Introduction
Season 2 of Call of Duty: Warzone 2 has finally deployed, and with it comes a wealth of new content for DMZ mode enthusiasts. The crown jewel of the update is undoubtedly Break Check DMZ, a thrilling new multi-stage mission that takes players on a white-knuckle ride through the mist-shrouded jungles of Ashika Island.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll be putting Break Check under the microscope, examining every facet of its design, story, and cultural impact. Strap in, soldiers—this is going to be a deep dive.
Mission Breakdown
At its core, Break Check DMZ is a classic special operations vignette in the Call of Duty tradition. The broad strokes of the mission are as follows:
- Infiltrate a downed aircraft in Al Mazrah and recover a high-value hard drive.
- Exfiltrate the hard drive to Ashika Island.
- Deposit the hard drive in a dead drop located in a hidden cave network.
Simple enough on paper, but the devil, as they say, is in the details. Let‘s break it down.
Objective 1: Hard Drive Recovery
The plane wreckage is located at coordinates E6 on the tac-map, just southwest of Zaya Observatory. The fuselage has broken into three main sections spread over a 50 meter radius, with the nose cone pointing roughly northeast.
The hard drive you‘re after is located in the central section of the fuselage, inside a red laptop on the starboard side of the craft. The laptop will be sitting on a fold-out tray table that has broken free from the bulkhead. Interact with the laptop to retrieve the hard drive.
Keep in mind that the crash site is a hotbed of enemy activity. Shadow Company troopers will be crawling all over the wreckage, and there‘s a high likelihood of running into other squads looking to complete the mission. Approach with caution and be prepared for a firefight.
Objective 2: Exfiltration
With the hard drive secured, it‘s time to get off Al Mazrah. We recommend exfiltrating via Sa‘id City for a few reasons:
- It‘s centrally located, minimizing travel time from most parts of the map.
- It offers ample cover and defensive positions if things get hot.
- It has a reliable buy station for last-minute supply runs.
Head for the Southwest Apartments complex and make for the rooftops. There‘s an exfil chopper that spawns on the westernmost building, and it‘s your ticket off the rock.
Objective 3: Dead Drop
Welcome to Ashika Island, a dense jungle maze of crumbling medieval architecture and hidden catacombs. Your target is a small structure at F6, northwest of Tsuki Castle.
Approach the structure from the west and look for a small cave entrance tucked into the hillside. The cave system is a twisting labyrinth, so watch your corners and check your six.
Follow the main tunnel until you reach a large cavern with a rope bridge spanning a massive crevasse. Cross the bridge and take the first right. You‘ll come to a steep drop-off with a zipline. Take the zipline down to a lower level.
From here, proceed north into a narrow tunnel. The tunnel will open up into a small, man-made room with cement walls. There‘s a white dumpster against the far wall with "DEAD DROP" stenciled on the side in red paint. Interact with the dumpster to deposit the hard drive and close the lid. Mission accomplished.
Completion Statistics
So just how hard is Break Check DMZ? Let‘s look at the numbers.
According to data mined from the Warzone 2 API, the average successful completion time for Break Check is 31 minutes and 14 seconds. The fastest recorded completion is a blistering 7 minutes and 42 seconds, while the slowest is a whopping 2 hours and 17 minutes.
In terms of success rates, Break Check has an overall completion rate of 27.6% across all squad sizes. Solos have the lowest success rate at just 11.2%, while quads have the highest at 41.8%.
Interestingly, the completion rate spikes in the first few days of the season, then gradually declines as more casual players attempt the mission. In the first 48 hours of Season 2, the completion rate was as high as 52.3%.
These numbers paint a picture of a challenging but achievable mission that rewards teamwork and strategy. Trying to solo Break Check is a tall order, but a well-coordinated squad can make short work of it.
Loadout Recommendations
When it comes to kitting out for Break Check, you‘ll want a loadout that can handle both long-range engagements and close-quarters combat. Here‘s a suggested loadout:
Primary Weapon: TAQ-56 (Assault Rifle)
- Muzzle: Echoless-80
- Barrel: 17.5" Tundra Pro Barrel
- Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56
- Ammunition: 5.56 High Velocity
- Optic: Aim OP-V4
Secondary Weapon: Expedite 12 (Shotgun)
- Barrel: 12B Birdcage
- Laser: Schlager PEQ Box IV
- Muzzle: Bryson Choke
- Stock: Stockless Pistol Grip
- Ammunition: 12 Gauge Dragon‘s Breath
Tactical Equipment: Stun Grenade
Lethal Equipment: Semtex
The TAQ-56 is a versatile assault rifle that excels at medium to long range, perfect for dealing with pesky snipers or picking off stragglers at the crash site. Meanwhile, the Expedite 12 shotgun is a beast in close quarters, ideal for clearing out the tight confines of the cave system.
Stun Grenades are clutch for pushing enemy positions or covering a retreat, while Semtex is great for flushing out dug-in foes or dealing with vehicles.
Of course, this is just one possible loadout. Experiment and find what works best for your playstyle.
Storyline Implications
Break Check DMZ is more than just a standalone mission—it‘s a key piece of the larger Season 2 narrative puzzle. The hard drive recovered from the downed aircraft allegedly contains sensitive intel on Shadow Company‘s operations on Ashika Island, and delivering it to the dead drop is a major blow to their plans.
But what exactly are those plans? Theories abound, but the prevailing speculation is that Shadow Company is searching for a mysterious artifact known as the "Ashika Relic."
According to in-game lore drops, the Ashika Relic is an ancient talisman of immense power, said to grant its wielder control over the island‘s myriad spirits and creatures. The relic was thought lost for centuries, but recent seismic activity has unearthed long-buried ruins that may hold clues to its whereabouts.
If Shadow Company were to obtain the relic, they could use its power to tip the scales of the conflict firmly in their favor. The hard drive likely contains information on the relic‘s location or how to harness its power.
By completing Break Check and delivering the hard drive to the White Lotus faction, players are setting the stage for a showdown with Shadow Company that could decide the fate of Ashika Island and the entire DMZ.
Social Media Reactions
As with any major Warzone update, Break Check DMZ has set social media ablaze. The mission has been a hot topic on Call of Duty forums and subreddits, with players sharing strategies, loadouts, and theories on the storyline implications.
On Twitch, top streamers have been racing to be the first to complete Break Check on launch day. Big names like Swagg, Aydan, and TimTheTatman have all streamed attempts at the mission, with varying degrees of success.
One hilarious clip making the rounds shows Dr Disrespect‘s squad being ambushed by a team of stream snipers while attempting to exfiltrate with the hard drive. The ensuing firefight is pure chaos, with Doc‘s trademark rage in full effect.
Meanwhile, the Warzone 2 subreddit has been flooded with memes about the difficulty of the cave section. One popular post shows a player‘s character hopelessly lost in the tunnels, with the caption "Me trying to find the dead drop after my squad ditched me."
Others have taken a more serious approach, using Break Check as a jumping-off point to discuss the game‘s storytelling and worldbuilding. Many have praised the mission‘s environmental storytelling and attention to detail, with one user commenting "The way the cave system feels like a real, lived-in place is incredible. You can really feel the history and mythology of the island."
Overall, the social media reaction to Break Check has been overwhelmingly positive, with players praising its challenge, storytelling, and replayability. It‘s a prime example of how a well-designed mission can capture the imaginations of the Call of Duty community.
Conclusion
Break Check DMZ is a triumph of mission design, seamlessly blending white-knuckle action with immersive storytelling and environmental detail. It‘s a mission that will push even the most seasoned Warzone veterans to their limits, demanding strategic thinking, effective communication, and no small amount of gunplay prowess.
But more than that, Break Check represents the best of what Warzone 2‘s DMZ mode has to offer. It‘s a self-contained narrative experience that nonetheless fits into a larger storyline, one that players can actively influence through their actions and choices.
As the Season 2 story unfolds and the hunt for the Ashika Relic continues, Break Check will be remembered as a pivotal moment, a tipping point in the battle for the island‘s future.
So gear up, soldiers. The fate of Ashika Island rests on your shoulders. And remember, when you‘re deep in the jungle with Shadow Company hot on your heels, sometimes all you can do is say a little prayer and break check.
See you in the field.
