Are you ready to storm a Stronghold and complete this thrilling mission in Call of Duty: Warzone 2‘s DMZ mode? DMZ offers a collection of intense faction-based missions for solo operators and squads to tackle. Completing these missions rewards you with valuable items, XP, and unlocks higher tier missions. One of the most exciting early game missions is "Storm the Stronghold" from the Legion faction.
In this ultimate guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know to complete the Storm the Stronghold mission in DMZ. We‘ll cover how to get your hands on a Stronghold Keycard, the best loadouts and strategies for clearing the Stronghold, where to find the required intel, and how to successfully extract to finish the mission.
Whether you prefer to play solo or with friends, this guide will help you complete this challenging mission and reap the rewards. Let‘s gear up and head to Al-Mazrah to storm that Stronghold!
Understanding Faction Missions in DMZ
Before we get into the details of this specific mission, let‘s review how faction missions work in DMZ mode. There are currently three factions you can complete missions for:
- Legion (starting faction)
- White Lotus
- Black Mous
Each faction offers its own series of missions spread across 5 tiers. Higher tier missions offer better rewards but are locked until you complete the lower tier ones first. You can track your mission progress and rewards in the Faction Mission menu.
Completing DMZ missions will grant you various rewards like bonus XP, exclusive weapon blueprints, operator skins, and more. Some missions unlock additional missions to complete. It‘s a great way to progress your overall Battle Pass and gain access to valuable items.
What You Need to Storm the Stronghold
In order to attempt the Storm the Stronghold mission, you first need to obtain a Stronghold Keycard. This special item grants you access to one of the three Stronghold locations on the map.
To acquire a Stronghold Keycard, you‘ll need to collect $5,000 in cash within a single DMZ match. The best way to rack up funds quickly is to:
- Loot high-value buildings for weapons and valuable items
- Complete contracts like Secure Intel or Hostage Rescue
- Eliminate AI combatants and enemy players and loot their cash and valuables
- Hit up Cash Registers in major points of interest
Once you‘ve got at least $5,000 burning a hole in your tactical pants, head to the Buy Station located in the center of Al-Mazrah City near the water tower. Open up the Buy Station menu and purchase the Stronghold Keycard for 5,000 clams. Nice work, soldier – you‘ve gained permission to storm the castle!
Assaulting the Stronghold: Tactics & Loadout Tips
Now that you‘ve acquired the keycard, it‘s time to show those AQ forces who‘s boss and liberate that Stronghold. For the Storm the Stronghold mission, your target is the Stronghold located in Sawah Village in the northwest corner of the map.
Strongholds are heavily fortified buildings swarming with high-level AI combatants armed to the teeth. To even the odds, here are some tips for your loadout:
• Primary Weapon: Bring an assault rifle with good range and controllable recoil. The M4 or TAQ-56 are solid choices. Kit it with a 3-4x optic, extended mags, a foregrip, and a suppressor if you‘ve got one.
• Secondary Weapon: A submachine gun like an MP5, Lachmann Sub or Fennec 45 akimbo for close quarters combat inside the Stronghold.
• Tactical: Stun Grenades or Flash Grenades to disorient groups of enemies.
• Lethal: Semtex or Frag Grenades for softening up enemies behind cover.
When you approach the Stronghold, expect resistance before you even breach the perimeter. Take out the guards silently if you can. Once inside, check your corners and keep an eye out for enemy reinforcements dropping in. They may even roll up in armored SUVs, so be prepared for vehicles too.
If you‘re playing with a squad, stick together and watch each others‘ backs. Move from cover to cover and communicate enemy positions. If you‘re solo, play it slow and steady. Let the AI combatants come to you when possible.
Secure the Intel and Exfiltrate
Once you‘ve cleared out most of the AQ forces, it‘s time to complete your primary objective – secure the intel. Check your tac-map and look for the mission marker indicating the intel location. It‘s usually in a back room of the Stronghold.
When you find the intel, it drops off a slain enemy in the form of a pickup. Hold your interact key to grab the intel and stash it in your backpack. Great work – you‘ve liberated the Stronghold and secured the intel. Now you just need to get out of there in one piece.
To complete the Storm the Stronghold mission, make your way to the nearest Exfil point marked on your tac-map. If you‘re carrying a lot of valuable loot, be careful because enemy AI or human players may try to ambush you before you can extract. Once you reach the exfil chopper, hop inside and wait for the timer to count down to complete the mission.
Storm the Stronghold Mission Rewards
Congratulations! You‘ve conquered your first Stronghold and completed the Storm the Stronghold mission. So what do you get for this daring feat? Rewards may vary over time, but as of 2024, players who complete this mission receive:
• Legion Faction XP
• Weapon Blueprints
• Operator Cosmetic Items
• Calling Cards
• Additional Higher-Tier Stronghold Missions
By completing this mission, you also unlock additional Tier 2+ missions from Legion that involve raiding the other Strongholds on the map. You can also gain access to Stronghold missions from other factions like White Lotus and Black Mous by finding and activating Dead Drops scattered around Al-Mazrah.
Tips for Farming Stronghold Keycards
To quickly farm the $5,000 needed to purchase a keycard and complete this mission, consider the following strategies:
- Loot the Police Academy or Sawah Village for valuables and cash
- Complete a Secure Intel contract which awards $8,000 upon delivery
- Loot players you eliminate – they often carry large sums of cash
- Sell high-value items you find like Gold Bars, Watches, and Weapons
With these farming tips, you should be able to afford a Stronghold Keycard within your first 5-10 minutes of a match. Then you can beeline it to the Stronghold, clear it out, and exfil with the intel shortly after.
Conclusion
There you have it, soldier. A complete guide to Storming the Stronghold and finishing this exciting DMZ faction mission. By following these tips for acquiring a keycard, gearing up properly, and securing the intel, you‘ll be able to complete this challenging mission solo or with your squad.
The rewards for your efforts will help you progress your Battle Pass, unlock additional missions, and gain access to powerful items. Just remember to play it smart, move deliberately, and always be ready for enemy reinforcements. See you in Al-Mazrah!