reach round 10, you’ll be rewarded with one Aetherium Crystal. You’ll get an additional one after every 5 rounds up until round 30.

After round 30, you’ll earn 2 Aetherium Crystals after every 5 rounds.

The second way to get Aetherium Crystals in Black Ops Cold War’s Zombies mode is to exfil. This can be done as early as round 10, but we’d advise holding in for as long as you can.

Exfil sees you essentially finishing the round and evacuating to safety before you die. If you successfully exfil, you’ll be awarded bonus XP and Aetherium Crystals. If you don’t know how to exfil in Cold War’s Zombies, check out our guide.

All Aetherium Crystal Upgrades & How Much They Cost

There are a ton of different things you can spend your Aetherium Crystals on in Black Ops Cold War’s Zombies. We’ve listed them all below, and noted how many Aetherium Crystals each one requires to unlock.

Weapons Classes

• Submachine Guns
  • Increase close-quarters damage by 10% – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase critical damage by 10% – 2
  • Unlock 3 additional attachment slots – 3
• Shotguns
  • Increase close-quarters damage by 10% – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase critical damage by 10% – 2
  • Increase armor penetration damage by 10% – 3
• Pistols
  • Increase close-quarters damage by 10% – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase critical damage by 10% – 2
  • Increase armor penetration damage by 10% – 3
• Tactical Rifles
  • Increase long shot damage by 10% – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase critical damage by 10% – 2
  • Unlock 3 additional attachment slots – 3
• Sniper Rifles
  • Increase armor penetration damage by 10% – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase critical damage by 10% – 2
  • Unlock 3 additional attachment slots – 3
• Light Machine Guns
  • Increase armor penetration damage by 10% – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase critical damage by 10% – 2
  • Unlock 3 additional attachment slots – 3
• Assault Rifles
  • Increase long shot damage by 10% – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase critical damage by 10% – 2
  • Unlock 3 additional attachment slots – 3
• Melee
  • Replace gun butt with melee knife – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase primary melee weapon damage by 10% – 2
  • Replace gun butt with Bowie knife – 3

Field Upgrades

• Frost Blast
  • Blast lasts 3 seconds longer continuing to slow enemies. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase maximum charges to 2. – 2
  • Double the size and damage of the blast. – 3
• Energy Mine
  • Increase maximum charges to 2. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Double the size of the blast. – 2
  • Mine detonates 2 times in rapid succession. – 3
• Aether Shroud
  • Activation instantly reloads ammo for your weapon. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase shroud duration to 8 seconds. – 2
  • Activation instantly warps you forward a small distance. – 3
• Healing Aura
  • You and allies gain a regenerative healing effect that lasts 10 seconds. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Beam knocks down normal enemies and stuns Special and Elite enemies. – 2
  • Beam revives downed allies. – 3
• Ring of Fire
  • Double burn effect damage. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Ring blocks enemy projectiles. – 2
  • While in the ring ammo is taken from your stock instead of the magazine. – 3

Perks

• Jugger-Nog
  • Reduce status effect durations by 50%. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Armor plates replenish 25% additional armor. – 2
  • Increase maximum health by 100. – 3
• Speed Cola
  • Swap weapons faster. – 1 Aetherium Crystal.
  • Field upgrades recharged 20% faster. – 2
  • Increase reload speed by 30%. – 3
• Quick Revive
  • Downed crawl speed is increased by 100% – 1 Aetherium Crystal.
  • Reduce the delay before health starts regenerating by 15%. – 2
  • Reviving an ally will also heal you to full health. – 3
• Stamin-Up
  • Increase backpedal speed. – 1 Aetherium Crystal.
  • Immunity to fall damage. – 2
  • Walk faster while aiming down sights. – 3
• Elemental Pop
  • Equipment damage also has a small chance to apply a random base Ammo Mod effect. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Reduce Ammo Mod cooldowns by 20%. – 2
  • When random Ammo Mod is applied it uses the Ammo Mod’s current Skill Tier instead of the base. – 3
• Deadshot Daiquiri
  • Deal 100% extra critical damage if an enemy is at full health. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase damage against armor pieces by 50%. – 2
  • Reduce hip-fire spread. – 3

Ammo Mods

• Napalm Burst
  • Initial burn effect deals 5% of enemy maximum health in fire damage. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase burn damage duration 10 seconds. – 2
  • Double burn effect damage. – 3
• Dead Wire
  • Stunned enemies generate an electric field dealing electric damage to self and nearby enemies. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase stun duration to 4 seconds. – 2
  • Double the electric field damage. – 3
• Cryofreeze
  • Slowed enemies take 25% more damage. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Slowed enemy duration increased to 5 seconds. – 2
  • Slowed enemy speed decreased to 50%. – 3
• Brain Rot
  • Turned enemy explodes on death dealing toxic damage. – 1 Aetherium Crystal
  • Increase turned duration to 20 seconds. – 2
  • Turned enemy damage is doubled. – 3

That’s everything you need to know on how to get Aetherium Crystals in Black Ops Cold War Zombies. For more tips, tricks, and guides, head on over to our guide wiki, search for Twinfinite, or check out more of our coverage below.