Skip to main content

Call of Duty: Warzone Plunder guide: How to earn $1 million

Call of Duty: Warzone isn’t so much a new Call of Duty game as it is a new set of game modes. Unlike the rest of Modern Warfare, however, Warzone is a completely free-to-play experience. That has made it incredibly popular, pulling in more than 50 million players within its first month of release.

All Warzone players have two options when it comes to content — they can dive into the typical battle royale experience, or they can opt for a unique new mode called Plunder. It’s a cool twist on the battle royale formula, where the action still plays out on a massive battlefield, but players respawn when they die, and the goal is to simply be the first team to accrue $1 million. There’s a lot of strategy that goes into the new game mode, but follow these tips and you’ll be at the top of the Plunder leaderboard in no time.

Further Reading

Recommended Videos

What is Plunder?

A Call of Duty:Warzone player shoots down a helicopter
Activision

Before covering the nitty-gritty, it’s important to make sure you understand the basics of Plunder. Unlike a typical battle royale match — where you’re just trying to eliminate everyone in your path and be the last one standing — Plunder is a bit more nuanced. For example, it’s possible to go an entire round without getting a single kill and still come in first place.

That’s because Plunder rewards players for a variety of tasks. As we’ve already covered, the goal of Plunder is to earn $1 million before any other squad. Money can be earned in a variety of ways — killing other players, completing contracts, or simply finding it lying around Verdansk.

Another important aspect of Plunder is teamwork. While a lone wolf might be able to pull off a win in a typical battle royale match, it’s much harder to do so in Plunder. Teamwork is critical — make sure you’re communicating with your crew as often as possible and stick together when making risky plays.

That’s Plunder in a nutshell — a heavily team-oriented game mode where you channel your inner pirate and try to steal as much cash as you can. But in order to win, you’ll have to do more than just play as a team. Here are a few points to keep in mind during your play session.

Dropping into a hot zone isn’t necessary

Image used with permission by copyright holder

It might be tempting to pick a landing spot that’s right in the heart of the action, but that could be a costly mistake. While it’s true that piles of cash will be there, so too will dozens of enemies. Instead, try picking a drop location just outside the zone. You’ll still be able to find plenty of cash, and if you’re lucky you can rack up some kills as weakened players flee the battlefield.

Loot everyone you shoot

CoD Warzone bullet trails
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When you eliminate a player, they’ll be able to respawn, but they’ll also drop cash. Once you’re sure the coast is clear, head over and pick up everything they’ve dropped. It’s a simple thing to do, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to do it. Looting enemies is an incredible way to pad your bank account and quickly reach $1 million. The same applies to your teammates. When one goes down, be sure to pick up their money so your enemy can’t.

Earn cash from contracts

Image used with permission by copyright holder

While you can certainly win a round just by hunting enemies, it’s much easier if you’re willing to take on some contracts. These come in three flavors — Recon, Bounty, and Scavenger. Recon will have you attempting to take control of a capture point as if it’s a King of the Hill match. Bounty is straightforward enough, too — simply kill the selected player within a set amount of time. Scavenger contracts will force you to visit several locations across the map that have Supply Boxes for you to interact with.

When you successfully complete a contract, you’ll earn cash and experience. If you’re given a Bounty contract, remember to loot the body when you’re done! Contracts are an excellent way to earn more money in Plunder and should be completed whenever possible.

Deposit your money before doing anything dangerous

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Once you’ve accrued a large sum of cash, it’s time to make a deposit. It’s important to do this before you plan on doing anything risky; otherwise, you’ll lose it when you die. Deposits can be made at either a Helipad or by using a Cash Deposit Balloon. Helipads allow you to dump large amounts of cash in one quick interaction, whereas Cash Deposit Balloons are a bit slower and don’t let you deposit as much. However, Helipads are prime locations for an ambush. Many other players are probably heading to the same location as you, and losing everything right before making a deposit is a terrible feeling.

If you’re going to use a Helipad it’s imperative that you do so as a team. This way you’ll have someone to help if things go south — or someone to pick up all your cash when things go completely off-script. As for Cash Deposit Balloons, these can be purchased for $30,000 and allow you to deposit your earnings pretty much anywhere across Verdansk. They aren’t foolproof — and can be shot down by other players — but it’s a much safer alternative to frequenting the Helipad.

Stay undercover and monitor your opponents

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Although Plunder isn’t your typical battle royale, it still shares two key characteristics. First, you’ll want to remain undetected as long as possible, allowing you to get the jump on your enemy. Second, you’ll want to gather as much information about your enemy as possible for engaging in combat. For these reasons, most players prefer to run with Heartbeat Sensors and Dead Silence.

Dead Silence allows you to sneak around your environment without alerting enemies. This could also mean sneaking right under a powerful enemy’s nose to grab some cash without them noticing. The Heartbeat Sensor, on the other hand, helps alert you to your opponents’ location. If you’re tempted to rush into a building, but your Sensor indicates lots of bodies up ahead, maybe it’s time to rethink that strategy. Regardless, knowing your opponents’ location is always an advantage, and it’s even more important if you’re carrying around hundreds of thousands in cash.

Be wary of banks

CoD Warzone locations
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Verdansk is home to several banks, all of which are flush with cash. If you’re confident in your abilities, you can make a killing by visiting these locations. However, banks are equipped with alarm systems that will alert others of your presence — devious players could always stake out a bank and wait for someone else to plunder it. Then, as they make their escape, shoot them down and loot all the money.

Winning requires variety

Plunder gives gamers a variety of ways to earn cash — taking advantage of all these methods is the key to victory. While there’s certainly something to be said for downing dozens of opponents and stealing their loot, it’s not always the most viable option. Contracts are readily available for the taking and handsomely reward participates with both cash and experience. And remember to keep your eyes peeled as you traverse the map. Cash is lying around everywhere, ripe for the taking.

Topics
Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
Everything new in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1: maps, new weapons, and more
Fortnite Chapter 6 key art

The much-anticipated Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1 has finally arrived and it has brought with it an entirely new world for loopers to explore that is based on Japanese mythology and culture. From dense forests to Samurai arenas, you'll find tons of variety on the map that will alter your gameplay approach in every single match.

There's a lot to explore since Epic has changed things drastically in the game, given that it's an entirely new chapter rather than a seasonal release. So if you're looking for everything that's been added in this season, here are all the latest additions in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1: Demon Hunters.
All new additions in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1
New Battle Pass

Read more
Game spending is up — and you can thank Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
A soldier shooting a beamshamsher in Black Ops 6.

Most of us knew that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 would be one of the biggest games of the year, but it's so big that it's doing a lot to boost games sales across the U.S.

This information comes from Circana (formerly NPD Group), which publishes a monthly report on U.S. video game spending. According to analyst Mat Piscatella, spending on hardware, software, and accessories was up 10% in October compared to the same time last year, and the spike was "primarily" driven by the release of Black Ops 6. Non-mobile video game subscription service spending was also up by 16%.

Read more
Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix Battle Pass: How to get all skins and rewards
Fortnite Remix key art

Fortnite Battle Passes are always a hot seller among the player community, not just for the premium content it offers them, but also because it's a great value for those who rarely purchase V-Bucks to buy Item Shop skins.

Battle Passes are a great economic alternative to players looking for free skins in exchange for XP and also some free V-Bucks so they can buy the next one for the following season. The previous season's pass was full of Marvel stuff, with iconic heroes and villains that fans could get.

Read more