Warzone 2.0‘s new DMZ mode has taken the Call of Duty community by storm, offering a thrilling sandbox experience that blends the high-stakes gunplay of battle royale with the tactical looting and extraction mechanics of games like Escape from Tarkov. One of the most sought-after prizes in DMZ is the contents of the mud covered cache, a hidden stash that can only be accessed with a special key. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about the mud covered cache key, from where to find it and how to use it to what types of valuable loot awaits inside.
Understanding the DMZ Meta
To fully grasp the significance of the mud covered cache key, it‘s important to first understand how DMZ differs from traditional Warzone modes. Unlike in battle royale, where the sole objective is to be the last team standing, DMZ matches task players with completing contracts, gathering loot and valuables, and successfully extracting from the map before a timer runs out. This shift in focus dramatically changes the flow and pacing of matches.
As detailed in the official DMZ blog post, the mode features a variety of AI combatants and bosses in addition to player-controlled squads:
"Operators have to contend with AI combatants guarding key objectives and locations, including Al Qatala soldiers and Shadow Company forces who become progressively more challenging to deal with during the course of the match. Chopper gunners, juggernaut suits, and a range of world events involving vehicle-borne IEDs and other threats also roam Al Mazrah, keeping even the most experienced Operators on their toes."
With so many different factions and environmental hazards to deal with, knowing when to fight and when to avoid confrontation is key to survival. This is where the mud covered cache comes into play – while regular loot chests and supply drops can give you a fighting chance, unlocking a special cache is often the key to a profitable run with multiple extract-worthy items. However, as the saying goes, nothing worth having comes easy.
Where to Find the Mud Covered Cache and Key
According to the most recent intel, the mud covered cache is hidden underneath the bridge just northeast of Tsuki Castle in grid G5 of Al Mazrah. The exact location is marked on the tac map below:
Once you arrive at the designated spot, look for a locked chest that has a brownish, grimy appearance, as if it‘s been submerged in a swamp or buried underground for an extended period. If the cache isn‘t visible, that means the matching key hasn‘t been found by any player in the match yet.
As for where to find the mud covered cache key itself, there are several possible spawn points across the map as of Season 2:
- Random drops from defeated AI combatants (estimated 2% chance)
- Potential reward for completing High Value Target (HVT) contracts (estimated 7% chance)
- Low probability to appear in legendary (orange) loot containers (estimated 1% chance)
- Rare drops from powerful enemies like bombmakers or armored soldiers (estimated 3% chance)
The key has a distinct appearance – a dull metal skeleton key coated in a layer of sticky mud and grime. There‘s no mistaking it when you stumble across one in a loot pile.
Here are the current estimated spawn probabilities for the mud covered cache key based on datamined info from the r/DMZ subreddit:
| Spawn Source | Estimated Probability |
|---|---|
| AI Combatants | 2% |
| HVT Contracts | 7% |
| Legendary Chests | 1% |
| Bombmakers/Armored Soldiers | 3% |
Keep in mind that these probabilities are an educated guess and may shift as the DMZ meta evolves. The key takeaway is that the mud covered key is quite rare and requires either luck or dedication to acquire.
Strategies for Obtaining the Cache Key
Now that we know the mud covered cache key‘s spawn points, let‘s discuss some practical strategies for finding it and making a successful run:
Focus on Contracts and Combat: Since the key has a chance to drop from HVT contracts and defeated enemies, playing aggressively and racking up eliminations is a viable strategy. Complete as many contracts as possible and don‘t shy away from tough AI fights.
Loot High-Tier Areas: While the key is a rare find in legendary chests, it‘s still worth prioritizing POIs with high concentrations of orange loot containers. Areas like Sattiq Caves, Al-Safwa Quarry, and Hydroelectric have a decent number of potential chest spawns.
Communication is Key: If you‘re running with a squad, make sure to share intel and mark key locations like weapon crates, contracts, and points of interest. The more efficiently you can loot as a team, the higher your chances of finding a mud covered key.
The Ghanima Loot Truck: According to an unconfirmed leak from VanguardIntel on Twitter, a new loot truck event may be added to DMZ in an upcoming update. The truck will randomly spawned in the desert area around Ghanima and is said to have an increased chance of dropping the cache keys. Keep an eye out for official patch notes to see if this event materializes.
At the end of the day, obtaining a mud covered cache key will often come down to a combination of map knowledge, efficient looting, and a healthy dose of luck. Even if you don‘t find the key in a given match, you can still make progress by extracting with other high-value items and earning XP to unlock new operator perks.
The Rewards Inside the Mud Covered Cache
So what makes all the effort of finding and unlocking the mud covered cache worthwhile? While the contents are somewhat random, you‘re guaranteed to find at least a couple of high-tier items that can dramatically boost your loadout power and exfiltration potential. Some of the possible rewards include:
- Fully kitted weapons (gold rarity or higher) with maxed-out attachments
- Valuable documents, intel, or access cards needed for specific faction missions
- Large quantities of cash, armor plates, and powerful killstreaks
- Operator skins, weapon blueprints, and other cosmetic items (low chance)
Finding a gold or platinum rarity weapon inside the cache can be a game-changer, giving you a significant edge over opponents still using ground loot guns. You may also find rare items like self-revive kits or advanced UAVs that are usually only obtainable from buy stations. Extracting with these valuable goods will help boost your faction reputation as well.
Based on reports from DMZ players on reddit, Twitter, and YouTube, it seems the mud covered cache has a higher likelihood of containing rarer items compared to a typical legendary chest. While the exact probabilities aren‘t known, here‘s a rough breakdown of what you can expect to find on average:
- 1-2 high-rarity weapons (gold or higher)
- 2-3 valuable items (intel, access cards, etc.)
- Large amount of cash (~$25K or more)
- 1-2 strong equipment items (killstreaks, armor boxes, etc.)
- Small chance of operator/weapon cosmetics
Of course, your mileage may vary depending on RNG, but the mud covered cache is undoubtedly one of the most valuable (and therefore risky) objectives to pursue in a DMZ match.
Tips for Safely Extracting the Cache Contents
Congratulations, you‘ve managed to acquire a mud covered key and unlock the cache underneath the bridge! However, the job‘s not finished until you can successfully extract with your hard-earned loot. Here are a few tips to help you get across the finish line:
Stay Frosty: As the saying goes, if it seems too quiet, it probably is. The area around the cache location is a popular spot for enemy squads to set up ambushes, so approach with caution and try to establish overwatch positions before moving in. A sniper or marksman rifle can be very effective here.
Reposition Quickly: Once you‘ve secured the cache and grabbed the goods, it‘s wise to vacate the area ASAP before word spreads and enemy reinforcements arrive. You don‘t have to beeline straight for an extraction zone, but putting some distance between you and the cache will reduce the risk of getting third-partied.
Coordinate with Your Squad: When it‘s time to extract, communication is crucial. Most extraction points have very little cover, so you‘ll need to watch each others‘ angles and focus fire on any potential threats. Having a teammate hang back with a long-range weapon while the others extract can be an effective tactic.
Save Some Killstreaks: If you‘ve managed to stockpile any powerful killstreaks like precision airstrikes or cluster strikes, an extraction attempt is the perfect time to use them. Softening up enemies before making your final approach can dramatically increase your odds of a clean getaway. Just be sure to coordinate with your team to avoid friendly fire.
Ultimately, extracting with a full loadout from the mud covered cache is a high-risk, high-reward play that can make or break your run. With smart positioning and good teamwork though, that juicy exfil cash bonus will make it all worthwhile.
The Future of DMZ Keys and Caches
Based on Infinity Ward‘s post-launch support plans and some credible leaks, it‘s clear that hidden caches and keys are going to be an integral part of the DMZ experience for seasons to come. The official Season 2 announcement blog post teased some of the upcoming changes:
"Operators can expect to encounter new factions, areas, and threats as the conflict on Al Mazrah intensifies. The hunt for valuable loot and intel will take on new dimensions, and the strategies that led to success in Season 1 may need to be adapted as the DMZ meta shifts. One thing‘s for certain though – only the most daring and skilled Operators will make it out with the coveted contents of Al Mazrah‘s hidden strongholds."
Some of the more interesting DMZ rumors and leaks we‘ve seen for future updates include:
- Additional caches hidden on Ashika Island (the new map coming in S2 Reloaded)
- Multi-step cache unlocks that require finding multiple keys or items
- AI bosses that have an increased chance to drop cache keys
- New faction missions related to finding or delivering cache keys
- Expanded weapons case customization using items found in caches
Of course, these are all unconfirmed reports that should be taken with a grain of salt until official announcements are made. Still, it‘s exciting to think about how the DMZ environment may evolve and how the community will adapt their tactics in response.
Conclusion
There you have it – the definitive guide to finding, unlocking, and extracting the mud covered cache in DMZ. This grimy little key has quickly become one of the most iconic items in the mode, embodying the high-stakes thrill of successfully looting and surviving against all odds.
Whether you‘re a DMZ veteran or a newcomer looking to dip your toes into Al Mazrah, we hope this guide has given you a solid foundation to work from. Just remember that life in the DMZ favors the bold – sometimes you have to risk it all for the ultimate biscuit.
As the great victory quip says: "Good work soldier. You look like hammered shit, but you‘re still breathing. That‘s a win in my book." See you in Al Mazrah, operator.
