- Decaying Winter Oblivion ending requires the broken drone Morse-code objectives.
- Destroy every lamp post and collect the Orange Knife before advancing.
- Kill three shadows, open the Lab, and speak with Zym before Night 10.
- Prepare vital gear because only selected inventory items carry into Oblivion.
- Defeat five Nightmare waves and corrupted Zealot Void to finish the ending.
What Is the Decaying Winter Oblivion Ending?
The decaying winter oblivion ending is an alternate conclusion connected to the third part of the Cultist Takeover event. It becomes available only after completing a sequence of objectives communicated through Morse code by a broken drone in the Mountain area.
Unlike a normal extraction, Oblivion moves the team into a separate hostile area after Night 10. The event then shifts into a special Nightmare encounter containing five escalating waves, unique High Priest variants, and a final battle against corrupted Zealot Void.
The route is demanding because the team must complete map-wide objectives while preserving enough time, ammunition, healing items, and combat resources for the final encounter. Treat the early objectives as a coordinated mission rather than optional exploration.
Oblivion ending reference page
Unlock Route
- Follow the broken drone's Morse-code objectives
- Complete the lamp, knife, shadow, Lab, and Zym requirements
- Reach Night 10 with the route intact
Nightmare Event
- Five enemy waves
- Reikgon cultists and shadows
- Special High Priest variants
- A boss at the end of the sequence
Final Battle
- Return to the helipad after the waves
- Fight corrupted Zealot Void
- Parrying and speed management are central
- The final fight has a three-minute limit
Assign players to different map zones before starting the objectives. Splitting lamp, shadow, and Lab responsibilities reduces travel time and leaves more resources for Night 10.
Step-by-Step Oblivion Unlock Guide
The following sequence follows the required route. Complete the objectives in order whenever possible, but maintain enough flexibility to handle enemies, loot, and extraction timing.
Destroy Every Lamp Post
Break all lamp posts around the map. This is the first major objective and requires a full sweep of the available areas. Mark cleared locations mentally or assign one player to track progress so the team does not revisit the same zones repeatedly.
Find the Orange Knife
Obtain the Orange Knife hidden within the Castle walls. Eliminating SQ before attempting this step can make the search safer and easier, especially when the team is already carrying fragile supplies or limited ammunition.
Eliminate the Three Shadows
Kill the three required shadows. One is located in the Gallery, one is on top of the map near the Castle, and one is near the Mines. The Mines and Castle targets require guns, so reserve ammunition for these encounters instead of spending every round on minor enemies.
Open the Lab and Reach the High Priest Room
Enter the Lab by collecting the knife and keycard, then travel to the High Priest room. The Lab is empty during this objective sequence, allowing the team to loot it before moving onward.
Speak With Zym
Talk to Zym in the High Priest room. Continue speaking with him multiple times until his dialogue advances. Once the conversation is complete, the team receives five additional minutes, creating a useful window for final looting and preparation.
| Objective | Area | Main Requirement | Practical Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamp posts | Around the map | Break every lamp post | Divide the map into search zones |
| Orange Knife | Castle walls | Locate the hidden knife | Consider dealing with SQ first |
| Shadow one | Gallery | Eliminate the shadow | Bring a reliable close-range option |
| Shadow two | Castle rooftop area | Use firearms | Save ammunition before the encounter |
| Shadow three | Mines | Use firearms | Keep an escape route available |
| Zym dialogue | High Priest room | Advance the conversation | Speak repeatedly until the route progresses |
Failing the required sequence can lead to a different alternate ending. After obtaining the Orange Knife, make sure the lamp and shadow objectives are finished before relying on the Oblivion route.
Extraction Preparation and Inventory Choices
After the objectives are complete, the team must finish Night 10. Once Agents complete the night, a 30-second preparation period begins before extraction. Use this short window to load only the equipment that matters for the next phase.
Only items placed in the inventory are retained. Rations do not transfer, even when they are stored inside an Agent container containing rations, ammunition, or scraps. Because of this limitation, prioritize combat and emergency equipment instead of trying to preserve ordinary supplies.
The infection meter resets to zero after entering Oblivion, so carrying Amoxicillin for the transition is unnecessary. The team also receives a depleted black morale meter, which should be considered when planning the opening of the Nightmare sequence.
| Priority | Recommended Item Type | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | I4S-DS | Useful for sustaining the team during extended combat |
| Highest | Tactical Armor | Improves survivability against repeated enemy pressure |
| High | Medkits | Supports recovery between waves and boss encounters |
| High | Tourniquets | Helps manage serious injuries during emergencies |
| Low | Rations | Do not transfer through the extraction transition |
| Low | Amoxicillin | Infection resets upon entering Oblivion |
Before Night 10:
- Complete every lamp-post objective
- Collect the Orange Knife from the Castle walls
- Eliminate the Gallery, Castle, and Mines shadows
- Open the Lab and advance Zym's dialogue
- Move only vital equipment into the extraction inventory
Medical Support
Carry Medkits and Tourniquets for recovery after difficult engagements. Avoid spending them on minor damage when a safer regroup is available.
Armor
Tactical Armor is a strong defensive choice for the Nightmare sequence, especially when the team must withstand several consecutive waves.
Ammunition
Save firearms for Castle and Mines shadows, ranged cultists, and bosses. Running dry before Wave 5 can make the final fight much harder.
Mobility
Speed-focused equipment becomes valuable against corrupted Zealot Void. The boss accelerates as its armor deteriorates.
A compact loadout is safer than filling every slot with low-value supplies. Prioritize armor, medical items, ammunition, and mobility tools that remain useful through the entire event.
Nightmare Wave Layout and Bosses
After extraction, a cutscene introduces Oblivion as a hostile area linked to Reikgon. The special wave begins after a short preparation period. Enemies spawn around the edges of the map and converge on the team, creating pressure from multiple directions.
There are five Nightmare waves. Each wave increases the threat level and ends with a boss. Enemy groups can include Reikgon cultists, shadows, and event-exclusive variants. The team should rotate healing, control dangerous targets, and avoid exhausting all ammunition before later waves.
| Wave | Common Threats | Major Threats | Boss |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knife, Kukri, and Sabre Cultists | Akimbo Cultists, Skinners | Enraged Sickler |
| 2 | Previous cultists and shadows | Monkey Wrench, Pipe Wrench, Akimbo Cultists, Skinners | High Priest |
| 3 | Previous wave enemies | Shadows, cultists, SPAS Cultists, Hangers | Battlejuice High Priest |
| 4 | Previous enemies, more wrench cultists | Gunner Cultists, Hangers, SPAS Cultists | Lebrock High Priest |
| 5 | Any non-boss cultist or shadow | More frequent Skinners | Celldweller |
Special High Priest Variants
Three unusual High Priest variants appear during the Nightmare sequence. Their different attack patterns require the team to change positioning instead of using one fixed strategy.
| Variant | Health | Key Threat | Counterplay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battlejuice | 1,100 HP | Tec-9 fire, dodges, rolls, slides | Keep distance and interrupt Shadowfade |
| Lebrock | 1,200 HP | Hollow's Scythe and dangerous spin | Watch for the purple speed indicator |
| Celldweller | 700 HP | Ranged daggers and dagger barrage | Maintain spacing and clear Lost Souls |
All High Priests can use Shadowfade. When a dark aura surrounds one of them, shove the enemy to cancel the effect. If Shadowfade completes, the High Priest can recover to full health, extending an already dangerous encounter.
Celldweller also summons groups of Lost Souls. These enemies have one health point and attack rapidly, so they are more distracting than durable. Clear them when they surround a teammate, but do not let them pull the entire squad away from the main boss.
Keep at least one reliable damage source available for each boss. Clearing every minor enemy immediately is less important than controlling dangerous targets and preserving resources for the wave-ending encounter.
Corrupted Zealot Void Strategy and Ending Trigger
After Wave 5, the team receives a short break before the final boss appears. Reikgon opens a red portal and reveals the chained, undead body of Zealot Void. The corrupted boss then pursues the Agents while using two Deo Volente executioner swords.
The battle takes place at the helipad after the Nightmare waves. The team has three minutes to defeat Zealot Void. The boss cannot be shoved, and its armor deteriorates as it takes damage. As the armor weakens, the boss becomes faster, reducing the value of simply trying to outrun it.
| Attack or Trait | Effect | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Light attack | Deals 25 damage, or 12.5 with the Zealot technique | Maintain spacing and avoid unnecessary trades |
| Heavy attack | Deals approximately 100 or 150 damage before mitigation | Parry or disengage immediately |
| Spin attack | Lethal attack | Do not remain within its reach |
| Dash attack | Lethal attack | Track its movement and keep escape space |
| Armor deterioration | Boss speed increases as armor is damaged | Rotate kiting and parrying duties |
| Shove immunity | Cannot be shoved | Use parries, firearms, and positioning instead |
| Time limit | Three minutes | Focus damage and avoid prolonged resets |
A practical team formation uses one player as the primary parrier while the remaining players attack from safer angles. The parrier must remain focused on timing and positioning, while ranged teammates monitor the boss rather than tunnel-visioning damage.
Speed stimulants are valuable because the boss becomes increasingly difficult to outrun. However, mobility alone is not a substitute for parrying. If the team loses control of the boss, a single spin or dash attack can end a run quickly.
Reikgon may also attempt to influence players during the break before the boss spawns. The event includes three suicide prompts, with the final prompt destroying the Agent device and delivering the “Embrace the Oblivion” message. Stay alert during this transition and do not treat the break as completely safe.
Do not allow the fight to become a long chase. Assign a parrier, maintain clean attack angles, use mobility tools before the boss accelerates, and spend damage resources decisively within the three-minute window.
Once corrupted Zealot Void is defeated, the Oblivion ending is completed. The event is notable for its cutscenes, Reikgon voice lines, special music collaboration, and exclusive Nightmare encounters.
Use short callouts for boss direction, Shadowfade, healing rotations, and parry status. Clear communication is especially important when the team is handling Lost Souls or multiple elite enemies at once.
FAQ: Oblivion Ending Details
Q: How do you unlock the Decaying Winter Oblivion ending?
Complete the broken drone's Morse-code objectives: destroy all lamp posts, obtain the Orange Knife from the Castle walls, kill the three required shadows, open the Lab, and advance Zym's dialogue before completing Night 10.
Q: What should you bring through extraction?
Prioritize vital equipment such as I4S-DS, Tactical Armor, Medkits, Tourniquets, ammunition, and mobility tools. Rations do not transfer through the extraction transition, and the infection meter resets to zero in Oblivion.
Q: How many Nightmare waves are in Oblivion?
There are five Nightmare waves. Each wave contains escalating cultist and shadow threats and ends with a boss. After Wave 5, the team fights corrupted Zealot Void at the helipad.
Q: What is the best way to defeat corrupted Zealot Void?
Assign one player to parry while the rest of the team attacks from safe angles. Watch for lethal spin and dash attacks, use speed tools, and finish the fight within the three-minute limit.
The ending is complete only after the team defeats corrupted Zealot Void. Reaching Oblivion or surviving the five waves is not enough by itself.