How to Get Loadouts in Warzone 2

Custom Loadouts are indeed back in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0.

Since its debut in the original Warzone experience, the concept of gathering your own preset loadout is arguably what made the game stand out within the battle royale genre. You drop in, make do with what RNG blesses you with, and then trade in your hard-earned resources for the meta-defined tools you feel will help you snowball the rest of the way to a win. While this concept is technically back in Warzone 2, it does appear Infinity Ward has added a major twist.

Here's a breakdown of how to get loadouts in Warzone 2.

How to Get Loadouts in Warzone 2

In the original Warzone, there were two ways to get your loadout: buying a Loadout Drop from the Buy Station or picking one up for free from the Loadout Drops that dropped during the first and fourth circles.

In Warzone 2, the Buy Station 2.0 interface (aka "Shops") has made it so that players can no longer buy full Loadout Drops. Instead, you can only use your in-match Cash at Shops to buy your Primary Weapon from created Loadouts.

If you want your full set of custom weapons, perks and equipment in Warzone 2, you'll have to rely on one of two methods: taking advantage of Loadout Drop Public Events and clearing Strongholds or Black Sites.

Loadout Drop Public Events pretty much function as they did in the original in that they will drop off boxes across the map in the middle of battle royale matches. This time around, however, these boxes are not limited or assigned to individual squads and can be accessed by any player.

Strongholds and Black Sites are designated on your in-game Tac-Map and allow you to opt-into engagements with AI combatants.

During each match, several Strongholds will be activated around the map. Squads can visit these areas to fight AI combatants. The first team to complete a Stronghold must disarm a bomb and will get their Custom Loadout and earn a key to a Black Site. Successive teams must eliminate a specific number of defenders (AI or players) and will earn their Custom Loadout, but not a Black Site key.

Black Sites are a more dangerous form of Strongholds, but they are said to offer a permanent Weapon Blueprint reward and more valuable in-match items for those who clear them out.

Ultimately, it will be interesting to see how the absence of Loadout Drops in Shops is received by the community in Warzone 2 on day one. It is worth mentioning that full loadouts weren't originally going to be in the game at all until Infinity Ward seemingly changed its mind in recent months.

For more on Call of Duty, be sure to check out our top five lists:

• Top 5 Call of Duty Games of All Time
• Top 5 Call of Duty Guns of All Time
• Top 5 Call of Duty Maps of All Time
• Top 5 Warzone Moments of All Time
• Top 5 Warzone Seasons of All Time

Additionally, feel free to check out our timeline on the history of the Call of Duty franchise!