Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. Guides

The best places to land in Warzone: Vondel, Al Mazrah, and Ashika Island

By and

Even if you’re an expert Call of Duty: Warzone player, your performance during any given match can be determined by your landing spot. Get unlucky with your drop spot and your team might wipe right off the bat. Likewise, a less experienced player might do well if they land away from the action.

But with so many potential landing spots, it’s not always easy to pick a drop point, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the game. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered with everything you’ll need to know.

Recommended Videos

Here are the best landing spots across all three Warzone maps, including Vondel, Al Mazrah, and Ashika Island.

Related

Vondel

Central Station

Map of Vondel in Warzone. Vondel in Warzone.

If you’re a player who likes to get geared up first without worrying too much about encountering opponents, landing at Central Station is usually a safe bet. Sure, you might come across enemy players here from time to time, but this area is so big, it’s often easy to take them down, especially if you coordinate with your team.

Floating District

Map of Vondel in Warzone.
Activision
Vondel in Warzone.
Activision

Floating District is similar to the previous locale in that it’s out of the way, but it’s often a bit more contested. The thing about this spot is that — while it’s not usually too hot at first — enemy teams often like to rotate here partway through a match. So keep that in mind if you decide to land here.

South of Market

Map of Vondel in Warzone.
Activision
Vondel in Warzone.
Activision

On the flip side, if you’re someone who likes a hot drop, we advise landing just south of Market. Here, you’ll find numerous buildings with tons of loot to collect. It’s far more action-packed right off the bat, but if you survive, you’ll be in good shape to dominate the match.

Police Station

Vondel in Warzone. Map of Vondel in Warzone.

The previous landing spot south of the Market can be a little rough, so if you’re someone who likes action without being overwhelmed, the Police Station is a great choice. While it can get a bit hectic here, you’ll usually have this area to yourself, allowing you to get geared up before jumping into the fight.

Zoo

Map of Vondel in Warzone. Vondel in Warzone.

Zoo is an interesting spot because it’s inconsistent in terms of whether or not other players land there. With that in mind, we recommend picking this as your landing spot if you’re confident in your abilities. The main reason we recommend this spot is that it’s got an absurd amount of loot, meaning you’ll be able to get your loadout quickly, so long as you survive against other teams.

Al Mazrah

The Quarry

The Quarry in Warzone.
Activsion

We’ll start off with a familiar location that has been reworked from the first Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for Warzone 2.0. The Quarry is on the northeast side of the map and is a wide, spread-out series of structures that allows teams to do some looting before instantly getting into the action if you play it smart. You likely won’t be the only team to seek out this location, but it’s certainly big enough for a few teams to land and grab some starting guns before engaging anyone else. The loot itself is generally middling but perfectly serviceable to get you started before moving in on more dangerous locations.

Sawah Village

Sawah Village location in Warzone 2.0..
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This zone is tucked away on the coast, where most people generally won’t bother to go. That’s their loss, however, since any team that does drop will typically have free access to the entire area’s loot. The real advantage of Sawah Village, though, is the Stronghold in close proximity. Once you’re geared up and safe after landing, you can instantly get some higher-tier loot by raiding the Stronghold that shouldn’t be crowded with other teams.

Sarrif Bay

Sariff Bay location in Warzone 2.0.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sarrif Bay is a lot like Taraq Village in that it initially doesn’t look like a place anyone would want to drop but secretly has some nice advantages. For one, it is close enough to the Airport and Fortress, which are very hot drop spots that most other teams will prioritize going to. If your squad can gear up quickly, you can use this position to clean up weakened teams fighting in that area from an elevated position. It is a bit more dangerous than the previous options. However, there are plenty of escape options.

The Observatory

The Observatory location in Warzone 2.0.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Essentially in the dead center of the map, The Observatory is a riskier choice but a great tactical advantage if you can claim it. Not only is the loot great, but the positioning and elevation make it ideal for scouting and being in a perfect spot to pivot, depending on how the circle decides to close in. If you drop here, just know you’ll be in for a fight, so give yourself the best odds of winning those initial fights by securing the high ground and rooftops.

East Suburbs

The East Suburbs is the largest single location on the entire Al Mazra map, with the only exception possibly being Al Mazrah City itself, making it both a hot landing spot and also the safest in that category since you have so much room to divert your course if you want. It’s packed with essentially everything you could need, from guns, armor, and even fueling stations to a store and a hospital. The great thing about this location is that you can sort of dictate how dangerous you want it to be. You can try and hit one of the major spots there and ensure an early fight, or pick a spot on the outskirts and work your way in once the other teams have started to engage each other.

Al Mazrah City

Al Mazrah City location in Warzone 2.0.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Finally, there’s the map’s namesake in Al Mazrah City. If you’re landing here, you’d better be looking for some instant action because that’s what you’re going to get. Unless there’s some crazy fluke, this is going to be the hottest spot to drop in every game. The loot here is some of the best you can find on the map, and there’s quite a bit of it to claim. That’s assuming you and your team live long enough to get your hands on it. There really isn’t anywhere safe to land here, thanks to the skyscrapers providing excellent sniping positions and tons of buildings for teams to flank and run through. Unless you and your team are very confident or are just looking to have some quick, chaotic fun, maybe try one of the less-risky drop spots.

Ashika Island

Currently, as of Season 4, Ashika Island is not available, as it’s been temporarily replaced by Vondel. It’s likely Ashika Island will return, but there’s no official word yet.

Underground tunnel

Underground tunnel in Warzone 2.0. Underground tunnel in Warzone 2.0.

All throughout Ashika Island is an underground tunnel full of water, with several branching paths. There are actually several ways to access this area, but the easiest and quickest way is through the tunnel on the western side of the map, in-between Town Center and Tsuki Castle. If possible, we recommend landing here to get to the underground area right away, giving you access to a ton of loot. The thing is, since most people tend to land on the ground level, you’ll almost always have the tunnel to yourself, at least at first.

While underground, take the opportunity to get stocked up on as many supplies as possible, giving you an advantage at the start of the match. There’s almost always a Buy Station here as well, allowing you to spend all the cash you just earned. You can then take one of the many exits to leave this area and enter the next POI prepared. Or you can stay underground for a safer experience.

Oganikku Farms

Oganikku Farm in Warzone 2.0. Oganikku Farm in Warzone 2.0.

While the above landing spot is much safer, players might be looking for a bit more action when starting the match. If that’s you, we advise landing at Oganikku Farms, a much hotter drop zone found on the northwestern side of the map. This area varies in terms of how busy it is, but you’ll almost always land alongside another team here. There’s plenty of loot and lots of buildings for you to fight inside, making this a great choice for those looking to practice getting into gunfights without having to worry about the wonky audio from multistory buildings. The nice thing is that Oganikku Farms also usually has a Buy Station nearby, allowing you to get prepared early on.

Shipwreck

Shipwreck in Warzone 2.0. Shipwreck in Warzone 2.0.

In terms of safe landing spots, Shipwreck is the best option, as it’s almost never contested. It’s out of the way, has decent loot, and is usually within the first circle, allowing you to easily stay safe from the deadly gas. There’s oftentimes a Buy Station at Shipwreck as well, which is a nice touch. If you’re tired of dying right away, we highly recommend landing here.

Tsuki Castle

Tsuki Castle in Warzone 2.0. Tsuki Castle in Warzone 2.0.

We cannot talk about the best landing spots without mentioning Tsuki Castle. This is the hottest drop spot on the island and is meant for the most skilled players who are good at finessing and out-maneuvering their opponents. You’ll find no shortage of gear in this area, along with a Buy Station and even a helicopter. Although Tsuki Castle is a fun place to land, it’s wildly hectic, especially since it lies in the center of the map. You’ll likely land alongside three or more teams here, and due to the terrible multistory audio, dealing with opponents here is difficult.

Editors’ Recommendations

Joseph Yaden
Joseph Yaden
Joseph Yaden is a freelance journalist who covers Nintendo, shooters, and horror games. He mostly covers game guides for…
The best Wildcards in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Kill Order gameplay in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

The concept of a Wildcard might sound like a risky endeavor in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, but this part of your loadout isn't random at all. We haven't seen this system since Cold War, and even those who remember it from that game will need to learn all the new cards there are in Black Ops 6. You can only equip a single Wildcard on your loadout, but they are powerful enough to completely redefine your playstyle. So far, there are only six to unlock while grinding through the levels with your friends, but picking just one is still a tough choice, especially if you want to use a permanent unlock on one after hitting Prestige. We've ranked all the Wildcards in Black Ops 6 so you can always have the winning hand.
All Black Ops 6 Wildcards, ranked

There is a level of personal preference in which Wildcard you will find better than others, but in most cases, the ones we've ranked as the best will help every player gain an edge in online matches. Here's our ranking of each Wildcard from best to worst, along with what level you unlock them at.
Perk Greed - Level 54
The last Wildcard you unlock is easily the most powerful. Perk Greed lets you unlock a fourth Perk to your loadout instead of being limited to three, which can borderline break the game if you choose the right set of Perks. It is also the most versatile of the Wildcards since it gives you the most options to play with instead of a specific bonus you may not find useful. It can also more easily unlock the special bonus buff you get for equipping three Perks from the same category.
Gunfighter - Level 33
Right in the middle of the unlock list, Gunfighter is one Wildcard you could easily make a case for over Perk Greed in some situations. This one increases your attachment points for your primary weapon by three. If you're rocking a top-tier weapon already, this Wildcard can let you tweak its stats even higher. We rank it second because it only applies to one weapon and thus is a bit more limiting.
Overkill - Level 24
For such an early Wildcard, Overkill is quite a powerful choice. This card lets you equip any weapon (except melee weapons) in your Primary and Secondary slots instead of the ones typically reserved for each. That means you can build a loadout with two Primary weapons and be far more versatile on the battlefield. Instead of having to trade off range, damage, rate of fire, mobility, or any other aspect of your game, you can cover almost all your bases by picking two Primary weapons that cover each other's weaknesses.
Prepper - Level 45
Field upgrades are powerful, don't get us wrong, but having two instead of one isn't always that much of a game-changer. It's a bit less useful than Gunfighter only because field upgrades are more situational and require more attention to use to their full potential. If that's you, then this is a great choice.
Danger Close - Level 38
Who doesn't want another grenade, Molotov, or combat axe? Is getting a second Lethal worth the Wildcard slot, though? Not in our opinion. Most of the time, Lethals are used in desperation or as a way to deny enemy movement for a time, and even then, they are risky because of how vulnerable you are while using them.
Tactical Expert - Level 15
The first Wildcard you get is better than nothing, but only just. It's exactly like Danger Close, only you can hold two Tacticals instead of Lethals. This is, by nature, a little worse since Tacticals don't have the ability to kill an enemy (unless you get super lucky and you directly hit an enemy with one who is on low HP). You can get some use out of them, but you're better off upgrading as soon as you have another option.

Read more
The best Perk-A-Colas in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
A screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's zombies mode.

There's nothing more refreshing than taking a nice big swig of a Perk-A-Cola during an intense Zombies match with your pals in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Besides tasting great (we assume), these colas empower you with buffs that will keep you alive until the later rounds. These bonuses are just as important as the Pack-A-Punch, but come in a wider range of flavors. It is possible to stack them all, but that gets expensive very fast so you need to be thrifty about choosing which ones are most valuable early on. These colas come in eight different types that may or may not be worth your Essence to chug. If you want to know which ones are the best in Black Ops 6, check out our ranking.
Best Perk-A-Colas in Black Ops 6

We're ranking these Perk-A-Colas based on their base bonuses, not any additional effects you can get if you Augment them, from best to worst.
Jugger-Nog
You can never go wrong with the classic Jugger-Nog. Increasing your health by 100 is useful for the entire duration of a Zombies mode, but especially in the early rounds. Going down is at best a major setback and at worst a cascade into defeat. This extra health allows you to get out of a bad situation that would otherwise end your run.
Quick Revive
This Perk has two components, with the less useful one being the ability to revive teammates 50% faster. Ideally, that shouldn't be needed but is nice. However, what makes it rank so high is the 50% shorter delay on health regen. Your health will come back over time in Zombies but at a dreadful pace. Starting to heal faster means less time running and kiting zombies around and more time in the action helping the team.
Speed Cola
The best early guns for Zombies mode have a large magazine, fast reload, or both. Running out of ammo at the wrong time and not being able to get more rounds in the chamber fast enough has ended many a run, but Speed Cola is the solution. It will speed up your reloads and armor plating by 30%. That's not a massive number, but fast enough to make the difference.
Stamin-Up
These zombies aren't the shambling types. They will chase you down like sprinters, and some of the monstrous ones can outpace you even at full tilt. Stamin-Up sounds like it would let you run for longer, but actually just lets you run faster since you have no limit on sprint in Black Ops 6. Positioning is everything in Zombies so being able to get where you need to be faster is never a bad thing, especially if it's a downed teammate bleeding out.
Deadshot Daiquiri
Every zombie has a weak spot, which is most often the head. Deadshot Daiquiri makes a critical hit hurt even more than normal, plus increases your auto-aim on those weak points when you aim down sights (ADS). That second part shouldn't factor much if you've got good aim, which is why this is only a decent Perk-A-Cola.
PhD Flopper
Not being able to hurt yourself is situationally useful, and the ability to cause an explosion by diving is a risky move. Yes, it's cool, but you don't want to be lying prone surrounded by zombies. This is a cool gimmick, but save yourself the Essence and skip it.
Elemental Pop
When Elemental Pop works, it's great. The problem with it is that you can't rely on it. It gives a small chance on every shot you take to add a random ammo mod effect, which is cool but impractical. If you have spare Essence on you, sure, it won't hurt you to have, but it isn't something that will turn the tide for you or your team.
Melee Macchiato
Finally, Melee Macchiato bottoms out the list. It is fine in the early game when the hordes are small and you're better off meleeing enemies since it will smack enemies away with each hit, but quickly drops off in usefulness. When the zombies get too strong and too numerous, you will need a lot more than a strong punch to deal with them and end up forgetting you even have it.

Read more
The best Call of Duty games, ranked
Soldier holding weapon in Modern Warfare II.

Few video game series are as influential and popular as Call of Duty. The annualized franchise throws players into fast-paced battles across various historical time periods -- along with fictional eras as well. Call of Duty has taken us to World War II, the Cold War, a modern setting, and even to the future.

Although it's one of the most successful video game franchises out there, Call of Duty's quality varies significantly from game to game, with some fantastic entries in the series, but many mediocre ones as well. But which Call of Duty games are worth your time and which ones should you skip? To answer that question, we've ranked all the mainline entries in the series, with details about why you should or shouldn't play a particular game.

Read more