Warzone Season 2 Reloaded brings major weapon balancing, Rebirth Island updates, and quality-of-life improvements for players
Major Weapon Balancing Changes
Call of Duty: Warzone Season 2 Reloaded introduces significant weapon rebalancing that will dramatically shift the current meta. The update focuses on addressing overpowered weapons while buffing underutilized categories to create more diverse combat scenarios.
Season 2 Reloaded delivers comprehensive weapon tuning that targets dominant SMGs while enhancing shotgun and marksman rifle effectiveness. These changes aim to create more balanced engagements across all weapon categories.
Raven Software has implemented precise adjustments based on community feedback and performance data. The Welgun, which has dominated close-quarters combat, receives multiple nerfs that should open up the SMG meta for alternative options.
Strategic players should note that these changes create opportunities for previously overlooked weapons. The buffs to shotguns and melee weapons provide new close-range options that can counter SMG-heavy loadouts when used effectively.
The Welgun’s reign as the top SMG faces significant challenges with this update. Its firing rate reduction and increased recoil will impact time-to-kill and accuracy at medium ranges.
Beyond base weapon changes, the Welgun’s popular attachments receive substantial nerfs. The 320mm SA Shrouded barrel loses 21% recoil control, while the Gorenko 40-round magazines suffer damage and recoil reductions that impact their effectiveness.
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Hollow Point ammunition undergoes a substantial 20% damage range reduction, affecting all SMG users who relied on this attachment. Meanwhile, Vanguard shotguns receive a 10% damage increase, and melee weapons now execute critical hits on second consecutive strikes.
Armaguerra 43 (VG)
Very high rate-of-fire SMG. Effective at short to medium range engagements.
Maximum Damage decreased from 28 to 27
Minimum Damage decreased from 24 to 23
Neck Damage Multiplier increased from 1.2 to 1.3
The Vargo 52 (BOCW) is a powerful new addition to the AR category and was outperforming where we wanted it to be. We expect that the weapon will still excel within its damage range and will be keeping a close eye on it for the future.
Volkssturmgewehr (VG)
The Volkssturmgewehr (VG) tended to drift to the right while firing, which could distract or obstruct sight when it mattered most. This change mutes that Weapon movement considerably.
Bullet Velocity increased by 13.8%
Bullet Velocity increased by 14.3%
ADS Movement Speed increased from .86 to 1
ADS Interrupt Time increased from 300ms to 250ms
ADS Interrupt Time is the point in the Aim Down Sight animation where it can be interrupted by other actions. This change will make its Handling feel lighter and more responsive.
Bullet Velocity increased by 16%
Vanguard Marksman Rifles were behind when looking at velocity. These adjustments are intended to make them far more reliable at their optimal ranges.
Most Melee Weapons now execute a Melee Finisher on a second consecutive strike.
This change is significant as Melee Weapons deal 135 damage, which if left unchanged, would consistently require 3 hits to kill with the increase to base health.
Vanguard Shotgun Damage increased by 10%.
Einhorn Revolving (VG)
Magazine Capacity increased from 5 to 6
[Controller Only] Aim Assist enabled when not in ADS
[Controller Only] Aim Assist enabled when not in ADS
7.62 Gorenko Capacity increased from 32 to 36
.45 ACP Round Fast Mags Capacity increased from 28 to 32
9mm Mags Capacity increased from 20 to 28
On paper, the Sten (VG) has an incredibly compelling stat-line. In reality, it suffered far too much from its limited magazine capacities–which prevented it from piercing the upper echelon of Submachine Guns. A moderate mag size increase will make the Sten (VG) a more competitive option for those who prefer highly-mobile playstyles.
Fire Rate decreased by 2.2%
Recoil increased slightly
Damage Range now decreased by 20%
Hollow Point has been heavily leaned on by Submachine Guns and with good reason. Its previous damage range penalty would rarely affect the most common engagement distances. This adjustment to the ammunition results in a powerful tool, you’ll just have to get a little closer.
Our ongoing goal with ammunition is to provide options and move away from a singular choice that’s “good for any occasion”.
Rebirth Island: Reinforced Updates
Rebirth Island receives substantial enhancements in Season 2 Reloaded, including new gameplay modes, public events, and community challenges that encourage player participation across multiple sessions.
Rebirth Community Challenges
All Operators will need to work together to complete four Community Challenges which will each unlock new gameplay elements and provide massive amounts of Player XP:
Operators must get a combined 20 billion kills on Rebirth Island to unlock the Weapon Trade Station and earn 25k XP.
Operators must trade a combined 190 Million Weapons to the Weapon Trade Station to unlock the Communications Towers and earn 50k XP.
Operators must secure a combined 130 Million Payloads on Rebirth Island to unlock the Armored Truck Deployment Public Event and earn 75k XP.
Operators must gather a combined $40 Trillion in Blood Money on Rebirth Island to unlock the Golden Vault Mystery and earn 100k XP.
Participation Challenges
We also have four Participation Challenges!
Wipe 3 enemies in Resurgence Solos on Rebirth Island.
Trade 30 Legendary Weapons to the Weapon Trade Station on Rebirth Island.
Push or halt the Payload for a total of 20 minutes on Rebirth Island.
Gather $5 Million in Blood Money on Rebirth Island.
Seven cosmetic rewards will be available with this event.
Each Participation Challenge will have its own unique reward.
Winning 25 Resurgence matches will unlock another reward.
There are also 2 mystery rewards to unlock by deciphering secrets on the island…
A 12 vs. 12, fast-paced & simplified variant of the Limited-Time Mode with one Payload to push or halt.
It’s time for Plunder fans to drop in to Rebirth Island for a hectic version of a fan favorite mode.
Rebirth Resurgence Solos
Tired of carrying all your friends to victory in other Resurgence modes? Now you can drop in solo!
In Resurgence Solos, you start the match with a free Redeploy. On death, this Redeploy will be used up and will require you to stay alive for a short time period to earn another one.
New Public Events (Rebirth Island – All Modes)
Armored Truck Deployment
Rebirth Reinforced introduces the “Armored Truck Deployment” event that drops lethal vehicles into the Warzone.
Rebirth now also supports the Vanguard Public Events such as Weapon Drop, Cash Drop, and Restock.
Juggernaut Armor Drops
- These drops will be very rare so don’t miss out on capturing them!
These drops will be very rare so don’t miss out on capturing them!
Strategic players should prioritize completing community challenges early to unlock new gameplay elements that provide tactical advantages. The Weapon Trade Station and Communications Towers offer unique opportunities for squad coordination and loadout optimization that can significantly impact match outcomes.
The new public events create dynamic combat scenarios that reward adaptive playstyles. Armored Truck Deployment introduces mobile cover and firepower, while Juggernaut Armor Drops provide rare but game-changing advantages for teams that secure them.
Quality of Life Improvements
Season 2 Reloaded introduces numerous quality-of-life enhancements that streamline gameplay and improve user experience across multiple systems.
Deployable Buy Station
Added as Legendary ground loot, the Deployable Buy Station is a Field Upgrade that, once the marker is deployed, will call in a Buy Station to the location.
The Deployable Buy Station has the same inventory as the normal Buy Station.
The Deployable Buy Station will show up on the Tac Map with its own unique icon.
Players will now be able to drop their Gas Mask, whether to give to a squad mate or out of choice, through the drop down inventory menu.
Players can collect the Armor Plates within ground loot Armor Satchels, even if they are currently equipped with an Armor Satchel.
Armor Satchels now show how many Armor Plates they contain in their loot card.
While downed, Players will be able to control the state they will be self-revived into to allow for being in a prone or crouched state.
In-world Contracts have been rotated at an angle to make them easier to find and ping.
Contracts will show on the Tac Map, even when an existing Contract is in progress, to better enable forward tactical planning.
Rebalanced the distribution of Contracts in Battle Royale and Plunder modes to better favor Bounties.
“Most Wanted” has been removed from the selection pool of “Top Secret”.
Improvements have been made to better distinguish the visual differences between Loadout Drop Markers, the new Deployable Buy Station Markers, and Smoke Grenades, when viewed in-world.
Players can now cut their parachutes at any point before their feet touch the ground.
An adjustment has been made to slightly increase the height required for being able to deploy a parachute in order to reduce false positives of the parachute opening when jumping at an angled, low height.
Note; an additional bug fix is in development to fix certain Operator parachute behavior currently being inconsistent.
Heavy Weapon Drop Public Event
Heavy Weapon Drops have had their default loot vastly improved, and now include a guaranteed UAV, and a guaranteed Legendary loot item.
Fire Sale Public Event
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The Buy Station Fire Sale discount has been decreased from 80% to 50% for UAV’s.
The Commendations page will now show unearned Commendations to better help players collect them all.
The Deployable Buy Station represents a game-changing tactical tool that allows squads to create their own purchase locations. Strategic placement can provide significant advantages in late-game scenarios or when controlling remote areas of the map.
Contract system improvements make tactical planning more accessible. The increased visibility of available contracts and rebalanced distribution encourages more dynamic gameplay decisions rather than repetitive contract farming.
Parachute mechanics receive crucial fixes that improve movement fluidity. The ability to cut chutes earlier and reduced false deployments addresses long-standing community complaints about inconsistent aerial mobility.
Battle Royale Experience Merging
Season 2 Reloaded marks a significant step in merging Vanguard Royale features into the standard Battle Royale experience, creating a unified gameplay system with enhanced mechanics.
After two seasons of Vanguard Royale being in regular playlist rotation, and listening to your feedback, we are starting to merge the two Battle Royale experiences into one. We have been really happy with the reception to Vanguard Royale, and as we have listened, watched, and enjoyed all the conversations about the two Battle Royale modes, it’s now time to take the best bits from each and create the definitive Battle Royale experience, starting at launch and with further updates happening during the in-season and the seasons ahead.
Default core health is now at 150 (up from 100).
Dead Silence will remain as Legendary ground loot.
All Vanguard Royale Contracts will be integrated;
- “Big Game Bounty”
- “Top Secret”
- “Supply Drop”
All Vanguard Royale Public Events will be integrated into the event pool;
- Cash Drops
- Heavy Weapon Drops
- Resurgence
- Restock
As always we will continue to monitor and listen to feedback, as well as communicate any experiments that we plan to carry out during the in-season to further refine Battle Royale.
The core health increase to 150 fundamentally changes engagement dynamics, requiring players to adjust their time-to-kill expectations and weapon effectiveness calculations. This change benefits defensive playstyles and increases the importance of accuracy and shot placement.
Integration of Vanguard Royale contracts and events enriches the standard Battle Royale experience with more variety and strategic depth. The addition of Big Game Bounty and Supply Drop contracts provides new objectives that reward aggressive playstyles and team coordination.
This unification represents Raven Software’s commitment to creating a cohesive Warzone experience that incorporates the most popular elements from different modes while maintaining balance and competitive integrity.
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