Warzone’s new Modern Warfare 3 map, Urzikstan, is live with a massive update.
Besides a few other quality-of-life changes, players have been left in the dark up until now about how the new battle royale experience will differentiate itself from previous iterations. Raven Software emerged from the shadows and revealed everything with a massive blog post.
Without any further ado, let’s jump right into the long-awaited announcement.
Warzone season one patch notess
Warzone is officially here in MW3 so here is everything players need to know before they deploy for the first time in Urzikstan.
Urzikstan modes
Players can play either standard battle royale, Resurgence, or Plunder when Urzikstan goes live. A special Urzikstan Resurgence game mode will also be introduced, featuring the Orlov Military Base, Popov Power, and Zaravan Suburbs POIs.
Battle Royale
- Map: Urzikstan
- Player count: 100
- Match length: 20 minutes
Resurgence
- Maps: Ashika Island, Vondel, Urzikstan Resurgence
Plunder
- Map: Urzikstan
- Player count: 100
- Match Length: 15 minutes
Movement, mechanics, and more
As previously confirmed, Warzone is set to use the MW3 movement system, including slide canceling, Tac-Stance, ADS while sliding, and running while reloading.
These are the perks that will automatically be available related to movement.
- Tac Pads: Improves slide distance and allows for full ADS while sliding, along with increased stance transition speeds.
- Commando Gloves: Enables reloading while running.
- Quick-Grip Gloves: Increases your weapon swap speed.
- Climbing Boots (Partial): Increases climbing and mantling speed aspect.
Redeploy Drones have been improved to launch players over greater distances, remain in one spot longer, and move faster when repositioning.
The devs also announced that there will once again be a slight movement boost when using a Stim.
Warzone general adjustments
We already knew about some new quality-of-life changes coming to Warzone, but the devs surprised us with a few more announcements. Raven Software improved visibility while engaging in water combat alongside the already confirmed dedicated pistol. Players will automatically have a base CDR-45 while climbing a ladder, ledge hanging, or swimming underwater.
Raven Software flattened locational damage modifiers by decreasing headshot multiploers to match arms and torso. The devs said, “By standardizing the multipliers to be more consistent with the “Bottom to Top Philosophy” shots landing in the same area will result in a more reliable experience.”
One shot sniping is officially back, and the KATT AMR doesn’t need to use explosive ammunition in order to one-shot kill an enemy.
All launchers had their damage values adjusted to create a fair experience while fighting against vehicles. Most lighter vehicles will still be destroyed in one shot, but other vehicles all depend on the launcher they are going up against.
New Gameplay features
Firing an unsuppressed weapon causes a player to be seen on the mini-map momentarily. To hide themselves, operators must equip a suppressor on their gun.
To prevent scenarios of coming back in the final circle with a pistol, players redeploy with a weapon with attachments based on the current circle number.
Players can now manually equip gas masks, and the animation no longer interrupts gameplay. Additionally, players raised concerns about a breath sound effect, but it will only be active while in the gas.
Dedicated ammo slots, loot rarity, and improved loot spreading all enhance the overall looting experience. The revive pistol is no longer an item that can be looted.
The devs said, “players should have basic gear and a preferable weapon no more than 60 seconds into the match.”
Players can get their load-outs quicker as loadout purchase prices have decreased in every playlist size, and the scale is based on active squad in match rather than the actual playlist size.
Raven Software changed the duration of spawn protection from 10 seconds to 2.5 seconds to make it easier for players to take out redeploying players.
A common strategy in Warzone 2 was to float around in the air during the final circle. Raven Software cuts down on that strategy by decreasing the redeployment height with each circle.
New environment elements
As shown at Call of Duty Next, Urzikstan adds a drivable train, horizontal zip lines, and a new lightly armored offroad vehicle called the Coyote.
Contracts and stronghold update
Strongholds have been changed to be an event, and now will only be able to infiltrate on occasion. The devs said, “We recognize that strongholds being present in every match leads to a clear golden path and not a unique experience from match to match.”
The Big Game Bounty Contract puts a bounty on the players with the most elimination in the match. Contracts will be easier to find, thanks to a larger, easier-to-find laptop, and more contracts will spawn later into a match.
New Perks
Warzone in MW3 utilizes the same perk system as its predecessor. Players can create a Custom Perk Package, consisting of four Perks that become active after picking up a loadout.
Players have five default perks that will be active at all times.
- Tac Pads: Improves slide distance and allows for full ADS while sprinting, along with increased Stance transition speeds.
- Commando Gloves: Enables reloading while running
- Quick-Grip gloves: Increases your weapon swap speed
- Climbing Boots: Increases climbing and mantling speed aspect
- Overkill: Allows you to pick up two primary weapons
The devs explained why the team decided to remove Overkill as a Perk that needed to be equipped, “By eliminating overkill we have removed a long-standing friction where players needed to buy their “overkill” loadout, or buy multiple weapons from the buystation.”
Here are a few of the new perks coming to Warzone:
- Irradiated: Move faster and take less damage while in the gas
- Stalker: Increased strafe and aim down sight movement speed
- Combat Scout: Bullets you fire briefly ping an enemy for you and your squad. Hitting the enemy from farther away increases the ping time
Equipment adjustments
Raven Software buffed and nerfed a few equipment items. The Drill charge, Claymore, Frag Grenade, Semtex Grenade, and Thermite all do increased damage.
Meanwhile the smoke grenade had its duration reduced to 7.14 seconds down from 9.25. And the Stim grants a slight boost of movement speed on activation.
Tear gas will slowly damage enemies unless they have a gas mask on. The devs said, “you can use a gas mask to avoid the effects, but if you’re without you’ll take tick damage as if you’re standing outside the circle.”
Additionally, the Shock Stick, Snapshot grenade, and Battle Rage all received buffs.
Plate Carriers
Plate Carriers have been changed to provide the effects of a perk.
- Tempered Plate Carrier: Includes effects of the Tempered Perk.
- Medic Plate Carrier: Includes effects of the Survivor Perk.
- Comms Plate Carrier: Provides the player with effects of the Birdseye Perk.
- Stealth Plate Carrier: Provides the player with effects of the Ghost Perk.
New Gulag
Urzikstan has a new Gulag that features one-vs-one combat. New to MW3, instead of an overtime flag, players can escape on a rope in the middle of the gulag. There are also three possible Gulag map variants that change sight-lines and visuals match to match.
On top of that there are three different public events
- Go Again: which gives players another chance if they lose.
- Cash Grab: puts a big stack of cash on the ground, and
- Lock & Loaded: Players start with full armor and two upgraded guns
After defeating an opponent, players can roam around and loot until they redeploy.
UI improvements
Players start with a fresh combat record in Warzone season one. A Resurgence combat record in season 2, and plunder follows suit in season 3. However, all stats will be tracked, and reflected when the combat records go live.
Icons will fade away when aiming down sight to improve visibility, and headhsot hitmarkers are more clear and have a new sound effect.
All early changes for the Warzone season one update can be found on the Call of Duty website.
