Do I Need Vanguard or Modern Warfare to Play Warzone in 2024?

Short answer: No way! As a passionate gamer myself, I‘m thrilled Warzone 2.0 carries on the free-to-play legacy that made the original Warzone such a smash hit. You can download and play Warzone 2.0 100% free without owning any paid Call of Duty games.

Now let me give you the full low-down so you know exactly what to expect when Warzone 2 drops on November 16.

Saying Goodbye to Original Verdansk

Man, the memories! Still my all-time favorite battle royale map, og Verdansk saw me and the squad clutch countless Warzone Victories over the past 3 years.

But all good things must come to end. When Warzone 2 launches, Activision is sunsetting the original Warzone and Verdansk map. As of November 16, you will no longer be able to play the classic Verdansk battle royale.

Here‘s an at-a-glance comparison of major changes from OG Warzone to the new Warzone 2:

Yup, get ready for a whole new era! But fear not – Warzone 2 will remain free-to-play, so all players can squad up on Al Mazrah when it drops on November 16.

Do I Need Vanguard or MWII for Warzone 2?

Let‘s just clear this up right off the bat:

You DO NOT need to purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Vanguard, or any other Call of Duty game to download and play Warzone 2 completely free.

However, Warzone 2 is powered by MWII‘s new engine and weapon pool. So while optional, owning MWII does come with some nice perks, like:

• Shared progression – Ranks, unlocks, skins, etc. transfer between games
• Exclusive MWII content – Operators, blueprints, etc. only earnable through MWII multiplayer
• Play MP too! – Take a break from Battle Royale with traditional COD multiplayer modes

But again, these are just optional bonuses. If you solely want to play Warzone‘s core free-to-play battle royale experience, you can absolutely download and play without paying a dime!

Weighing the Choice: To Buy or Not to Buy?

As both a budget-conscious gamer and Call of Duty fanatic, here‘s my personal take on whether to buy MWII if Warzone 2 will be your main squeeze:

Buy MWII if:

• You plan to play at least 15 hours of standard multiplayer per week
• There are several Operator or blueprint skins that appeal to you
• You want max rewards from shared battle passes and progression

Stick with Free Warzone if:

• You will mainly play battle royale
• You don‘t care much about cosmetics or customization
• Your budget is tight this holiday season

Based on sales numbers, the majority of Warzone‘s 125 million dedicated players fall into the second camp. And I totally get it! At the end of the day, it‘s the thrilling, addictive battle royale gameplay we all crave.

So why overspend if you realistically won‘t touch MWII‘s traditional multiplayer? Warzone 2 delivers that signature COD action 100% free.

I‘ll likely buy MWII down the road to unlock some sick operator skins. But you bet I‘m diving into Al Mazrah on Day 1 without spending an extra penny!

Ready to Squard Up for Warzone 2?

There you have it friends – the complete lowdown on playing Warzone 2 once it drops on November 16.

Let‘s squad up and collect some Battle Royale Victory Crowns! My Activision ID is WzSlayer420 – add me and let‘s claim Al Mazrah together on Day 1.

Stay frosty and I‘ll see you in the Warzone! Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments below.