New DMZ Deep Dive Reveals FOB, Operator Prestige and Crafting

Call of Duty has published the second major Modern Warfare 4 DMZ Deep Dive, revealing how the Forward Operating Base works and detailing many of the progression systems players will use between deployments.

The new intel covers Active Duty Operators, Traits and Operator Prestige, the 3D Printer and crafting, FOB upgrades, bosses and bounties, Stash and Loadouts, Gunsmith progression, and the dedicated 70-level DMZ progression track.

The FOB Is Your Home Between Deployments

The Forward Operating Base, or FOB, is the central hub players return to between deployments into Hajin . It is used to manage Operators, offload extracted loot, prepare Loadouts, receive DMZ Orders, craft equipment and continue permanent progression.

The FOB expands as you progress through DMZ. Some stations are available immediately, while others unlock through DMZ Levels or specific objectives and can later receive permanent upgrades.

• Operators
• DMZ Orders
• Stash / Loadout
• Firing Range
• Survival Kits
• Bounty Leaderboard
• 3D Printer
• Boss Board
• Vendor
• Gunsmith
• Dog Tag Case
• DMZ Progression
• Deploy

Active Duty Operators Now Have Their Own Progression

Active Duty Operators are no longer simply cosmetic choices. Each Operator progresses independently, improving their Dog Tag and earning Trait Points as they gain DMZ XP.

Each Operator can earn a maximum of 18 Trait Points. These points can be spent across three different Trait Trees, allowing players to create specialized builds for different playstyles.

• Warfighter
• Scout
• Survivalist

If an Operator is eliminated during a deployment, they become MIA and cannot deploy again until recovered with DMZ Cash or dismissed and replaced. Recovering them preserves their Traits, but more developed Operators cost more to rescue.

Operator Prestige Adds Permanent Traits

Once an Active Duty Operator reaches 18 Trait Points, they become eligible for DMZ Operator Prestige. Prestiging resets their normal Traits and requires valuable equipment and DMZ Cash, but rewards that specific Operator with a random Permanent Prestige Trait.

• First Prestige – 200,000 DMZ Cash
• Second Prestige – 300,000 DMZ Cash
• Third Prestige and beyond – 500,000 DMZ Cash

An Operator can hold up to three Permanent Prestige Traits. Players can continue Prestiging after that point, but new Permanent Traits must replace one of the three already equipped or be discarded.

The 3D Printer Powers DMZ Crafting

The 3D Printer unlocks at DMZ Player Level 2 and becomes one of the core progression systems in the FOB. It uses Recipes, Resources and special 3D Printer Ingredients to craft gear and permanently upgrade parts of the base.

• Recipes
• Resources
• 3D Printer Ingredients

New Recipes can be unlocked through DMZ progression, DMZ Orders or by finding a Recipe during a deployment and successfully extracting with it.

The first crafting Recipes available at DMZ Level 2 include basic medical supplies, armor and backpacks.

FOB Upgrades Are Permanent

The 3D Printer is also used to permanently upgrade the FOB. These upgrades require multiple crafting stages and gradually expand the resources and capabilities available between deployments.

• Bank capacity upgrades
• Stash item capacity upgrades
• MIA recovery discounts
• Weapon Stash capacity upgrades
• Higher-rarity Ingredient printing

The Boss Board Introduces Dedicated Boss Hunting

The Boss Board unlocks after completing your second DMZ Order and provides information on the most dangerous enemies operating across Hajin .

Bosses are divided into Lieutenants and Commanders. Intel on Lieutenants can be unlocked and purchased before a deployment, while Commanders are permanently present somewhere in the Exclusion Zone and cannot be located by purchasing intel.

Defeated Lieutenants can drop unique weapons, special keys and a Lieutenant Dog Tag Case. Picking up the case broadcasts your position to other squads, making the trip to exfil significantly more dangerous.

Three Commanders have already been revealed for Hajin:

• Colossus
• Deathstalker
• Tank

DMZ Has Its Own 70-Level Progression Track

Modern Warfare 4 DMZ features its own dedicated Player Level progression system with 70 levels, separate from the standard Modern Warfare 4 Player Progression.

• Level 2 – 3D Printer
• Level 5 – Vendor
• Level 10 – Gunsmith
• Level 20 – Dog Tag Case

Further progression unlocks additional Operator slots, Stash capacity, Bank upgrades, Gunsmith discounts, Vendor inventory, crafting Recipes, cosmetics and other permanent FOB improvements.

Three Ways to Deploy Into Hajin

When a squad is ready to return to Hajin , the Deploy system offers three main deployment types.

• Story Missions
• Dynamic Operations
• Free Roam

Dynamic Operations and Free Roam also allow players to spend DMZ Cash on different infiltration methods instead of always entering the map on foot. Ground – Free, here is other options:

DMZHUB Will Track the New Progression Systems

The latest Deep Dive shows just how interconnected Modern Warfare 4 DMZ will be. Operators, Traits, Recipes, Items, FOB Upgrades, Bosses, Missions and locations all feed into the same persistent progression loop.

DMZHUB is being built around these systems, and we will continue adding official data, requirements, relationships and progression information as more intel becomes available and DMZ Early Access begins.

Source

Official source: Call of Duty – DMZ Deep Dive, Part 2: How to Play – Forward Operating Base (FOB) Full Intel Guide, published October 9, 2026.