Summary
Call of Duty: Warzonelaunched back in the spring of 2020, arriving during the post-launch ofModern Warfare (2019)to massive acclaim.Warzoneallows players to jump in for free, descending onto a large-scale battlefield tofight until only one player or team remains. Of course, over its long lifespan,Warzonehas gone through numerous changes, including the very maps that players compete on.
Warzonehas featured a fair share of different maps throughout the years. While itsResurgence playlists have seen a decent amount of variety, Battle Royale has only featured a handful of different locales. Each of these maps corresponds to different eras ofWarzone, and while some share similarities, others manage to stand out from the crowd. Here isevery Battle Royale map inWarzone, ranked.
4Urzikstan
A Familiar Map That Blends In With The Crowd
First up isUrzikstan, a more recent Battle Royale map, arriving with theModern Warfare 3era of the title and carrying into theBlack Ops 6integration. Diving in, players might notice that Urzikstan looks rather similar to Verdansk in some areas,sporting large metropolitan city areasthat provide plenty of high ground, along with military bases and cargo areas reminiscent of the very first Battle Royale map. The map itself is also roughly the same size as Verdansk, witha tightly packed roster of POIsfor players to uncover.
As for the locations featured, each provides a unique draw. For instance, the center of the maphouses Old Town, Seatown, and Opal Palace, with the latter two providing a mix of close-quarters combat and open areas, often attracting a lot of attention.Areas like Zaravan City are also contested, featuring skyscraper buildings for thrilling rooftop battles, high ground for quick rotations, along with plenty of vantage points for players to make use of. The only major criticism Urzikstan receives is its lack of map changes and unique features. Whilethe bunkers added during theModern Warfare 3era ofWarzoneshook things up a bit, these changes were reverted with the integration intoBlack Ops 6, making the map itself feel pretty bland.
3Caldera
Large-Scale World War II Map With Unique Visuals
Right off the bat,Calderais one of the best-looking Battle Royale maps to debut inWarzone, and while it arrived during the rather controversialVanguardera, the map itself and the features it brought led to some of the most unique and funWarzoneexperiences yet. To date, Caldera is the largest Battle Royale mapWarzonehas had, providing a wide range of colorful and vibrant locations, each with its own unique flair. From war-torn areas of the Pacific, likeBeachhead and River Village, to the treacherous mountaintops of Peak, each location is bothunique and immersive to the World War II setting.
The amount of vegetation on the map was also a great change of pace, and while this particular feature was the subject of criticism, leading to its amount being reduced in the Season 4 update, it definitely enhanced the visuals quite a bit. Caldera also received a hefty amount of map changes throughout its lifecycle, such as the debut of micro points of interest andthe arrival of Mercenary Vaultsthat players could break into. Pair this with the roster of events the map had—such as the Monarch event fortheGodzilla vs. Kongcrossover inCall of Duty—and Caldera cements itself as one of the most gameplay-richWarzonemaps to date.
2Al Mazrah
Grand-Sized Map With Diverse Locations
Next up isAl Mazrah, the map that served as the standard Battle Royale experience for theModern Warfare 2era ofWarzone. Al Mazrah seems to be a mixed bag when it comes to fan reception, but the map itself received quite a bit of praise, even despite the general criticism regarding the gameplay changesWarzonehad at the time. Al Mazrah isarguably second only to Caldera in terms of visuals, boasting scenic coastal areas and deserts outfitted with oases, in addition to the urban and metropolitan areas that have been a staple of everyWarzonemap.
When it comes to locations, Al Mazrah offers a wide variety, each wildly different from the last. If players wanted to battle at the highest peak of the map in a hot drop, before parachuting across the map,Zaya Observatory was a great pick.Anotherstandout location was Al Mazrah City, featuring the fan-favorite layout of Skyrise at its center and various skyscrapers for players looking to snipe opponents from afar. While the map is often criticized for the large gaps between POIs and the general lack of major map changes outside The Haunting event andthe Shadow Siege Operation, Al Mazrah may just be remembered as one of the greats.
1Verdansk
The Birthplace of Call Of Duty: Warzone
Coming in at the number one spot is good oldVerdansk, the very firstCall of Duty: WarzoneBattle Royale map. It’s safe to say that players hold this map in high regard, and while much ofthe player base looks back on this map with nostalgia,Warzoneat this point was definitely a different game entirely. Verdansk as a mapsets a precedent for what a goodWarzoneexperience should be, offering various diverse locations, each providing a unique experience. For instance, Superstore was the go-to drop for players looking to get into close-quarters mayhem, featuring claustrophobic spaces. On the other hand,locations like Downtown, Military Base, and Airportprovide a mix of open spaces, key vantage points for sniping at long ranges, and engaging hectic rooftop battles.
Looking back, players may remember just how dangerous rotating toward the circle was, thanks to the wide-open spaces between most POIs, which provided little cover. This tension, while it may have led to an early trip to the lobby for some, heightened the action, especially for those rushing through the forests scattered across various portions of the map. Pair all this withthe roster of map changes and eventsthat debuted throughout the map’s lifecycle, and Verdansk may just be one of the best Battle Royale maps inWarzonehistory—one that makes its highly anticipated returnforBlack Ops 6’sera ofWarzoneSeason 3.
