Zombies (MWZ) Beginners Guide

Zombies (MWZ) beginners guide in Modern Warfare 3 (CoD MW3 2023). Check MWZ Operation Deadbolt, Contracts, Essence, how to Exfil, Perk-a-Cola, Aetherium and Schematics.

MWZ Related Guides

Check Out the Zombies Advanced Guide!

This article provides a basic guide for Zombies beginners. For more information on Red Zone strategy, see the article below.

Zombies Advanced Guide - Red Zone Strategy

How To Play MW3 Zombies

Can Be Accessed In Call of Duty HQ

Make your way to Call of Duty HQ for an extra dose of excitement with the latest addition to the franchise — Modern Warfare Zombies! Venture beyond Warzone's and Multiplayer battlegrounds to immerse yourself in this new exhilarating gaming experience to confront the Undead Horde.

Modern Warfare Zombies Lobby

The Global Panel access remains unchanged aside from the Main Menu. At the top, you'll find your go-to options like the Lobby, Gear, Strike Team, Customize, Battle Pass and the Store to gear you up for the zombie battle. Meanwhile, the bottom screen you can check your Match and Progress details for quick launches as well as Zombie Story Mission tracking.

Zombies Objective

Obtain Items And Exfil

You can gain an advantage in your next Zombies match by obtaining Schematic and powerful weapons, then successfully escaping in the Exfil chopper. Repeat this process to gather more and more items.

What You Should Exfil

Item	Exfil Priority
Schematic	★★★★★
Cryo Freeze Ammo Mod (only for a mission)	★★★★★
Refined Aetherium Crystal (for Pack-a-Punch)	★★★★・
Aether Tool	★★★・・

Schematic that you don't have are the highest priority.

Raw Aetherium Crystals (used to Pack-a-Punch weapons) can give you a significant boost in the beginning of the match, so save those for important matches. There is also a story mission that requires freezing enemies, so save the Cryo Freeze Ammo Mod until you complete that mission.

Best Weapon Build/Loadout

AR / SMG Are Recommended

Basically you should use your favorite weapon but if you're not used to Zombies or are a beginner, we recommend agile weapons like ARs or SMGs. There will be lots of zombies chasing you so prioritize being able to make an escape in a pinch.

LMGs Are Also Good Against Bosses

An LMG with a 100 Round Mag can be upgraded to 200 Rounds per Mag. The DPS is very high so it is great against enemies with high Health like bosses. But it's more for experienced players since you lose your agility.

The Magazine Is Most Important

You definitely need a large Mag. The zombies will have higher health near the end of the game so the Magazine size will become important. Agility comes next, and you can choose everything else to your preference.

Choose Any Tactical / Lethal Equipment

Choose Tactical / Lethal equipment to your preference. Anything with a wide range or being able to stop the enemies will come in handy.

Our 2 Recommendations For Field Upgrades

Energy Mines are really effective when you are surrounded and there is no need to unlock it. If 1 or 2 members of your team has Healing Aura, that would help in a pinch.

How To Progress Efficiently

Once you have the Schematic you need, head for the Exfil point. You will lose everything if you die, so don't push it too far.

Most Efficient Way To Farm Schematics

The best way to find schematics at this point is to head straight for the Red Zone and complete the Deliver Cargo mission repeatedly. You will be avoiding combat so you don't need to bring any strong weapons!

See Details Here

Operation Deadbolt

Prepare For A Lock And Load Experience In Operation Deadbolt!

In the Exclusion Zone of Urzikstan, your freedom extends to exploring various threat zones, completing mission tasks, and engaging in activities. During Zombies Infils, you can explore different threat levels, complete contracts for Essence and Acquisitions to upgrade weapons or gears, while retaining any acquired items through successful exfils for future deployments.

Recruit Any Unlocked Operator In Your Strike Team

You can assemble a Strike Team by recruiting any unlocked Operators, with each Operator able to equip a unique gear. Operators from Modern Warfare II and III are available, while Ripper and Scorch can be unlocked through Zombies challenges.

Customizable On-Soldier Gear

You can also personalize your Operators by equipping them with up to five equipment like any unlocked gears, including Killstreaks, Armor, Gas Masks, and Medical items, enhancing their effectiveness in battle.

Special Rucksack For Loots

You can gather crucial items on the battlefield or create them using valuable schematics to fill your Rucksack. You start with up to five slots, and after your first mission, you can add any acquired items or schematics to expand your Rucksack.

Zombie Loadout items

In Modern Warfare Zombies, you have access to all MWII and MWIII weapons, with some providing bonus XP. You can choose two primary weapons or a primary and secondary weapon, along with a lethal, tactical, and field upgrade. Tactical and lethal equipment, such as stun grenades and frag grenades, can also be part of your loadout.

Insured slots

These are reserved spots for your top-tier gears and if you are not able to escape in the Exfil with an Insured Weapon, you won't be able use it again after the cooldown period has ended. Additionally, completing Zombies missions unlocks two of the three insured slots.

Contraband Stashes

When you come across some awesome weapons during your missions, make sure to store them here. If you forget to grab any cool weapons or items before leaving, they'll be lost forever. Therefore, it's a good idea to collect and stash up to 20 of these to enhance your Loadout game.

Best Gun Loadouts & Weapons Tier List

Zombies Field Upgrades

In MWZ, Field Upgrades set themselves apart from the equipment in Multiplayer. There are six in total, with one starter and the rest of them you can unlock as you climb the Military Player Ranks.

Acquisitions

Items called Acquisitions offer one-time advantages in battle. If you secure and extract these Acquisitions using your Rucksack, they can be stored in your Acquisition Stash within the Rucksack Menu for future use.

Schematic Crafting

What Are Schematics?

Schematics are valuable blueprints you can use to craft Acquisitions for your Rucksack. But there's a catch—they have a cooldown, meaning you can't use them all the time. So you got to wait a bit before bringing them into action in the Exclusion Zone.

Aetherium

Dark Aether is essential for weapon enhancement through Schematics. Aetherium Crystals Pack-a-Punch weapons to Levels I and II. Aether Tools of varying rarity enhance current weapons, with rarer forms resulting in greater damage.

Perk-a-Colas

In Modern Warfare Zombies mode, players receive permanent attribute boosts during a mission by finding or crafting Perk-a-Cola instead of the regular Vest, Gloves, Boots, and Gear Perk system.

Deadshot Daiquiri	Aiming down sight moves to enemy critical location. Increase enemy critical damage.
Death Perception	Obscured enemies, chests, resources, and item drops are more easily spotted.
Elemental Pop	Every bullet you fire has a small chance to apply a random Ammo Mod effect.
Jugger-Nog	Increases maximum health.
PHD Flopper	Diving to prone triggers an explosion. The explosion increases the higher you fall. Immunity from fall damage while diving. Immunity from area-of-effect damage from weapons you are using.
Quick Revive	Reduce the health regeneration delay time by 50%. Reduce the time it takes to revive an ally by 50%.
Speed Cola	Drink to reload and replate armor faster.
Stamin-Up	Increases run and sprint speed.
Tombstone Soda	On death, you create a tombstone stash at that location, containing your backpack inventory in the next game.

Purchased From Perk-a-Cola Machines!

You can use your Essence to buy these boosted beverage drinks from the Perk-a-Cola Machines. Plus, you can also choose which boost you want.

Boost Lasts Until Character Dies

Keep in mind that the boost remains effective until your character dies, so it's crucial to exercise caution and avoid death. If needed, you can either find or craft another Perk-a-Cola to regain these boosts.

Wonder Weapons

Wonder Weapons are the newest mystical and formidable weaponry available in MWZ that can be crafted from rare Schematics or obtained from the Mystery Boxes.

Note!	The Wonder Weapons available at game launch are currently redacted.

Modern Warfare Zombies (MWZ) - Summary

All-New And Open World

Experience an open-world player versus enemy (PvE) survival challenge against massive undead enemies, uncovering secrets and teaming up with other squads in the largest Call of Duty Zombies map! You also have the option to join in the game solo without bringing your own teammates.

Find Someone to Play Co-Op With!

Zombies Multiplayer & Co-Op Forum

Get Ready To Onslaught Zombies!

This new installment takes the already action-packed world of Modern Warfare to a whole new level, adding a spine-chilling twist to the battlefield and adrenaline-pumping experience as you will need to neutralize the undead Zombies and dive into an intense Dark Aether Zombies story while taking on missions across various regions with escalating difficulty.

Related Article

Season 1 New Updates

Season 1 Additional Content

Zombies Mode Guide

Zombies (MWZ) Co-Op Forum

Wonder Weapon Schematics

All Schematic Crafting

Zombies Related Guide

Zombies Story Missions

Zombies Act & Story Mission Rewards

Mission Difficulty Point Guide