There’s no easy way to win in Call of Duty: Warzone, but you can vastly improve your odds by picking an ideal spot to land right off the bat. The island of Caldera map is massive, and there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong place to land — but depending on your skill level and where the gas is, you’ll want to have a plan in your back pocket that suits your needs. You’ll want to also use the same logic when picking landing spots across Resurgence maps, such as Rebirth Island and Fortune’s Keep.
In this guide, we’ll go through some basic landing tips, as well as some great places to land, in general, across Caldera, Rebirth Island, and the new Fortune’s Keep during Warzone Season 5.
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Basic tips for picking a spot
The first thing you’ll want to do before picking your landing spot is evaluate the plane’s path right at the beginning. You can actually see it before the match starts, while you’re in the pre-game lobby. Take the time to pull up your map at this point to see the plane’s trajectory so you know where you’re going. You won’t be able to see the gas (or Contract spawns) quite yet, but checking the plane’s path as early as possible will come in handy. Before you’re ready to pick a spot, there are a few things to take into consideration.
Ideally, you should have a good grasp of your own skill level. This will help when picking a spot. For instance, we wouldn’t recommend that a beginner land in high-traffic areas like Peak or Airfield. Likewise, expert players will probably be bored if they land too far away from the action. At this point, look at the map, the direction of the plane, the gas, and all of the Contracts around Caldera (or whatever map you’re on).
Some players — regardless of the gas — will land in the same spot each game. If this works for you, more power to you, but we highly recommend picking a spot based on the gas and the plane’s path. The most effective strategy is to land close to a Contract so you can initiate it and hopefully earn some cash, loot, and a sneak peek at the position of the gas (you get this for completing Recon Contracts).
Following the Vanguard integration, Loadout Drops were only accessible after the first circle, but after the poor reception of this feature, Raven Software reverted it back to the old way — allowing you to purchase a Loadout Drop as soon as you have the cash for it. This means it pays to complete big-money Contracts right away so you can buy your loadout ASAP. Thankfully, free Loadout Drops spawn fairly early in a match, so it’s not the end of the world if you don’t quite find enough cash to buy one yourself.
For beginner players, it’s recommended to land by Recon (denoted by a flag icon) or Scavenger (denoted by a magnifying glass) Contracts. These don’t require you to engage in any combat and will reward you with useful goodies. Recon Contracts can sometimes be risky since they require you to capture a point that shoots a flare in the sky, revealing your location to the enemies. Though, from our experience, this doesn’t usually make much of a difference in the early stages of the game. As for Scavenger Contracts, these can be risky too, as they’re often contested almost immediately since players want the rewards.
The other Contracts like Most Wanted and Bounties are a lot tougher since they’ll likely result in firefights with other players. If you feel confident in your skills, go ahead and grab one of these Contracts — but otherwise, we recommend staying away. It’s worth noting that the earlier you start a Most Wanted or Bounty Contract, the easier they are to complete since the players you come across likely won’t have powerful end-game gear (usually).
Be open to changing your path on the fly, depending on other players. For instance, if you’ve got a spot in mind but see tons of players heading to the same location, it’s best to change your path to a different location if you want to be safe. If possible, try to land at a different Contract you feel confident with, like a Recon or Scavenger.
It’s also a great idea to land near a Buy Station so you’ll be able to purchase items right away. Having a UAV during the early stages of a match can set you up for success. And being close to a Buy Station will also allow you to purchase your own Loadout Drop instead of visiting the free one that drops — which will likely be contested.
The final tip is to pick a spot based on your team size and skill. If you’ve got a team of four, it’s easier to survive in higher-traffic spots, especially if you’re all on the same page with determining a route. If you’re playing solo, it’s a little different since you won’t have anyone to pick you up if you go down, so keep all of that in mind.
Using the gas and plane to your advantage
We’ll be referencing the image above to help you pick a great spot to land. There’s a lot to take in when looking at the map, but the main thing is to look at the circle (which represents the safe zone) and the line that denotes the plane’s path. As you can see on the map above, the plane’s path goes from northeast to southwest, but this will change each match. Regardless, you’ll find a lot of players who’ll tend to land along the line that denotes the plane’s path. With that in mind, if you want to stay away from the action, landing away from the path might be a good idea. In this case, Airfield and Mines are likely to be busier — simply because of their proximity to the start of the plane’s path.
To the southeast of this path are a few areas, including Capital, Resort, and Sub Pen. These are great locations because they’re far enough away from the action while still being within the circle. Again, if your skill allows it, you can aim for the busier areas like Airfield, but for new or inexperienced players, we advise against that. Based on the image above, any spot to the southeast is good since they’re all far enough from the starting path and on the outskirts of the zone, meaning you’ll encounter fewer players there. You’ll just need to be aware of the gas so you don’t get caught trying to rotate.
In short, we recommend landing by a Contract on the edge of the circle, away from the plane’s path, to avoid combat and ensure you’re grabbing goodies along the way. If you’re a more skilled player, you can slightly tweak that formula and land closer to the center of the circle, but you’ll want to be careful of your opponents. All of that being said, let’s go through some great spots for all skill levels.
Best places to land on Caldera
Ruins
Kicking things off with a low-key spot is Ruins, an area to the far northwest of Caldera. This is a decent area to visit if you’re less confident in your skills and want to loot up with few chances of encountering other players — especially if this location is out of zone. There are lots of little nooks and crannies to hide in, but our favorite spot is the wrecked ship on the west side.
It has multiple floors with a lot of loot and is relatively easy to get in and out of, with several different routes you can take when you’re finished. There are also at least a couple of different Buy Stations around, so if you can hold your ground, you should be well on your way to winning the match if you land in this spot.
Power Plant
Next, you should consider visiting Power Plant, a spot that is great for more advanced players. It’s not a highly contested location (usually), but you’ll almost always encounter at least one other team if you decide to visit. The Power Plant itself has a boatload of loot across its various floors (including the roof area), so make sure you’re thorough as you explore. Then, it’s a good idea to hit all the nearby buildings, along with the transformer section to the south, which contains even more loot.
After you’ve prepared, you’ll be in a great spot since you can either start making your way to the north to the Airfield or to the west to Capital. Whichever you choose, always make sure you pay attention to where the gas is so you don’t get stuck.
Peak
Some players want to jump directly into the action, and if that’s you, Peak is where you’ll want to be. This is Caldera’s version of Superstore, with a highly concentrated amount of loot to find throughout, placing you right in the center of the map. The top portion of the Peak is usually the busiest, but you can make your way down numerous floors to find even more. Then, there’s an entire underground cave system beneath, which is full of even more goodies — just don’t get lost while you’re there.
This is where the pro players like to land, as it’s a high-risk/high-reward location and is in the center of the map, making it easy to rotate to the next spot. We advise against landing here if you’re a beginner, as it’s common for upwards of five or more teams to land at Peak. Even advanced players might have a tough time here, but if you’re up for the challenge, it could be worth it for you.
Capital
The next spot is Capital, and it’s another busy section of the map. However, there are several things you’ll want to be aware of if you choose to land here. For starters, Capital is comprised of many buildings, which are easy to navigate to collect loot. Much like Downtown from Verdansk, this area is highly concentrated, featuring lots of vantage points and intricate layouts that reward exploration. However, this is the southernmost section of the map, which often places it outside of the circle.
Even if this location is within zone at the start of a match, you’ll often have to venture away from Capital, and getting out can be tricky if you aren’t familiar with the layout. To the north is a massive cliff that is almost impossible to scale if an enemy team is at the top, so you’ll want to find a different route if you plan on leaving this location. And leaving early is always a good idea so you aren’t scrambling as the gas comes in. Still, there is a great deal of loot to collect here, so it’s well worth visiting, as long as you have an escape plan. By using a portable or stationary redeploy balloon, you’ll have a much easier time getting away from this area.
Runway
Planes are one of the new features introduced alongside Caldera, and while they’re fun to pilot, getting into the cockpit can be tricky. Most players will land at Airfield to snag a plane, but you’ll have an easier time acquiring one if you go to Runway on the northeastern section of the map. This is a low-traffic location that has decent loot, at least one Buy Station, and access to planes, which makes it easy to rotate away.
Much like Ruins and Capital, Runway is on the outskirts of the island, so it can be tough to land here depending on the plane’s path at the beginning. But if you make it here, you’ll usually have the place to yourself, with plenty of contracts and items to collect. Then, hop in a plane and make your way to the next spot with your squad. Or play it safe and stick to the outside of the map.
Best places to land on Rebirth Island
Though Caldera is the main Warzone map, the smaller-scale Rebirth Island is immensely popular. This is because matches are much more fast-paced and can be completed in around 15 minutes. In addition, matches feature a respawn mechanic, allowing you to come back as long as one player on your team is alive. The map is a fraction of Caldera’s size, but selecting a landing spot works similarly. Following an update in March 2022, Rebirth Island has plenty of additional features, such as new POIs, map changes, and more.
Living Quarters
One of our favorite landing spots is Living Quarters, which is on the south side of the island. This area has a handful of buildings with lots of loot, along with numerous opportunities to outplay your opponents if you’re familiar with the layout. There’s almost always a Buy Station to the north just before you get to Headquarters, which is important since you’ll want to quickly obtain your Loadout. The other great thing about this area is where it’s positioned.
It’s easy to infiltrate the next areas with ease, especially if you did a good job of looting at first. You can either go to Nova, Control Center, or Stronghold from here — all of which are worth visiting. The nice thing about Living Quarters is that it’s relatively easy to revisit after respawning since you can land on the rooftops or the tents, which give you many opportunities to hide and stay safe from opponents. This section can be busy at times, but it’s often not as contested as Prison or Control Center.
Stronghold
After that, you should consider visiting Stronghold, which replaced the old Security Area on the southernmost section of the map. It’s littered with loot, is easy to hold down, and often features a Buy Station on the south side. Now that this area has been out for a while, it’s likely less contested than it was when it was first implemented. It’s worth visiting to get looted up, especially if you’re good at maneuvering through buildings quickly. We recommend getting out of this spot quickly so you can push to the next area.
You should be aware that anyone at Living Quarters or the tents to the west has a clear vantage point of players at Stronghold, but typically, this isn’t too much of an issue. But it’s a good idea to throw your Loadout Drop behind cover so you can’t get sniped while collecting your weapons. Just be quick, and use the nearby helicopter to escape if needed. You can also make use of the Redeploy Balloon at this location, provided you have $500 in cash.
Bioweapons Labs
Bioweapons Labs is a bit of a hot drop, but if you can survive, it’ll position you for success. The multi-floored building has a ton of loot and is often near at least one Buy Station, so you can prepare for the remainder of the match effectively. Make sure you stick with your team, as it can be easy to get separated and picked off by opponents.
The narrow stairway is tricky to navigate when there are enemies present since the sound of footsteps might be overbearing, so try to get a handle on your teammates’ positions when moving up and down floors. After you’ve looted up, you can either head to Decon Zone or Chemical Engineering Office, depending on the zone.
Control Center
If you’re looking for a busy drop but don’t feel like dealing with Prison Block, you might be interested in Control Center on the west side of the map. This area is similar, with rooftops that will almost always be contested, but it also features multiple floors that are likely to contain enemies. It’s a smaller-scale area that is fun to overtake but tricky to survive, especially if you don’t stick with your team.
This is another area with multiple Buy Station spawns and lots of loot, along with an ammo box on the bottom beneath the bridge that connects the two buildings. From here, it’s easy to head north to Shore, northeast to Prison, or even south to Living Quarters, so you’ve got plenty of options to rotate.
Best landing spots on Fortune’s Keep
Fortune’s Keep was added at the start of Season 4 in 2022 and is another small-scale Resurgence map. This new locale is actually noticeably bigger than Rebirth Island, with plenty of densely packed areas and even an elaborate underground cave section to explore. It’s much different from Caldera and Rebirth Island, so it’ll likely take a little while to get used to. These are some of our recommended landing spots for the new map.
East of Overlook
This has been our go-to shortly after Fortune’s Keep’s launch. This is because it’s usually not a contested spot, almost always has a Buy Station, has plenty of loot, and even has a guaranteed Armor Box drop, along with an ammo station. After you’ve thoroughly explored this area, you’ll have enough for a Loadout Drop, so grab one and then easily rotate to the next area like Grotto, Town, or Smuggler’s Cove. This is an ideal spot for experienced players who don’t want to dive right into the action. It’s close enough to high-traffic spots without placing you right in the action immediately, giving you a chance to loot up first.
Winery
The Winery is the hot drop of Fortune’s Keep, giving players another multi-leveled area with plenty of spots for duking it out. This location is actually reminiscent of Control Center from Rebirth Island, rewarding players for using sound to track enemies. If you can claim this location, you’ll be in a golden state to rotate when the zone pushes you in. Winery also frequently features at least one Buy Station, which is essential for a good landing spot. There’s also an underground area you’ll want to be familiar with, as teams typically like to head down there to make their escape. As with most hot drops, we don’t recommend visiting Winery if you’re a new player, but COD veterans will likely enjoy it.
Bay
If you’re a player who wants to land far away from the action to be as safe as possible, you should consider starting at Bay, which is on the northeastern side of the map. This area is almost never contested and features a decent amount of loot. You won’t find as much loot here as you would in the busier spots, but considering how you’ll likely be the only team there, Bay is well worth your time. Make sure you scour all the little huts and buildings along the shore, and after you get your Loadout, you can either rotate to Keep or Winery or wrap around to Camp — allowing you to enter your next battle as prepared as possible.
Camp
Camp is an interesting landing spot because it’s so close to the aforementioned Winery but is usually less busy. The tents in this area often have plenty of loot and cash, meaning you’ll have an easy time getting your Loadout quickly. It’s common to come across other teams here, but usually, your opponents will tend to land at Winery or even the Lighthouse. Your goal is to get your Loadout and get out of here quickly because the surrounding teams will begin rotating toward you before you know it. Thankfully, the nearby helicopter can get you out of harm’s way, allowing you to push to a safer location. Or if you’re really aggressive, you can make a beeline toward Winery to take it over, which is a safer strategy than landing there right away. Either way, Camp is a great starting point if you know how to loot quickly and get out.
Terraces
Finally, we recommend giving Terraces a try, as it’s usually busier than Bay but not quite as hot as Winery. This spot gives you plenty of buildings to explore, offering lots of cover and opportunities to gather loot. The nice thing about this area is that it contains some tall buildings that give players tremendous vantage points overlooking some of the busiest locations on the map. Likewise, Terraces is a great area for rotation since it often features a Redeploy Balloon and a chopper to the north. In short, this spot should be your go-to if you’re looking for manageable action without being overwhelming.
Great landing spots are ones that have lots of gear and contracts and are close to useful hubs that are safe to hang around. Though keep in mind that a good landing spot is only as good as the player. If you’re inexperienced, even landing near lots of loot won’t save you from players who have spent hundreds of hours in Warzone.
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