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 the Bad Signal mission, but players will have different objectives entering it on their own. Players will have to complete three Contracts hidden on the map, and then exfil to finish the Dark Aether.
The Contracts take the form of stuffed rabbit dolls instead 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 be a building overlooking the cliff with a ladder to 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 players can quickly snag it from the front. This is an Outlast mission.
The final Contract is on the roof of the castle. It will be sitting on the edge of the northwest corner of 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 the Aether 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 to exfil from one of the triangular rifts located 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 by placing four specific items on the pedestals at the small island with the tornado. Check out our full guide for more information.
Unlocking it the first time will not require players to gather the same four items to enter it again. Players can instead use the Sigil item to open the rift, and can earn more by completing Contracts in the red High Threat zone.
For more on MW3 Zombies, check out how to get the V-R11 Wonder Weapon to slow down hordes of zombies.
