Mastering Verdansk: Pro Tips for Dominating Warzone

The OG Big Map, Verdansk, is back in all its original glory—though there are some serious upgrades this go-around. If you want to hit a buttery-smooth slide-cancel into the fight, the Monster Energy Warzone pros are here to help.

From loadouts to drop spots, this is everything you need to hit the ground running and party like it’s the M4A1 and MP5 meta all over again.

Warzone Loadouts: Verdansk Edition

Before you drop in, being well-informed and bringing the right equipment is crucial. Here are a few loadouts to help you be the last one standing.

The imperious skyscrapers around Verdansk make it a sniper’s paradise, and the HDR is king of the ring. One-shot headshots change the flow of a fight, giving you more opportunities to make plays and rack up eliminations. Take advantage of that. Here’s TeeP’s build to give you a starting point.

TeeP’s HDR Sniper Loadout

• BARREL: Gain-Twist Barrel
• UNDERBARREL: Lightweight Bipod
• MAGAZINE: Fast Mag II
• REAR GRIP: Quickdraw Grip
• FIRE MOD: Overpressured

A sniper is just the start of your loadout. Being prepared for any and every kind of encounter is the key to consistency. Aydan and TeeP have a few standout options for you to consider.

“My favorite loadouts right now are the AMAX and LC10. It can be tough dealing with all of the HDRs on all of the hills and rooftops at times, though,” TeeP warned.

Start with these builds on the AMAX and the LC10, and tweak them to your liking after a few games if needed.

TeeP’s CR-56 AMAX Loadout

• MUZZLE: Compensator
• BARREL: Gain-Twist Barrel
• UNDERBARREL: Vertical Foregrip
• LASER: Target Laser
• MAGAZINE: Extended Mag II
• OPTIC: Volzhisky Reflex
• REAR GRIP: Quickdraw Grip
• FIRE MODS: Overpressured Rounds

TeeP’s LC10 Loadout

• MUZZLE: Compensator
• UNDERBARREL: Ranger Foregrip
• MAGAZINE: Extended Mag II
• REAR GRIP: Ergonomic Grip
• STOCK: Infiltrator Stock

Best Warzone POIs & Hot Drops on Verdansk

The best POI for you will always be one that caters to your playstyle. Dropping Superstore is one way to get right into the action—fitting for players that thrive in chaos and free-for-alls.

“My favorite POI to drop at has always been Superstore,” TeeP said. “There’s plenty of space for multiple teams to get involved, and it gets very crazy consistently.”

But if you’re looking to snag an early advantage, focusing less on the fight and more on your money to outpace the competition for UAVs and loadouts is better.

“The better [strategy], though, has been to get going on a Most Wanted or Scavenger contract to get loadout very quickly. The good ground loot and money on the map can be scarce sometimes, so getting the contract multiplier up quickly is key to keeping your economy in a great spot.”

If that sounds more like your game, try aiming for smaller locales like Scrapyard. Fewer combatants mean more time to stock up and make calculated decisions. You’ll still find plenty of fights if you look for them, but controlling the pace is much easier inside the shelter of the various warehouses in the Zakhaev Boneyard.

Finally, just like in OG Warzone, the Hospital Roof is guaranteed to be instant action. Aydan suggests giving it a shot if Superstore isn’t for you.

“My favorite POIs to drop right now are Superstore (or the burger shop right next to it for a safer landing) and Hospital,” he said. “What makes a drop-spot for me is how many people land there and how action-packed it is.”

Taking control of the loot-dense area early can set you up with the cash, throwables, and floor loot to grab a huge advantage in the early game.

How to Win on Verdansk

Warzone has changed a lot in the new update, and the blistering pace of Urzikstan is nowhere to be found. You will have to slow things down if you want to win. Now, instead of taking on multiple enemies from the same squad, it’s best to isolate 1v1 encounters and lure them into making bad decisions. Your movement is still important, of course, but don’t expect to bamboozle every team you run across with slide challenges alone.

“[The] movement/omni-movement nerf has been noticeable, and I struggled with it the first couple of days. I realized that the way to fight people has changed, and baiting people to push you into a pre-aim is a very good strategy that I didn't have to utilize as much before in Urzikstan,” Aydan recommended. “Also, forcing 1v1's is so important now because it's very hard to kill multiple opponents with the quick TTK and nerfed movement.”

What makes this strategy viable, aside from the reigned-in movement, is a general lack of options for the opposition. Redeploy balloons are no longer here to kickstart fights. With a reduction to the amount of Armor Plates on the map, this means every decision has to set you up for success if you want to win. Luckily for you, Aydan has all the answers.

“The game feels noticeably more punishing in every way, but the removal of balloons has made it a lot harder to start the fight with the advantage, and also made it very hard to get to teams who play on top of buildings that only have 1 entry to the roof. Lower plate count has also been a bit of a struggle, so I've been running Perk 3, Tempered, to help with plate management.”

How to Win More Gulags

Death isn’t the end in Warzone. Far from it. That’s why Verdansk’s original Prison Showers Gulag is back in the game. Advantages are razor-thin in the claustrophobic arena, so be advised. Audio cues will often be the difference between redeploying and regret.

“Gulag kills are extremely fast now with this [time-to-kill] and no plates, so it’s even more important to get first shot on them,” TeeP warned. “The corniest and easiest way to win gulags is to listen to where they are moving and then abusing a slide cancel around a corner to make sure you get the jump on them first!”

Aydan also recommends taking full advantage of your audio to increase your awareness and get out with a dub.

“My advice for the Gulag is to get as much information as you can to give yourself more knowledge of where they can be. I typically try to hold crosses and then use my headset to listen to the side I'm not looking at. The lower TTK has given everyone an easier chance to win, so don't feel discouraged if you get 2-bulleted by a pistol!”

That wraps up all the advice from the big guns. Heed their warnings and go into the next round prepared with a drop plan, and ready to win. Do that, and you’ll be headed for first place in no time. It’s also important to remember Warzone is unforgiving. Don’t give up if it takes a while to see improvement. You’ve got the knowledge, all you need now is to put the reps in. So, take this info from the pros, apply it to your own playstyle, and then work until you’re the last man standing. We’ll see you on the battlefield, soldier.