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MW2 season 5 key art.
Image via Activision

Here are the MW2 and Warzone season 5 patch notes

Nicki Minaj and new guns and maps, oh my.

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone are once again getting an injection of new content with season five, adding a whole bunch of new things for players to unlock and enjoy.

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With season five, Philip Graves returns to shake things up. The villain who was left for dead near the end of MW2’s campaign looks like he’s doing just fine and will be making things interesting ahead of the new CoD coming later this year.

The new season also includes a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop, which features operator skins for Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, and 21 Savage, along with new war tracks to unlock for free.

Warzone, meanwhile, will play host to a special in-game event that will reveal the new CoD coming later this year. Leaks point to it being Modern Warfare 3, but the playable event will reveal all sometime this summer.

Here’s everything that’s coming in the launch of the new season with the season five patch notes.

MW2 season 5 patch notes

CoD operators doing battle on the Strike map from CoD 4.
Four maps at launch, with more on the way. Image via Activision

New operators

Four operators will be a part of the battle pass, including Graves, Velikan, Mace, and new characters Oz, Mila, and the BlackCell-exclusive Arthur. They will be joined by the hip hop legends Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, and 21 Savage as part of operator bundles throughout the season.

Maps

New maps

Punta Mar (six-vs-six)

  • Punta Mar is a recently evacuated tourist attraction in Las Almas — once a bustling town on a hill overlooking a beautiful South American beach.
  • Prepare to fight up and down that hill, maneuvering through shops, across rooftops, and through abandoned residences to take control of an area centered around a cobblestone street.

Strike (six-vs-six)

  • Fan-favorite Strike returns to Call of Duty and will be familiar to many veteran Players with some updates for Modern Warfare II!

Lounge (Gunfight)

  • This compact map for Gunfight and other small-squad modes takes place in a high-scale, high-octane club. Take the stairs or climb to a balcony for a view across the main chamber, and when the center gets too hot, try your luck in the game room or under the spotlights of the stage behind the grand piano.

Canal (Gunfight)

  • Situated in the vicinity of Vondel, Canal features cellars below the cobblestone streets above, with the action occurring between the canal bridges where the water or a moored boat are useful in your tactical planning. Be ready for close quarters combat while weaving through the brewery and restaurant.

Playlist

New modes

Havoc

  • Players start with one modifier at the beginning of a match. Once a squad is the first to reach a multiple of 12 kills – 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 – the game adds a new modifier to the match for both teams, from a pool of 14 available modifiers. Here are examples of just five of them:
    • Ammo Feeder: Auto reloads a weapon (from stock ammo) upon elimination. 
    • Boots Off the Ground: Moon gravity. Affects only player jump heights, not thrown equipment or ballistics
    • Flameshot: Flame-tipped Crossbows and Molotovs only. All Loadouts change immediately to this upon modifier activation.
    • Hero Landing: Landing from a big drop causes a frag-grenade-like explosion around you.
    • Perspective Shift: Everyone swaps to a third-person camera view.

Big Capture the Flag

  • Want to go bigger? Then the Battle Maps are ready for some classic Capture the Flag matches in Season 05. Whether it is on the streets of Guijarro or in the waterlogged Mawizeh Marshlands, Big Capture the Flag on a 20v20 scale is a recipe for some epic matches.

Gunfight Variants

  • Step into the 2v2 Gunfight arena with three different variants available throughout Season 05. Look for the following:
    • Gunfight Custom (Launch): Featuring standard Gunfight rules, but the weaponry you bring is taken from your favorite Loadouts.
    • Gunfight Snipers (In-Season): Tool up with your favorite sniper or marksman rifle, and leave the Secondary, Tacticals, and Lethals at home.
    • Armored Gunfight (In-Season): Need more protection during your 2v2 skirmishes? Then welcome to Armored Gunfight, a variation on the fan-favorite mode, featuring standard Gunfight rules with one distinct difference; armor is enabled! Each squadmate comes to the fight with 150 HP of Armor, 100 Health, and no replacement plates or health regeneration. All other Gunfight rules apply (win conditions, overtime, capturing the overtime flag), but your takedown tactics should be adjusted accordingly.

Bug fixes

Adjustments

  • Removed weapons dropping too close to players in modes with team revive active.
  • Updated Gunfight weapon table to include Blueprints up through Season 05
  • Players will have their sidearms removed if playing Gunfight with specified weapon categories (i.e. Snipers only)
  • Updated the default score limit for Grind to 75 points in Private Matches
  • Removed the “Care Package Drop Time” option in Infected Private Matches 

Bug fixes

  • Fixed an issue preventing Radar Always On from working correctly in Private Matches
  • Fixed an issue causing overlapping icons on Point A when playing Control on Vondel Waterfront
  • Fixed an issue on Santa Seña Border Crossing where bots would attempt to path to invalid locations if all other Players in the match are dead
  • Fixed an issue that could prevent health packs from dropping in Hardcore Private Matches
  • Fixed an issue where Players would not be able to toggle NVGs after extracting a prisoner in Prisoner Rescue
  • Fixed an issue in Cyber Attack where Players could lock up their view model animation by spamming melee while planting the EMP
  • Fixed an issue that allowed Players to pick up the prisoner out of bound in Prisoner Rescue
  • Fixed an issue in zone capture modes where the zone would flicker between unoccupied and controlled 
  • Fixed an issue in Prisoner Rescue where the prisoner would T-pose with no head if the carrier died while out of bounds
  • Fixed an issue where explosive bullet kills would not progress the weapon ladder in Gun Game

MW2 Ranked Play

Season 05 of MWII Ranked Play features NEW Seasonal Rewards to unlock, including the Pro Re-Issue TAQ-56, Division Weapon Camos, and much more. 

Below are the Season 05 specific details to keep in mind for new and returning competitors. Need a refresher? The Call of Duty Blog has you covered right here and the CDL Competitive Settings V 1.4.1 will help inform.

Season five highlight changes

Competitive Game Settings

  • New Season 05 Restrictions
    • Assault Rifles
      • FR Avancer
    • Sniper Rifles
      • Carrack .300
  • Returning Restrictions in addition to the CDL Competitive Settings
    • Assault Rifles
      • Tempus Razorback
    • SMGs
      • ISO 45
    • Shotguns
      • MX Guardian
    • Melee
      • Tonfa
    • Attachments
      • Corvus Torch Underbarrel

SR (Skill Rating) & Divisions

  • End of Season Skill Setback
    • At the end of each Season, your ending Skill Division will determine where you start the following season:
      • Bronze through Crimson I Players are set back three Tiers below where they finished in the previous season.
        • Example: A Player ending Season 04 in Gold III will begin Season 05 in Silver III.
      • Players Crimson II and above will start Season 05 in Diamond I.

MW2 Ranked Play season five rewards

Season 05 Win Rewards

  • Throughout the Season 05, Players can earn the following rewards:
    • 5 Wins: ‘Season 05 Competitor’ Weapon Sticker
    • 10 Wins: Pro Re-Issue TAQ-56 Weapon Blueprint
    • 25 Wins: ‘Big Brain Plays’ Weapon Charm
    • 50 Wins: ‘Heating Up’ Large Weapon Decal
    • 75 Wins: ‘MWII Ranked Play Season 05’ Loading Screen
    • 100 Wins: ‘MWII Season 05 Ranked Veteran’ Weapon Camo

End of Season Division Rewards

  • At the end of each Season, Players will be awarded Skill Division rewards that represent their highest attained Division that Season. 
  • Skill Division Skins:
    • Earn a Skill Division Skin for use with both CDL Male & Female Operators on both Factions to represent your highest Skill Division. Once the Skins from one Skill Division have been unlocked they can be permanently used in following Seasons and anywhere you play:
      • Top 250: Unlock the ‘Top 250 Competitor’ Skin by finishing a Season in the Top 250 Skill Division. Players must be in the Division at the end of the Season to qualify for this reward.
      • Gold – Iridescent: Earn the applicable ‘Gold Competitor’, ‘Platinum Competitor’, ‘Diamond Competitor’, ‘Crimson Competitor’, or ‘Iridescent Competitor’ Skin based on your highest Skill Division reached over the course of the Season. 
  • Seasonal Division Rewards
    • Each Ranked Play Season features a unique set of Division Rewards awarded at the end of the Season to celebrate the Player’s highest Skill Division reached that Season. 
    • Rewards Update
      • Starting in Season 05, players will continue to earn Emblems associated with their highest attained Division. Those who climb into Gold and above will obtain a new reward each season where we previously offered a Weapon Charm. For Season 05, we’re kicking off this new reward rotation with Season Division Camos.
    • The Season 05 rewards are as follows:
      • Top 250: ‘Season 05 Top 250’ Animated Weapon Camo, Emblem, and Calling Card
        • Players must be in the Top 250 Division at the end of the Season to qualify for these rewards.
      • Iridescent: ‘Season 05 Iridescent’ Weapon Camo, Emblem, and Calling Card
      • Crimson: ‘Season 05 Crimson’ Weapon Camo and Emblem
      • Diamond: ‘Season 05 Diamond’ Weapon Camo and Emblem
      • Platinum: ‘Season 05 Platinum’ Weapon Camo and Emblem
      • Gold: ‘Season 05 Gold’ Weapon Camo and Emblem
      • Silver: Emblem
      • Bronze: Emblem
    • Ranked Play First Place: The Player who finishes Season 05 in the #1 position on the Top 250 Leaderboard will receive a unique, one-of-a-kind Calling Card and Emblem for the ultimate bragging rights.

Warzone season 5 patch notes

Captain Price, Ghost, and squad in a boat.
Vondel’s Champion’s Quest is calling your name. Image via Activision

UI/UX

  • Improved PingsQuality of Life
    • Ping priority for stacked icons
    • Better visibility for Contracts & Vehicles on Tac Map

Modes

  • Fort Resurgence In-Season
    • Al Bagra Fortress and its greater surroundings will be added to the Resurgence map rotation.
  • Armored Royale In-Season
    • Reinforce your Squad in this Battle Royale Mode with a big difference — you’re dropping onto your own MRAP, and it’s up to you to use, fortify, and repair this hulking vehicle with its turret, protective shielding, and mobile Buy Station, while cutting through rivals operating their own behemoth trucks.

General

All Maps | All Modes

  • Play Again Matchmaking Status Quality of Life
    • Players will now see their matchmaking status during the Play Again Loading Screen.  
  • Champion’s Quest
    • Players now need to hold all available elements to progress the timer while locating the next one.

Al Mazrah | Battle Royale

  • Player Count
    • All Squad Sizes on Al Mazrah Battle Royale have had their Player counts reduced to 100, down from 150.
    • Ranked will remain at 150 Players until further notice.

Gameplay

New features

Al Mazrah, Ashika Island | Battle Royale, Resurgence

  • Favorite Supply Box Loot
  • Reinforcement Flare Field Upgrade
  • Portable Redeploy Drone (P.R.D.) Field Upgrade
  • Signals Intelligence Contract
  • Occupation Scan Public Event
  • High Stakes Public Event
  • TAV Vehicle

Al Mazrah | Battle Royale

  • MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) Vehicle | In-Season
    • A vehicle roughly the size and shape of the Cargo Truck, the MRAP is equipped for heavy combat with additional armor plating and turrets, making it a slower, yet effective, vehicle for attack or defense.
    • MRAP Keys are available at Buy Stations for $50,000 that will enable the ability to start and drive one of three vehicles located on the map. .
      • The key must be used from the Player’s Backpack.
    • This vehicle is disabled in Solos and Ranked Play.
  • Dirt Bike Vehicle
    • A nimble and rapid form of transportation that can perform hairpin turns on a dime and can technically fit up to two Players.
  • Buy Station
    • Locations on Al Mazrah have been refreshed to provide new combat scenarios and strategies.
    • The Limited Stock row now contains new items:
      • Reinforcement Flare
        • Count: 1
        • Price: $5,000
      • P.R.D.
        • Count: 2
        • Price: $2,000
      • Self-Revive Kit
        • Count: 2
        • Price: $4,000
      • Durable Gas Mask
        • Count: 2
        • Price: $3,500

Vondel | Battle Royale

  • Champion’s Quest
    • Champion’s Quest has arrived in Vondel – similar to Al Mazrah the goal is to collect 3 elements, plant them and defend them!
    • The twist? The elements have new effects:
      • Gallium: Reveals all nearby team members who held it previously as if a Snapshot Grenade affected you.
      • Deuterium: Fatigues its carrier, causing the Player to cough when they exert too much effort.
      • Neptunium: Periodically electrocutes everything within close proximity including Players and Vehicles.
    • Vondel’s Champions Quest offers unique rewards including a Weapon Blueprint, Charm, and more.

Adjustments

All Maps | All Modes

  • Bomb Squad
    • The Bomb Squad Perk will protect against death from explosive Equipment stuck directly to the Player when fully armored.
  • Buy Back Price
    • Price reduced to $3,000, down from $4,000
    • This change does not apply to Ranked Play.
  • P.R.D. Behavior
    • Increased deployment speed
    • Improved airborne mobility
    • Increased velocity when ascending 

Al Mazrah | Battle Royale

  • Circle Timing
    • The “Delay Time” before the first movement of the gas is now 90 seconds, down from 220 seconds.
    • The “Close Time” of how long the gas takes to collapse to the next size is now 215 seconds, down from 270 seconds.
    • This change does not apply to Ranked Play.
  • Circle Size
    • Decreased the size of the initial circle.
    • This change does not apply to Ranked Play.
  • Loot
    • Increased spawn rate of the following items:
      • Gulag Tokens
      • Redeploy Packs
      • Reinforcement Flares

Vondel | Battle Royale, Resurgence

  • Circle Placement
    • The first circle is now more centered in BR & Resurgence

Vondel | Resurgence

  • Reinforcement Flare Improvements Quality of Life
    • Players will now get their Reinforcement Flare refunded if it fails to deploy.
    • The Reinforcement Flare now prioritizes players who are still connected to the match. 

UI/UX

  • Battle Royale Win Streak Tracker
    • There is now a Win Streak Tracker on the menu and in-game to display your progress towards a Champion’s Quest.
  • Total Ammunition Count Quality of Life
    • Shows total amount of ammunition in both backpack and player loadout in the currently equipped weapon.
  • Total Squad Cash Quality of Life
    • In the Squad Widget, the total squad cash will be displayed.

Warzone Ranked Play

Season 05 brings new rewards to Warzone Ranked Play for its second full season of competition under the Al-Mazrah sun, including the Pro Issue Hemlock,  Division Weapon Camos, and much more.

Below are the Season 05 specific details to keep in mind for new and returning competitors. Need a refresher? The Call of Duty Blog has you covered right here.

Season 05 Highlight Changes and Fixes

Global Battle Royale Changes

  • Check out the Gameplay section above for some important updates to Battle Royale and Al Mazrah.

Match Ruleset Updates

  • New Vehicles and Gameplay Elements
    • Vehicles
      • Tactical Amphibious Vehicle (TAV)
      • Dirt Bike
    • Contracts
      • Signals Intelligence
    • Gameplay Elements
      • P.R.D (Personal Redeploy Drone)
      • Reinforcement Flare
  • Disabled Vehicles, Events, and Gameplay Elements
    • Vehicles
      • MRAP
    • Events
      • Occupation Scan Public Event
      • High Stakes Public Event
    • Gameplay Elements
      • Favorite Supply Box
  • Restricted Weapons and Equipment
    • Weapons
      • X13 Auto
      • Basilisk
      • MX Guardian
      • KV Broadside
    • Attachments
      • Explosive Ammo (Sniper Rifles)
      • Dragon’s Breath Ammo (Shotguns)

SR (Skill Rating) & Divisions

  • Final Placement SR
    • SR earned for Placement Milestones has been increased.
    • Updated Placement SR:
      • Top 40: 15 (Up from 10)
      • Top 30: 30 (Up from 20)
      • Top 20: 45 (Up from 30)
      • Top 10: 60 (Up from 40)
      • Top 5: 80 (Up from 50)
      • Top 3: 100 (Up from 60)
      • Top 2: 125 (Up from 80)
      • Victory: 150 (Up from 100)
  • End of Season Skill Setback
    • At the end of each Season, your ending Skill Division will determine where you start the following season:
      • Bronze through Crimson I Players are set back three Tiers below where they finished in the previous season.
        • Example: A Player ending Season 04 in Gold III will begin Season 05 in Silver III.
      • Players Crimson II and above will start Season 05 in Diamond I.
  • WZ Ranked Play Season 05 Rewards
  • Season 05 Challenge Rewards
  • Throughout the Season 05, Players can earn the following rewards:
    • Placement Challenges
      • Finish ‘Top 15’ 25 Times: ‘Popped Off’ Large Decal
      • Finish ‘Top 5’ 25 Times: Pro Issue ISO Hemlock Weapon Blueprint
      • Finish 1st Place: ‘Straight Dubs’ Weapon Charm
    • Kill & Assist Challenges
      • Get 25 Kills or Assists: ‘WZ Season 05 Competitor’ Sticker
      • Get 250 Kills or Assists: ‘WZ Ranked Play Season 05’ Loading Screen
      • Get 1000 Kills or Assists: ‘WZ Season 05 Ranked Veteran’ Camo
  • End of Season Division Rewards
  • At the end of each Season, Players will be awarded Skill Division rewards that represent their highest attained Division that Season. 
  • Rewards Update
    • Starting in Season 05, players will continue to earn Emblems associated with their highest attained Division. Those who climb into Gold and above will obtain a new reward each season where we previously offered a Weapon Charm. For Season 05, we’re kicking off this new reward rotation with Season Division Camos.
  • Seasonal Division Rewards
    • Each Ranked Play Season will have a unique set of Division Rewards awarded at the end of the Season to celebrate the Player’s highest Skill Division reached that Season.
    • The Season 05 rewards are as follows:
      • Top 250: ‘WZ Season 05 Top 250’ Animated Weapon Camo, Emblem, and Calling Card
        • Players must be in the Top 250 Division at the end of the Season to qualify for these rewards.
      • Iridescent: ‘WZ Season 05 Iridescent’ Weapon Camo, Emblem, and Calling Card
      • Crimson: ‘WZ Season 05 Crimson’ Weapon Camo and Emblem
      • Diamond: ‘WZ Season 05 Diamond’ Weapon Camo and Emblem
      • Platinum: ‘WZ Season 05 Platinum’ Weapon Camo and Emblem
      • Gold: ‘WZ Season 05 Gold’ Weapon Camo and Emblem
      • Silver: Emblem
      • Bronze: Emblem
    • Ranked Play First Place: The Player who finishes Season 05 in the #1 position on the Top 250 Leaderboard will receive a unique, one-of-a-kind Calling Card and Emblem for the ultimate bragging rights.

Bug fixes

  • Fixed a number of issues that may have caused momentary hitching for some players in Battle Royale matches.
  • Fixed an issue in Battle Royale game modes that prevented the application of Lethal Equipment Skins.
  • Fixed an issue in Battle Royale Private Match that caused the squad details button to display incorrectly.
  • Fixed an issue that caused Perk Package icons to load with significant delay in Buy Stations.
  • Fixed an issue that caused Train sounds to be silent or cut off around the map.
  • Fixed an issue that caused the Most Wanted Flag to not appear on the Player who has a Most Wanted Contract.
  • Fixed an issue that prevented players from joining a Private Match lobby.

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