With Call of Duty Warzone 2, the DMZ mode was also released. MeinMMO presents you with 10 tips that could be helpful for getting started.
A few days ago, Warzone 2 launched, along with the new DMZ mode. The DMZ mode is based on the fundamental principle of games like Escape from Tarkov and thus belongs to the still relatively new shooter genre of EFT-Likes / Extraction-Shooters.
Since DMZ is the first mode of its kind in a Call of Duty game, acclimating to the gameplay can indeed be challenging. To ensure you don’t start your first rounds completely unprepared, we have compiled 10 tips to make the beginning a little easier, especially for newcomers.
1. Do Faction Missions
Before you start your first round in the DMZ mode, you should familiarize yourself with the faction missions. You can view these in the main menu of the mode and activate or deactivate specific contracts. By completing a faction mission, you earn XP and make progress with the individual factions.
At the beginning, you can only complete missions for the “Legion” faction. After completing 4 contracts, the “White Lotus” faction follows. Once you have completed all Level 2 missions for Legion and White Lotus, you unlock “Black Mous”.
After you complete all Level 3 contracts from all three factions, you get a second slot for an insured weapon. If you then also complete all Level 5 contracts from the three factions, you even get a third slot for insured weapons.
If you die with an insured weapon, it has a cooldown of several hours afterward. A second or third slot for an insured weapon is therefore beneficial because you can still carry personalized weapons during the cooldown.
2. Loot Purposefully, You Are Not a Vacuum Cleaner
In DMZ, you can collect a lot of loot. This includes weapons, armor vests, and items that are relevant for missions. But there is also a lot of loot that you cannot use when it is not needed.
Focus on collecting things that you really need. Gather items like canisters, bandages, or stims when they are required for a mission. It may also be wise to pick up valuables to earn money. But don’t waste your limited storage space.
To loot purposefully, you should explore specific locations. Do you need canisters for a mission? Then check at a gas station. Are you looking for gear and weapons? Be sure to search ammunition depots! They are a good source for standard gear.
3. Coordinate Faction Missions with Your Teammates
Completing faction missions is an important part of DMZ. To fulfill the various contracts as effectively as possible, you should coordinate with your teammates on which mission you are actively pursuing.
If all three members of your squad complete the same mission, you will earn progress together. For example, if the task is to collect 7 canisters, all three must extract a total of 7 canisters.
However, if you do not have the mission active at the same time and your friends complete it days later, you will earn points independently. Instead of extracting seven canisters for all members only once, you may have to collect seven canisters three times in the worst case due to a lack of communication.
4. Reliable Method to Get Armor Plates
For seasoned shooter veterans, this is probably no surprise, but you should shoot NPCs in the head.
If you eliminate an armored NPC by shooting them in the torso, with grenades or similar methods, you destroy their armor and cannot loot it. If you shoot them in the head instead, they drop an armor plate.
Armor plates are also tremendously important in DMZ mode, as without them you are an easy target.
5. Regularly Use the UAV Tower
The UAV Tower is a large radio tower that you must activate during one of the first Legion missions. When activated, the tower scans a certain area around it for enemies. Both enemy NPCs and players are displayed on your mini-map.
The displayed symbols also give you an indication of whether the revealed enemy is an NPC or a player.
- NPCs are represented by a diamond with a red outline and no fill.
- Players are represented by a diamond with red fill.
6. Extract Weapons You Haven’t Unlocked Yet
If you want to carry a specific rifle as an insured weapon, you need to unlock it first. However, this can be done not only by reaching a certain level.
If you extract with a weapon or piece of equipment you do not yet have, you unlock it by fleeing from Al Mazrah.
This also applies to weapons and equipment your friends drop for you. Simply pick them up and get into the helicopter that extracts you from the area.
7. Do Not Leave the Match After You Die
In shooters, dying can be quite frustrating, but no matter how annoyed you are, you should not leave a match in DMZ mode early. If your teammates are still alive, the round can still be worth it for you even if you are already out.
Your gear and weapons are gone after death, that is clear, but the missions continue.
If your teammates complete a faction mission or extract items that are relevant for progressing a mission, you will receive the progress even if you did not extract.
8. You Can Reduce the Cooldown of the Insured Weapon
If you lose an insured weapon, you will get it back after several hours of cooldown. However, this also means that you cannot use your insured weapon for a certain period.
However, it is possible to reduce the cooldown of your insured weapon by extracting money and valuables. The higher the value, the stronger the reduction of the cooldown.
9. Vehicles Are a Killing Machine
Some enemies are quite difficult to crack in DMZ mode, even if they are “only” NPCs. Particularly well-armored enemies like the Juggernaut or the Chemist in the contaminated zone can withstand several shots.
You will have it much easier if you run them over with a vehicle. You don’t even have to go particularly fast because vehicles always kill with just one hit.
10. Hostage Rescue Provides an Additional Extraction Point
As the round slowly approaches its end and you have your pockets full of loot, there is nothing more stressful than squads with enemy players near your chosen extraction point.
Fortunately, a map task provides relief. When you activate the “Hostage Rescue” task, you must – as the name suggests – rescue a hostage. This is often located in a building guarded by armored NPCs.
If you take out the NPCs and grab the hostage, you need to bring them to a designated location. At that location awaits a helicopter that is supposed to evacuate the hostage. A helicopter that only you can see on the map and that will extract both the hostage and you. So just get in with the hostage and safely escape from Al Mazrah.
However, keep in mind that the player who carries the hostage can only carry sidearms.
The DMZ mode of Warzone 2 is not only an extraction shooter, but it is also the only way to get the new assault rifle M13B. How you obtain the rifle can be found out on MeinMMO.
CoD Warzone 2: Unlock the new Assault Rifle M13B in DMZ mode – Here’s how to do it easily
