Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • Submit your game clips
  • GDC
Don't miss these
Arc Raiders best weapons
Third Person Shooters The Arc in Arc Raiders have multiple "brains," and they all love pursuing you because Embark gives them "rewards"
Helldivers 2 helldiver charging up quasar cannon to fire at automaton gunship flying in the air
Third Person Shooters Tips and tricks for surviving Cyberstan in Helldivers 2 and the best loadouts to bring
Arc Raiders best weapons
Third Person Shooters "Will this blow up the server?": Arc Raiders players are so good at killing Arc that Embark eyes ways to "escalate" PvE
Arc Raiders cold snap
Third Person Shooters As Arc Raiders enters a peaceful era of jolly cooperation, I'm begging Embark Studios to make the robots terrifying again
Arc Raiders survivors in metal and fabric armor
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders lead dispels conspiracy theory that the robots are somehow learning how to kill us better
Arc Raiders characters with shotgun and revolver
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders players make a plea to Embark: don't let PvP in trios poison your solo "aggression-based" matchmaking
A toy monkey with dynamite attached is surrounded by zombies in Call of Duty: Warzone's Black Ops Royale mode
Call of Duty Warzone Warzone gets back-to-basics battle royale dubbed "Blackout 2" by Call of Duty fans
A Helldivers 2 Cyborg cries out in despair
Third Person Shooters Helldivers 2 Cyborgs recreate the game's intro but with evil humans killing innocent robot children
Cropped Helldivers 2 art from the official 'Save Cyberstan' poster.
Third Person Shooters Helldivers 2's Cyborgs are real, and they'd kindly like you to "defect" from Super Earth
Helldivers 2 Commando mission sneaking past automaton outpost
Third Person Shooters Tips for beating the new Helldivers 2 Commando Missions and the best gear
Helldivers 2 screenshot showing a fully geared/armored diver standing with gun in hand as three jets soar the skies behind him
Third Person Shooters Helldivers 2 players fail the game's "biggest" battle ever as the Cyborgs prepare for an "unjust counter-offensive"
Helldivers 2 factions
Third Person Shooters Faced with the bots' attempts at peace, Helldivers 2 players shoot down "baseless propaganda" as anti-freedom drivel
A Helldivers 2 Cyborg cries out in despair
Third Person Shooters Helldivers 2 passes 150,000 players on Steam for the first time in months thanks to Cyborgs, who may be good guys
Big in 2026
FPS Games Hell Let Loose: Vietnam wants to be a tougher, smarter FPS where kills hardly matter: "We sit in a specific space where we're not COD or Battlefield, but also not military simulation"
Key art for John Carpenter's Toxic Commando showing the squad readying up with weapons against a backdrop of a zombie horde, including themselves blasting them from a truck
FPS Games John Carpenter's Toxic Commando review: "A great horde shooter for the first run through the story"
  1. Games
  2. FPS
  3. Warzone 2

Forget other players, Warzone 2 DMZ fans are getting wrecked by "Terminator" NPCs

News
By Jordan Gerblick published 21 November 2022

Players can't decide if the Warzone 2 DMZ AI needs nerfing

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Warzone 2 dmz chemist
(Image credit: Activision)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Warzone 2 DMZ is generally pretty popular with the Call of Duty crowd, but its fanbase is split on whether its scary-good AI needs nerfing.

The new DMZ mode is an extraction-focused mode in which solo players or squads choose a landing site in an open-world setting and gun it for valuable loot before getting out intact. The guns you take with you can be unlocked in Warzone 2's battle royale and Modern Warfare 2, but you'll need to survive an onslaught of NPCs - not to mention other players - in order to reach the extraction point and escape. 

DMZ keys

warzone 2 DMZ stronghold key

(Image credit: Activision)

Need to find a Warzone 2 DMZ Stronghold key? We can help you find where to look and what to do once you have one. 

According to Warzone 2 players who are currently sharing their experiences online, DMZ's AI enemies are just ruthless, cold-blooded "aimbot" killers that will absolutely knock your socks off before they let you even think about slipping away with their precious gear.

You may like
  • Arc Raiders best weapons The Arc in Arc Raiders have multiple "brains," and they all love pursuing you because Embark gives them "rewards"
  • Helldivers 2 helldiver charging up quasar cannon to fire at automaton gunship flying in the air Tips and tricks for surviving Cyberstan in Helldivers 2 and the best loadouts to bring
  • Arc Raiders best weapons "Will this blow up the server?": Arc Raiders players are so good at killing Arc that Embark eyes ways to "escalate" PvE

For those short on time, this meme shared by Twitter account Call of Duty: Warzone DMZ News pretty much sums up how people are feeling about the DMZ AI:

The #DMZ AI be like#Warzone2 pic.twitter.com/XGbwYPeQtwNovember 19, 2022

Here's a video from Twitch streamer and Redditor AshIV_ demonstrating that the NPCs aren't above "thirsting" you - that is, killing you while you're downed instead of going after other, more capable players.

the_ai_in_dmz_are_straight_disrespectful_i_got from r/CODWarzone

"Maybe I'm just bad at the game, IDK, but I am being absolutely demolished by the AI," reads a popular post on the Warzone subreddit from Trotski7. "Shit just doesn't stop the AI once it turns on Terminator mode." The replies largely echo the sentiment that Warzone 2 DMZ AI is tough as nails, although the community is split on whether it needs nerfing.

"Man I get that the AI need to have some difficulty, and the amount isn't even a problem IMO, it's the fact they're literal aimbots tracking you flawlessly, there's no nuance to their aim which makes them basic and boring to play against," reads a comment from one Redditor who's apparently debating whether to avoid playing DMZ altogether due to the AI. "I can see this being the issue that will keep me away from DMZ."

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

In a thread where the OP argues for nerfing DMZ's AI, Redditor finedrive argues that the NPCs are challenging for a good reason. "I think the point is to not allow you to just steam roll them. You have to play tactically like you’re facing real people."

Still, they offer some sage advice for those struggling: "That being said, just grab a vehicle and run over them."

A lot of folks are going to be jumping into Warzone 2 DMZ in search of the coveted M13B assault rifle, but they'll be facing up against one of the tougher enemies in a crowd of notoriously brutal NPCs. If you're among them, be sure to check out our guide to the Warzone 2 DMZ chemist so you're as prepared as possible.

We've got some Warzone DMZ tips to help if you're struggling with the AI.

CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Xbox Series X Xbox One PS5 PS4 Platforms Xbox PlayStation
Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick
Social Links Navigation
Staff Writer

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Read more
Arc Raiders best weapons
Third Person Shooters The Arc in Arc Raiders have multiple "brains," and they all love pursuing you because Embark gives them "rewards"
 
 
Helldivers 2 helldiver charging up quasar cannon to fire at automaton gunship flying in the air
Third Person Shooters Tips and tricks for surviving Cyberstan in Helldivers 2 and the best loadouts to bring
 
 
Arc Raiders best weapons
Third Person Shooters "Will this blow up the server?": Arc Raiders players are so good at killing Arc that Embark eyes ways to "escalate" PvE
 
 
Arc Raiders cold snap
Third Person Shooters As Arc Raiders enters a peaceful era of jolly cooperation, I'm begging Embark Studios to make the robots terrifying again
 
 
Arc Raiders survivors in metal and fabric armor
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders lead dispels conspiracy theory that the robots are somehow learning how to kill us better
 
 
Arc Raiders characters with shotgun and revolver
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders players make a plea to Embark: don't let PvP in trios poison your solo "aggression-based" matchmaking
 
 
Latest in FPS
Marathon Cryo Archive runners looting
FPS Games Marathon's Cryo Archive is locked to weekends partly because you're going to "lose a lot of gear"
 
 
A robot missing its lower body stares forward with a glowing red light while hanging from a suspended cable in Marathon's Cryo Archive
FPS Games Marathon's Cryo Archive is a weekends-only "raid-style" PvPvE map: "So please, do scream"
 
 
FPS Games Overwatch was originally called "Monetized Shooter" because you had to buy each of its heroes
 
 
Marathon assassin runner shell face with red eyes
FPS Games Marathon streamer goes viral for finding a high school bestfriend in proximity chat after 10 years
 
 
Legend of California screenshot showing a man hunting some buffalo
FPS Games New game from the creator of Overwatch gets its first public Steam playtest later this month
 
 
Counter-Strike 2
FPS Games Valve thinks reloading in Counter-Strike 2 needed "higher stakes" after 27 years, so leftover ammo is getting dumped
 
 
Latest in News
Palworld
Survival Games "We have no desire to be a media empire," says Palworld publishing head but Pocketpair would be stupid to let it die out
 
 
Protagonist Jordan in a screenshot from the reveal trailer for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
The Last of Us Neil Druckmann's teasing the return of a The Last of Us actor in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
 
 
A screenshot of the Adoring Fan seen in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.
The Elder Scrolls Todd Howard says Oblivion leaks didn't help Bethesda or players: "Everyone is gonna have a different version"
 
 
Slay the Spire 2
Roguelike Games Slay the Spire 2 devs respond to the flurry of negative Steam reviews: "No change is necessarily permanent"
 
 
Crimson Desert
Open World Games "My dream game": After 7 hours, Palworld publishing lead delivers his Crimson Desert verdict: "This game is made for me"
 
 
Zoomed-in, cropped box art for Pokemon FireRed shows Charizard roaring.
Pokemon "The biggest time save in nearly a decade of Pokemon speedrunning" has been discovered in FireRed
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Charlie Cox as Daredevil in Daredevil: Born Again season 2
    1
    Daredevil: Born Again season 2 release schedule: when is episode 1 on Disney Plus?
  2. 2
    "We try to lean in on the things where our idea of what Starfield should be aligns with the feedback that's coming in from folks who get the game": How community feedback helped Bethesda shape Starfield's biggest updates
  3. 3
    Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart writer had to sit down with his Lae'zel counterpart to make sure that their joint romance would actually make sense: "That allowed us to reframe their initial clash"
  4. 4
    Project Hail Mary has convinced me to start getting excited for Star Wars: Starfighter
  5. 5
    "We have no desire to be a media empire," says Palworld publishing head, but Pocketpair would be stupid to let the survival game die out

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...