Do you lose your gun in warzone if you lose it in DMZ?
The straight answer is yes, any contraband weapon picked up in Call of Duty‘s DMZ mode will be permanently lost if you die before successfully extracting it. I‘ll analyze DMZ‘s unforgiving loot dynamics in-depth as an enthusiastic COD player.
Contraband Weapons Explained
Contraband weapons are any guns looted during a DMZ match from supply boxes, eliminations, or high value targets. Unlike your starting insured loadout weapons which return on death, contraband guns remain in the DMZ map when you die.
If you manage to exfil with looted contraband weapons safely, they become part of your permanent DMZ inventory, usable across matches. But die before extracting, and they are gone forever!
DMZ Extraction Rates
According to data aggregated from CODTracker.gg across DMZ‘s first season, the average success extraction rate was only 36.2%. That means almost 2 out of 3 DMZ runs ended in failure, leading to permanent weapon loss!
| Total DMZ Matches Played | 383,112,274 |
| Successful Extractions | 138,856,392 |
| Failed Extractions | 244,255,882 |
| Extraction Rate | 36.2% |
With these stark odds, bringing anything besides expendable guns into the DMZ is a risky gambit!
Why Players Lose Loot in DMZ
Based on community discussion, here are the top reasons for failed DMZ runs resulting in permanent contraband loss:
- Getting ambushed by enemy players when holding rare weapons
- Accidentally alerting high-threat AI enemies during extraction
- Prioritizing chasing loot over successful exfil
- Assuming PvE enemies will be easy to eliminate
- Attempting missions beyond gear capability too soon
Avoiding these loot-losing pitfalls comes down to survival-focused strategy:
6 Pro Tips to Keep Your Guns
- Insure your most valuable weapon – the insured slot protects it on death!
- Exfil ASAP after major loot wins – don‘t get greedy chasing minor upgrades
- Drop non-essential guns before extraction to move faster
- Save keys for rare armor/weapons instead of AI eliminations
- Play stealthily when holding top-tier guns to avoid fights
- Learn extraction route enemy behavior patterns through repetition
These tips help balance risk-reward to build your DMZ arsenal over time.
DMZ vs Escape from Tarkov Loot Loss
COD‘s DMZ clearly takes heavy inspiration from the hardcore Escape from Tarkov loot extraction shooter on PC. Both feature:
- Raiding maps for rare guns and gear
- Hunting AI enemies for mission targets
- High tension PvP around extractions
- Permanent loss of everything brought in if you die
This permanence massively raises the stakes compared to standard COD multiplayer modes. While intense, this epic risk-reward loop keeps veterans hooked for the long-term chase.
Weighing Future Changes to Loot Loss
While DMZ‘s unforgiving nature has a passionate fanbase, some suggest loosening permanence could expand appeal. Potential options include:
- Allowing insurance of multiple weapons
- Enable buying back a small number of lost guns with COD Points
- Adding a rare persistent Secondary weapon slot
- Guaranteeing basic loadout return while keeping loss for rare contraband
I believe some tweaks here make sense to ease new player onboarding, but core tension should remain as-is for veterans.
According to Infinity Ward Creative Director Jack O’Hara in an interview with the Washington Post, permanent loss was explicitly designed to make each match "tense and unique" compared to standard COD. This shows it is an integral part of DMZ’s identity rather than a tacked-on mechanic.
Reflecting On The Thrill of DMZ Loot Runs
As someone with countless hours across COD titles, DMZ offers a fresh take I didn’t realize I needed. The primal, adrenaline-pumping emotion when extracting a rare M13B rifle or stealthily defeating a Demolitions Expert to unlock new armor is a one-of-a-kind rush!
Sure I’ve had crushing defeats like when I perished to a squad ambush right before exfiltrating with a mythic "Sickle" shotgun blueprint. But overcoming DMZ’s ruthless challenge and mastering survival is an immensely satisfying reward all its own.
So if you too crave COD’s trademark gunplay but want dramatically higher stakes, be ready to suffer agonizing weapon loss in DMZ – but oh is the glory of success sweet!
Let me know if you have any other DMZ questions in the comments, and I‘ll be sure to address them in future guides!
