The “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4” DMZ progression system trailer revealed five ways to start a match, ranging from a free on-foot spawn to an aircraft costing 100,000 DMZ cash. The more expensive options will immediately provide the squad with a vehicle, meaning they will differ not only in deployment cost but also in the mobility available at the start of the match.

All listed amounts are measured in DMZ cash. In other words, references to “wealthier” squads mean players who have accumulated more of this in-game currency. Since the chosen transport must be paid for before every deployment, this decision could become an important part of preparing for a match.

How the five deployment options differ

An operator who chooses the free option will start the match on foot at a random point on the map. This is a familiar principle in shooters of this kind, giving players broadly similar mobility at the beginning. “Modern Warfare 4” DMZ will move away from this model by allowing players to pay for a vehicle before the match.

• Free – the operator spawns on foot at a random location.
• 5,000 DMZ cash – the squad starts with a Polaris Dagor A1 tactical off-road vehicle.
• 25,000 DMZ cash – the squad receives an LTV light tactical vehicle with additional armor.
• 50,000 DMZ cash – the squad deploys with a helicopter.
• 100,000 DMZ cash – players select an aircraft that resembles a cargo plane in the trailer.

The first paid option provides a speed advantage. A squad starting with the Polaris Dagor A1 can immediately drive toward its chosen objective and move from one task to another more quickly. A squad spawning on foot would first have to travel under its own power or find another vehicle on the map.

The LTV costs five times as much as the off-road vehicle, but offers better protection. The official “Call of Duty” blog states that the version of the LTV found on the DMZ map may feature an optional .50-caliber turret. However, it has not been confirmed whether that weapon will also be mounted on the vehicle received by a squad choosing the 25,000 DMZ cash starting option.

The benefits of transport will not end at the first objective

The helicopter costing 50,000 DMZ cash creates an even greater difference in mobility. It can be used to cross the map quickly and reach important locations sooner. One possible scenario mentioned by the source is flying directly to a boss spawn location, defeating the boss, and extracting early.

It is also important that these vehicles are not merely part of an animation depicting the start of the match. They remain on the map until they are destroyed or abandoned. A squad that pays for transport can therefore use it not only to reach its first objective, but also to drive or fly between other points of interest later in the match.

If the vehicle is preserved until the end of the match, it may also help the squad reach an extraction point more quickly. This reduces some of the risks associated with moving around the map, although the vehicle itself can be destroyed, and spending DMZ currency does not automatically guarantee a successful deployment.

The LTV and helicopter will need to be unlocked first

Having the required amount of DMZ cash alone will not be enough to immediately use every more expensive option. The ability to start with an LTV or helicopter will be tied to separate story missions. Each of these two options will require players to complete its corresponding objective.

This requirement means that the LTV and helicopter will not be available at the very beginning of the progression system, even to a player with enough currency. After completing the missions, the transport will still need to be paid for before each individual deployment. The available information does not mention any additional unlock requirements for the off-road vehicle or the aircraft costing 100,000 DMZ cash.

How the aircraft costing 100,000 works remains unclear

The most expensive deployment option raises the most unanswered questions. The aircraft shown in the trailer resembles the cargo plane that players jump from at the beginning of battle royale matches. If the DMZ version worked in a similar way, the squad could choose a specific starting location on the map instead of receiving one at random. However, this functionality has not been officially confirmed.

Last year, longtime “Call of Duty” leaker Reality reported these deployment options as well as different weather conditions in DMZ. In the information he shared, the final paid option was identified as an AC-130, a heavily armed aircraft awarded as a reward for an elimination streak in multiplayer.

This claim has not been officially confirmed. The AC-130 is sometimes confused with the related C-130 cargo and transport aircraft, so the leaker may have incorrectly identified the type of plane. The model shown in the trailer looks more like an aircraft intended for transport, but the footage alone is not enough to draw definitive conclusions about its functions. There is no confirmation that a squad will be able to begin a match with the offensive capabilities of a heavily armed AC-130.

The system raises questions about long-term balance

The different prices alone do not reveal how often squads will be able to choose the most expensive options. The material provided does not explain how quickly DMZ cash will be accumulated or how Infinity Ward intends to balance these choices. Without those details, it is impossible to accurately assess the system’s balance.

Eurogamer raises the risk that, later in the mode’s lifespan, squads that have accumulated more currency and learned the map more thoroughly could use transport more often. In that case, the free on-foot spawn could primarily become the choice of new players or those with less DMZ cash. This is presented as a possible long-term scenario rather than a confirmed outcome of how the system will work.

The cost of the transport itself will not be the only factor affecting balance. An experienced squad with a strong knowledge of objective and boss locations could make more effective use of a faster deployment, while a squad starting on foot at a random location would not have the same freedom of movement. On the other hand, the LTV and helicopter must be unlocked, the selected transport must be paid for before every deployment, and it can be destroyed or abandoned during the match.

Preparation will take place at the Forward Operating Base

The deployment options are part of a broader progression system that operates between matches. At the Forward Operating Base (FOB), players will be able to upgrade and customize weapons, unlock new operator abilities, create useful items with a 3D printer, and prepare for their next trip onto the map.

DMZ will launch alongside “Modern Warfare 4” on October 23 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2.