- Decaying Winter new ending: The Oblivion ending is an alternate conclusion added with the Cultist Takeover event's third phase.
- Activation: Requires breaking all lamp posts, obtaining the Orange Knife, eliminating three shadows, and speaking with Zym in the lab.
- Nightmare waves: Survive five escalating waves of Reikgon cultists, shadows, and unique High Priest bosses.
- Final boss: Defeat Corrupted Zealot Void within a strict three-minute timer to complete the ending.
- Preparation: Pack only vital items like I4S-DS, Tactical Armor, Medkits, and Tourniquets for extraction.
Overview of the Oblivion Ending
The Oblivion ending represents one of the most challenging and elaborate hidden conclusions in Decaying Winter. Introduced as part of the Cultist Takeover event, this alternate ending transports players into a mysterious dimension after completing a series of cryptic steps triggered by a broken drone's morse code in the mountain area.
This ending is designed for experienced, well-coordinated teams. You will face five Nightmare waves with escalating difficulty, unique boss encounters, and a final fight against Corrupted Zealot Void with only three minutes on the clock.
The event features original voice lines from the character Reikgon, marking the first time Decaying Winter has utilized dedicated voice acting beyond repurposed lines from other games. The Oblivion ending is widely considered one of the final major updates for Legacy Decaying Winter, making it a significant piece of the game's history.
Upon successful extraction after Night 10, players are transported to a new area where Reikgon announces the start of a special wave sequence. The song "Tame the Beast" by Battlejuice and Lebrock plays throughout the event, adding to the intense atmosphere.
Step-by-Step Activation Guide
Activating the Oblivion ending requires completing a specific sequence of hidden objectives during a standard run. Each step must be completed before Night 10 extraction.
Break All Lamp Posts
Locate and destroy every lamp post scattered around the map. This is the foundational step that triggers the hidden event chain. Take time to thoroughly sweep the area, as missing even one lamp post will prevent progression.
Obtain the Orange Knife
The Orange Knife is hidden within the castle walls. It is strongly recommended to kill Sledge Queen (SQ) first to make navigating the castle significantly easier and safer.
Eliminate the Three Shadows
Three shadows must be killed at specific locations: 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, so bring appropriate firepower.
Open the Lab and Reach the High Priest Room
Bring the Orange Knife and a keycard to open the lab. The lab will be empty of enemies, so use this opportunity to freely loot valuable supplies before proceeding to the High Priest room.
Talk to Zym
Initiate dialogue with Zym and speak to him multiple times to advance his full conversation. After completing his dialogue, you will receive five additional minutes on the timer to finish looting and preparing for Night 10.
Since the lab is empty during Step 4, take full advantage of the five extra minutes Zym grants you. Prioritize high-value medical supplies, ammunition, and armor upgrades that will be critical for the Nightmare waves ahead.
Extraction Preparation
Once all activation steps are complete and your team survives Night 10, a 30-second countdown begins before extraction. During this window, players must carefully select what to carry into Oblivion, as only items in your inventory will transfer.
You cannot bring rations into Oblivion, even if stored in an agent container. The game will not grant container resources upon entering the new area. Focus exclusively on combat and survival essentials.
| Item Category | Recommended Items | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Weapons | I4S-DS | High DPS for boss phases |
| Armor | Tactical Armor | Maximum damage resistance |
| Medical | Medkits, Tourniquets | Sustain through five waves |
| Infection Cure | Not needed | Infection meter resets to 0 on entry |
| Morale Items | Not needed | Black morale with depleted meter on entry |
Upon entering Oblivion, your infection meter resets to zero, eliminating the need for Amoxicillin. However, you will start with a black morale status and a depleted morale meter, adding an extra layer of pressure to the encounter.
Nightmare Wave Breakdown
The Nightmare wave consists of five progressively difficult waves, each featuring a mix of cultists, shadows, and a unique boss. Enemies spawn on the edges of the map and converge toward the players' position.
| Wave | Minor Threats | Major Threats | Boss |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knife, Kukri, Sabre Cultists | Akimbo Cultists, Skinners | Sickler (Enraged) |
| 2 | All previous + prior Shadows | Wrench Cultists (guaranteed), more Akimbo/Skinners | High Priest (Akimbo Scythe) |
| 3 | All previous types | SPAS Cultists, Hangers begin spawning | Battlejuice High Priest (Tec-9) |
| 4 | All previous + more Wrench types | Gunner Cultists, more Hangers/SPAS | Lebrock High Priest (Scythe Tank) |
| 5 | Any Cultist/Shadow type | Skinners spawn more frequently | Celldweller (summons Lost Souls) |
Each wave increases in enemy variety and spawn frequency. Waves 3 through 5 introduce ranged and special enemies that can quickly overwhelm unprepared teams. Maintain formation and prioritize high-threat targets like Gunner and SPAS Cultists.
After clearing Wave 5, players receive a brief respite before the final boss spawns. During this break, Reikgon will attempt to make players suicide three times, bypassing Apostle and Damned perks. The first two attempts behave like Hanger "life advice" events requiring rapid key mashing, while the third destroys the player's AGENT device with the message "Embrace the Oblivion."
High Priest Boss Guide
Three unique High Priest variants appear as bosses during the Nightmare waves, each with distinct combat patterns and stats. All High Priests can use Shadowfade, a healing ability that must be interrupted by shoving.
Battlejuice (Wave 3)
- Weapon: Dual Tec-9s
- HP: 1,100
- WalkSpeed: 13
- Key threat: Extreme mobility with dodges, rolls, and slides
- Weakness: Lowest HP of all High Priests
- Counter: Shove to cancel Shadowfade
Lebrock (Wave 4)
- Weapon: Hollow's Scythe
- HP: 1,200
- WalkSpeed: 20
- Key threat: Dangerous spin attack with speed buff (purple flash indicator)
- Weakness: No ranged capability
- Counter: Watch for purple flash, maintain distance
Celldweller (Wave 5)
- Weapon: Dagger barrage
- HP: 700
- WalkSpeed: 20
- Key threat: Summons groups of Lost Souls, ranged dagger throws
- Weakness: Second lowest HP among High Priests
- Counter: Close the gap to trigger predictable dagger barrage
All three High Priests can Shadowfade to heal to full HP. When you see a dark, shadowy aura envelope them, immediately shove to cancel the ability. Failing to interrupt Shadowfade will reset the boss to full health, wasting precious time and resources.
Lost Souls summoned by Celldweller have only 1 HP and 50 WalkSpeed but attack with super-fast speed using fists. They can take the appearance of fallen agents, scavengers, and cultists. While individually weak, they serve as a significant nuisance that can distract from the main boss fight.
Final Boss: Corrupted Zealot Void
After clearing all five Nightmare waves, Reikgon opens a red portal revealing the corpse of Zealot Void, chained and undead, now under Reikgon's control. Void is equipped with two Deo Volente-skinned executioner swords as Reikgon speaks of showing agents "our sorrow, our pain."
| Attack Type | Base Damage | With Zealot Technique | Survivable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Attack | 25 | 12.5 | Yes |
| Heavy Attack | 100-150 | 50-75 | Yes (with Tactical Armor) |
| Spin Attack | Lethal | Lethal | No |
| Dash Attack | Lethal | Lethal | No |
You have exactly three minutes to defeat Corrupted Zealot Void. If the timer expires, your entire team succumbs to the Oblivion. Speed stims are mandatory for survival, and one player must dedicate themselves to parrying while the rest of the team deals ranged damage.
Key Stats and Mechanics:
- HP: 15,001 (the game deals 1 damage automatically to ensure aggro)
- Weapons: Two Deo Volente executioner swords
- Armor Deterioration: His armor breaks down as he takes damage, making him progressively faster
- Parry Requirement: Parrying is mandatory for survival since you cannot outrun him
- Shove Immunity: He cannot be shoved, removing the Shadowfade interrupt option
- Phase Progression: He has three visual phases, each representing increased aggression and speed
The recommended strategy involves assigning one player as the dedicated parrier while the rest of the team focuses on gunning him down from a safe distance. Without good loot, skilled players, and determination to retry after deaths, this fight is extremely difficult to complete.
Designate one player with strong melee parrying skills to tank Void's attacks while the rest of the team brings high-DPS ranged weapons. Speed stims should be distributed to all players for emergency repositioning during spin and dash attacks.
Oblivion Ending Preparation Checklist:
- Break all lamp posts around the map
- Kill Sledge Queen and obtain the Orange Knife
- Eliminate all three shadows (Gallery, Castle, Mines)
- Open lab with knife and keycard, loot freely
- Complete full dialogue with Zym
- Pack I4S-DS, Tactical Armor, Medkits, Tourniquets
- Survive Night 10 and extract within 30 seconds
- Prepare speed stims for Zealot Void fight
- Assign dedicated parrier for final boss
Hangman: The Hidden Alternate
Failing the Oblivion steps after grabbing the Orange Knife triggers Hangman Evac, an even harder alternate ending. Only two teams have reportedly beaten it legitimately as of 2026.
Hangman activates similarly to normal evacuation but with every enemy and ally simultaneously hostile to the player. It features Holdout Supply Search wave enemies alongside nearly every enemy and boss type in the game, excluding unfair variants like Puppet Void and normal Sledge Queen.
Some enemies receive Hangman-exclusive variants with nerfed stats. For example, Sledge Queen loses her Arbiter abilities, and Lumi has reduced health locked to Phase 2. The community strategy recommends completing all Oblivion steps up to the Zym conversation to secure free lab loot before intentionally triggering Hangman.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I unlock the Decaying Winter new ending (Oblivion)?
You must complete five hidden steps: break all lamp posts, obtain the Orange Knife from the castle, kill three shadows at specific map locations, open the lab and reach the High Priest room, then talk to Zym multiple times. After surviving Night 10, the extraction will transport you to the Oblivion dimension.
Q: What items should I bring into the Oblivion ending?
Only items in your inventory transfer. Bring the I4S-DS, Tactical Armor, Medkits, and Tourniquets. You cannot bring rations even in agent containers. Your infection meter resets to zero on entry, so Amoxicillin is unnecessary.
Q: How much time do I have to defeat Corrupted Zealot Void?
You have exactly three minutes to defeat the final boss. If the timer expires, your team succumbs to the Oblivion. Speed stims and a dedicated parrier are essential for surviving his lethal spin and dash attacks.
Q: What happens if I fail the Oblivion steps?
If you grab the Orange Knife but fail to complete all Oblivion steps, the Hangman Evac ending activates after Night 10. This is an even harder alternate ending where nearly every enemy and boss in the game spawns simultaneously against you.
Q: Can I interrupt the High Priests' healing ability?
Yes. All three High Priest variants (Battlejuice, Lebrock, Celldweller) can use Shadowfade to heal to full HP. When you see a dark shadowy aura around them, immediately shove to cancel the ability. However, this does not work on the final boss Zealot Void.