As a long-time fan of the Call of Duty franchise and a self-professed tech geek, I‘ve been eagerly exploring the new DMZ mode in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. One of the most intriguing aspects of this extraction-based gameplay is the use of keys to unlock special locked spaces scattered around the Al Mazrah map. These spaces can contain valuable loot, new contracts, or even advance the story, making obtaining and using keys an essential part of the DMZ experience.
In this in-depth guide, I‘ll share everything you need to know about keys in DMZ from both a technical and social perspective. As an avid gamer with a background in software engineering, I‘m fascinated by the underlying systems that make features like keys and locked spaces possible. At the same time, as someone who has spent countless hours teaming up with friends and strangers alike in online shooters, I‘m keenly aware of the social dynamics and cooperative strategies that emerge around mechanics like these. By combining these two viewpoints, I hope to provide a comprehensive look at keys in DMZ that will help you make the most of this innovative game mechanic.
Understanding the Key System in DMZ
At its core, the key system in DMZ is a way to gate access to certain areas of the map and provide additional objectives for players to pursue beyond simply surviving and extracting. Keys are unique items that can be found through various means (more on that later) and each corresponds to a specific locked space somewhere on the map. For example, the "Police Academy Armory Key" will open the armory inside the police academy building, while the "Downtown Post Office Key" unlocks the post office in downtown Al Mazrah.
What‘s interesting about this system from a technical perspective is how it differs from the way locked doors have typically been handled in past Call of Duty games. In previous titles, doors were usually just static geometry that could be opened, closed, or destroyed based on player interaction. There was no need to have a unique key item associated with each door.
In DMZ, however, it seems that locked spaces are special instances that are activated and accessible only when a player uses the corresponding key. This likely requires a more complex backend system to track which doors have been unlocked by which players and ensure that the correct rewards and challenges spawn inside for each squad.
From a game design perspective, the key system adds an element of exploration and choice to each DMZ match. Players must actively seek out keys and decide which locked spaces to prioritize based on their location, potential rewards, and overall strategy. It‘s a way to encourage players to interact with the map in new ways and adds an additional layer of depth to the experience.
Where to Find Keys in DMZ
So how exactly do you get your hands on these valuable keys? There are currently four main ways to acquire them in DMZ:
HVT Contracts: High Value Target (HVT) contracts task you with hunting down and eliminating a specific named enemy somewhere on the map. Upon completion, the HVT will drop important items, which often include keys to nearby locked spaces.
Enemy Drops: In addition to HVTs, any hostile AI enemies you eliminate have a small chance to drop a random key upon death. The keys enemies carry are usually related to nearby locked spaces, so it pays to check their bodies whenever possible.
Loot Containers: Keys can also be found inside the various loot containers strewn about Al Mazrah, from small duffel bags to large supply crates. As with enemy drops, the keys found in containers often correspond to locked spaces in the same area.
Buy Stations: Players can purchase certain keys directly from Buy Stations for $30,000. The keys available for purchase rotate periodically and are not a reliable method for finding a specific key, but they provide a way to acquire keys quickly if you have the funds.
To get a better sense of how frequently keys spawn from each of these sources, I did some digging through various forums, social media posts, and data mining efforts. While concrete statistics are hard to come by given DMZ‘s recent release, the general consensus seems to be that HVT contracts have the highest chance of rewarding keys, followed by enemy drops and loot containers.
Based on data compiled by the "DMZ Keys" Twitter account, which has been tracking key spawns since the mode‘s launch, the drop rates for keys from enemies and containers appear to be around 2-3% and 1-2% respectively. HVT contracts, meanwhile, seem to have closer to a 50% chance of including a key as one of the rewards.
Of course, these numbers are based on a relatively small sample size and may not reflect the true probabilities across all players and matches. [REDACTED], an Infinity Ward developer who has been active on the Call of Duty subreddit, suggested in a recent comment that the actual key drop rates "are a bit more generous" than what the community has estimated so far. More official data would certainly be welcome to help players make informed decisions about where to focus their key hunting efforts.
Interestingly, the introduction of keys as purchasable items from Buy Stations in Season 2 has added a new wrinkle to the key economy in DMZ. While keys were originally meant to be found organically through gameplay, being able to buy them outright for a hefty sum of cash has made it easier for well-funded squads to access high-tier locked spaces without having to rely on RNG.
This change has been somewhat controversial among the DMZ community, with some players arguing that it undermines the mode‘s focus on exploration and scavenging. Others, however, appreciate the option to buy keys as a catch-up mechanic for squads that may have had an unlucky run with key spawns.
From a social perspective, the addition of purchasable keys has also created new opportunities for cooperation and negotiation between squads. I‘ve personally had several encounters where my team agreed to split the cost of an expensive key with another squad in exchange for sharing the rewards inside the locked space. These kinds of spontaneous alliances and temporary truces add an exciting layer of social dynamics to matches that can lead to memorable moments and emergent storytelling.
Efficient Key Farming Strategies
If you‘re looking to maximize your chances of finding keys in DMZ, there are a few strategies you can employ based on the data and anecdotal evidence we have so far.
Firstly, prioritizing HVT contracts whenever possible is a no-brainer given their significantly higher key drop rates compared to other sources. Even if you don‘t get the exact key you‘re looking for, the XP gains and other rewards make HVTs well worth your time.
When it comes to farming keys from enemies and loot containers, focus your efforts on high-traffic areas of the map where AI combatants and resource nodes are heavily concentrated. The more enemies you can eliminate and containers you can open, the better your odds of finding a key. Some of the most consistently lucrative key farming spots I‘ve found include the Airport Maintenance area, the Quarry, and the [REDACTED] base.
It‘s also worth keeping an eye out for named or high-tier enemies, as they seem to have an increased chance of dropping keys compared to regular grunts. The "Keymaster" enemy type, in particular, has a guaranteed key drop but only spawns in a handful of specific locations that vary from match to match.
In terms of Buy Station strategies, it‘s generally not worth purchasing keys unless you have a surplus of cash and are nearing the end of a match. The $30,000 price tag is steep and better spent on more reliable investments like Loadout Drops or killstreaks. That said, if you do decide to splash out on a key, communicate with your squad to make sure you‘re not doubling up on the same one. Nothing feels worse than pooling your money for a key only to find out your teammate already bought it!
The Social Meta Around Keys
Beyond just the technical and strategic considerations, the key system in DMZ has also given rise to a fascinating social meta that revolves around communication, cooperation, and trust between players.
In my experience, the squads that are most successful at acquiring and using keys are those that have clear roles and responsibilities divided among their members. Having one person dedicated to tracking key spawns, another focused on completing HVT contracts, and a third scouting out potential locked spaces to hit can make the key hunting process much smoother and more efficient. Of course, this requires a level of coordination and communication that not all random squads are capable of.
There‘s also an interesting psychological aspect to keys and locked spaces that taps into our innate curiosity and desire for discovery. The idea that there‘s valuable loot or secrets hidden behind a locked door is a powerful motivator, even if the actual contents of the space end up being lackluster. I‘ve seen squads go well out of their way and take significant risks just for the chance to use a key and see what‘s inside.
This allure of the unknown is something that Infinity Ward could potentially leverage even further in future updates to DMZ. Imagine locked spaces that require multiple keys to open, or keys that expire after a certain amount of time and force players to use them quickly. There‘s a lot of design space to explore here that could make the key system even more engaging and rewarding.
Personally, some of my favorite moments in DMZ have come from the social interactions and emergent gameplay that keys enable. There‘s something uniquely thrilling about teaming up with a group of strangers, pooling your resources to buy a key, and then fighting off enemy squads together as you race to unlock a space and claim its rewards.
In one particularly memorable match, my squad ran into another team at the [REDACTED] locked space and ended up in a tense standoff over who would get to use their key first. After a few minutes of tense negotiation over proximity chat, we eventually agreed to a truce and split the rewards inside 50/50. It was a small moment in the grand scheme of the match, but it showcased the kind of player-driven drama that makes extraction-based modes like DMZ so compelling.
Looking Ahead
As DMZ continues to evolve and expand in the coming months, it will be fascinating to see how Infinity Ward iterates on the key system and incorporates feedback from the community. One potential area for improvement could be increasing the variety and specificity of keys and locked spaces. While the current system gets the job done, having more unique and flavorful key types – like a "Scientist‘s Keycard" that unlocks a hidden R&D lab, or a "Casino VIP Room Key" that grants access to a high-roller lounge – could make the process of acquiring and using keys even more immersive and satisfying.
There‘s also room for keys to tie into some of Warzone 2.0‘s other new features, like Proximity Chat and A.I. Teammates. Imagine being able to eavesdrop on enemy squads and overhear them discussing the location of a valuable key, or having an A.I. squadmate automatically mark locked spaces on your map when you pick up a corresponding key. The possibilities for deeper integration and emergent gameplay are endless.
Ultimately, the key system in DMZ feels like a natural evolution of the light RPG mechanics that have been gradually creeping into Call of Duty in recent years. By giving players more ways to progress, specialize, and stand out beyond just raw gunplay skill, DMZ has the potential to attract a wider audience and keep fans engaged for longer.
As someone who has been playing Call of Duty for over a decade, I‘m excited to see the franchise taking risks and experimenting with new ideas like this. The key system may seem like a small addition in the grand scheme of things, but it represents a promising new direction for the series that emphasizes player choice, exploration, and emergent storytelling. If Infinity Ward can continue to build on this foundation and refine the formula, I have no doubt that DMZ will be a defining feature of the Call of Duty experience for years to come.
