It’s happening. Verdansk is back. If you’ve been around since the early days of Call of Duty: Warzone, you already know what kind of weight that sentence carries. Verdansk isn’t just a map — it’s a core memory for a lot of us. Late-night squads, clutch gulag wins, running through Superstore with zero armor but full confidence. Yeah, it’s that map.
After disappearing in 2021, Verdansk is officially making its return on April 3 at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm BST. And if you think you’re just gonna drop back in and pick up right where you left off, well… maybe slow down a bit.
The devs say the new version of Verdansk is 95% the same — which sounds great, but a lot’s changed in Warzone since then. Whether you’re a day-one OG or just now hopping into the action, you’ll want to come in with a bit of a game plan. Luckily, the folks at Call of Duty shared some tips to help everyone get their bearings — and we’ve got a few thoughts of our own to go with it.
So before you load up and yell “Drop hot?”, here’s what you need to know.
1. Play With People You Actually Know (If You Can)
This one’s pretty straightforward. You’re just gonna have a better time — and probably win more — if you play with friends. Random squads can work, sure, but it’s hit or miss. Sometimes you get a silent lurker who refuses to ping anything. Sometimes it’s a 12-year-old with a mic louder than your engine.
Grab two to four players, make sure at least someone’s got a headset, and work together. Revive each other. Share cash. Ping things. It’s not just about shooting straight — it’s about sticking together.
2. Use That Minimap — And Change It to Square
Warzone’s minimap and compass are way more useful now than they were back in 2020. There’s more clarity, better info, and it’s easier to track enemy shots or nearby contracts. But here’s the move: go into your settings and switch the minimap from a circle to a square.
It gives you a slightly wider view of your surroundings, and honestly, that tiny difference can help more than you’d expect. More map = more info = better decisions.
3. Take a Second to Look at Your Guns
The updated weapon inspection feature isn’t just some cool animation. It actually gives you insight into what attachments a gun has — which is super useful when you’re scavenging early-game weapons.
Don’t just pick up something shiny and assume it’s gonna beam. Take a peek, get a feel for it, and make sure it’s not gonna fail you in a hallway fight. You’ve got time — usually.
4. Be Quick With Inventory Stuff
You ever win a gunfight, go to loot the guy, and end up sitting in your inventory for way too long trying to figure out what to keep? Yeah, that’s how you get third-partied.
The looting system is smoother now, but you’ve still gotta be quick. Ditch stuff you don’t need (looking at you, extra sniper ammo when you’re running an SMG), and don’t hoard every single item just because it looks useful. Stay organized and only keep what you’ll actually use.
5. Have a Couple Loadouts Ready
Loadouts are back, and they’re just as important as ever. You want something that feels comfortable — a setup that matches how you play. Maybe that’s a versatile AR and SMG combo. Maybe you’re a sniper who likes to chill on rooftops. Maybe you like running into buildings with an absurd shotgun build. No judgment.
Just make sure you’ve got one general loadout that works across most situations, and then have a couple of backups to rotate depending on how the match is going.
6. Use Your Pings — Don’t Sleep on Them
Even if you’re using a mic, you should still be pinging stuff. Marking enemies, loot, vehicles, danger zones — all of it helps your team stay on the same page.
The updated ping system makes this even easier, so get used to using it constantly. Double-tap to ping enemies, use it to suggest a direction, or just tag loot for your teammate who somehow always has $400 less than they need for a loadout.
7. Pick Up Contracts — They’re Worth It
If you’re the type to ignore contracts because you’d rather go straight for kills… fair enough. But you’re also missing out.
Contracts (like bounties, scavengers, and recons) are easier to grab now, and they give you good stuff — cash, intel, sometimes a UAV. It’s worth doing one or two each match, especially early on when everyone’s scrambling for cash and loadouts.
8. Get Comfortable Driving Again
Verdansk is big — like, really big. So unless you enjoy sprinting across the map while the gas closes in behind you, vehicles are gonna be part of your plan.
Driving feels better now, and you’ve got more control in vehicle fights. Learn which cars handle best, and which ones can take a few hits. Just remember: vehicles are loud, and people will absolutely hear you coming. Sometimes that’s fine. Sometimes it gets you blown up in a tunnel. Choose wisely.
9. Tactical Grenades Can Flip a Fight
Nobody talks about this enough. Flashbangs, stuns, smokes — they’re not just filler gear. They can literally win you fights if you know how to use them.
Flashing a squad before you push their building? Huge. Popping a smoke to revive a teammate without getting lasered? Also huge. Don’t just rely on raw aim — use these tools to create openings.
10. Stay Flexible — Nothing Goes Exactly As Planned
Verdansk has a way of humbling even the most confident players. Maybe your favorite landing spot’s already hot. Maybe your team gets wiped early and you’re left solo with a pistol. Maybe the final circle pulls to some weird rooftop you’ve never even been on before.
The best Warzone players know how to adapt. Stick to a strategy, sure — but don’t be afraid to pivot if things go sideways. Play smart, rotate early, and above all else, don’t panic when the plan falls apart.
Oh — and one last random but solid tip: turn off the in-game music. It sounds cool, but it can mask important sounds like footsteps or enemy reloads. Sound is everything in Warzone. Don’t let a dramatic score get you clapped.
Final Thoughts: Verdansk Is More Than Just a Map
For a lot of players, Verdansk was more than a battleground — it was where they found community during lockdowns, where they learned to play tactically, and where they experienced some of their most memorable wins (or heartbreaks). Its return isn’t just a nostalgic move — it’s a big moment for Warzone as a whole.
So whether you’re jumping back in like it’s 2020 again or exploring Verdansk for the first time, these tips should help you hit the ground running.
Now get in there and make some chaos. Verdansk is waiting.
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