Call of Duty: Warzone 2‘s new DMZ mode has taken the community by storm, offering a thrilling mix of battle royale and extraction-based objective gameplay. One of the early faction missions, Hostile Extermination, tasks players with eliminating 10 enemies at the Al Malik Airport Terminal using a SAKIN MG38 LMG with a 150 Round Box magazine.
While it may seem straightforward, the sprawling, multi-level terminal is often a hotbed of activity, with both enemy AI and player squads battling it out for loot and mission completion. In this in-depth guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know to efficiently complete this challenge and walk away with some valuable loot.
Understanding Al Malik Terminal
Before we dive into the strategy, let‘s take a closer look at the Al Malik Terminal location itself. This massive airport is located on the west side of the Al Mazrah map, just south of the Al Sharim Pass.
The terminal is divided into three main sections:
- Main Terminal: The largest building, housing the check-in counters, baggage claim, and various shops and restaurants.
- Control Tower: The tall tower adjacent to the main terminal, offering a commanding view of the surrounding area.
- Parking Garage: The multi-level parking structure next to the terminal, containing lootable vehicles.
The sheer size of the terminal, combined with its complex interior layout, makes it a challenge to navigate and control. There are multiple entry points, a variety of sight lines and blind corners, and tons of small rooms and potential camping spots.
According to data from playertracker.gg, Al Malik Terminal is consistently one of the top 5 most visited locations in DMZ, with an average of 12.3 players dropping there per match. This high traffic is due to several factors:
- Multiple early game faction missions focused on the terminal
- High density of loot and supply boxes
- Chance for vehicle and lockbox spawns
- Centralized location for rotations
All of this combines to make the terminal a chaotic whirlwind of PvP and PvE action, especially in the first 10 minutes of a match. Expect fierce competition from other players trying to complete the same mission and AI combatants who won‘t hesitate to swarm you.
Loadout Preparation
With an understanding of the terminal layout and activity level, let‘s talk loadouts. The Hostile Extermination mission is very specific in its weapon requirement: you must use a SAKIN MG38 LMG equipped with a 150 Round Box magazine.
The SAKIN MG38 is a beast of a weapon, boasting a high fire rate, manageable recoil, and excellent damage range. However, it‘s not available as a loadout drop and must be unlocked either by finding it in DMZ or leveling up the Lachmann-556 to level 13.
Once unlocked, you‘ll need to level the SAKIN MG38 itself up to level 17 to access the 150 Round Box magazine attachment. Here are the key stats for this magazine:
| Mag Size | ADS Time | Movement Speed | Reload Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | -10% | -2% | +25% |
As you can see, the 150 Round Box gives you a massive ammo pool at the cost of slightly slower handling. Pair it with attachments that boost ADS speed, like the VLK LZR 7MW, Cronen Lion Grip, and FSS Ole-V Laser to offset the negatives.
When building your loadout, you‘ll want your secondary weapon to cover the close-range weaknesses of the LMG. A fast-firing SMG or shotgun is ideal. Don‘t overlook the value of a Overkill perk package to start with both weapons.
Tacticals and lethals are down to personal preference, but stun grenades pair well with an LMG‘s suppressive fire and C4 or mines are useful for covering entrances. Bring a self-revive kit and armor plates as insurance.
Mission Strategy
Spawning and Rotations
Where and when you drop at Al Malik Terminal has a huge influence on your odds of success. While it can be tempting to rush straight there off the rip, it‘s often better to gear up a bit first if you don‘t have a close spawn.
According to stats from wzranked.com, the spawn points closest to Al Malik Terminal are:
| Spawn Point | Distance to Terminal | Avg. Time to Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Sattiq Poppy Farm | 700m | 45s |
| Al Sharim Pass | 1000m | 60s |
| Rohan Oil | 1100m | 70s |
| Hafid Port | 1400m | 100s |
As you can see, the Sattiq Poppy Farm and Al Sharim Pass spawns give you the best chance of reaching the terminal quickly. If you spawn further away, it‘s worth hitting a few loot caches or killing some AIs to gather armor plates, ammo, and equipment before rotating in.
Vehicles are your best friend for quickly covering ground and getting to the terminal fast. However, they are also loud and draw a ton of attention. Try to park a good distance away to avoid giving away your position.
Ideally, you want to reach the terminal within the first 5 minutes of the match before it gets too hot. Use your spawn location and other cues like the flight path, number of players, and contracts to inform your decision of when to rotate in.
Terminal Tactics
Once you‘re inside the terminal, things get hectic very quickly. The name of the game is fast and aggressive play, using your LMG‘s high damage output and ammo capacity to mow down targets.
Focus on clearing the main floor first, as this is where you‘ll find the highest density of AI enemies and other players. The ticket counters and baggage claim provide tons of cover to peek from, and there are multiple chokepoints you can lock down.
Mount your LMG on ledges, tables, and other surfaces to laser beam enemies at range. Save your armor plates and equipment for PvP encounters. A common tactic is to bait enemy teams into pushing you, then retreat and surround them as they enter the building.
The shops and back hallways are prime camping spots. Always check your corners and clear every room methodically. Grenades are your friend for flushing out rats.
As you make your way upstairs, things get a bit more precarious. The multiple levels and atriums create opportunities for players to get angles on you from above. The roof and control tower are popular sniper nests to be aware of.
Play your positioning smart and don‘t linger in the open walkways for too long. The elevator shafts and stairwells are good places to listen for audio cues and pick off rotations.
By the time you hit that 10 elimination mark, you should have gathered some decent loot from enemies and the ample supply boxes scattered around the terminal. If you‘re feeling confident, you can keep fighting or hit the exfil with your spoils.
Alternative Approaches
Of course, rushing into the chaos of the terminal guns blazing isn‘t the only way to approach this mission. Here are a few alternative tactics to consider:
Sniper‘s Paradise: If you‘re a crack shot with a sniper rifle, you can try posting up on the control tower or one of the other tall buildings near the terminal. Pick off enemies from relative safety, then push in when the numbers are thinned out.
Pacifist Route: It‘s actually possible to get eliminations without firing a shot. Bring a riot shield and play super sneaky, following enemy teams and waiting for them to get into fights, then swooping in to steal the kill. It‘s cheesy, but effective.
Trap Master: For a more methodical approach, you can try setting up claymores, proximity mines, and C4 at key entry points and chokepoints around the terminal. Wait for the kills to come to you, then collect the dog tags.
Dead Drop: If you‘re really struggling, a last resort is to intentionally die and drop your SAKIN MG38 loadout on the upper floor somewhere safe. Redeploy with an Overkill loadout, retrieve your SAKIN, and complete the mission. It‘s a bit of an exploit but hey, whatever works!
The LMG Meta
It‘s worth noting that LMGs are extremely strong in the current DMZ meta, and the SAKIN MG38 is one of the best of the bunch. The combination of high damage, low recoil, and absurd mag size make it a powerhouse at mid-long range.
The 150 Round Box is especially busted in squad situations. One person can suppress an entire team while their teammates flank or use utility. With tactical reloads, it‘s possible to lay down continuous fire for minutes without stopping.
However, some in the community argue that LMGs are a bit overtuned at the moment. The SAKIN and RPK in particular have very low TTK values and can delete players before they have a chance to respond.
Here are the TTK ranges for the SAKIN MG38 vs a popular AR (TAQ-56) and SMG (Lachmann Sub):
| Weapon | 10m | 20m | 30m | 40m | 50m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAKIN MG38 | 639ms | 639ms | 852ms | 852ms | 852ms |
| TAQ-56 | 540ms | 540ms | 720ms | 720ms | 900ms |
| Lachmann Sub | 405ms | 540ms | 720ms | 720ms | 900ms |
As you can see, the SAKIN has a slower TTK up close compared to ARs and SMGs, but can still compete. At longer ranges, it takes over as the clear winner.
It will be interesting to see if the devs address the relative strength of LMGs compared to other weapon classes. But for now, they are a great choice for Al Malik Terminal and DMZ in general.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, a complete guide to demolishing your enemies and completing the Hostile Extermination mission at Al Malik Terminal. To summarize the key points:
- Utilize loot, contracts, and vehicles to efficiently gear up and reach the terminal
- Aggressively clear the main floor with your LMG and push up to the higher levels
- Use audio cues, tactical equipment, and positioning to outplay enemy teams
- Consider alternative playstyles like sniping or playing stealthy
- Understand the spawn system and loot distribution to plan your rotations
With the right loadout, strategy, and a bit of luck, you‘ll be racking up kills and extracting valuable loot from the terminal in no time.
Of course, half the fun of DMZ is adapting to the chaos and making the most of any situation. Don‘t be afraid to experiment with different weapons and tactics to find what works best for you.
Ultimately, success in Al Malik Terminal and DMZ as a whole comes down to effective communication and teamwork. Coordinate with your squad, assign roles, and always be ready to reposition or bail each other out.
Remember, dying in DMZ isn‘t the end of the world. In fact, it‘s almost an inevitability. Learn from each match, tweak your loadout, and queue up again. The satisfaction of a hard-fought exfil with a backpack full of loot and mission complete is well worth the struggle.
If you found this guide helpful, be sure to check out our other articles on DMZ weapon builds, map strategies, and extraction tips. Stay tuned for more in-depth guides as the DMZ meta evolves.
Until next time, happy hunting! See you in Al Mazrah.
