DMZ Guide: Tips and Tricks for Getting Started - Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 Guide - IGN (2024)

DMZ is an entirely new way to play Modern Warfare 2, where you'll explore an expansive map, find valuable gear, and battle both AI and other players. If you're planning on visiting Al Mazrah with a few friends, here are our tips for both finding loot and, more importantly, getting out with it!

• Preparing To Enter DMZ
• Combat in DMZ
• Extracting in DMZ
• Looting and Exploring in DMZ

Tips For Preparing To Enter DMZ

Unequip Your Starting Guns

When you first open up DMZ, you'll have two weapons equipped in your loadout: The M4 and a Shotgun. Unequip one of these, preferably the shotgun, as dying in DMZ will cost you everything you equipped in your loadout. When you're just starting, you'll want to take one weapon at a time, so you can both bring back a new one and prevent yourself from losing twice as much!

Complete the Faction Missions

Take a look at the 'Factions Missions' option in the main menu before you begin. These will teach you the mechanics of DMZ and can be completed by yourself or with friends. You can tackle up to three missions at once, earning you exclusive rewards like Operator skins and weapon blueprints.

Use A Marksman Rifle As Your Insured Weapon

As you inspect your loadout, you'll notice a slot for Insured Weapons; as you complete Faction Missions, you can carry up to three. These weapons are fully customizable and are not permanently lost on death, but instead are put on a timer of two real-life hours. Successfully extracting with loot and cash will decrease this timer, so don't be afraid to use your Insured Weapon whenever it's available.

If you're unsure what weapon to consider, a Marksman Rifle such as the SP-R 208 or the Lockwood MK2 is an excellent option for engaging the AI. These strike a good balance between damage and range, taking down most unarmored foes in two to three shots.

Tips For Combat in DMZ

Start Your Fights From A Distance

As tempting as it may be to rush a Fortress or Stronghold, there are almost always more enemies lurking around than you'll see at first. If you have the right loadout for it, it's best to take down as many enemies as you can at a distance, as this will also draw out anyone outside of your line of sight. It's also very common for enemy reinforcements to arrive once you've started attacking a Point of Interest(the named locations on the map), so expect another round of guards once you've started a fight.

Take Strongholds And Fortresses Slowly

Even after you've thinned the enemy and unlocked the building, the inside of a Fortress or Stronghold can be even more dangerous; enemies can be waiting in doorways and tight corridors with much heavier armor and even Riot Shields. There are also tripwires behind certain doors and hallways, distinguished by a laser running along the ground.

Before you even think about looting, go slowly and try to make as much safe space as you can by clearing every room you see. It's very easy to go from full health to incapacitated in a matter of moments if you run into too many enemies, so retreat whenever you need to heal or reload.

AI won't use Tactical Sprint

If you're trying to figure out if an enemy is a player or an AI, you can distinguish this by how they move; only players are capable of using Tactical Sprint, where you raise your weapon and run slightly faster than the normal sprint. If you see someone running with their weapon in the air, that's a player, so be on your guard!

Tips For Extracting in DMZ

All Exfil Points Will Respawn

The Exfil locations, marked with an Exit symbol on the map, will call a helicopter that you can use to leave Al Mazrah, completing your run and safely extracting your loot. If you see a Helicopter leaving with another squad, don't panic! You'll be able to call another Helicopter as soon as they're gone.

If You Think You Should Leave, Leave!

Speaking of Exfil, once your backpack is full or you've found a new gun to add to your Contraband pile, don't wait around! As tempting as it may be to try to push your luck and find even more loot, the longer you stay, the better your chances of getting caught unaware by another squad. The safest option is always to Exfil as soon as you can, before something goes wrong!

Spend Your Stronghold Keys Before You Leave

Unlike regular Keys, which you use to unlock Fortresses and other important locations, Stronghold Keys- identified by their Keycard appearance- will disappear if you Exfil. Because Strongholds tend to have better loot than you'll find out in the world, always try to spend your keys and check them for goodies before you complete your run.

Exfil Points Are Random

Don't get used to any particular Exfil point; because these are randomized in each game, you'll have to constantly re-evaluate how to escape once you've finished your scavenging.

Tips For Looting and Exploring in DMZ

Check Every Loot Cache You See

As you explore, you'll find Loot Caches dotted around the map. These can be found in various containers such as toolboxes, computers, and even refrigerators. This is primarily how you'll find loot and cash, but you can also find Keys to take back with you once your run is done, allowing you to plan your Fortress raids at your own pace.

Use All The UAV Radars You Find

Marked on your Tac Map will be various UAV radars, distinguished by their Radio Tower icons. If you can reach these and activate them, they will reveal every nearby enemy, making your current location much easier to clear out so you can search it freely for loot.

Save Hostages For Last

Hostage Rescue is a unique contract that will spawn an extra Exfil point if you can save the hostage. This is easier said than done, because there is an explosive collar around the hostage's neck, leaving you with about sixty seconds to clear the building and deactivate it. If you're able to do so, your final task will be to help them escape through a nearby Exfil point. Because this guarantees a reliable, safer Exfil if you can pull it off, consider saving this contract for the end of your run so you can make a quick getaway.

Prioritize Expensive Loot

As tempting as it is to fill your small backpack with jumper cables and light bulbs, try to focus on expensive items instead, such as Aged Wine, Video Game Consoles, and Laptops. These will both sell for more cash and give you more experience points if you Exfil with them.