Warzone 2.0 switches up Call of Duty’s hit battle royale game with tweaks to key mechanics including the circle, Gulag, and custom loadouts.
At the same time, it introduces new sources of high level loot in the form of Strongholds and Black Sites. They are both marked on your Tac-Map and overrun by AI combatants, but can be cleared to give attractive rewards.
Here’s everything you need to know about these locations.
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Warzone 2.0: Strongholds and Black Sites explained
Strongholds are present in both Warzone 2.0 and its extraction-style DMZ mode. In battle royale matches, three Strongholds are activated around the map after the first circle collapse and do not require a key for access. However, DMZ Strongholds will require you to acquire a key in order to enter.
You can identify them by white castle icons on your Tac-Map in both modes. When you are near one, the icon will turn red, alerting all players in the lobby.
In battle royale, the first team to reach a Stronghold must defuse a bomb before a timer expires. This team will also receive a Black Site key after clearing the area, which will give them a chance at even better loot.
Afterward, the objective is to simply eliminate a specific number of enemies — both AI and enemy players count. This is also the default objective in DMZ.
Any team that clears a Stronghold in battle royale will also receive a loadout crate that will let them access their complete custom loadout, on top of a temporary UAV that scans the surrounding area. This is one of the biggest perks of taking a Stronghold, and you can be sure that competition will be stiff as players race to secure an early advantage.
Black Sites are only available in battle royale and can be thought of as a more dangerous form of Strongholds. They are marked by a different castle icon (including what looks like a keyhole in the middle) on the Tac-Map and contain much tougher enemies, including a Juggernaut AI boss.
Black Sites require a key to access and offer excellent rewards, including a permanent weapon blueprint that can be used in all modes. You’ll also receive several legendary items, in addition to a permanent UAV of the area surrounding the site until the circle collapses.
Learn more about the best perk packages to use in Warzone, how to max out the number of armor plates, and whether the Season 1 battle pass is worth your money.
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