The Dancing Arnie is a Sinister tier relic on Totenreich that turns every Perk-a-Cola machine into a slot machine. Instead of getting the perk you want, you get a random one. Unlocking it requires cooking a recipe: collect 5 ingredients, feed Mr. Peeks about 100 zombie souls, and survive a melee-only trial on Fishery Island. The quest itself is one of the more enjoyable ones on Totenreich, but there is a soft lock that can ruin your entire run if you build the Jotunn Star too early.
- Cursed Mode Tier 1+, place chili chunks in pot BEFORE building the Jotunn Star
- Collect 5 ingredients: pot, ale, chili chunks, lobster (fire trap kill), red fish (round 40+ special round)
- Feed Mr. Peeks ~100 Jotunn Star melee kills near the pot in Blodheim Hall
- Enter the trial portal above Pack-a-Punch on Fishery Island
- Survive 5 waves of melee-only combat with HVTs on waves 2 and 5
- Reward: all perk machines give random perks (minor inconvenience, easy to manage)
Our team ran through this relic multiple times and documented every step. The relic was first discovered by u/ToonUK1982 on Reddit, and since then creators like TheGamingRevolution and AC OMEGA have covered it on YouTube. The quest takes about 45 minutes once you know the order. The most important thing to know before you start: do not touch the Jotunn Star crafting until you have placed your chili chunks in the pot.
Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Cursed Mode Tier 1+ | The Dancing Arnie is a Sinister tier relic. Cursed Mode must be active with all Grim relics equipped. |
| Round 40+ | The red fish ingredient only appears during Special Rounds at round 40 or later. |
| Jotunn Star | Required for the soul feeding step and recommended for the trial. Build it after placing chili chunks in the pot. |
| Main Easter Egg | You must have beaten the Totenreich main Easter Egg to unlock relics in Cursed Mode. |
Soft Lock Warning
You must place the chili chunks in the cooking pot BEFORE building the Jotunn Star wonder weapon. Both use the same chili chunks from Storm Bridge, and there is only one can. If you build the Jotunn Star first, the chili chunks are gone and you cannot complete the relic. You need to shoot the truck on Storm Bridge with an explosive after placing the chili to spawn a second can for the Jotunn Star.
Our team never experienced this soft lock because we knew about it going in. The ingredient order matters, and multiple Reddit posts mention it as a common frustration. Place the chili first, get the replacement can, then build your wonder weapon. If you mess this up, the relic is locked for the rest of the game and you have to start a new match.
All 5 Ingredient Locations
The recipe requires 5 ingredients placed into a cooking pot on the fire pit in Blodheim Hall. You can collect most ingredients early, but the red fish requires waiting for round 40. Here is every location.
1. Cooking Pot (Skallen Market)
The pot is under a table behind the Mule Kick machine in Skallen Market. You need to prone to pick it up. Carry it to Blodheim Hall and place it on the fire pit.
2. Ale (Eidskallen Square)
Pick up the beer mug from a barrel near the boat between Loven's Antiquities and the Arsenal in Eidskallen Square. Place it in the pot.
3. Chili Chunks (Storm Bridge)
The chili chunks are on Storm Bridge, the same ones used for the Jotunn Star wonder weapon. Pick them up and place them in the pot first. After placing them, shoot the truck on Storm Bridge with a Semtex or other explosive to spawn a replacement can for the wonder weapon quest.
4. Lobster (Fire Trap Kill)
Kill a Necropincer using only a Flammenfalle fire trap. The fire trap must deal the killing blow. You can weaken the Necropincer with your weapons first, but the final hit needs to come from the trap. A red lobster drops on death. Place it in the pot.
5. Red Fish (Round 40+ Special Round)
The red fish can only be caught during a Special Round (frozen round) at round 40 or later. Grab a fishing rod from any of the fishing spots and fish. The fishing location does not matter. Our team got the red fish on the first cast at round 39 (the fish dropped during the special round), but you need to place it in the pot at round 40 or above. You can prep every other ingredient while waiting for this round.
Soul Feeding
After all 5 ingredients are in the pot, Mr. Peeks appears and starts dancing on top of it. Now you need to kill approximately 100 zombies near Mr. Peeks using the Jotunn Star melee attack. Orange souls visually fly into the pot with each kill.
This step is straightforward. Camp next to the pot in Blodheim Hall and swing the Jotunn Star at incoming zombies. With Pack-a-Punch IV on Tier 3, every zombie dies in one hit. You will hear Mr. Peeks laugh when the feeding is complete and he disappears.
The Trial
The trial portal spawns above Pack-a-Punch on Fishery Island, on the wall above the secret lab entrance. Before entering, make sure your Jotunn Star is fully upgraded and your perks are in order.
Trial Rules
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Damage Type | Zombies can only take melee damage. Guns do nothing. |
| Waves | 5 waves total |
| HVTs | Wave 2 has a Berserker. Wave 5 has a Berserker and two Necropincers. |
| Enemy Types | Frost Zombies, Acid Zombies, standard zombies, plus HVTs |
Recommended Setup
- Pack-a-Punch IV Jotunn Star (melee weapon)
- Melee Macchiato with Vampiric Extraction augment (melee attacks heal health). Our team agreed this is the most important perk for the trial.
- Ether Shroud Field Upgrade for emergency escapes against the Berserker
- Kazimir grenades to group zombies
The trial is manageable at round 40. The Berserker on wave 5 hits hard, but with Vampiric Extraction you heal with every melee swing. Use Ether Shroud if the Berserker corners you. Decoys are available at the workbench inside the trial area.
Relic Effect
The Dancing Arnie is a reference to the Li'l Arnie tactical from older Zombies games. It curses all Perk-a-Cola machines so every machine, including the Wonderfizz, gives you a random perk instead of the one displayed. In practice, this is one of the least punishing Sinister relics. Since BO7 has no perk limit and the points system is generous at round 40+, you just keep buying until you have everything.
Our team found it takes about 2-3 extra purchases per machine to get the perk you want. There is no strategy for the Wonderfizz randomization. It is completely random. Buy the cheaper machines first to save points, and you will have all perks within a few rounds.
Compared to the Stuffed Elephant relic (doubled health regen delay), the Dancing Arnie is significantly less punishing. The community consensus on Reddit agrees: the Stuffed Elephant actively makes combat harder every second, while the Dancing Arnie is just a temporary inconvenience while buying perks.
For reference, here are all six Totenreich relics:
| Tier | Relic | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Grim | Power Switch | Equipment randomizes each round |
| Grim | Wrestler's Belt | Wall Buys randomize each round |
| Sinister | Stuffed Elephant | Health regen delay increased (3s to 7s) |
| Sinister | Dancing Arnie | Perk machines give random perks |
| Wicked | Agarthan Device | Different zombie type spawns each round |
| Wicked | Music Box | Enemies only take critical hit damage |
Tips for the Dancing Arnie Relic
- Place chili chunks in the pot before doing anything with the Jotunn Star crafting. This is the single most common mistake and it locks you out of the relic.
- Prep all 4 ingredients (pot, ale, chili, lobster) before round 40. When the special round hits, grab the red fish and you are ready to cook immediately.
- The Flammenfalle fire trap must get the killing blow on the Necropincer. Weaken it with guns first, then lure it through the trap for the finish.
- Vampiric Extraction on Melee Macchiato is the most important augment for the trial. Every melee swing heals you, which makes the Berserker fights survivable.
- The red fish drops from any fishing spot during special rounds. Do not waste time running to a specific location.
- Soul feeding goes fast with Pack-a-Punch IV Jotunn Star. Stay near the pot and let zombies come to you.
- If you are struggling with the early rounds, check our best BO7 Zombies loadout guide for recommended weapons and augments.
- For more context on how relics and Cursed Mode work, read our Mr. Peeks Cursed Mode guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Dancing Arnie relic do in BO7 Totenreich?
The Dancing Arnie relic curses all Perk-a-Cola machines so they dispense a random perk instead of the one displayed. The Wonderfizz machine is also randomized. Since BO7 has no perk limit, you can keep buying until you get what you need.
How do you unlock the Dancing Arnie relic in Totenreich?
Collect 5 cooking ingredients (pot, ale, chili chunks, lobster, red fish) and place them in the fire pit in Blodheim Hall. Feed Mr. Peeks about 100 souls with the Jotunn Star, then enter the trial portal above Pack-a-Punch on Fishery Island. Complete 5 waves of melee-only combat to unlock the relic.
What is the Dancing Arnie soft lock in BO7 Totenreich?
If you build the Jotunn Star wonder weapon before placing the chili chunks in the pot, you cannot get a second can of chili and the relic becomes unobtainable. Always place the chili chunks in the pot first, then shoot the truck on Storm Bridge for a replacement can to build the Jotunn Star.
When can you catch the red fish for the Dancing Arnie relic?
The red fish can only be caught during a Special Round (frozen round) at round 40 or later. Grab a fishing rod and fish at any fishing spot on the map. The fishing location does not matter. You can prep all other ingredients before round 40.
How many kills does Mr. Peeks need for the Dancing Arnie relic?
Mr. Peeks needs approximately 100 melee kills with the Jotunn Star wonder weapon. You will hear him laugh when the soul feeding is complete. Stay near the pot in Blodheim Hall and kill zombies with melee attacks.
Is the Dancing Arnie relic worth equipping in BO7 Totenreich?
Yes. The Dancing Arnie is one of the least punishing Sinister relics. The random perk effect is a minor inconvenience since you can buy all perks eventually. It takes 2-3 extra purchases per machine to get what you want. The trial itself is also easier than the Stuffed Elephant trial.
If you need help with the Dancing Arnie relic or any other Totenreich trial, join 40,000+ players in the COD Central Discord. We have dedicated Zombies channels where the community helps each other complete relic trials daily.