DMZ Basics: What You Keep and What You Lose

What DMZ is

DMZ is MW4’s extraction mode. You drop into the Hajin Exclusion Zone, a stretch of the Korean peninsula full of abandoned military tech, and fight AI soldiers and other players while you loot, craft and finish objectives. Nothing counts until you exfil. Infinity Ward calls this version a full extraction shooter, where the 2022 DMZ was a beta.

• Out now: DMZ launched with the game on October 23, 2026.
• Not free: unlike the 2022 DMZ, you need to own MW4.
• Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Battle.net, Steam, Xbox app) and Switch 2. There’s no last-gen version.
• Squads: Activision hasn’t published a squad size. Squad Fill adds two allies, so trios are the norm. Guides report lobbies of up to 60 players. Turn Squad Fill off to go solo, but you’ll still meet full squads.

The run, start to finish

1. Pick an Operator. You start with two Active Duty slots (three with the Vault Edition) and earn another through DMZ levels. Each Operator has its own Backpack, Loadout and Traits. The Stash and Cash are shared.
2. Choose a deployment. You can play a Story Mission, take Dynamic Operations (objectives generated each match) or Free Roam. Side Ops like repairing trucks or capturing SAM sites pop up in all three.
3. Infil. Walking in is free. Vehicle and air infils cost cash. See Infil and Exfil.
4. Loot and fight. Each area has a Threat Level that rises as you fight and calls in reinforcements. Break line of sight to calm it down. Killing too many AI fills a meter that sends a Hunt Squad after you.
5. Exfil before the radiation storm closes in. If you don’t, everything outside your Secure Slots is gone.

Each run ends with a report graded F to S++ across objectives, combat and looting. A balanced run scores best.

When things go wrong

• Tourniquet: if you go down without a self-revive, it gets you back up wounded. Guides say wounded caps your health at 100 of 150 until you use a Medkit.
• MIA: a dead Operator keeps their Traits but loses their gear, and you pay DMZ Cash to bring them back. Higher-level Operators cost more. An Operator Rescue Beacon does it for free.
• Scavenger Bonus: since November 10, a failed run still pays some cash, based on what you looted and how long you lasted. It doesn’t apply to Story Missions.

Habits that pay off

• Take the Free Loadout while you learn. If you extract, you keep it. (Activision)
• Start somewhere quiet. Deadtown and Songdo Wharf are rated low threat. The Air Base Bunker and Nenshin Tech are the most dangerous areas. (GamerFuzion; ratings from Activision)
• Print a Medium Backpack early for Secure Slots, and keep keys in them. (CODmunity)
• Match your Orders to your mission. Pick a deployment that also ticks off DMZ Orders. (Activision)
• Don’t rush a fresh body. Someone killed that player. Check the angles first. (GamerFuzion)
• Keep a cheap Operator for Free Loadout runs so a death costs little to fix. (CODmunity)