Welcome to Warzone. Whether you’re about to jump out of your first plane or you’re trying to reach the Top 250, this guide has everything you need. We’re going to break down every part of the game from the Bootcamp training mode with bots to the Drivable Train on Urzikstan, from how the Gulag really works to which guns are actually worth using right now.
By the end, you’ll know exactly what you’re doing when you drop in.
Table of Contents
- What is Call of Duty Warzone?
- Getting Started: Warzone Bootcamp
- The Game Modes: What’s the Difference?
- The Maps: Where to Drop and Why
- Staying Alive: Gulag, Gas, and Coming Back
- Money Talks: Cash, Buy Stations, and Contracts
- The Best Guns and How to Build Them
- Moving Like a Pro
- Ranked Mode: How to Actually Climb
What is Call of Duty Warzone?
It’s the free-to-play battle royale that changed the genre. Since it came out in March 2020, over 100 million players have dropped in to fight for survival. Whether you’re wondering is Call of Duty Warzone free on PS5 (yes, completely), how to play Call of Duty Warzone as a beginner, or how to reach the Top 250, this guide has everything you need.
Getting Started: Warzone Bootcamp
Before you risk your pride in real matches, Bootcamp lets you learn the basics without the stress. It’s a training mode where you drop in with 20 real players and 24 bots on a small piece of Urzikstan.
Why You Should Start Here
The bots are predictable, so you can practice shooting without getting wrecked. The real players give you just enough unpredictability to feel like actual combat. You can mess around with ziplines, test how different guns feel, and learn where loot spawns without anyone teabagging you afterward.
What You Can’t Do Here: Don’t expect to level up your guns or battle pass much. Daily Challenges, Weekly Challenges, and Weapon Challenges don’t work in Bootcamp. You also won’t see public events or the harder contracts. This is intentional—Bootcamp is for learning, not grinding.
How to Use It: Practice your slide-canceling, learn to read the Tac-Map, and figure out the fastest way to loot a building. When you start playing for real, these things will be automatic and you can focus on actually winning.
The Game Modes: What’s the Difference?
Warzone isn’t just one thing. Each mode plays completely differently, and you need to know what you’re getting into.
Battle Royale: The Original
150 players. One life (kind of). One winner. You drop with just a pistol, find guns and gear, and try to be the last squad standing while the gas closes in.
Here’s the twist: when you die the first time, you go to the Gulag for a 1v1 fight. Win, and you parachute back in. Lose, and your teammates have to buy you back at a Buy Station or find your dog tag. This means you can play aggressive early, but if you keep dying, you’ll drain your team’s money.
Resurgence: The Respawn Mode
In Resurgence, you keep coming back—as long as one teammate stays alive. You respawn after a short timer until the resurgence timer runs out (usually late game). Then it becomes regular Battle Royale.
This mode is on Vondel, Ashika Island, Fortune’s Keep, Rebirth Island, and sometimes Urzikstan. Because you respawn, people play way more aggressively. Expect constant third-partying and close-range fights. SMGs and shotguns rule here.
Plunder: Money Mode
Forget survival—this is about cash. Your squad needs to collect $2 million to trigger overtime, then hold the lead. You respawn instantly, start with your Loadout, and the chaos never stops.
Great for leveling up guns or warming up. The action is non-stop because camping doesn’t win you anything—you have to keep moving and fighting to earn cash.
Lockdown: King of the Hill
New to Rebirth Island, this is basically giant Hardpoint. Teams fight to control zones and earn points. Respawns are on, and High-Value Zones spawn late game for big points.
You need to know when to fight for the zone and when to rotate early. It’s less about being the last squad alive and more about smart positioning and teamwork.
The Maps: Where to Drop and Why
Knowing the map is half the battle. Each one plays differently.
Verdansk: Back and Better
Verdansk returned in 2025, and it’s the map that made Warzone famous. It has 19 major areas (called POIs):Table
| POI | What to Expect | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Superstore | Crazy loot, crazier fights | High |
| Downtown | Tall buildings, sniper battles | High |
| Stadium | Central, always contested | High |
| Military Base | Good loot, open spaces | Medium |
| Dam | Decent loot, good rotations | Medium |
| Airport | Vehicles, long sightlines | Medium |
How to Play Verdansk: Height wins. Get on a roof and you can see everything. But if you’re on the ground, you’re exposed from above. Use the Gulag to your advantage—die early, win your 1v1, come back with gear.
Urzikstan: Something Different
Urzikstan has 11 POIs and introduces new mechanics:
The Drivable Train: First ever moving POI. It drives around the map on tracks. You can start and stop it from the engine, or hit the emergency brake in the caboose. Great for staying ahead of the gas, but everyone knows where you are.
Horizontal Ziplines: These let you fly across open areas fast. Perfect for escaping the gas or flanking an enemy team. But if someone sees you on one, you’re an easy target until you drop off.
The POIs:
- Levin Resort: Central, multi-level, always busy
- Popov Power: Industrial, good for sniping
- Orlov Military Base: Lots of loot but exposed
- Seaport District: Spread out, water nearby
- Old Town/Low Town: Tight streets, ambush city
- Zaravan City/Suburbs: You’ll need a vehicle
- Shahin Manor: Great for final circles
How to Play Urzikstan: Open fields mean snipers and vehicles matter more. Use ziplines for rotations but not during fights. The train is unique—control it late game and you have a mobile fortress.
Staying Alive: Gulag, Gas, and Coming Back
Dying sucks. Here’s how to avoid it, and how to get back when it happens.
The Gulag: Your Second Chance
First death sends you here. It’s a 1v1 arena with three different layouts. Both players get the same gun. Win, and you drop back into the match. Lose, and your team has to buy you back.
How to Win Your Gulag:
- Check your gun immediately. If it’s an SMG, get close. If it’s a sniper, find range. Don’t use an AR like an SMG.
- Listen. You can hear where they are.
- Use the middle zip line (ascender). It gets you to high ground fast, but you’re exposed while using it.
Important: The Gulag closes as the match goes on. Die too late, and you skip it entirely—straight to spectator mode unless your team has cash.
Gas Mask Tips
The gas closes in phases, forcing everyone together. Gas Masks let you survive longer inside, but they have durability that runs out.
- You can carry multiple masks in your backpack and swap them when one breaks
- Don’t let your mask break while you’re still in gas—you’ll die fast
- Smart teams use gas to flank. Pop your mask, run through the edge, attack from where they aren’t looking
Getting Your Team Back
If you lose your Gulag, your squad can buy you back at any Buy Station. It costs more as the game goes on. When they buy you back, a red flare shoots up from that Buy Station—everyone nearby knows someone just respawned.
Pro tip: Buy your teammate back during a distraction, like when another team is fighting nearby, or during a precision airstrike.
Money Talks: Cash, Buy Stations, and Contracts
Cash is power. The rich teams have Loadouts, UAVs, and redeploys. The poor teams have pistols and hope.
How to Get Money
Supply Boxes: Found in buildings, make a distinct sound. Open them for cash, guns, and gear. Not the fastest money, but reliable early on.
Contracts: These are the real money makers. Find laptops on the map (marked on your Tac-Map) to start them:Table
| Contract | What You Do | Risk | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scavenger | Find 3 supply caches | Low | Good |
| Bounty | Kill a specific player/team | High | Better |
| Intel Upload | Hold a position while uploading | Medium | Good |
| Big Game Bounty | Hunt the best player in the lobby | Very High | Best |
Buy Station Priority List
When you hit a Buy Station (shopping cart icon on map), buy in this order:
- Loadout Drop ($8,000) — Your custom guns and perks. Game changer.
- UAV ($4,000) — See nearby enemies. Stack 3 for an Advanced UAV that shows real-time positions.
- Armor Plates ($1,500) — Never fight without full armor.
- Precision Airstrike ($3,500) — Great for finishing downed players or denying areas.
- Self-Revive ($4,000) — Only if you have extra money.
Deployable Buy Stations: You can carry these and place them anywhere. Once dropped, they can’t be moved and shoot up a red flare when used. Great for resupplying in safe spots, but expect company.
Money Strategy
Early game: Do Scavenger contracts, get your Loadout by first circle. Mid game: Keep UAVs up so you know where enemies are. Late game: Save cash for emergency redeploys and armor refills.
The Best Guns and How to Build Them
With over 100 guns, you need to know what’s actually good. Here are the current standouts (Season 2, 2026):
The Meta Right Now
GPR 91 (Assault Rifle)
The best long-range gun in the game. Hits hard at distance, easy to control, and works in almost every situation.
Build it like this:
- Sight: Jason Armory 2× (clean view)
- Muzzle: Compensator (less recoil)
- Barrel: Gain-Twist Barrel (bullets fly faster)
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip (more stable)
- Magazine: Extended Mag II (more bullets)
C9 (SMG)
Destroys up close. If you’re playing Resurgence, this should be in your hands.
Build:
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
- Rear Grip: Commando Grip (aim faster)
Hawker HX (Sniper Rifle)
One-shot headshots. Best bullet speed in class. Perfect for Urzikstan’s open fields.
Build:
- Sight: VMF Variable Scope
- Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor (stay hidden, faster bullets)
- Barrel: Gain-Twist Barrel
Reclaimer 18 (Shotgun)
One-shot kills up close. Aggressive but deadly.
Build:
- Muzzle: Flash Twist-90 (hide your shots)
- Barrel: Discourager 900 Heavy Barrel (more range)
- Rear Grip: Haste XV Grip Tape (faster handling)
- Stock: No Stock (move faster)
- Laser: Kimura RYL33 Laser Light (better hip-fire)
Also Good (A-Tier)
Table
| Gun | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| EGRT-17 | AR | Pairing with snipers |
| Carbon 57 | SMG | Battle Royale rotations |
| XM325 | LMG | Suppressing fire |
| Grekhova | Pistol | Emergency backup |
Perks: What to Run
Perks unlock when you get your Loadout. You can make custom packages or use presets. Here’s what works:
Slot 1 & 2:
- Double Time: Sprint longer, recover faster
- Battle Hardened: Flashbangs and stuns bother you less
- E.O.D.: Explosives hurt less, you can reset grenade timers
- Scavenger: Get ammo and armor from dead players
Slot 3:
- Quick Fix: Start healing immediately when you kill someone or put on armor
- Tempered: Only need 2 armor plates instead of 3 (faster)
- Ghost: UAVs can’t see you while moving
Slot 4:
- High Alert: Screen flashes when someone looks at you from behind
- Birdseye: Your UAVs work better and can spot players using Ghost
- Combat Scout: Enemies you shoot get marked for your whole team
Loadout Ideas
For Battle Royale (Long Range):
- Main: GPR 91 (built for range)
- Backup: C9 (built for close)
- Perks: Double Time, Battle Hardened, Tempered, Ghost
- Gear: Smoke Grenade, Semtex, UAV, Precision Airstrike
For Resurgence (Aggressive):
- Main: C9 (speed build)
- Backup: Reclaimer 18 (hip-fire build)
- Perks: Double Time, Quick Fix, Stalker, High Alert
- Gear: Stun Grenade, Throwing Knife, Trophy System
For Ranked (CDL Rules):
- Main: Krig C or FFAR 1
- Backup: C9 or LC10
- Note: Check current banned items—rules change
Moving Like a Pro
Good movement gets you out of bad situations. Here’s what the best players do.
Essential Techniques
Slide-Canceling: Slide in any direction, then jump at the right moment to keep your speed but break the slide animation. Makes you harder to hit and maintains momentum.
Dive-Gliding: Dive while running to cover ground fast. Chain into slides for smooth movement. Use this to escape gas or reposition in fights.
The Snake: Quickly switch between prone and crouch behind cover. Lets you peek without exposing your whole body. Great for healing or gathering info.
Positioning Tips
High Ground Wins: Rooftops in Downtown or Zaravan City let you see everything. If you’re below, you’re in trouble.
Good Spots Have:
- Multiple ways out (don’t get trapped)
- Cover on the sides
- Views of where enemies rotate through
- A Buy Station nearby for restocks
Rotate Early: Don’t wait for the gas to force you. Move before you have to, and catch the teams that waited too long.
Ranked Mode: How to Actually Climb
Ranked Play is where you prove you’re good. It uses a Skill Rating (SR) system with real consequences for dying.
The Ranks
Table
| Rank | SR Needed | Entry Cost | Max SR Per Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 0-299 | Free | 150 |
| Silver | 300-899 | Free | 140 |
| Gold | 900-1,799 | Free | 130 |
| Platinum | 1,800-3,599 | 30 SR | 120 |
| Diamond | 3,600-6,999 | 60 SR | 100 |
| Crimson | 7,000-9,999 | 80 SR | 80 |
| Iridescent | 10,000+ | 100 SR | 60 |
| Top 250 | 10,000+ | 150 SR | 50 |
Entry Cost means you lose SR just for starting the match. You need to get kills and good placement to make it back.
How You Earn SR:
- Kills: 3 SR each in Battle Royale, 2 SR in Resurgence
- Assists: 1 SR each
- Good placement: Bonus SR for top 10, top 5, winning
What’s Banned in Ranked
Ranked follows CDL rules and Gentleman’s Agreements:
Can’t Use: Modern Warfare guns, launchers, X52 Resonator, thermal scopes, underbarrel grenade launchers, rapid fire attachments
Can’t Use Perks: Birdseye, Specialist, Tracker
Can’t Use Gear: Snapshot Grenades, Thermobaric Grenades, any Killstreaks
Only Perk Greed wildcard is allowed.
How to Climb
Early Game: Land somewhere medium-tier. Avoid hot drops where you might die instantly. Surviving the first 5 minutes is key.
Mid Game: Use UAVs to find isolated teams. Third-party fights (attack teams already fighting each other) for easy kills.
Late Game: Get to high ground before the final circles. Don’t take unnecessary fights—placement matters more than kills at high ranks.
The Pro Scene
Esports World Cup 2025 had a $1 million prize pool and used Match Point format (get 135 points, then win a match to take it all). World Series of Warzone is the main tournament circuit.
Watch players like Biffle, ZLaner, and Aydan to learn. They win through smart rotations and picking the right fights, not just good aim.
Final Thoughts
Warzone in 2026 is complex, but that’s what makes it rewarding. Start in Bootcamp, learn the maps, master the GPR 91, and understand that positioning beats aim most of the time.
Every death teaches you something. The Gulag gives you another shot. Your team can buy you back. Keep playing, keep learning, and eventually you’ll be the one winning.
See you in Verdansk.
Yes, Call of Duty Warzone is completely free on PS5, PS4, and PC. You don’t need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold to play. Just download it from your console’s store or Battle.net/Steam on PC. The free version includes Battle Royale, Resurgence, Plunder, Bootcamp, and Ranked Play. You only pay for cosmetic bundles and the optional Battle Pass.
Call of Duty Warzone is a free-to-play battle royale game where 150 players drop onto a massive map and fight to be the last squad standing. It combines Call of Duty’s gunplay with survival mechanics like the Gulag (a 1v1 second chance), gas circles that force movement, and an economy system where cash buys advantages. It’s part of the larger Call of Duty franchise but standalone—you don’t need to own Modern Warfare or Black Ops to play.
Call of Duty Warzone came out on March 10, 2020—the original version on Verdansk. The current version, Warzone 2.0, launched in November 2022 with new maps and mechanics. In 2025, the original Verdansk map returned, giving players the classic location with modern gameplay.
PS5/PS4: Search “Warzone” on the PlayStation Store, select the free version, and download. ~100GB+ required.
PC: Download via Battle.net or Steam. Search “Call of Duty Warzone,” select the free-to-play option, and install.
Xbox: Available on Microsoft Store (also free).
Make sure you have at least 100GB free space—Warzone is a large game. For PS5 specifically, you can use the PS4 version for smaller file size if storage is tight.
No, Call of Duty Warzone does not have a campaign. It’s purely multiplayer, focused on battle royale and competitive modes. If you want a single-player story, you need to buy the main Call of Duty games like Modern Warfare III or Black Ops 6. Warzone is the free online component—think of it as the competitive arena, not the story mode.
Call of Duty Warzone requires approximately 100-150GB depending on your platform and installed content. PC and PS5 versions are larger due to higher-resolution textures. You can reduce size by uninstalling specific game modes (like campaign or co-op) if you own the full Call of Duty game. Regular updates add 10-30GB seasonally, so keep extra space available.
Warzone Mobile launched in March 2024 but struggled with performance and player retention. It received limited updates compared to the main game and has a much smaller player base. The mobile version is separate from PS5/PS4/PC—progress doesn’t transfer fully. As of 2026, it’s still available but not a priority for Activision compared to the main Warzone experience.
While exact concurrent numbers aren’t public, over 100 million players have downloaded Warzone since launch. It remains one of the most-played free-to-play shooters in 2026, with millions of daily active users across PS5, PS4, PC, and Xbox. Ranked Play and major updates like Verdansk’s return keep the player base active.
Also read: PC System Requirements for Call of Duty: Warzone
Hi, I’m Uchem, a tech writer who loves gaming, storytelling, and SEO.
I write guides and articles that make games, income and tech easier to understand. When I’m not behind the keyboard, I’m playing music.
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