- Zealot Void is the final boss of the Oblivion ending, wielding dual Deo Volente executioner swords with 15,001 HP.
- Oblivion trigger: Break all lamps, grab the Orange Knife, eliminate 3 shadows, and talk to Zym in the lab.
- Nightmare waves: Players must survive 5 escalating waves featuring cultists, shadows, and unique High Priest bosses.
- Time limit: You have exactly 3 minutes to defeat Zealot Void before succumbing to Oblivion.
- Parrying is mandatory: The boss cannot be shoved and his spin and dash attacks are lethal and unsuvivable.
Unlocking the Oblivion Ending
The Oblivion ending is a hidden alternate ending introduced during the third part of the Cultist Takeover event in Decaying Winter. It requires players to follow a precise sequence of steps communicated through morse code by a broken drone located in the mountain area. Missing any step will prevent the Oblivion ending from triggering.
Video Highlights:
- Zealot Void spawns as the ultimate final boss after Nightmare waves
- Players used explosives to deal massive damage during the time limit
- Boss armor visually deteriorates as HP drops, increasing his speed
- Spin and dash attacks proved lethal regardless of armor tier
- Team coordination and ammo management were critical to survival
You must complete all Oblivion steps BEFORE finishing Night 10. Once Night 10 is cleared, the game checks whether the steps were completed. If done correctly, a 30-second extraction countdown begins instead of a normal evacuation.
Oblivion Step-by-Step Activation
Break All Lamp Posts
Locate and destroy every lamp post scattered around the map. This is the first trigger condition and must be completed before moving forward.
Obtain the Orange Knife
Find the Orange Knife hidden within the castle walls. It is strongly recommended to kill Sledge Queen (SQ) first to make retrieving the knife significantly easier without interference.
Eliminate the 3 Shadows
Kill three specific shadows placed around the map: one in the Gallery, one on top of the map near the castle, and one by the Mines. The shadows in the Mines and Castle require guns to eliminate.
Open the Lab
Grab the knife and keycard, then open the lab. Head to the High Priest room. The lab will be empty of enemies, so take time to freely loot valuable equipment.
Talk to Zym
Initiate dialogue with Zym multiple times to progress his conversation. After completing his dialogue, you will receive 5 additional minutes on the timer to loot and prepare.
Only items in your inventory persist into Oblivion. Bring vital gear like I4S-DS, Tactical Armor, Medkits, and Tourniquets. Rations cannot be brought even inside an Agent Container. Your infection meter resets to 0 upon entry.
Nightmare Wave Breakdown
After extraction, players are teleported to a new dimension called Oblivion. Reikgon announces the start of a special Nightmare wave consisting of 5 escalating waves, each with unique enemies and a boss encounter.
| Wave | Minor Threats | Major Threats | Boss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave 1 | Knife, Kukri, Sabre Cultists | Akimbo Cultists, Skinners | Sickler (Enraged) |
| Wave 2 | All previous Cultists and Shadows | Wrench Cultists, more Akimbo/Skinners | High Priest (Akimbo Scythe) |
| Wave 3 | All previous enemies | SPAS Cultists, Hangers | Battlejuice High Priest (Tec-9) |
| Wave 4 | All previous, more Wrench types | Gunner Cultists, more Hangers/SPAS | Lebrock High Priest (Scythe Tank) |
| Wave 5 | Any Cultist and Shadow type | Skinners spawn more frequently | Celldweller (Summons Lost Souls) |
All High Priests can use Shadowfade to heal to full HP. When you see a dark shadowy aura envelope them, immediately shove them to cancel the ability. Failing to do so resets their health completely.
Special High Priest Variants
Battlejuice
- Weapon: Dual Tec-9 guns
- HP: 1,100
- Mobility: Dodges, rolls, slides
- Lowest HP of all High Priests
- Can Shadowfade
Lebrock
- Weapon: Hollow's Scythe
- HP: 1,200
- Tankiest High Priest
- Dangerous spin attack with speed buff
- No ranged ability
Celldweller
- Weapon: Dagger barrage
- HP: 700
- Summons Lost Souls (1 HP, 50 WalkSpeed)
- Throws daggers at range
- Second weakest by HP
Zealot Void Final Boss Strategy
Once all 5 Nightmare waves are cleared, players are teleported back to the normal map at the helipad to face the ultimate challenge: Corrupted Zealot Void. Reikgon opens a red portal revealing the undead corpse of Zealot Void, chained and controlled by Reikgon himself. Void is armed with two Deo Volente-skinned executioner swords.
| Attack Type | Base Damage | With Zealot Technique | Survivable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Attack | 25 | 12.5 | Yes |
| Heavy Attack | 100-150 | 50-75 | Yes (barely) |
| Spin Attack | LETHAL | LETHAL | No |
| Dash Attack | LETHAL | LETHAL | No |
Spin and Dash attacks CANNOT be survived regardless of your armor or perks. Speed stims are absolutely mandatory for dodging. You must constantly reposition and never stay in his melee range without a parry plan.
Core Boss Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Total HP | 15,001 |
| WalkSpeed | Increases as armor breaks |
| Weapons | Dual Deo Volentes |
| Time Limit | 3 minutes |
| Shovable | No |
| Phases | 3 (armor deteriorates each phase) |
Recommended Strategy
The most reliable strategy involves assigning one player as the dedicated parrier while the rest of the team focuses on dealing ranged damage. Since Zealot Void cannot be shoved and his lethal attacks cannot be tanked, parrying is the only defensive option that creates an opening for the team to shoot safely.
Zealot Void's armor visually breaks apart as he takes damage. Each phase makes him faster and more aggressive. The lower his HP, the harder it becomes to parry and dodge. Prioritize burst damage in the early phases when he is slowest.
After defeating Zealot Void, the Oblivion ending is completed. The end screen confirms this is likely one of the final updates for Legacy Decaying Winter, making this a milestone achievement for dedicated players.
Preparation Checklist
Oblivion Run Preparation:
- Break all lamp posts around the map
- Kill Sledge Queen to safely retrieve the Orange Knife
- Eliminate all 3 shadows (Gallery, Castle roof, Mines)
- Open the lab and loot the High Priest room
- Complete all dialogue with Zym
- Stock I4S-DS, Tactical Armor, Medkits, and Tourniquets
- Bring speed stims for the Zealot Void fight
- Coordinate parry roles before extraction
Hangman: The Harder Alternative
If you fail the Oblivion steps after grabbing the Orange Knife but still complete Night 10, the Hangman ending activates instead. This is considered even harder than the Nightmare Oblivion waves, with only two recorded legitimate completions to date.
| Feature | Oblivion Ending | Hangman Ending |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Extreme | Beyond Extreme |
| Trigger | Complete all steps + N10 | Grab Orange Knife, skip steps, N10 |
| Enemies | Cultists, Shadows, High Priests | Every enemy and boss in the game |
| Recorded Clears | Multiple | Only 2 known |
| Special Rule | 5 waves + Zealot Void | All allies turn hostile |
Hangman activates similarly to normal evacuation but with every enemy and ally against you simultaneously. It features Holdout wave enemies and nearly every boss in the game. Some enemies have Hangman-exclusive variants with nerfed stats to make survival theoretically possible.
Trivia and Collaboration Details
The Oblivion ending marks several firsts for Decaying Winter. It is the first time original voicelines have been used for a character (Reikgon), as the AGENT Device uses ISAC's voicelines from The Division and Ilija reuses PayDay 2 audio. This ending is also a collaboration with Battlejuice and Lebrock, featuring their music throughout the event.
During the break between the final wave and the boss spawn, Reikgon attempts to make players suicide three times. These attempts bypass Apostle and Damned perks. The first two behave like Hanger "life advice" events (mash E), while the third destroys the player's AGENT device and says "Embrace the Oblivion."
Music Featured in Oblivion
| Artist | Song | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Battlejuice/Lebrock | Tame the Beast | Plays throughout the ending |
| Battlejuice | The Ascension | Plays during Reikgon Waves |
| Battlejuice | Low Life On The Highway | Battlejuice Priest radio |
| House of Serpents & Battlejuice | Ritual | Lebrock Priest radio |
| Celldweller | Good Luck, You're F***ed | Celldweller Priest theme |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much HP does Zealot Void have in the Oblivion boss fight?
Zealot Void has 15,001 HP. The game internally deals 1 damage to ensure he aggro's onto you. You must defeat him within 3 minutes or your entire team succumbs to Oblivion.
Q: Can Zealot Void be shoved like other enemies?
No. Zealot Void cannot be shoved. The only way to interrupt his attacks is through parrying. One player should be designated as the primary parrier while teammates deal ranged damage.
Q: What happens if I fail the Oblivion steps?
If you grab the Orange Knife but do not complete all required steps before finishing Night 10, the Hangman ending triggers instead. This is an even harder scenario where every enemy and ally in the game turns against you during evacuation.
Q: Can I bring rations into the Oblivion dimension?
No. Rations cannot be brought into Oblivion even if stored inside an Agent Container. The container will not provide resources when equipped. Focus on bringing weapons, armor, medkits, and tourniquets instead.
Q: Are spin and dash attacks from Zealot Void survivable?
No. Both the spin attack and dash attack are coded as LETHAL and cannot be survived regardless of your perk, trait, or armor combination. Speed stims and constant repositioning are mandatory to avoid these attacks.