Warzone Season 5 update patch notes

A new Warzone season is on the way, with Season 5 bringing game-changing updates, new weapons, Operators, and more.

Black Ops 7 is on the horizon, with the official reveal happening at Gamescom Opening Night Live, but Treyarch and Raven Software aren’t finished with the current iteration yet.

Warzone’s Season 5 update is up next, and the devs have dropped the full patch notes, so here’s when it starts, everything in the update, and all the changes.

Warzone Season 5 start date & time

The Warzone Season 5 update arrives on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST.

This is also when the Season 4 Battle Pass expires, so make sure you finish it or you’ll lose any unclaimed rewards.

Verdansk map changes

The Verdansk Stadium will open with the Season 5 update. This also happened five years ago in the Modern Warfare Season 5 update, but it’s a little different this time.

Activision

The Satellite Hijack Contract will be available for the first week of the season, and here, you’ll blow up the Stadium roof yourself. It’s a multi-step contract where you’ll be racing to beat other teams to complete it, and if you do, you’ll get a redacted item to use for the rest of the match, which will also be “permanently placed in your Gunsmith.”

Once the first week concludes, Stadium will stay open for the foreseeable future.

New weapons

Warzone Season 5 brings two new weapons at launch, with two more arriving later in the season.

You can unlock the PML 5.56 LMG and ABR A1 Assault Rifle (the AUG) in the Battle Pass, with the Boxing Gloves and Gravemark .357 Revolver arriving in-season.

There’s also the 9mm PM Skull Splitter attachment that makes the 9mm PM more powerful while reducing its fire rate, and the PPSh-41 Helical Magazine attachment gives the PPSh-41 a huge magazine where you’ll have to make sure it doesn’t overheat.

Warzone Season 5 patch notes

MAPS

Adjusted

» Verdansk «

• Militarized Stadium
  • A new multi-step Contract is available during the first full week of the season. Infiltrate the Stadium, uncover hidden operations, and complete the explosive Satellite Hijack Contract before time runs out.
  • Once unlocked, players will find that this POI is now more meaningful than ever with the introduction of the Militarized variant. Updates include:
    • New vertical structures offer increased control over sightlines and engagement opportunities.
    • Most additions are made of solid materials to reduce wallbanging from the outskirts.
    • Height variation between structures introduces more diverse combat encounters.
    • Multiple structures provide plenty of loot for players to scavenge.
    • The outer ring of the Stadium remains largely unchanged to preserve familiarity.
  • Starting on Week 2 through the end of Season 05, the Stadium will remain permanently unlocked and be designated as a High Value Loot Zone.

MODES

New

• Stadium Resurgence
  • With the action heating up, Stadium becomes the center of an intense Resurgence battle. Standard Resurgence rules apply: keep up the pressure, complete Contracts, eliminate threats, and stay mobile. Every action helps accelerate squad redeployments.
  • Each match consists of:
    • 36 players
    • 12-minute time limit
    • Custom loot pools
    • Custom circle collapses (7 stages)
    • Public Events
  • Available starting Week 2 of Season 05.

PLAYLIST

For information about upcoming Playlists, please check out the dedicated Call of Duty: Warzone Trello Board.

RANKED PLAY

In Season 05, we’re closely monitoring the evolution of Ranked Play – focusing on SR curves, player engagement, and reducing matchmaking and progression pain points. For now, we’re monitoring changes we’ve made to SR gains in Resurgence to ensure top placement isn’t the only path to progression within the Top 250, while slightly smoothing the high-end progression curve for others. We’ll be keeping a close eye on both modes and making additional adjustments as needed.

Adjustments

• Resurgence SR
  • SR Cap for Eliminations increased to 150, up from 100.
  • Placement SR for 1st place reduced to 125, down from 150.
  • Placement SR for 2nd and 3rd place increased to 100, up from 75.

These changes went live just prior to the release of Season 05. The aim is to reduce the difficulty of progression at the highest ranks. Currently, players in high Iridescent and Top 250 often need to secure a 1st place finish to gain any SR. While high placements will continue to drive the bulk of progression, we’re introducing more opportunities for players who consistently place near the top to continue moving forward.

• Restrictions
  • The 9mm Daemon PM Skullsplitter Barrel is now restricted.

• Resurgence Elimination Challenge Rewards
  • Sticker: Requirement increased from 25 to 40 eliminations.
  • Camo: Requirement reduced from 250 to 150 eliminations.
  • Blueprint: Requirement reduced from 1000 to 400 eliminations.

Rewards

Compete in the fifth season of Ranked Play – Battle Royale or Resurgence – and earn the following rewards as you progress:

Career

• Get 5 Top 15 Placements – Animated Emblem
• Get 10 Top 15 Placements – WZ Ranked Play Operator
• Get 20 Top 15 Placements – Loading Screen
• Get 50 Top 15 Placements – Spray
• Get 100 Top 15 Placements – Charm
• Get 150 Top 15 Placements – Spray
• Get 250 Top 15 Placements – Camo
• Get 300 Top 15 Placements – Weapon Decal & Knife Blueprint

Operator

• Reach Gold Rank in any WZ Ranked Play Season – Gold Competitor Operator
• Reach Platinum Rank in any WZ Ranked Play Season – Platinum Competitor Operator
• Reach Diamond Rank in any WZ Ranked Play Season – Diamond Competitor Operator
• Reach Crimson Rank in any WZ Ranked Play Season – Crimson Competitor Operator
• Reach Iridescent Rank in any WZ Ranked Play Season – Iridescent Competitor Operator
• Place Top 250 at the end of any WZ Ranked Play Season – WZ Top 250 Competitor Operator
• Place #1 Overall at the end of any WZ Ranked Play Season – WZ Top 250 Champion Operator 

*New* Seasonal

• First Season Win – Charm – Usagi
• Get 25 Eliminations – Sticker – Kage Oni
• Get 100 Eliminations – Weapon Camo – Specters of the Sword
• Get 250 Eliminations – Weapon Blueprint – Gozu’s Judgement
• Silver: “Ranked Season 04 – “Silver” Emblem – Silver Hannya
• Gold: “Ranked Season 04 – “Gold” Emblem – Gold Dragon
• Gold: “Ranked Season 04 – “Gold” Calling Card – Gold Koi
• Platinum: “Ranked Season 04 – “Platinum” Emblem – Platinum Dark Sun
• Platinum: “Ranked Season 04 – “Platinum” Calling Card – Ocean Katana
• Diamond: “Ranked Season 04 – “Diamond” Emblem – Diamond Death Lotus
• Diamond: “Ranked Season 04 – “Diamond” Calling Card – Azure Phoenix
• Crimson: “Ranked Season 04 – “Crimson” Emblem – Crimson Viper
• Crimson: “Ranked Season 04 – “Crimson” Calling Card – Crimson Kirin

LOOT & ECONOMY

Adjustments

• Ground Loot
  • The new Season 05 PML 5.56 Light Machine Gun has been added to ground loot and Supply Boxes.

• Lootable Perks
  • Updated the pool to include:
    • Shrouded
    • Irradiated
    • Loot Master
    • Reflexes
    • Bomb Squad
    • Gung-Ho

BUY STATIONS

Adjustments

• Buy Station Updates
  • Buy Station spawn locations have been re-randomized across the map to create more dynamic combat scenarios and rotation opportunities.
  • The Stadium Buy Station will now appear once the roof has been breached.
    • Starting in Week 2 of Season 05, this Buy Station will be available at the start of the match.
  • New Buy Station locations are as follows:

CONTRACTS

New

• Satellite Hijack Limited-Time Contract
  • Available for one week only, the Satellite Hijack contract challenges squads to breach the Stadium – working with or against one another
  • How it works:
    • Multiple squads must complete the contract in the same match to initiate the Stadium breach.
  • 4-Step Process:
    • Investigate a campsite to locate a decrypting tool.
    • Eliminate the player who already scavenged it.
    • Hijack a relay module to begin the hacking process.
    • Once hacking is complete, rush into the breached Stadium.
  • Rewards & Opportunities:
    • Secure a permanent Weapon Blueprint by locating and holding the Weapon Case hidden inside the Stadium.
    • Discover limited-time secondary objectives hidden within the area.
    • Available in both core and casual Battle Royale modes across all squad sizes.

EQUIPMENT

Adjustments

• Spring Mine
  • Increased damage reduction when prone or diving by an additional 10%.
  • Players now receive 85% damage reduction when performing these actions.

We are observing a large amount of Spring Mine deaths towards the end of a match. We are taking steps to clean up unintended outcomes when facing off against the mine.

EQUIPMENT

New

• Napalm Strike
  • Call in a targeted strike of explosive napalm to cut off enemies and rain fire from above.
  • Functions similarly to an Airstrike, with napalm impacting from left to right based on the direction you’re facing when called in.
  • Available exclusively through Care Packages.

PERKS

Adjustments

• Perk Visibility Quality of Life
  • Perks picked up during a match will now appear directly in your HUD, inventory, killcam, and while spectating other players, providing immediate clarity on the tactical advantages you’ve acquired.
• Specialist
  •  Obtaining Specialist is now easier! Pool balls are now arranged on the rack to help you out. Go take a look!

WEAPONS

General

• Drop Rate Adjustments
  • Verdansk Battle Royale
    • Assault Rifles now have a slightly higher spawn rate compared to SMGs.
    • This adjustment is intended to improve access to mid-range combat options over short-range alternatives.
  • Rebirth Island Resurgence
    • Adjusted each class of weapon drop rate
    • Assault Rifles: Increased from 30% to 33%
    • SMGs: Increased from 20% to 32%
    • LMGs: Decreased from 15% to 10%
    • Snipers: Decreased from 15% to 10%
    • Shotguns: Decreased from 10% to 7%
    • Marksman Rifles: Remain at 5%
    • Pistols: Decreased from 5% to 3%

New Weapons

• PML 5.56 Light Machine Gun
  • Full-auto light machine gun. Fast rate of fire and high lethality offset by low mobility and hefty recoil.
  • Can be acquired via Battle Pass Page 3

• ABR A1 Assault Rifle
  • Three-round burst assault rifle. Good handling and power. Moderate recoil and range. Configurable to full auto.
  • Can be acquired via Battle Pass Page 6

• Boxing Gloves Melee | In-Season
  • Slip on the Boxing Gloves and knock out foes with a swift barrage of jabs and uppercuts. Though their range is short and multiple hits are needed to down a foe.
  • Can be acquired via In-Season Event Reward

New Attachments

• 9mm PM Skull Splitter
  • Bring the power and precision of a marksman rifle to your favorite pistol with the 9mm PM Skull Splitter Barrel. The Barrel greatly increases damage, especially to the head, reducing rate of fire. Pair with an extended magazine that gives the Operator additional ammo for this weapon at the expense of handling.
  • Can be acquired via Battle Pass Page 7 Reward

• PPSh-41 Helical Magazine In-Season
  • Fire to the beat of your own drum with this SMG attachment that puts other magazines to shame. Manage heat on this high-ammo count magazine that excels at spraying bullets in close and medium ranges.
  • Can be acquired via In-Season Event Reward

Default Loadouts

• Enforcer
  • Kilo replaces FFAR
• Commando
  • Jackal replaces Ladra
  • ABR A1 replaces Swat 5.56
• Strategist
  • PML 5.56 replaces PU-21
• Recon
  • LAW3A1 Frostline replaces DM-10
  • AS-VAL replaces GPR
• Infiltrator
  • Ladra replaces LC-10

UI/UX

Adjustments

• Weapon Level Display Improvements
  • Your current Weapon Level and its Max Level are now displayed together in areas where only the current level was previously shown. This makes it easier to track remaining progress toward maxing out a weapon.

• Friendly Field Upgrade Indicators Quality of Life
  • The Deployable Cover, Trophy System, and Recon Drone now display a blue indicator when deployed by a friendly player, aligning with existing visuals for friendly lethal and tactical equipment.

CHALLENGES

Adjustments

• Set up UAV Towers to properly count toward challenges that require a player to be under the effect of a UAV.
• Updated Feng Diamond and Dark Matter camo challenges to correctly track multi-kill progress.
• Expanded the requirements for Unique Camo Challenges that require kills on Most Wanted targets – kills on Bounty targets will now also count. This change gives players more flexibility in how they progress these challenges.

BUG FIXES

General

• Fixed an issue causing fewer than expected ATVs to spawn in Battle Royale.
• Fixed an issue preventing an ammo depot station from spawning in a Police Station in Riverside.
• Fixed an issue causing players to get stuck on “Connecting” in a queue after selecting “Play Again” and then returning to the main menu.
• Fixed an issue where launcher-type weapons were not tracking kills correctly when aiming down sights.

Gameplay & Equipment

• Fixed an issue where the Search and Destroy contract could target a non-existent Buy Station.
• Fixed an issue where the Spring Mine could remain lethal after a player left the match; it will no longer deal damage once the deploying player has exited.
• Fixed an issue causing the Swat 5.56 Grau Conversion loot weapon to use an incompatible attachment.

Ranked Play

• Fixed an issue where the lobby walk would stop playing and display a black loading screen after a few minutes in the Warzone Ranked Play menu.
• Fixed an issue in Ranked Play where players could become semi-soft locked in the queue after attempting to join someone in a different playlist.

UI/UX

• Fixed an issue causing the Ares Clear Shot Optic to not display a small sniper glint.
• Fixed an issue causing thermal optics to not function properly on the SZ Holotherm and Schlager Night View optics.
• Fixed an issue causing weapon previews to fail to display in the Weapons tab when a new custom loadout is set as a favorite.
• Fixed an issue where the Specialist Perk appeared twice in the UI, despite only showing once in spectate and killcam views.
• Fixed an issue where the Loadout Drop icon appeared on the squad widget even when the team had insufficient funds for a loadout.
• Fixed various issues with MW2 and MW3 weapon attachment pro and con text descriptions.

You can also check out all the buffs and nerfs in the update to see how the meta’s changed.

Over on Black Ops 6, the Season 5 update brings the final Zombies map ahead of Black Ops 7 later in the year.