The Dark Aether Rift is a new location inside the Zombies mode for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 that offers even better loot than the red High Threat zone. It is also much harder than the zone with little explanation, so here is how to complete it.
How to Complete the Dark Aether Rift in MW3 Zombies
The Dark Aether is the same location as in theBad Signal mission, but players will have different objectives entering it on their own. Players will have tocomplete three Contracts hidden on the map, and then exfil to finish the Dark Aether.
The Contracts take the form ofstuffed rabbit dollsinstead of walkie-talkies in the Dark Aether, and there are only three to complete. However, the dolls are always in the same location each time you enter the rift. There is also a constant counter-UAV in this zone, so finding things can be difficult.
The first Contract is down the left side of the road from the entrance. There will bea building overlooking the cliff with a ladderto the roof on the side, and the Contract will be on top of the roof. This will be an Aether Extraction mission.
The second Contract is on a bus on the south side of the map. The bus will be on the road, and playerscan quickly snag it from the front. This is an Outlast mission.
The final Contract is on the roof of the castle. It will be sittingon the edge of the northwest cornerof the building, and there are various stairs and rappels to get to the roof quickly. This Contract will be an Escort mission.
Each mission completed will spawn a reward rift with various items and new schematics, such as theAether Blade or Dog Bone. This missions can be extremely difficult, as the enemies are one notch higher than the Tier 3 zombies in the red zone.
Once finished with all three missions, you and your team will have toexfil from one of the triangular riftslocated somewhere on the map. Their locations are not marked, though there is one in the underground tunnels and one on the very top of the castle. A sudden static noise will alert players when one is nearby.
How to Unlock the Dark Aether Rift in MW3 Zombies
The Dark Aether Rift can be unlocked byplacing four specific items on the pedestals at the small island with the tornado. Check outour full guidefor more information.
Unlocking it the first time will not require players to gather the same four items to enter it again. Players can insteaduse the Sigil itemto open the rift, and can earn more by completing Contracts in the red High Threat zone.
For more on MW3 Zombies, check outhow to get the V-R11 Wonder Weaponto slow down hordes of zombies.
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