ze_santassination_css2 Act III Truth / Stage 8 Guide

This is a Zombie Escape in-depth guide for ze_santassination_css2 Act III Truth / Stage 8 based on my 2-year experience in ze_santassination_css2. This is a very useful guide before the big Zombie Escape event.

Introduction

Based on my 2-year experience in ze_santassination_css2 both normal and extreme stages, this guide will cover only Act III / stage 8 for a grand prize during the big event. By the way, you can use this guide for Act III normal / stage 4, but there will normal NPCs instead of benders before 2nd boss, and fewer benders during The Truth part.

Please note that this guide is for defending zombies only, mostly are my preferences. I'm not gonna cover anything item-related and doorhugging for triggers like Simba, Zazu, Mufasa, etc.

I am not responsible for anything if you use this guide outside Counter-Strike: Source because of the Zombie Escape mod structures are different like no bhop, restricted rebuy, etc.

About Santa Act III Truth / Stage 8

ze_santassination_css2 the most infamous, hardest, and torture map in Zombie Escape history. In Act III Truth / Stage 8 it's notoriously for being early slay before reaching assembly area because of zombies boosting, bhop, missed triggers, disobey leaders, and many players got killed by the benders. Admins are refused to disable bhop for obvious reasons.

The stage itself is covered by the Eternal Truth, which means black fog and low visibility, spawn benders instead of regular NPCs.

The bender will deal very high damage and only few shots can kill the player. The healing item is very limited on this stage and only instructed by leaders.

How Often When Will Play Santa Act III Truth / Stage 8

Based on my 2-year experiences, ze_santassination_css2 can be played during on and off event, one time every 2-3 months, less than 15 times per year in average, and more often during approaching Holiday season (November, December, Christmas).

ze_santassination_css2 is most likely played in normal difficulty especially off event, once stage 4 is beaten, players are likely to RTV the map, making stage 5, 6, 7, and 8 won't be played.

In extremely rare cases, the admin will skip to stage 8 once stage 4 is beaten (I remember), or even start extreme stages after warm up is over.

ze_santassination_css2 extreme stages are very likely reserved to big event only, around 1-3 events per server per year, it's always guaranteed during Christmas event.

Start, Split 4 Sides

• Due to notoriously zombies boosting and early slay before reaching assembly area, leaders and admins are strictly instructed players to defend zombies by using any pistols in spawn area, but some players are disobey and defend zombies by using their own primary weapon instead, even in worst case: an M3 shotgun.
  
• Tram side is the safest way to go (No benders) but it's very high risk to lose top defender before reaching assembly area.
  
• Simba/Leftest side is less safe (Some benders) but it's lower risk to lose top defender before reaching assembly area.
  
• Middle and Zazu/Right side are the most dangerous side (More benders) but it's easiest way to get top defender before reaching assembly area.
  
• If you are going to the Zazu/Right side, always fall back to the elevator immediately and only use your pistol to defend zombies until the elevator is leaving.
  
• Over 85% chance of the round won't able to reach assembly area and ended up by early slay, most likely due to zombies boosting, bhop, missed triggers, and big trimmed by the benders.

Assembly Area

• Be careful benders during assembly area.
  
• Be careful zombies bhopping from the Simba/Leftest side, nade bhopping zombies if possible.
  
• Stay defend until reindeers stop approaching and benders are cleared then go outside, zombies teleport ahead.
  
• This is the first part where I can get top defender easily, use any rifles and shoot to the zombie's head.
  
• Stay defend until "Outer Gate" message appears or leader tells to fall back.
  
• Be careful a bender from the top (In very rare cases).
  
• Try not to doorhug on the Santa's big gate (Bender ahead) until the path clear.

1st Boss (Santa)

• If humans and zombies ratio is 1:1 (50%/50%) before or during the 1st boss (Santa), the current round will very likely get slayed.
  
• Be careful a bender near the exit gate.
  
• A few people will stay at the big gate to bait the boss, preventing the boss moving to the other side.
  
• AK-47 and M249 are highly recommended during boss fight.
  
• Take more priority on killing benders during boss fight.
  
• During the boss fight, avoid hugging the wall, go to the corner, or go to the (exit) gate at all time.

Santa Tower

• After 1st boss defeated, the exit gate will open after 10 seconds, and another 10 seconds for zombies cage.
  
• Stay defend until "The Final Elevator is Leaving" message appears or leader tells to fall back.
  
• Stay on the elevator for a few seconds until benders are cleared.
  
• Stay on the right side until reindeers stop approaching, then go to 2nd boss arena.

2nd Boss (Big Santa)

• While entering the 2nd boss arena, be careful a bender at the back.
  
• This is the second part where I can get top defender easily, stay back away from the gate and shoot zombies behind the gate at full damage until the 2nd boss (Big Santa) starts moving.
  
• A few people will stay at the gate to bait the boss, preventing the boss moving to the other side.
  
• AK-47 and M249 are highly recommended during boss fight.
  
• Take more priority on killing benders during boss fight.
  
• After 2nd boss defeated, you have 25 seconds to farm your money on zombies behind the gate, you can get top defender easily by then, and be careful to not overspend on rebuy.

The Truth

• Starting from The Truth part until final boss, you may refrain from rebuying any guns depending on humans and zombies ratio.
  
• If humans and zombies ratio is 2:3 (40%/60%) you may start to rebuy some guns (Low winnable chance).
  
• If humans and zombies ratio is 1:4 (20%/80%) you may spend all your rebuy to get top defender (Very low winnable chance).
  
• Focus and follow instructions from leaders at all time.
  
• Stay defend until "Socrates Has to Cleanse You" message appears, then fall back all the way to the door (40 seconds door).
  
• Be careful on bhop part, avoid falling, NPCs, and benders, go as far as possible and go to the ramp.
  
• Stay defend until "Socrates is Blossoming" message appears, then fall back (40 seconds door).
  
• Avoid taking the stair for your safety, take the side path instead.
  
• Stay defend until reindeers stop approaching (Screen flashes and then 5 seconds after), then fall back all the way to the tram (very high recommended).
  
• There is a bender ahead on reindeers path, you better shoot them.
  
• In rare cases, a tacos storm is not triggered by player, so be careful.
  
• There is a bender after a tacos storm, shoot them if you doorhugging ahead.
  
• After you taking tram to the other side, there is a bender ahead, be careful and always take the bottom path.
  
• Turn left, straight, DON'T turn right, turn left, and then straight to the elevator.
  
• Mind the gap and stay defend until the first Socrates message appears (40 seconds door)
  
• You may slowly fall back because there is another bhop part ahead (For your safety).
  
• DON'T turn right when approaching a three-way path.
  
• Hug the door immediately when you see "Socrates Plays Nintendo 64" message appears.
  
• Be careful a bender ahead after the door, turn left and do a bhop and avoid falling.
  
• There is a bender ahead on grass part, shoot them.
  
• Hug the door and stay defend until "Socrates Needs Bender" message appears (30 seconds door).
  
• Mind your humans and zombies ratio before taking the bridge, if ratio is not good (At least 2:3 or 40%/60%) this will likely to lose defend to zombies, take the middle bridge immediately if losing defend.
  
• If defend side is good, try not to cross the bridge for your safety, 1 of 3 side will break, there a chance that another side will break 10 seconds after, leaving only one side will stay forever.
  
• There are many benders ahead, try not to approach them, you can shoot through the grate.
  
• Stay defend until "Socrates Does Not Exist" message appears then hug the door (40 seconds door), most players takes the right door.
  
• Avoid taking the small gaps path for your safety, take the narrow path on the right instead.
  
• Stay defend until "Socrates Sells Gasoline" message appears (20 seconds door).
  
• Stay defend and mind the gaps ahead until "Socrates Will Destroy" message appears (20 seconds door).
  
• Stay defend and mind the gaps ahead until first Socrates message appears, then fall back all the way to the door (20 seconds door).

Final Boss (Socrates)

• Be careful there are some benders ahead in the final boss arena.
  
• For your safety, avoid taking Herder (Push) item, it's better to let someone else pick it instead.
  
• Disable hide, keep your eyes peeled on the radar on the top-left screen, red dots on radar (Zombies), benders, Bobs, and stick to the teammates all the time, especially the leader.
  
• Start shooting the final boss (Socrates) when "True Santa" message appears, shoot Socrates with your current gun for one magazine (Usually 50 rounds).
  
• When your current gun magazine is empty, rebuy M249 immediately and shoot Socrates for another 100 rounds.
  
• When your M249 magazine is empty, drop M249 and rebuy M249 immediately then shoot Socrates for another 100 rounds, repeat until your money below $5750.
  
• When your money is below $5750, buy an AK-47 and shoot for another 50 rounds, drop, rebuy, and shoot for another 50 rounds, repeat until you run out of money (Below $2500).
  
• When your money is run out (Below $2500), it's time to reload your AK-47 for 2.4 seconds or buy a cheaper gun (Famas, Galil, TMP, or MP5) and good luck for the rest.

Feedback

Feedback is always welcome if I mistaken anything in this guide. Also, you're welcome to post a full-round video of stage 8 to this guide with a credit.