Ker-Ys

Ker-Ys is ANKOU’s first map: a storm-lashed island off Finistère, in November 1946. Fishing harbor, Saint-Gwénolé chapel, sailors’ graveyard, Atlantic Wall trenches and bunker, a dark lighthouse… and, beneath the cliffs, the sunken ruins of the city of Ys. Its main Easter egg, “The Awakening of Ys,” is covered step by step on the The Awakening of Ys page.

Story and atmosphere#

According to Breton legend, the city of Ys was swallowed by the sea when Princess Dahut, daughter of King Gradlon, opened the city’s floodgates. On Ker-Ys, the legend has come back to life: beneath the German bunker, Project Morgane, led by Dr. Élise Kervran and Dr. Mathis Keller, studied a strange sample from the sea, and now the Ankou’s Drowned rise from the waves every night.

You discover the island from the harbor up: you land on the quay, climb Church Street to the chapel and the graveyard, cross the trenches and the bunker, then go down into the engine room, the Morgane Laboratory and the sea cave that leads to Sunken Ys. The lighthouse, to the northwest, overlooks the whole island. The five radio transmissions hidden on the map tell the rest of the story (see the secrets).

Starting point#

You start on The Quay, the only zone open at the start of the match. The Mystery Box appears at random at one of its three starting spots: the foot of the breakwater (Quay), the Le Goff Bakery (Church Street) or the chapel nave. The quay itself already has two wall weapons, the Second Wind Perk, a gumball dispenser and a workbench.

The zones#

Ker-Ys has thirteen zones. Each zone’s name appears on screen when you enter it.

There is no transport on Ker-Ys: you go everywhere on foot. Zones closed off by barriers let zombies in through their windows; Divers climb out of the water on the Quay, on Shipwreck Beach and in Dahut’s Cave.

Doors and prices#

Opening every paid door costs 15,750 points. General door rules are explained in Doors, barriers and Power.

Power#

The Power switch is at the back of The Engine Room, under the bunker. The cheapest path from the quay: Harbor Stairs (750) → Garrison Roadblock (750) → Bunker Armored Door (1,000) → Service Stairs (500), for 3,000 points (free on Easy difficulty, where doors cost nothing while the power is off). Through the graveyard (Graveyard Gate, then Wall Breach), it costs 1,500 more.

Power runs the Perk machines (except Second Wind in solo), the Forge of Ys and the bunker’s electric trap; it also lights the trench searchlight and starts the Easter egg. The fuel trap in the trenches works without Power.

Wall weapons#

Each weapon’s stats are on its page (Weapons).

Perk machines#

You can hold 4 Perks (5 with the Stone Gulls secret, see below). Prices and effects: Perks.

Mystery Box#

The Mystery Box starts at one of the first three spots, then moves when the teddy bear shows up.

The teddy bear that makes the box fly away is Morgane’s Teddy, belonging to Dr. Kervran’s daughter: its first appearance is recorded in the Archives.

Forge of Ys#

The Forge of Ys (weapon upgrades) is in the lantern room, at the top of the lighthouse: climb the tower’s spiral staircase. It needs Power. The lighthouse lens, next to it, is used in the Easter egg. During the Easter egg’s Lighthouse vigil, the Forge is busy with the Silver Key.

Gumball dispensers#

Four Korrigan’s Gumballs dispensers:

• The Quay: on the quay, next to the Harbor Office;
• Church Street: on Dahut Square;
• The Trenches: along the road wall;
• Morgane Laboratory: inside the laboratory.

Traps#

Each trap costs 1,000 points, stays active for 25 s and then recharges for 60 s. Zombies and hounds that enter the area die (without giving points); a player caught inside loses 20 health per second in the fire (you can get through it), 60 in the electric trap.

Buildables#

Two items are built from three parts each. At the start of the match, each part spawns at only one of its possible spots, chosen at random: check them all. You can only carry one part at a time; place it on the workbench by holding F. Shared rules: Buildables.

Sailor’s Shield — workbenches: the Quay (at the foot of the street wall, near the Harbor Stairs) or the Morgane Laboratory workshop. The build stays at the first workbench where you place a part. Each player can then take one.

Dahut’s Trident — workbench: Morgane Laboratory workshop only. It gives the wonder weapon Dahut’s Trident; there is only one (if it is lost, it returns to the workbench). See Wonder weapons and special weapons.

Secrets of the island#

Besides “The Awakening of Ys” (The Awakening of Ys), Ker-Ys hides several secrets. Each can only be done once per match (except the well); the first five give 2,500 XP to every player present and are recorded in the Archives.

The Melody of Ys#

The Stone Gulls#

The Will-o’-the-Wisps#

The Wishing Well#

The Mass for the Dead#

Radio transmissions#

Five radio sets tell the story of Project Morgane; each can only be heard once, and only one transmission plays at a time. Listening to the first one unlocks the Easter egg objectives on screen; all five give the “Shortwave” achievement.

Strategies by zone#

• The Quay: the starting zone, wide enough for the first rounds. Avoid the pier, a dead end over the water; Divers can climb out of the harbor basin. Buy the M14 early, it is cheap.
• Church Street: the fountain on Dahut Square lets you circle around it with a horde. The Café de la Marée houses Quicksilver; the Remington 870 is on its front wall.
• Shipwreck Beach: the big sandy cove is ideal for training a horde in a circle, but watch the sea where Divers come out.
• Saint-Gwénolé Chapel: the nave has two wall weapons and a possible Mystery Box spot; the churchyard around the chapel gives an open-air loop. Keep an eye on the nave and sacristy windows.
• Sailors’ Graveyard: large and open, with the cross and rows of graves to circle the horde around. It is also a good place to fill the Easter egg reliquary.
• The Trenches: lead the horde through the fuel trap section, then pull the lever: it works even without Power. Beware of narrow trenches where you can get cornered.
• The Bunker: narrow corridors, poor for training; lure zombies into the electrified corridor toward the casemate and trigger the trap. Menhir is in the command room.
• The Engine Room and the Laboratory: closed underground areas, each with its barricaded windows; you go there for Power, the Trident and St. Elmo’s Fire, but they are hard to hold in later rounds.
• Dahut’s Cave: a big hall with pools and a channel (Divers). This is where the siege of the Gate of Ys takes place: learn the four menhirs’ positions ahead of time.
• The Lighthouse: the moor around the tower makes a wide loop; the lantern room, at the top of the spiral staircase, is a dead end. Go up for the Forge of Ys, not to camp.

Ker-Ys achievements#

Ker-Ys also hosts an extraction site for the Hideout.

Checked against the game on November 5, 2026