Video Games
How to play Call of Duty: Warzone
Loot, complete contracts, and outlast enemy squads in a large battle royale.
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How do you play Call of Duty: Warzone?
Drop into the map and collect weapons, armor plates, and cash. Complete contracts for rewards and useful information. Move with the safe zone and avoid the damaging gas. Eliminate opponents and survive until your squad is last.
Jump to the step-by-step rules ↓EDITOR'S TABLE NOTES
Is Call of Duty: Warzone a good fit for your group?
This game works especially well for players who learn best by practicing the core controls before taking on advanced objectives; the listed 1–4 squad-player range and 20–30 min playing time should also fit the group. Before setting up, decide whether that matches the experience your group wants today.
Rules version covered here
This guide focuses on the current beginner gameplay loop rather than update-specific exploits. Controls, menus, balance, and available modes can differ by platform and patch. For Call of Duty: Warzone, pay particular attention to the stated setup and ending condition below.
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Learn Call of Duty: Warzone in under a minute
About this video
This original mini lesson covers what you need, setup, normal play, the winning condition, and one beginner tip. Continue below for the complete written guide.
INTERACTIVE LEARN-TO-PLAY
Practice Call of Duty: Warzone before the first round
Walk through the setup, try a sample turn, and get a quick answer when play stalls.
Complete the training mode and adjust controller or mouse settings.
Choose a starting loadout and review squad communication controls.
Playable example turn
Step 1 of 4
Drop into the map and collect weapons, armor plates, and cash.
What should we do now?
Start with this action: Drop into the map and collect weapons, armor plates, and cash.
Scoring and winning
Eliminate opponents and survive until your squad is last.
Common dispute to prevent
Running across open ground without checking surroundings. Agree on any edition-specific variation before the first turn.
The objective
Your goal is to loot, complete contracts, and outlast enemy squads in a large battle royale. Before play begins, make sure every player can explain how the game ends and what determines the winner. That one check prevents many mid-game disagreements.
What you need
Warzone on a supported device, an account, and internet access. Lay out every required item before teaching the rules. If pieces, cards, controllers, or play space are missing, resolve that before the practice turn.
How to set up
- Complete the training mode and adjust controller or mouse settings.
- Choose a starting loadout and review squad communication controls.
Setup check: Ask one player who did not arrange the game to compare the table, field, or screen with these steps. A fresh look often catches an incorrect starting position.
How to play: step by step
- Drop into the map and collect weapons, armor plates, and cash.
- Complete contracts for rewards and useful information.
- Move with the safe zone and avoid the damaging gas.
- Eliminate opponents and survive until your squad is last.
Example first round
A useful first-round walkthrough for Call of Duty: Warzone begins this way: Drop into the map and collect weapons, armor plates, and cash. Next, complete contracts for rewards and useful information. Continue in normal turn order until the ending condition applies: eliminate opponents and survive until your squad is last.
How scoring and winning work
- The result is determined by the guide's stated objective: Loot, complete contracts, and outlast enemy squads in a large battle royale.
- The final step explains when play stops: Eliminate opponents and survive until your squad is last.
- For the most common rules question, use this clarification consistently: Yes, though optional purchases are available.
Useful variations
- Use the tutorial, training area, or easiest suitable mode until movement and the main action feel comfortable.
- For a shorter session, announce a stopping time before starting; 20–30 min is the normal planning range for Call of Duty: Warzone.
- When playing with beginners, demonstrate this strategy before scoring begins: Use cover before replacing armor plates.
Beginner strategies
- Use cover before replacing armor plates.
- Share cash, ammunition, and information with teammates.
Choose one of these ideas for the first game instead of trying to remember every strategy at once. Afterward, identify one decision that changed the result and one move you would test next time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Running across open ground without checking surroundings.
- Separating from the squad during late circles.
If an illegal move is discovered, pause and agree on the least disruptive correction. For casual play, consistency and a shared understanding matter more than reconstructing many turns.
Frequently asked questions
Is Warzone free?
Yes, though optional purchases are available.
What is the Gulag?
It can give an eliminated player a chance to return by winning a duel.
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