Can You Dominate the DMZ with Your Squad? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, absolutely! The Call of Duty DMZ mode is designed with cooperative gameplay in mind. You can team up with friends to tackle missions, extract valuable loot, and survive the dangers of the exclusion zone. This article will break down exactly how to play DMZ with your friends, explore squad mechanics, and answer all your burning questions about teaming up in this thrilling game mode.
Squad Up: How to Play DMZ with Friends
The core DMZ experience revolves around squad-based gameplay. The base squad size is three players. This allows for tactical coordination, support, and a better chance of survival against both AI enemies and other player-controlled squads.
Forming Your Squad Before Deployment
The easiest way to play with friends is to form your squad before you even deploy into the DMZ. Here’s how:
- Launch Call of Duty: Open Modern Warfare II or Warzone 2.0 (depending on the game that features DMZ).
- Navigate to the DMZ Menu: Select the DMZ game mode from the main menu.
- Invite Your Friends: On the DMZ lobby screen, you’ll see options to invite players to your party. Use your platform’s social menu (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Steam, etc.) to invite your friends.
- Ensure Everyone is Ready: Once your friends have joined your party, make sure everyone is ready to deploy.
- Deploy into the DMZ: The party leader can then initiate the deployment, bringing your entire squad into the game.
Squad Assimilation: Making Alliances in the Field
While the standard squad size is three, the DMZ offers a unique feature called squad assimilation. This allows you to form temporary alliances with other player squads you encounter in the game.
- How it Works: You can invite members from another squad to join your team, effectively increasing your squad size. This is typically done using the ping wheel in-game, allowing you to send an invite to nearby players.
- Benefits of Assimilation: A larger squad can provide a significant advantage in combat, making challenging missions easier and increasing your chances of extraction. It also opens up opportunities for unique tactical maneuvers and coordinated assaults.
- Risks of Assimilation: Trust is paramount. There’s always a risk that assimilated players may betray you. Communication and clear objectives are vital for a successful alliance. Furthermore, excessive squad sizes might attract more attention from other players.
Maximum Squad Size: How Big Can Your Team Get?
While it’s possible to assimilate other players into your squad, the game does have a limit on squad size. The maximum squad size achievable through assimilation is six players. This means you can potentially double your starting squad size by inviting another squad to join you. While some glitches have, on occasion, allowed players to exceed this limit, these are typically patched quickly and are not recommended.
Teamwork and Communication: The Keys to Success
Regardless of whether you’re playing with pre-formed squads or assimilating players in the field, teamwork and communication are essential for success in the DMZ. Here are some tips:
- Use Voice Chat: Voice communication is the most effective way to coordinate with your squad. Use your platform’s voice chat features or the in-game proximity chat.
- Plan Your Objectives: Before engaging in any mission or combat encounter, discuss your objectives with your team. Determine your roles, responsibilities, and fallback plans.
- Communicate Enemy Positions: Clearly communicate the positions of enemy AI and player-controlled threats to your teammates.
- Share Resources: Share loot, ammunition, and equipment with your teammates to ensure everyone is adequately equipped.
- Support Each Other: Provide support to your teammates when they are under fire, reviving them when they are downed, and covering their movements.
- Adapt to the Situation: Be prepared to adapt your plans based on the changing circumstances of the game. The DMZ is a dynamic environment, and flexibility is crucial for survival.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Playing DMZ with Friends
Here are answers to some common questions players have about playing the DMZ with friends:
1. How many people can you do DMZ with in a pre-made squad?
You start with a squad of three players. This is the standard team size when you deploy directly from the DMZ menu.
2. Can you play DMZ with more than 3 friends without assimilation?
No, you cannot. You always start with 3 players, but using the ping wheel or proximity chat, you can ask other squads if you want to assimilate.
3. Is it possible to play DMZ solo?
Yes, you can play DMZ solo, but it’s significantly more challenging. You won’t have the support of teammates to revive you, cover your flanks, or share resources.
4. What happens if one of my friends disconnects during a DMZ match?
If a friend disconnects, they will be removed from your squad. You’ll have to proceed without them. If you manage to extract, they will lose all their gear. If they are able to reconnect to the game, they can rejoin your squad at their last point of death if they are picked up by a squad mate.
5. Can you invite players from different platforms (cross-platform play)?
Yes, DMZ supports cross-platform play. As long as you have your crossplay settings enabled, you can invite friends from PlayStation, Xbox, and PC to your squad.
6. How do you find other squads to assimilate with?
The best way to find other squads is to use proximity chat to communicate with nearby players. Be friendly and offer a genuine alliance. Look for opportunities near objectives or extraction points, where players may be more open to teaming up.
7. Is there a penalty for betraying an assimilated squad?
While there’s no explicit penalty, betraying an assimilated squad can damage your reputation and lead to other players being less trusting of you in future matches.
8. Does everyone in the squad need to have the same mission selected?
No, not everyone needs to have the same mission selected. However, coordinating your missions can be beneficial, as you can work together to complete objectives and maximize your rewards.
9. Can you revive teammates who have been fully killed (not just downed)?
Yes, players can be revived by their squadmates, even after dying (although it will take longer than the usual downed revive). A fully dead player needs to be revived at a buy station.
10. Does everyone in the squad get the same loot?
No, loot is individual. Each player must loot containers and kill enemies to acquire their own gear and resources.
11. How does money work in DMZ with a squad?
Money is shared within the squad. When you find cash or valuables, it contributes to a shared pool that can be used to purchase items at buy stations.
12. Can you use vehicles with your entire squad?
Yes, vehicles can be used to transport your squad across the map. However, some vehicles have limited seating capacity, so you may need to split up or find larger vehicles.
13. Is there friendly fire in DMZ?
Yes, friendly fire is enabled in DMZ. Be careful when firing your weapon, as you can accidentally damage or kill your teammates.
14. What happens to your loot if your entire squad is wiped?
If your entire squad is eliminated, you will lose all your non-insured gear and weapons. Insured weapons will remain in your stash.
15. Are there any resources for learning more about DMZ strategies and teamwork?
Yes! Many online resources can help you improve your DMZ skills, including YouTube videos, strategy guides, and community forums. You can also learn a lot from academic research on game-based learning and collaboration, such as the work conducted at the GamesLearningSociety.org.
DMZ is a fantastic experience when played with friends. From pre-forming your squad to making alliances in the field, this game mode is built for squad-based gameplay. By working together, communicating effectively, and adapting to the challenges of the DMZ, you and your friends can dominate the exclusion zone and extract with valuable loot. Now get out there and show them what your squad is made of!