Modern Warfare Zombies: How to Pack-a-Punch (Start With an Upgrade Weapon)

Game ZXC

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

By Dakota Evans

Published Nov 15, 2023

There is no greater tool at the disposal of players in Call of Duty Zombies than the Pack-a-Punch machine. Debuting back in Der Reise in Call of Duty: World at War, Pack-a-Punching a weapon will not only double damage and magazine capacity (and in some cases add epic side effects like making pistols fire explosive rounds) but will also give a player's weapon a cool futuristic camo and a laser-like pew-pew effect to the sound of the gun firing.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 brings a Zombies mode with a map of epic size, making it a challenge for players to track down this coveted upgrade machine. Once players get familiar with the map and manage a few successful exfils, they will easily be able to track down Pack-a-Punch machines and even be able to start the game with an upgraded weapon, making the missions requiring upgraded weapons for Operation Deadbolt a breeze.

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How to Get Pack-a-Punch

Unlike some previous Zombies installments, players wanting to upgrade their weapon at the Pack-a-Punch machine will not need to do anything special to unlock the ability to use the machine - simply track down a machine using the tac-map and fight through the hordes to get there. Pack-a-Punch machines are scattered throughout Urzikstan, with only two or three Pack-a-Punch machines in the Tier II threat area and only one spawning in the highest threat area.

Take advantage of the vehicles, jump portals, and redeploy drones in the area to quickly travel to machines around the map. Pack-a-Punch machines spawn in the same few locations, rotating between the few spawns in each deployment. Players can use this to their advantage when attempting to navigate to Tier II and Tier III Pack-a-Punch machines - knowing the layout of the building where a machine is located will help players get in, upgrade, and get back out.

Players can only upgrade their weapon to match the level of threat area the machine is located in, meaning players can only Pack-a-Punch up to Level I in Tier I threat areas, can only reach Pack-a-Punch Level II in Tier II threat areas, and must go all the way into Tier III to fully Pack-a-Punch a weapon. Be sure to have proper perks, like Jugger-Nog and Stamin-Up, that will help players survive in the highest threat area, and be sure enough essence is available to upgrade - players will need 15,000 essence for Pack-a-Punch Level III.

In addition to using the Pack-a-Punch machine itself, players can also upgrade weapons using aetherium crystals found throughout the map. These crystals can be found in loot crates or randomly littered around the mission area (more commonly found like this in Tier II and III threat areas), but are most commonly found by completing contracts.

Successfully completing several contracts in a single deployment will give players a high chance of finding multiple crystals, giving players the ability to upgrade weapons without even having to find the Pack-a-Punch machine.

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How to Start a Deployment With Pack-a-Punch

As players explore Urzikstan, they will encounter a wide variety of tools and equipment that can be used to beef up their operator and help ensure successful exfil. Certain items fall into the category of Acquisitions - items that can be kept after exfil and will remain in the rucksack for use on future deployments. The aetherium crystals that players will find in loot boxes and Reward Rifts earned from completing contracts fall into the acquisition category.

If players are lucky enough to find a Raw, Refined, or Flawless Aetherium Crystal (each upgrading weapons to Pack-a-Punch Level I, Level II, or Level III, respectively), they will have the option to store the reward rather than use it immediately to upgrade the currently equipped weapon. If players elect to stow the crystal and are able to successfully exfil, it will be available for use at the start of any future deployment.

Players can store up to ten acquisitions in the stash, meaning players can save a number of crystals for a guaranteed upgrade at the start of multiple deployments. If players progress far enough in the story missions, they will begin to unlock schematics, recipes that allow permanent crafting of perk sodas, aether tools, and even aetherium crystals. Progressing far enough will allow players to unlock crystal schematics that can be crafted and used regularly to instantly Pack-a-Punch a weapon at the start of a new game.