Operators, the fog in Ashes of the Damned is not a scenery trick. The fog is a deadly game mechanic that floods the map with fast, dangerous undead and with sudden hazards that punish slow play. Do not treat the fog like a normal zone. The fog forces you to change how you move, how you fight, and how you spend your resources. If you learn the map and the fog rules first, you spend less time getting downed and more time finishing objectives CoD BO7 Bot Lobby.

Your top priority when you spawn is to find and secure Ol’ Tessie. Ol’ Tessie is the new Wonder Vehicle on the Ashes map and it is the single biggest safety tool you will find. The vehicle works as a mobile shelter, a weapons platform, and a fast exit when the horde closes in. Players who treat Ol’ Tessie as an optional toy quickly learn why the truck is central to every successful run. Grab Tessie early, then work on upgrades while you keep moving.

Going on foot inside the fog is a death sentence in most cases. The fog reduces vision and it hides fast alpha zombies that close the gap quickly. Expect swarms and special infected that hit hard at close range. The game also adds environmental hazards inside the fog — things like explosive growths or sudden vents — that can trap a single player in seconds. For these reasons, do not split from the vehicle for long. Use the truck to clear a safe path, then leap out only when you can return to cover quickly.

Once you have Ol’ Tessie secured, invest in upgrades that matter first. Focus on armor plating to reduce incoming damage and on engine or speed boosts so you can escape bad pockets fast. Then add offensive options like ramming power or mounted weapons so the truck can thin crowds while you ride. These upgrades change the truck from a fragile taxi into a sustained support platform. A well-upgraded Tessie lets your squad finish objectives inside the fog and still retreat with loot, rather than bleeding out on a roadside.

Driving the truck well is as important as the upgrades themselves. Learn the main road network on the map and plot short, efficient routes between objectives. Do not idle in the open. Use the truck’s speed to hit a point, grab the objective, then move to the next safe lane. Communicate with your team so everyone mounts and dismounts together. If you make a stop, assign one player to cover exits while others loot. Good driving keeps the team alive, and good calls keep the truck from getting boxed in or flanked by the faster fog mobs.

If you prefer private lobbies for practice, note that the fog mechanics still demand vehicle play even in quieter matches. Running a CoD BO7 Bot Lobbies buy to learn Tessie’s handling and upgrade timing is a valid way to train. Use a Bot Lobby to test mounting points, to practice ramming windows, and to learn escape paths without the pressure of live enemy players. The fog still hurts in Bot Lobbies, but training there makes your first real match far less chaotic.