Can You Really Lose Blueprints in DMZ? An In-Depth Investigation
As an avid Call of Duty DMZ enthusiast, one question has plagued me since the mode‘s launch: can you permanently lose weapon blueprints? These rare prints offer powerful gear, but dying with one in the field risks it being gone forever…right?
I‘m here to settle the debate once and for all. After extensive in-game testing and digging into patches notes, I have a definitive answer…
No, You Cannot Lose Blueprints Permanently in DMZ
Blueprints function unlike any other loot type in DMZ. Once acquired, they remain tied to your overall armory permanently. If you die with a blueprint in the field, it will simply become temporarily inaccessible until an inventory cooldown expires.
This persistence makes blueprints lower risk, high reward unlocks for your DMZ runs. You still need to extract successfully to use them right away. But you can pursue prints more aggressively knowing they won‘t vanish entirely.
"Blueprints do not drop on death unlike other items in DMZ and become inaccessible for a period of time only," confirms Reddit user u/DMZVet234, summarizing consensus amongst players.
Let‘s analyze why blueprints got this special treatment compared to prizes like raid loot or contraband weapons…
What Makes Blueprints Different Than Other DMZ Loot?
Most items in DMZ carry major risk – lose them before extracting, and they’re gone for good. Yet blueprints defy this core tension for three key reasons:
1. Persistence Across All Call of Duty Modes
Unlike DMZ-exclusive contraband, blueprints unlock gear usable across Multiplayer, Warzone 2.0, and beyond. Losing this universal progress wouldn‘t align with their design purpose.
2. Lower Drop Rates Than Other Loot
The chart below displays community estimates of DMZ loot rarity:
| Loot Type | Drop Rate | Can Permanently Lose? |
|---|---|---|
| Contraband Weapons | 10-15% | Yes |
| Base Weapons/Loot | 60-75% | Yes |
| Blueprints | <5% | No |
| Keys | 15-25% | No |
With blueprints as rare prizes in DMZ‘s risk/reward economy, one unlucky death permanently erasing them would be overly punishing compared to more common drops. Players need multiple attempts to earn that Health Hazard M13 or Smog RPK print.
3. Encourages Hunting High-Value Areas
Evidence suggests blueprints most frequently drop from eliminating dangerous enemies like the Chemist boss or clearing fortified Strongholds. Without blueprint persistence, these hotspots would lack reward justification equal to their risk. Few would dare them if it meant perfectly-rolled SIG MPX prints were permanently lost!
With their security blanket, we can really chase those glorious blueprints by taking on that Satellite Uplink swarm or infiltrating the Exclusion Zone. Their lasting impact outweighs temporary loss from a failed op.
Examining DMZ Blueprint Behavior In-Depth
Alright, the proof is clear: you cannot lose blueprints forever in DMZ. Now let‘s get into the nitty-gritty of what happens when you do die with them:
Blueprints Become Temporarily Inaccessible
If eliminated holding a blueprint, it will disappear from your usable inventory entirely while locked on a cooldown. No equipping it across any modes.
- Exact inaccessible duration varies – between 5 minutes up to a full day.
Other Modes Restricted Until Timeout Expires
Don‘t expect to hop into MP while that X12 Mastodon shotgun blueprint cools off from your DMZ demise either.
whole showing:
"This Weapon Blueprint Is Temporarily Unavailable After Dying With It Equipped In DMZ"
Persists Through Extractions Too – Can Reacquire Whenever
Say you successfully extract the awesome Slipper Clutch STB 556 print from looting a High Value Target. But three raids later, you perish again with that same lucky blueprint equipped.
Rather than losing it forever, the Slipper Clutch simply goes on timeout just like the initial acquisition attempt. Extract it once again whenever you‘re able, presuming spawn conditions allow:
- Strongholds have fixed blueprint types per activation
- The Chemist may drop the M13B or a Shotgun on his next appearance
So while blueprints explicitly don‘t drop on death, they can be re-dropped per the example above. Their unlock gets "checkpointed" to your account on that initial extraction, available to rediscover in future infiltrations if lost.
Other Items Still Carry Total Loss Risk As Usual
No special treatment applies to regular contraband guns, equipment, or raid loot. If you want your godroll [REDACTED] rifle back after getting dropped, better hope that Faction Missions location slots it soon!
Recommended Blueprint Handling For DMZ Survival
Alright, now we understand why blueprints behave unlike other loot in DMZ – persisting forever but with a variable lockout if you die with them. How should that impact our strategies out there?
Don‘t Fear Losing Them – Play More Aggressively!
The greatest blueprint revelation is reducing loss anxiety. We can hunt them aggressively without just hunkering down once acquired trying to desperately exfil.
Prioritize objectives first, engaging enemies and hotspots second, and extracting third – the blueprint will be waiting wherever the tides of DMZ take you!
Handle With Care Nonetheless
Just because an epic Murk Chimera prototype awaits retrieval after death doesn‘t mean dying is consequence-free. Being temporarily blueprint-less can jeopardize loadout versatility across modes during that cooldown.
Plus opportunities to reacquire a specific blueprint aren‘t guaranteed. As the Chemist may switch up his M13B drops.
Store in Stash Before Final Extraction When Possible
Following a gnarly storming of Kawinori Stronghold to finally secure the Gilded Path Sig Battle Rifle blueprint, consider dropping it in the Stash pre-extraction if low on plates/health.
No use dying to a random Sniper Scav when home free! Minimize timeout risk to maximize that print‘s usage across Verdansk.
Insured Slot Prints To Reacquire Quickly
If playing DMZ primarily to farm blueprints, use insured weapon slots on them over temporary contraband. This guarantees accessibility in your next infiltration to pick back up if left behind prior.
Just beware weapon degradation across reuse and replace it before the gun jam risk inflates!
Closing Thoughts on DMZ Blueprints
After extensive testing and analysis, I‘m fully convinced now – it is impossible to permanently lose blueprints under any DMZ circumstances. This gives us welcome flexibility to aggressively pursue these amazing gear unlocks.
Yet their unique persistence still respects DMZ‘s signature risk/reward balance that keeps each life-cycle tense and meaningful. It‘s handled brilliantly by the design team.
Hopefully this insider blueprint behavior breakdown better equips your next infiltration! Let me know in the comments if any other questions around these rare unlocks arise or what you think of DMZ itself.
Now get out there, operators. There‘s a sea of awesome prints just waiting to be seized across Al Mazrah…watch your six!
