Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies - What Are Aether Nests? (And How to Clear Them)

Game ZXC

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

By Dakota Evans

Published Nov 12, 2023

Modern Warfare 3's open-world zombies mode expands on the Outbreak mode introduced in Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War. In the Zombie infested Urzikstan of MWZ, players will encounter toxic Aether Nests, marked by an indicator on the Tac-Map that looks like a small puff of gas or smoke. If players can clear the nests, they'll be rewarded with a variety of loot - here's how to take out an Aether Nest.

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What Are Aether Nests?

Aether Nests are scattered throughout the MWZ mission area and can be found using the Tac Map or by just looking for building covered in green gas while exploring Urzikstan. Players will run into an increased number of Zombies in the nest area along with a concentrated amount of toxic gas that will slowly deplete players' health if a gas mask is not equipped. Inside the nest, players can find several Aether pickups (the in-game currency used to buy perks and upgrade weapons) and loot crates that will be available to open once the nest has been cleared.

Players may want to look around for a gas mask if one is not currently in the rucksack. Masks can be found in loot crates in the area around the nest or in the nest itself, although it can be hard to see items through the gas. Despite dealing constant damage, players can survive a few seconds in the gas before reaching critical health levels, so while risky, it is possible to clear Aether Nest without a gas mask. Players will have several missions in Operation Deadbolt that will require clearing nests, so getting comfortable with the process will prepare players for those missions.

How to Clear Aether Nests

Clearing nests is pretty straightforward - simply find the bright yellow cysts inside and shoot them to destroy them and clear the nest. The cysts can be hidden behind doors and tight corners, having the gas mask will help players have a few extra seconds in the gas to pinpoint the exact location. Be very cautious as the footsteps of the approaching Zombies become almost silent inside the gas of the nests and players can get swarmed very quickly.

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Run around outside the nest to gather all the zombies and eliminate them before locating a few of the cysts inside. Every two or three cysts destroyed exit the nest and regather and eliminate all nearby threats. The number of cysts players need to destroy will correlate to the size of the building the nest is occupying. Keep repeating the pattern of destroying a few cysts, then removing all nearby undead, then destroying a few more cysts, and so on, until the final cyst is destroyed, and the gas is cleared.

Once the nest is cleared, players will receive an XP award and a max ammo power-up - so don't worry about using a significant amount of ammo to clear the nest. Players will get topped off once they successfully clear the nest. The Aether Crates inside the nest will also unlock, awarding players a variety of loot in a range of rarities, from new weapons to acquisitions that can be equipped or extracted for future deployments.