What is the Warzone 2 DMZ mode?

The Warzone 2 DMZ mode is a special mode for Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2, wherein players can explore Al Mazrah freely for rewards. Fighting other players, NPCs, gaining loot and completing missions, before attempting to exfil safely with everything you've found whenever you think you're ready - this is the idea of the Warzone 2 DMZ, pitching you against AI, players and your own ego and seeing how you fare. We've explored the demilitarized zone in detail to help explain what it is and how it works in our guide to the Warzone 2 DMZ below.

What is the Warzone 2 DMZ?

The basic premise of DMZ is simple: you and up to two friends can drop into Al Mazrah in search of loot, completing missions and finding gear to earn rewards you can then extract with buy calling in a chopper to get out. As well as AI soldiers you'll be competing against other players you run into.

You can leave any time you want before the 15 minute is up, making it a risky and reward gamble - do you try for one more score, or do you take you've got and run. The danger is that if you die you lose everything you have on you, from the gear you brought in, to anything you pick up that game. 

What happens if you run out of guns in DMZ? 

Because you lose all your gear when you die it's possible to end up with nothing to take in. If that happens you can go in with nothing if you want but the game also offers to option to take in some random weapons. That';s usually a primary and a pistol, with no attachments, picked out of the pool. It's enough to get you back in the game and means you can carry on playing. Getting better gear is an absolute priority though. 

The Warzone 2 DMZ map uses the same Al Mazrah location as the main game

There are 18 major points of interest on the Al Mazrah map you'll be able to use as you fight your way to extraction. You'll generally be dropped somewhere random and have to scan the map to pick the nearest objects. While forts and strongholds are marked and obvious high enemy territories, generally the more built up an area is, the higher the risk. 

Tips to win in the DMZ

If we have one piece of advice it's scout the area ahead and try to deal with threats from a distance. The enemy AI are oddly bad shots at even medium distances, but will shred you in seconds if you blunder into more than one at close range. Take the time to find threats and eliminate them from as far away as your weapon will allow when ever you can. 

Also, just work together. Nothing gets a team killed faster then everyone splitting up and trying to chase personal objectives. Pick a thing and work towards it together. We've got these and more Warzone DMZ tips to help you out, there. 

You'll need keys for the good stuff

If you've already played you've probably either found some keys, or needed them. The Warzone 2 DMZ Stronghold key is probably the most in demand as getting inside one of these buildings and retrieving the intel inside is a key early mission. You'll also find various other location key scattered around to access other areas. The only real difference is that the stronghold keys only count for the game your in so you can't extract with one and use it later. Almost all the other keys can be extracted and brought back when you want. 

You can unlock a great gun if you find the chemist 

Among the various missions and objectives you can take on, there's the Warzone 2 DMZ chemist. Find and defeat this boss character and you'll get the M13B assault rifle which, if you can extract with it, you can unlock it for good. There's a complicated and risky procedure to just getting the chemist to spawn, which include driving around radiation zones, as well as actually taking them down. 

You can interrogate enemy Operators for intel in Warzone 2 DMZ

Getting downed in the Warzone 2 DMZ can have implications for the rest of your squad, as if an enemy Operator manages to grab you they can interrogate you for intel. This will reveal the locations of the rest of your squad members, making them all targets as your opponents move in.

There's a new backpack system in DMZ

Obviously trying to stuff your pockets full of top tier loot needs more storage than Call of Duty usually has. That's why the DMZ mode introduces a Backpack System. There are different sizes (you'll always have a small one as default) and you'll need to juggle what you stow and drop as you fill it up. It means you can carry more than two weapons, although you can only actively use two at any time, and manage your inventory to try and keep all the high value stuff. 

You can use proximity chat in Warzone 2 DMZ to team up with other squads

You'll need to bear Warzone 2 proximity chat in mind as you explore with your squad, as errant chat or noises could give away your location to nearby enemies. However, this communication route can also prove beneficial, as in squad-based DMZ modes and special battle royale playlists you'll have to option to join with enemy Operators to form a larger squad and work together, as long as you can negotiate an amicable truce between you.