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Give thanks for the long-awaited arrival of Zombies on Call of Duty: Mobile

Gabe Gurwin
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Call of Duty: WW2 review zombie angry
Zombies from Call of Duty: WWII Image used with permission by copyright holder

Call of Duty: Mobile launched earlier this autumn with its competitive multiplayer and battle royale modes included, but it omitted the Zombies mode that has been a staple of nearly every game in the series over the last generation. That omission is being rectified now, however, as the game’s development team is rolling out an update that includes Zombies, along with some other big features.

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 23, the latest Call of Duty: Mobile update will be available. The Zombies mode was teased with a short video on Reddit, showing the entire world map being quickly overtaken by the undead scourge.

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The update also adds new maps, as well as controller support. The latter could be controversial if game matchmaking puts players with controllers in the same lobby as those with normal screen controls, who would then be at a disadvantage.

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The horde is coming…#CODMobile pic.twitter.com/J36N6b9Guh

— Call of Duty: Mobile (@PlayCODMobile) November 21, 2019

A new battle pass will be added on November 25, shortly after the initial update. Activision has begun moving to the battle pass system for its shooters in place of standard microtransactions or loot boxes. Thus far, the reception seems to be positive, as it still makes players earn the gear contained in the battle passes and does not give unfair advantages to players who pay extra money over those who only want to play the game for free. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will be using battle passes at a later date. The “season pass” system is also gone, with all future maps released for free. And crossplay support means the entire player base can continue playing with each other for the life of the game.

Call of Duty: Mobile was made in collaboration with Tencent, the Chinese conglomerate that also assisted with PUBG Mobile. In the battle royale mode, the similarities are clear, though Call of Duty: Mobile does contain undead monsters and bosses that separate it from the more realistic PUBG Mobile. Its competitive multiplayer component feels like classic Call of Duty, with score-streak rewards, fast-paced action, and even some of the series’ most memorable maps all bundled together. It’s available now on iOS and Android.

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Gabe Gurwin
Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
The best field upgrades for Modern Warfare 3 Zombies
A man holding a mysterious glowing vial.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Zombies mode puts a slight twist on the mechanics you are already familiar with. It now plays much more like a souped-up DMZ mode rather than its old round-based format. And Field Upgrades have been modified in terms of both their effects and how you get them just for this game type. There are six different Field Upgrades you can bring into the map and use on a cooldown timer to help improve your chances of survival, but you can only pick one at a time. You will begin the game with only one option, but steadily unlock the rest as you level up. Once you have them all, the question then becomes which is the best Field Upgrade? We've managed to exfiltrate with the answer.

Healing Aura
Regardless of whether or not you're playing with a team or running solo, Healing Aura is no doubt the best Field Upgrade to bring on any Zombie run. When activated, you and any teammates in the area will not only gain immediate healing, but it will also instantly revive any downed teammates. The downside to all this power is that this upgrade has the slowest recharge time and is unlocked at level 19.
Aether Shroud
This is another upgrade that you will be glad to have. Aether Shroud makes you you temporary invisibile to all Zombies. This won't make you invincible, mind you, and PMCs can still take shots, but if you're getting swarmed and have no way to escape, becoming instantly invisible to a bloodthirsty pack of zombies can save your skin more often than you think. This upgrade has a medium recharge rate and is unlocked when you hit level 39.
Frenzied Guard
Just past the halfway mark, Frenzied Guard has a massive upside, but not without some risk. When you pop this Field Upgrade, you instantly repair all your armor, but also draw all the aggression of any enemy nearby for 10 seconds. However, another perk is that anything you kill during this time also repairs your armor, so situationally, it can be great or detrimental. This one recharges slowly, unlocking at level 9.
Frost Blast
Frost Blast does exactly what you expect: it fires a freezing blast that will slow down any enemy you hit with it and deal a bit of damage. It's decent in a pinch, but not a game-changer. You can get it when you hit level 29.
Tesla Storm
An odd ability on paper, Tesla Storm is only good if you have a team working together. Activating it will create a lightning chain between you and your team that will damage and stun enemies that get close to any one of you. It lasts for 10 seconds and can be great in the final moments while holding out for an extraction, but not in other situations. It recharges slowly and is the last upgrade you unlock at level 50.
Energy Mine
This is your default Field Upgrade, so it makes sense that it's the "worst" on the list. Energy Mine isn't exactly bad; you simply lay down a mine that does what a mine does -- explodes. It's just that setting up traps like this in Zombies isn't all that applicable except when kiting a boss around or waiting for the helicopter. It has a medium recharge speed.

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The old format of Zombies has been left behind in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in favor of a more open-world, objective-based take on the undead survival game type. This time, you will squad up and drop into a map with specific objectives you can choose to complete to earn tons of XP, while also pushing the narrative forward and unlocking new, more difficult tasks to take on. The early-tier missions are generally very simple, but in Act 1, you will be given the objective to find and destroy a Mercenary Convoy somewhere on the map. This sounds easy enough on paper until you realize you have no idea where this convey is or how to find it. Every run in Zombies risks losing all your hard-earned progress, so we'll lead you to the Mercenary Convoy to take it out before the zombies even know you were there.
How to find the Mercenary Convoy

Your first challenge will be to find this Mercenary Convoy. The problem here is twofold: first is that it isn't marked on your map in any way, and second is that, being a convoy, it is mobile. Once you land, you and your team should find the nearest vehicle and head toward the center of the map. Depending on how the threat levels are on your particular map, you are looking for roads and highways that are around the medium-threat level zone. You will have to patrol these roads until you come across the convoy, which only consists of three vehicles. Once you are in range, it does appear on your map to let you know you've found it.

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Modern Warfare 3 Zombies: tips and tricks for MWZ
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The mega-popular Zombies mode has never undergone as massive of a restructuring as it has for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. What was originally a round-based, co-op survival mode where you and a team of four gradually powered up, expanded the map, and maybe tried to complete a challenging Easter egg story has become something more of a mix of Zombies and the new DMZ mode from last year's entry.

While there will be plenty that is familiar to Zombies veterans, such as Perk-a-Colas and mystery boxes, you won't be able to rely on your old tactics anymore. Surviving the new Zombies mode is a completely new ballgame in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, but these tips and tricks will help you and your squad survive threats both old and new.
How is Modern Warfare 3 Zombies different than previous entries?

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