The Dog Bone is arguably one of the most sought-after items in Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) Zombies, offering unparalleled support and turning the tide in even the most difficult situations. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of how to obtain, use, and maximize the potential of the Dog Bone in your undead endeavors. Understanding its mechanics and strategic deployment is key to surviving and thriving in the zombie-infested Urzikstan.
Understanding the Dog Bone’s Power in MW3 Zombies
The Dog Bone is a schematic-based item that, once crafted, allows you to summon a friendly hellhound companion. This hellhound isn’t just a cosmetic addition; it’s a powerful ally that actively targets and eliminates zombies, revives downed teammates, and provides crucial support during exfil attempts. Its ability to revive players without player intervention makes it an incredibly valuable asset. Think of it as a loyal, fiery bodyguard with an insatiable appetite for the undead.
Why the Dog Bone is Essential
The Dog Bone offers multiple advantages that make it indispensable for serious MW3 Zombies players:
- Automatic Revives: Arguably the most significant benefit. The hellhound will prioritize reviving downed teammates, freeing you up to deal with immediate threats.
- Aggressive Zombie Elimination: The hellhound actively seeks out and eliminates zombies, providing additional firepower and crowd control.
- Distraction and Diversion: The hellhound acts as a moving target, drawing the attention of zombies and allowing you to reposition or reload.
- Exfil Assistance: During exfil, the hellhound can significantly reduce the pressure from incoming hordes, increasing your chances of a successful extraction.
The Hellhound’s Capabilities
The summoned hellhound possesses impressive capabilities:
- High Damage Output: Its fiery attacks deal substantial damage to zombies.
- Area-of-Effect Attacks: The hellhound’s attacks often have an area-of-effect component, damaging multiple zombies simultaneously.
- Durability: While not invincible, the hellhound can withstand a significant amount of damage.
- Reviving Downed Players: This is the signature move. It will autonomously seek out and revive downed players, offering a safety net.
Obtaining the Dog Bone Schematic
Acquiring the Dog Bone schematic is the first hurdle. It’s not a guaranteed drop, requiring both luck and strategic gameplay.
Completing Tier 5 Contracts in the High Threat Zone
The primary method for obtaining the Dog Bone schematic is by successfully completing Tier 5 contracts in the high-threat zone (red zone). These contracts are challenging and require careful planning, teamwork, and powerful weaponry. The red zone is located in the center of the map.
Understanding Contract Difficulty and Rewards
Tier 5 contracts are the most difficult contracts available and involve tasks like escorting armored vehicles, eliminating special zombies, or defending specific locations against overwhelming hordes. Successfully completing these contracts rewards you with high-tier loot, including a chance for the Dog Bone schematic.
Tips for Completing Tier 5 Contracts
- Teamwork is Crucial: Coordinate with your teammates to maximize your firepower and survivability.
- Pack-a-Punched Weapons: Ensure your weapons are Pack-a-Punched to at least Level 2 or 3 to deal sufficient damage.
- Perk-a-Colas: Utilize Perk-a-Colas like Juggernog, Speed Cola, and Stamin-Up to enhance your abilities.
- Equipment and Support Items: Stock up on lethal and tactical equipment, such as Semtex grenades, Molotov cocktails, and decoy grenades.
- Armor Plates: Keep your armor plates replenished to withstand incoming damage.
- Strategic Positioning: Utilize cover and high ground to gain a tactical advantage.
Alternative Methods (Less Reliable)
While Tier 5 contracts are the most reliable method, there are anecdotal reports of players finding the Dog Bone schematic in high-tier loot caches within the red zone. However, these occurrences are rare and should not be relied upon as a primary strategy. RNG plays a huge role in this scenario.
Crafting and Utilizing the Dog Bone
Once you have the Dog Bone schematic, you need to craft the item before you can use it. This requires specific resources and a visit to a crafting station.
Gathering Necessary Resources
Crafting the Dog Bone requires specific materials that can be found throughout the map. These materials typically include:
- Aetherium Crystals: Found in various locations, including loot caches and as rewards for completing contracts.
- Essence: Earned by eliminating zombies and completing contracts.
- Specific Weapon Parts: Found in weapon crates and by dismantling unwanted weapons.
- Other Miscellaneous Items: Depending on the specific crafting recipe, you may need to gather other items found throughout the map.
Using Crafting Stations
Once you have gathered all the necessary resources, visit a crafting station (found at various locations on the map). Select the Dog Bone schematic and initiate the crafting process. Keep in mind that crafting takes time, so ensure you are in a safe location before starting.
Activating and Deploying the Dog Bone
Once crafted, the Dog Bone will appear in your inventory. To deploy the hellhound, simply equip the Dog Bone and use it like a tactical or lethal grenade. This will summon the hellhound to your side, where it will remain until it is either defeated or the match ends.
Strategic Deployment Tips
- Pre-emptive Summoning: Summon the hellhound before engaging in particularly challenging encounters or exfil attempts.
- Protecting Downed Teammates: If a teammate goes down, prioritize summoning the hellhound to revive them.
- Distraction and Crowd Control: Use the hellhound to draw the attention of zombies, allowing you to reposition or reload.
- Exfil Assistance: The hellhound is invaluable during exfil, providing additional firepower and acting as a distraction for incoming hordes.
- Consider the Environment: Be mindful of the environment when summoning the hellhound. Tight corridors may limit its maneuverability.
Maximizing the Dog Bone’s Effectiveness
While the Dog Bone is powerful on its own, there are several ways to further enhance its effectiveness.
Upgrading Weapons
Equipping yourself with powerful, Pack-a-Punched weapons will complement the hellhound’s abilities and allow you to deal with a wider range of threats. A high rate of fire weapon is recommended to deal with hordes.
Utilizing Perk-a-Colas
Perk-a-Colas can significantly improve your survivability and offensive capabilities, allowing you to better support the hellhound. For example, Juggernog provides increased health, while Speed Cola allows for faster reloading.
Coordinating with Your Team
Communicate with your teammates to coordinate your attacks and maximize the hellhound’s effectiveness. For instance, you can use the hellhound to draw the attention of zombies while your teammates focus on eliminating high-priority targets.
Knowing the Hellhound’s Limitations
While powerful, the hellhound isn’t invincible. It can be defeated by overwhelming numbers of zombies or by special enemies. Be mindful of its health and provide support when necessary. Be sure to check on your hellhound.
Understanding Hellhound Behavior
The hellhound prioritizes reviving downed players, but it will also engage nearby zombies. Its behavior can be somewhat unpredictable, so be prepared to adapt your strategy accordingly. Observe your hellhound’s behavior patterns to use its abilities more efficiently.
The Importance of Essence
Having sufficient essence allows you to purchase essential items like armor plates, Perk-a-Colas, and weapon upgrades, all of which contribute to your overall survivability and ability to support the hellhound. Ensure you have a good supply of essence ready at all times.
Advanced Strategies for Using the Dog Bone
Beyond the basics, there are more advanced strategies that can further optimize your use of the Dog Bone.
Using the Hellhound as Bait
In certain situations, you can intentionally use the hellhound as bait to draw zombies away from objectives or to create opportunities for flanking maneuvers. This requires careful timing and coordination, but it can be highly effective. Using bait can be a useful tactic in tight situations.
Combining the Dog Bone with Other Support Items
Combining the Dog Bone with other support items, such as decoy grenades or sentry turrets, can create powerful synergistic effects. For example, you can use decoy grenades to draw zombies into a specific area, where the hellhound can then eliminate them with its area-of-effect attacks.
Utilizing the Hellhound for Objective Completion
In some cases, you can use the hellhound to assist with objective completion. For example, you can summon the hellhound to defend a specific location while you focus on completing a task. This can be particularly useful in situations where you are under heavy pressure from zombies. Completing objectives efficiently is essential for progress.
Adapting to Different Zombie Types
Different zombie types require different strategies. The hellhound is generally effective against standard zombies, but it may struggle against armored zombies or special enemies. Be prepared to adapt your tactics accordingly and provide additional firepower when necessary. Different zombie types will require different tactics.
Managing Hellhound Health
While the hellhound is durable, it can still take damage. Keep an eye on its health and be prepared to provide support if it comes under heavy fire. Consider using healing items or repositioning the hellhound to protect it from damage. Healing your hellhound can increase its survivability.
The Dog Bone is a game-changing item in MW3 Zombies, offering invaluable support and turning the tide in even the most challenging situations. By understanding its capabilities, acquiring the schematic, crafting the item, and utilizing it strategically, you can significantly increase your chances of survival and success in the undead wasteland. Mastering the Dog Bone is a key step towards becoming a true zombie hunter. Good luck surviving out there.
What exactly is the Dog Bone in MW3 Zombies, and what does it do?
The Dog Bone is a powerful consumable item in MW3 Zombies that allows you to summon a friendly Hellhound companion. This Hellhound will follow you around, attacking zombies and providing valuable support in combat. It acts as an extra layer of defense, diverting enemy attention and dealing significant damage to hordes of undead.
The Hellhound summoned by the Dog Bone is considerably stronger and more resilient than naturally spawned Hellhounds in the game. It can withstand a substantial amount of damage and possesses a fierce attack, making it an excellent asset for tackling challenging objectives and high-threat areas within the Urzikstan Exclusion Zone.
Where can I find the Dog Bone in MW3 Zombies?
The Dog Bone is a rare item primarily found as loot within Aether Nests and Aether Rifts. Completing contracts related to these infested areas significantly increases your chances of finding one. Focused looting in high-threat zones, especially those with increased zombie density, also improves your odds of discovering a Dog Bone.
While not guaranteed, completing high-tier contracts in the Red Zone (high threat zone) provides the best opportunity to obtain the Dog Bone. Additionally, check loot crates and supply drops in this zone, as they have a higher chance of containing valuable items. Don’t forget to explore infested strongholds, as they frequently contain rare loot.
How long does the Hellhound summoned by the Dog Bone last?
The Hellhound summoned by the Dog Bone does not have a permanent duration. Its lifespan is limited to approximately three minutes in the game. After this time, it will despawn, leaving you to fend for yourself once again. Knowing this duration is crucial for strategic planning.
While the Hellhound is active, make the most of its combat abilities. Use it to clear out large hordes, provide cover while completing objectives, or distract powerful enemies. Be mindful of the timer and plan your actions accordingly to maximize the benefit of having a loyal Hellhound companion.
Can other players use my summoned Hellhound?
No, the Hellhound summoned by the Dog Bone is specifically linked to the player who used the item. It will only follow and protect the player who deployed it. Teammates can benefit from the Hellhound’s presence by having it draw enemy fire, but they cannot directly control or command it.
This exclusivity encourages players to acquire their own Dog Bones for personal protection and increased combat effectiveness. Coordination within a squad can involve multiple players deploying their Hellhounds simultaneously, creating a formidable force against the undead.
Is the Dog Bone affected by any zombie difficulty or threat level?
The Dog Bone itself remains unaffected by the zombie difficulty or threat level of the zone. Its drop rate is influenced by the zone’s threat level, with higher-threat zones offering a greater chance of finding one. The functionality of summoning the Hellhound remains consistent across all difficulty levels.
However, the Hellhound’s performance is naturally impacted by the difficulty. In higher-threat zones, the Hellhound will face tougher and more numerous enemies. While it is a powerful asset, players should still support their Hellhound with their own firepower to ensure its survival and effectiveness in challenging situations.
Can I use multiple Dog Bones to summon more than one Hellhound?
No, you can only have one Hellhound summoned by the Dog Bone active at any given time. Using another Dog Bone while a Hellhound is already present will not summon a second one. Instead, the effect of the new Dog Bone will be wasted.
This limitation encourages strategic timing of the Dog Bone usage. Wait until your current Hellhound has despawned or been defeated before using another Dog Bone. This ensures you maintain a consistent level of support and protection throughout your gameplay session.
What happens if my Hellhound dies during the match?
If your Hellhound is defeated by zombies or other threats, it will disappear, and you will need to acquire and use another Dog Bone to summon a new one. There is no way to revive or heal a fallen Hellhound. This emphasizes the importance of protecting your summoned companion.
To prolong your Hellhound’s lifespan, provide it with support fire, draw enemy attention away from it, and consider using it strategically in less dangerous situations. Being mindful of its health and positioning can significantly extend its usefulness in combat and help you complete challenging objectives.