Warzone 2.0's DMZ: Everything You Need To Know About The Game's Best New Mode

Warzone’s latest 2.0 version updates Call of Duty’s much-celebrated battle royale (and it is a really good time), but there’s also a new mode: DMZ. Here, the speed and aims are completely different, although taking place on the same terrain as Warzone’s BR. The aim of this mode is to exfiltrate with as many goods as you can. To accomplish this, you may take on tasks, contracts, and other activities to maximize the benefits you’ll get upon successful exfiltration, in addition to robbing buildings and storage containers. Your opposition comprises fierce AI opponents, high in numbers with acute eyes and a quick shot, and other players out on the field. There’s no closing circle, but you only have 25 minutes per deployment. If you die, you lose everything you have on you, including your weapons and any mission-sensitive equipment and valuables.

If you’ve played games like Escape from Tarkov, then DMZ won’t be too alien to you. Importantly, if Tarkov and other extraction-based survival games have been too stressful for you, DMZ provides a little more condensed version of the “get in, loot, get out” cycle. But don’t be tricked. Poor preparation and irresponsible action will be punished with death before you realize it. In my perspective, DMZ delivers a delicate dynamic of tension and exhilaration that’s incredibly exciting, demanding, and rewards repeat successful runs (despite many, many, many disappointing crashes that have prematurely interrupted mine and others’ progress).

DMZ demands a delicate mix of planning and wise judgments out there in Al Mazrah. You can’t plan for every probable eventuality, but making the proper decisions both before setting out and while on the field might be the difference between a successful exfiltration and a crushing defeat. DMZ is extremely different from playing a battle royale, so you need to be prepared.

Like Warzone, DMZ is free to play. The major menus of Modern Warfare II can be tough to navigate, though. Be sure you pick DMZ from the bottom row of the main menu, immediately before Battle Royale. For now, DMZ is in beta, thus this tutorial may change to reflect upgrades to the mode. But don’t wait till a more refined version of this mode to jump in, since there’s a ton of fun and difficulty to be had today. Once you’re in, here’s how you play DMZ.

DMZ weapon and equipment loadouts

DMZ is still Call of Duty, thus firearms and equipment are vitally necessary. But unlike previous Call of Duty variants, you may very quickly wind yourself on the battlefield with just your fists if you aren’t cautious.

The main menu of Call of Duty's DMZ mode offers deployment, mission choices, and matchmaking options.

The huge yellow “Deploy: Exclusion Zone” will lead you through the two essential stages before heading out, but you can also set this things manually, and you should. Everything in DMZ is about conscious decision-making.

Select the Weapons tab to start setting your loadout for DMZ. Time will tell what firearms are ideal for this mode, especially given it’s still in beta, but you need to make sure you’re armed with weaponry no matter what.

The loadout screen for DMZ looks a bit different from standard Call of Duty weapon and equipment selection displays.

The weapons and equipment menu provides several loadout choices.

At the top you’ll notice the “On Soldier” selection of items. Here you can examine what armor carrier and killstreaks you’ll have recovered from earlier runs, as well as a gas mask and a Self Revive (we’re going speak a lot about Self Revive in a minute because it is very vital). If you don’t have anything equipped right now, it’s because you don’t have it; you’ll need to venture out to Al Mazrah to reclaim these resources. You will always start out with at least a one-armor carrier, while you can ultimately deploy with two- and three-armor vests as you recover them on the map. Same goes with gas masks, killstreaks, and Self Revive.

Next up is your backpack. You will launch with a small, medium, or big backpack, depending on what you retrieved on your last run. In the loadout screen you may pick what keys you wish to take with you. Keys will allow you open strongholds, which may connect into parts of your quests, but also give opportunity to gain some fantastic stuff.

There are, roughly, two categories of weapons in DMZ: contraband and insured. Contraband weapons include whatever you retrieve from Al Mazrah following a successful extract. These include weapons you collect in the field from fallen AI opponents and from opposing players. If you uncover a contraband weapon with some fantastic attachments, keep on to it to utilize it in future missions. Any illicit weapons you lose via dying (or crashing…) while playing will be lost. If you run out of all illegal guns, you can use an insured gun or, albeit it isn’t always accessible, a choice of random weapons provided to you on loadout.

While you can’t modify illicit firearms, you can customize insured weaponry. Insured weapons take up one of three slots. You won’t lose insured weapons if you die with them, but their slots will be on cooldown for a specific length of time if you do. You may unlock extra spaces by making greater progress with faction objectives. Like with Warzone, your ability to attach modifications to existing weapons is determined on the progress you’ve achieved with each gun in either the battle royale mode, or any of Modern Warfare II’s multiplayer modes. You’ll start out with one insured weapons slot. Pick one you’ve leveled up already so you have better access to weapon modifications or tweaking.

Finally, you’ll have a choice of tactical and deadly equipment, as well as a field upgrade. There’s an infinite supply of them, so don’t worry about losing them through death (or needing to extract with them) (or needing to extract with them). You should always head out with tactical, deadly, and field upgrade equipment. It’s stupid not to. Personally, I default to choosing either a spotting scope or heartbeat sensor, claymores or proximity mines, and a recon drone as a field upgrade. Your mileage may vary, but I tend to play pretty silently and find excellent value from them.

DMZ factions and missions

DMZ features three factions you may do tasks for, each divided up into three tiers. While the cycle of survival in DMZ is gratifying all on its own, maxing out your faction completion percentages is the key goal you’re after in this new mode.

The mission menu displays a number of options in Call of Duty.

You can deploy with as many as three active missions at a time. You may either choose them while you plan for deployment (by hitting the large yellow button) or by selecting “Faction Missions” adjacent to the deploy button. Like with weaponry, it’s possible to deploy without any missions active. You aren’t fined for exfiltrating without performing a goal, therefore there’s really no reason not to have all three missions slots full.

You may pick the faction you desire to accomplish missions for utilizing the tabs on the lower left section of the task select panel. Each task spells out its goals and shows you what prizes you’ll obtain upon their accomplishment. Some missions, like one where you need to destroy six cars, don’t require exfil for completion. Others, like exfiltrating using hard disks retrieved from the field, plainly require a successful exfil.

It may not be visible, but finished missions won’t leave a spot once you’ve accomplished the goals. Swap out completed tasks for new ones.

DMZ matchmaking and squad size

Firefights in DMZ usually take place between players and enemy AI. But there are a handful of other players on the map with you at any given time. While you’re free to go out into the map on your own (this can be very risky, but I find the thrill of venturing out into the world without backup to be worth it), you can choose to go out with two other friends as a squad of three, or select Squad Fill to matchmake with two random players in your squad on the main menu.

Teamwork and communication in DMZ are perhaps more vital than in any other mode in Call of Duty. Differing objectives, resource management, and a choice of how to proceed through enemy territory are too demanding to go out with little communication, so either choose to go out with two friends you can work together with, get on voice or text chat with randos, or prepare to go out on your own if you don’t want inexperienced or under-equipped players to weigh you down too much. A badly operating squad is a dead squad that won’t get to the LZ for exfil, leaving behind all the goods the three of you have worked hard to gain. If you’re playing with individuals you know, it’s not a terrible idea to live up to the mil-sim components of Call of Duty and appoint one person in control of where you go, when you start fire, and when you withdraw. A marching order for decision making will go a long way out there.

DMZ looting contracts, strongholds, and other activities in Al Mazrah

Your tactical map (Caps Lock/M on keyboard, Select on controller) is laid out much like it is in Warzone’s battle royale. Some icons are even the same, such as ammunition resources and Buy Stations. Contracts, albeit sharing certain similarities, have different aims.

The tac-map in Call of Duty depicts numerous goals and missions.

Some contracts, like securing radioactive materials, demand you to find a Geiger counter first, then march out to particular places to gather precious nuclear materials you can either sell for cash at the Buy Station (enabling you to equip better gear) or exfil for additional XP.

Like in the battle royale, contracts are denoted with a green walkie-talkie icon. You can nearly ensure that contracts will lead you through places crowded with hostile AI, so be armed for possible gunfights if you’re wanting to fulfill contracts.

You can also take control of UAV radio towers and SAM launchers. These are signified by a radio tower and missile symbol on your map, respectively.

Strongholds are signified by a castle-like symbol on the map. You’ll need a key to access them, which you can either buy at a Buy Station or secure from dead opponents encircling the stronghold. Inside you can discover superior weaponry, as well as mission-specific data.

There are a lot of additional assets to capture and contracts to take on out there in Al Mazrah, so make sure to check your map, as well as listen for developments, as you go around the region.

You may also unlock weapon designs in the DMZ.

Finding the M13B weapon blueprint

The DMZ presently possesses a unique weapon, the M13B assault rifle. Once secured, you may utilize it across Modern Warfare II; it covers the regular multiplayer as well as Warzone’s BR.

To collect this blueprint, you’ll need to kill the Chemist boss in the radioactive region, shown on your map by a yellow circle with a purple nuclear symbol in the centre. The Chemist is fairly tough, so you don’t want to walk in alone or underequipped.

Only one individual per deployment can get this blueprint. But worry not, there’s a relatively basic way to transfer the weapon to your squad members. After you’ve successfully exfiltrated using your own M13B, it will be unlocked and you may store it in your insured spot. Take it back out onto the field and dump it from your inventory to gift it to another player. If the player exfils with the gun you just handed them, they’ll unlock the blueprint. You may repeat this as many times as you’d like. While it avoids needing to fight the Chemist three times, there’s still the issue of successfully exfiltrating, which isn’t always a given success.

General DMZ tips

DMZ rewards patience and careful strategy. If you’re wanting to run and gun out there on the field, you will likely perish and will lose a ton of hard-won stuff. DMZ is all about keeping momentum on successive runs by continuing to accumulate stuff. Sloppy playing will result in a spiral of deaths round after round, and you’ll lose everything you’re carrying each time.

For starters, don’t engage in pointless gunfights with the AI. A lone AI could appear harmless enough, but if you’ve got a loud weapon and you begin fire, you might come to find out they’re not alone after all. Entire swarms of enemy AI may break out of buildings, engage the combat by helicopter or ground vehicle, and very, very quickly kill you. Be alert even when trying to leave hostile encampments. The AI is more than capable of murdering you and wrecking your progress. Same same for opposing players.

Like previous modes in Warzone, you can in fact group up with adversaries. Simply hold down the ping button to bring up the choice to send out an invite or request an invite.

On that point, it’s not good to publicly initiate battles with other players. They may very well have better equipment than you and can make your trip through Al Mazrah pretty painful. It’s also usual for opposing players to examine Buy Stations, ammunition reserves, and exfiltration zones exactly like they do in the BR. Choosing to exfil will notify neighboring players, so keep on your guard until you’re securely up in the air and are actively moving away.

One minor error might lead to a sequence of tragedies. First you could capture the notice of hostile AI or opponent players. Then you could start taking shots. Armor plates aren’t as numerous on the field as they are in the BR, so you can run out fast, with just your precious, weak health to live on. Ammo can also be a little scant. Before you know it, you’ll be swarmed and slain. Plan at least a few steps ahead. Observe the surroundings. Make good use of recon drones or scopes. Communicate honestly with your team, but watch out for proximity chat.

Personally, I avoid all gunfights until I have at least a two-armor plate vest and a Self Revive. I also don’t take on any contracts unless I’m in a team or am exceptionally well-armed (three-plate armor vest, fully kitted-out weaponry, Self Revive equipped) (three-plate armor vest, fully kitted-out guns, Self Revive equipped). On that mind, you must equip Self Revive manually. It’s simple to inadvertently place it in your bag, where you can’t utilize it if you’re downed.

Also, stop sprinting all the time. Save your tactical sprint for when a scenario is FUBAR. And, PC players, consider setting “Walk” to a key. It’s not bound by default. Since Ping is doubly tied to Left Alt and the middle mouse button, I just bind Walk to Alt (no toggling for me) and call it a day. Or you could use a controller for analog movement, but then you’d compromise mouse aim. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a controller player take point, discreetly slipping into an area and taking use of their more subtle movement capabilities while a keyboard and mouse player protects them with a sniper. This type of tactical planning and duty assignment is one of the most promising and exciting aspects about DMZ, so have fun!

Keep an eye on your party’s equipment. There’s no sense hauling someone with a one-plate armor vest and a handgun into a fortress. You can threaten your squad’s life just as much as your own, potentially leading you and your team to lose all of their riches. Plan intelligently depending on what you and everyone in your unit now possesses. And if you’re out there on your own, plan for quick supply trips to load up on weaponry and equipment.

DMZ can be a challenging experience, but the struggle of remaining alive and getting out on time is definitely worth it. I’m loving heading out with companions, but also going in solo with a quiet sniper rifle. It’s the Sniper Wolf fantasy I’ve always dreamt of.

Head out there well supplied, with assignments to take on, and with clever, strategic planning, and you’ll soon be pooling together a ton of wonderful resources to win even greater rewards on subsequent excursions.