Ground Zero Secrets

A visual guide to finding all the secrets and the secret level in the Quake II expansion pack: Ground Zero.

Useful Information

Quake II Secrets Guide Contents

• Quake II Secrets
  
• Call of the Machine Secrets
  
• The Reckoning Secrets
  
• Ground Zero Secrets
  
• Quake II 64 Secrets

Introduction

This guide will help you find all the secrets in the Quake II expansion pack: Ground Zero.

Like Quake II, Ground Zero consists of several "units" and each unit contains several levels that connect to each other. Sometimes you won't be able to find all the secrets in a level the first time you visit it but later on in the unit you will return to that level to find the rest of the secrets. Follow the levels in the guide in order to ensure you discover all the secrets.

[Unit 1: Mines]

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lower Mines

Secret 1 of 5

You'll start the level inside a cave filled with lava. As you go round the first corner look to your left to see a red Thaelite crystal. Shoot it to destroy it and open a path to the secret.

Reward: Double Damage

Secret 2 of 5

After riding an elevator up in to a room you'll notice a large piece of Thaelite crystal ore on a small machine. Do not destroy this crystal yet or you will miss the secret. Instead climb the ladder () to the right of the ore and activate the switch () on this platform.

The ore moving machine will now take the ore via the track to a different platform. When it has reached its destination and finished moving shoot it () to blow up part of the wall and reveal the secret.

Reward: IR Goggles

Secret 3 of 5

You'll come across a room with some large cogs. Look carefully at the floor below the cogs to see a crack. Destroy this part of the floor to reveal the secret.

Reward: Adrenaline

Secret 4 of 5

You may come across a black crate held in place by a crane claw (). It is important to make sure that you do not destroy this crate yet or you will be unable to find this secret.

Carry on through the level and you'll enter a large metal room with a few crates. Climb the small ladder on the left to reach the upper platform ().

Activate the switch here () and the message "Crane activated." will appear. A crane carrying the black crate you saw earlier will appear (). Wait until it drops the black crate on top of the metal bars () and then shoot the crate to destroy the bars. Drop down the hole to find the secret.

Reward: Medkit, Bandolier

Secret 5 of 5

Look for a chain track that runs through a part of the level. If you activated a lever earlier in the level there will be carts moving down the track but that is not necessary to find the secret. Jump on to the track or the carts and follow it through the tunnel ().

Soon the track will pass by a large crusher machine. A secret Body Armor () can be seen perched on the corner. Carefully leap on to the side of the machine to get it.

Reward: Body Armor

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Thaelite Mines

Secret 1 of 4

You'll find a Chain Gun next to a dead Marine. In the distance you'll see a cart track that goes goes straight down a mine shaft ().

You need to wait until all of the mine carts have moved past you before you jump down in to the shaft to find the secret ().

Reward: Shells, Tesla, First Aid x3, Quad-Damage

Secret 2 of 4

In the large room where you fight a Tank Commander and acquire the Security Pass, look behind the metal column on the left side of the room to see a shootable switch (). Shoot it to activate a nearby wall () and reveal secret closet.

Reward: Stimpack x4, Silencer

Secret 3 of 4

Return to the room which features a large elevator () and ride it down.

You'll be ambushed by Flyers bursting out of the walls on both sides. After you have dealt with them ride the elevator back up and look carefully at one of the places the Flyers came from. One of the walls is cracked () and can be destroyed to access the secret.

Reward: Megahealth

Secret 4 of 4

You will come across a black and yellow hazard striped door that doesn't work. Directly opposite it you'll see a large chunk of red Thaelite crystal sticking out of the wall. Destroy it to reveal a secret.

Reward: Ammo Pack

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‎Tectonic Stabilizer

Secret 1 of 4

Near the switch for Coolant Pump 01 you'll see a transparent tube running between two pillars. Look behind one these pillars to see a shootable switch ().

Shoot the switch to reveal a secret closet () next a nearby computer.

Reward: Defender Sphere, Prox

Secret 2 of 4

Later in the level after destroying all 16 wall nodes, head back to the room containing Secret 1 and look for a computer terminal (). Activate it and the message "Coolant tank opened." will appear then head up the nearby lift ().

You'll see the coolant tank in front of you and the door is now open. Climb the ladder and head inside ().

Looking down in to the water and you'll see a secret Body Armor ().

Reward: Body Armor

Secret 3 of 4

While still inside the coolant tank from Secret 2 press the green button () on the wall and the message "Filtration vents activated." will appear. This opens a hatch at the bottom of the coolant tank. Swim down in to it () and through the pipe.

You'll surface inside a 2nd coolant tank. Climb the ladder and as you exit through the door look to your left to see some red pipes. Jump over to them to find a secret item.

Reward: Double Damage

Secret 4 of 4

When the final Coolant Pump is disabled you'll have a short amount of time to either leave the level or instead find the secret exit. Before disabling the last pump, plan your route back to the large room filled with lava and a blue crystal machine. When you're ready, disable the final coolant pump and run up to the top of the platform in this room ().

Once you reach the top a Thaelite crystal will smash in to the pipe and create a hole. Jump in to it () to reach the secret level: Mine Engineering.

Reward: SECRET LEVEL

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Mine Engineering [Secret Level]

NOTE: There are no secrets in this level.

[Unit 2: Warehouse]

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Eastern Warehouse

Secret 1 of 4

After disabling the red security lasers you'll be able to pick up a Power Cube (). Doing so will display the message "Track disabled." which disables the electricity flowing through the track in the next room. Head back through the cracked wall to the track ().

Under one of the carts is a small shaft () you can safely drop down in to now the electricity is disabled.

Reward: Grenades, Rockets x2, Stimpack x3, Armor Shards x2, Invulnerability

Secret 2 of 4

After acquiring the Red Keycard you'll take an elevator up in to a room filled with crates. Use the small crate in the corner () to get on to the larger crates and then jump across them to reach the secret alcove ().

Reward: Megahealth

Secret 3 of 4

As soon as you enter a large, damaged room the message "Building integrity compromised." will appear. The room now starts to flood and once it reaches the nearby Power Cube it will become electrified. Jump across to the other side of the room using the crates () and then push the green button () to disable the electricity. Now the water is safe swim under a broken platform () to find the secret.

Reward: Adrenaline

Secret 4 of 4

To the left of the exit door is a small tunnel under the stairs that takes you to the secret.

Reward: Body Armor

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Waterfront Storage

Secret 1 of 4

You'll enter a huge warehouse filled with a maze of crates. You'll come across a Medkit on top of a crate near some Armor Shards. Use a nearby smaller crate to jump to a red crate () then turn around and jump over to where the Medkit is and then keep going behind the crates ().

You'll soon see a black crate () unless you destroyed it earlier. Destroy it for an extra pack of Cells and then drop down to the BFG10K () to find the secret.

Reward: BFG10K, Cells, Prox, Medkit x2

Secret 2 of 4

Continue through the crate maze until you reach a section where you have to drop down on to a black and yellow hazard stripe (). Use your Blaster to light up the area if you are having trouble seeing it. Nearby is a crate mover machine that will start moving when you jump down. Quickly jump on the edge of the machine () then up on to the crate itself ().

As it carries you forward look for a stack of red crates and jump up to them to reach a secret item (). You only have one chance to ride the crate machine so if you miss it then consider using a rocket jump to blast yourself up to the secret instead.

Reward: Megahealth

Secret 3 of 4

After opening the Blue Keycard Door head up the ramp and inspect the wall. The bottom-right hazard stripe () is reversed. Shoot it to make a section of the wall to the right explode and reveal a secret area. Jump up the crates to reach it ().

Reward: Defender Sphere

NOTE: At this point you will briefly go to the level Logistics Complex but there are no secrets to find there yet and you'll soon return to Waterfront Storage.

Secret 4 of 4

Immediately after opening the door using the Commander's Head turn right and you'll see a grate in the corner behind a Medkit. Destroy it to reveal a secret area.

Reward: Quad-Damage

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Tactical Command

Secret 1 of 2

Near the start of the level you'll head down a ramp and in to a small room. Look up to the ceiling to see a small shootable switch () next to a light. Shoot it to destroy a section of a nearby wall ().

Reward: Double Damage

NOTE: The final secret for this level will be available when you return later on.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Logistics Complex

Secret 1 of 1

On your 2nd visit to Logistics Complex continue through the level until you reach the blue machine which you place the Data CD in to. Look at the left side of the machine to see a shootable switch ().

Shoot the switch and then turn around to see a small closet () has opened to reveal the secret.

Reward: Body Armor

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Tactical Command [Continued]

Secret 2 of 2

Find the large metal overflow doors and then look in the dark corner to the right of them. There is a small gap () you can use to get in to the water below.

While underwater look for a crack in a wall (). Destroy it to access the secret item inside.

Reward: Tesla, Ammo Pack, Medkit, Armor Shard x4, Rebreather

[Unit 3: Hangar]

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Research Hangar

Secret 1 of 2

As you enter a tall room with four metal pillars attached to the platforms, look behind one of the pillars to see a small shootable switch (). Shoot it to detach one of the pillars and send it smashing down in to a pipe below.

The smashed pipe will start flooding the room below you with water and eventually it'll get high enough to short-circuit the laser beams blocking an item. Swim in here () to discover the secret. There is another item to find though, swim down in to the water and in to the broken pipe () to find an Adrenaline.

Reward: Body Armor, Adrenaline

NOTE: The final secret for this level will be found much later at the end of the unit.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Waste Processing

Secret 1 of 2

Just before entering the room with the button that deactivates the security lasers, look up to see an Adrenaline perched on two metal supports. Destroy the cracked metal support to drop the item and discover the secret.

Reward: Adrenaline

Secret 2 of 2

While in the reactor room, don't push the button to activate the reactor just yet as this gives you a limited time to escape. First jump up on to the computer that is in the corner of the room. Move in to the corner () of the top of that computer to make a hole appear in the adjacent computer servers () which contains the secret.

Reward: Megahealth

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Waste Disposal

Secret 1 of 2

At the very start of this level, simply jump in to the water () on the side of the bridge.

Swim under the pipes to find a secret Megahealth ().

Reward: Megahealth

Secret 2 of 2

In the same room as Secret 1 look near the dead Marine to see a crack in the floor. Destroy it to access the secret.

Reward: Double Damage

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Maintenance Hangars

NOTE: If you're playing the original 1997 version of Quake II then Secret 1 can't be accessed until your 2nd visit to this level later on in the unit.

Secret 1 of 3

At the start of the level destroy a section of the cliff to the right of the pipes you emerged from. The message "You released the Mutant!" will appear and you will be attacked. There is an item in the small cave the Mutant was in.

Reward: Double Damage

Secret 2 of 3

Head through the entryway at the start of the level near Secret 1 and head down an elevator. In the computer room try not to destroy any barrels yet. Destroy the section of the wall panel that is to the upper left () of the barrel. Use the barrel as a platform () to jump up in to the secret. If you accidentally destroy the barrels you can still rocket jump in to the secret.

Reward: Ammo Pack

NOTE: You will briefly return to the Waste Disposal level before returning back to Maintenance Hangars.

Secret 3 of 3

You'll come across a large machine that fills containers with acid and then seals a lid on to them while they move down a conveyor belt. First pick up the Environment Suit () in the corner of the room then jump on to the lid () just as it is pressed on to a container.

From here crouch and look in to the machine where the lids come from to see a small shootable switch (). Shoot it and the message "Something fell in to a container." will appear.

Head back up to the platform overlooking the containers and look down in to them. When you see the Invulnerability item in one (), activate your Environment Suit and jump in. Grab the item and then swim out of the acid when it fills up the container.
NOTE: In the original 1997 version of Quake II the containers are already filled with acid, while in the remaster they are slowly filled up one by one. You'll have to jump in to the acid containers to find the item in the original version.

Reward: Invulnerability

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Research Hangar [Continued]

Secret 2 of 2

As soon as you re-enter this level jump up on the blue servers () and destroy the top of the highest one (). Inside you'll find a Power Shield which is a rare item in this expansion.

Reward: Power Shield

[Unit 4: Ammunitions]

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Munitions Plant

Secret 1 of 2

You'll enter a room with some chunky yellow lasers. Look at the wall up and to the left of them to see a warped green vent panel (). Destroy it to reveal a shootable switch which when activated reveals a secret closet () on the left.

Reward: Body Armor

NOTE: You'll return to this level at the end of the unit for the final secret.

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Ammo Depot

Secret 1 of 2

Proceed through the level until you press the button that states "Strogg Bio-Maintenance Chamber activated". Return to a previous room and wait for the Bio-Maintenance Chamber to drain the blue fluid. Destroy the enemy inside and then step inside the chamber yourself (). You'll now be wearing a temporary Strogg Uniform that disguises you as the enemy. The enemy will ignore you while wearing this but after shooting a weapon you will lose the disguise. If you keep wearing the disguise you will lose it in the next level.

Reward: Strogg Uniform

Secret 2 of 2

You'll enter a large metallic area used for crate storage. Look for an orange crate that is held by a crane and then shoot the cracked underside of the crate to drop a secret item.

Reward: Double Damage

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Munitions Plant [Continued]

Secret 2 of 2

After obtaining the Antimatter Pod you will return to the Munitions Plant level. In the very last room of this level you'll see a large red gondola that takes you to the next unit. Destroy a section of the wall in the corner to access a secret cache of items.

Reward: Body Armor, Power Shield

[Unit 5: Boss]

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Widow's Lair

NOTE: There are no secrets in this level.

More Quake II Secret Guides

These additional guides cover more secrets that are available in Quake II:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3025659929https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3014747962https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3029660997https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3021574975

[|Milo|]

\o/ S2

[MrLightCoffee]

Thanks for this guide. Helped a bunch.

[Xazuki]

Thanks for letting me know about those Branjo. Good call on the warning for the black crate I've added that. My notes must've got mixed up for Tectonic Stabilizer as you're quite correct. I've rewritten those as one secret can easily lead straight in to the other which makes it simpler.

You're right about Ground Zero being a little harder to document, the optimal order wasn't quite as easy to nail down as the other expansions.

[BranjoHello]

Thanks for the guide, Xazuki!
I guess this one was the most difficult one to make due to levels in this mission pack being more open and confusing.

My notes:

Lower Mines
Secret 4 of 5
Guide could have a warning not to destroy the explosive crate needed for this secret.
I learned the hard way (restarting the level because of it xD)

‎‏‏‎Tectonic Stabilizer
Maybe Secret 3 of 4 and Secret 2 of 4 need to change positions, I wasn't able to do them in order you listed. Not 100% sure on this, but you can double check it if you feel like it.

[Xazuki]

Thanks for pointing that out, I've fixed it up.

[stinkyfinger_2012]

In Lower Mines the first secret is a Double-Damage not Quad-Damage.