Pretty much everyone and their brother is playing Call of Duty Warzone right now, it's surprise release was a welcome addition to the battle royale genre and fans are loving it. But what if you haven't jumped into the action yet? Learning how to master the systems and win your first match can be daunting especially with a brand new game.
If you're looking for tight controls, a rewarding mission system and team-focused combat this game may be the one for you. Grab your pack and pick a faction because here are 10 things Warzone beginners need to know...
Location Is Everything
Each team will have a player who will pick a location to drop, and the rest of the crew can confirm this area or drop on their own. It's important to choose somewhere that might have essential early loot but also not already swarming with enemies.
Large towns and noticeable landmarks usually garner this higher number of players but the risk-reward is up to you. Be ready to fight when you drop however because enemy players may have landed faster than you. Look around for open doors and collected loot boxes for signs.
Stick To Your Team
Long time players may not need this one as much, but in the early few games, this can be a lifesaver quite literally. Staying with your team ensures cover fire and help with contracts spread over the map. If you can party up with people you know the benefits will only increase as you can coordinate and assign different tasks much more easily.
Warzone also offers commands that can be given without talking such as marking enemy spots and ammo locations. In the end, your squad can save your neck and also pay to bring you back if you fail in the Gulag, which allows you to parachute right back into the action. A good team is a valuable resource so keep this one in mind.
Vehicles Aren't Always Best
While it may seem like a great idea to jump right in a vehicle, first remember that any players in them are marked on the map with an icon and the sound of the engine is very noticeable.
This doesn't necessarily outweigh the positives but it's smart to remember. There are five rides to choose from ranging from two-man ATVs to cargo trucks and helicopters. These become much more useful in Plunder mode though where you need to cross the map quickly to collect cash.
Share Resources
Unlike some battle royale games, Warzone lets players share cash, ammo and even medical supplies and armor plates. This is extremely useful for keeping your whole squad stocked up and ready should things go inevitably south. You can also request these same items too, in case you need a boost.
Use this to your advantage early in the match or after being revived so you don't have to waste time searching for things. Features like this are welcome and help new players who may struggle to loot when just starting out.
Patience Is A Virtue
Sometimes it may seem like running out guns blazing is the optimal route to take in a situation, however, this can get you sniped or sprayed down quickly. Unlike the fast-paced nature of Modern Warfare's main game, Warzone takes a slightly more open approach. If you're under fire, first try and identify where the shots are coming from and if you have optimal cover to fire back.
The first and top floors of buildings are accessible only so check both when looking for incoming bullet fire. Taking a few seconds to assess the situation will save you some fast deaths in the long run.
Contracts Are King
One of the things that set this game apart are the contracts that you can pick up around the map. They're easily seen on your mini-map and are vital to getting an advantage over the other teams. These let you pick up a quick mission for cash or other rewards.
There are three types to grab; Bounty, Recon, and Scavenger. Each one will apply for the whole team to complete and work together on or let expire to pick a new one up. Cash is very important to pick up and complete contracts often for a much-needed boost.
Mount Your Weapon
One of the most useful features you can use to get an instant leg up is the mount option when in cover or around it. The option will appear when you're close to a mountable surface and allows you to place your weapon firmly to get significantly less recoil.
This does however severely limit your mobility and if an enemy comes up from behind it can be hard to react fast enough in this position. But like most advantages, they come at a price and this is no exception.
The Gulag Isn't All Bad
When you get killed the first time in Warzone you'll be sent to the Gulag, which is a fighting arena where you can defeat one opponent to earn a re-deployment back into the game. You'll be given a random weapon and you have to think quick to kill your opponent.
This may seem like a giant setback but it does have the advantage of letting you drop back into the map. If you started far away from your team this can actually be a bonus to squad back up. Keep in mind though that you don't keep everything you've picked up when you jump back in.
Gas Masks Are Important
You may or not know that the map is constantly closing in with green toxic gas, this pushes remaining players towards one central area. The gas is lethal and exposure for long periods will kill you. Certain loot crates will contain gas masks to combat this and these can be a powerful strategic tool against other players who don't have a mask.
These come in tiers the same as weapons and upgrades so they range in the time you can spend in the gas clouds. Having a good perch location with a backup gas mask in case you want to get some shots in close to the edge is a good strategy.
Plunder Is Great Practice
If you're getting burnt out on the regular game mode, try out Plunder mode for a change of pace. In this game, you try and collect more cash than the other teams to come out on top.
This is a great chance to learn the map as it's gas-free and encourages you to grab vehicles to move from one contract to another. You can also get a good feel for the points of interest this way and learn valuable info to use in the other battle royale mode.