10 Tips for the Call of Duty Mobile DMZ: Recon Mode

DMZ: Recon is a new ranked game mode added to Call of Duty: Mobile for the 6th anniversary update in December 2025. Recon is an extraction-based game mode with more unique player vs. player vs. environment (AI enemies) gameplay. It is a game mode that drops squads of players onto a map (currently Serpent Island) to loot valuable gear and complete optional contracts before safely extracting before the match timer expires. Here are some hints and tips to help you get ahead in the new Call of Duty: Mobile DMZ: Recon mode.

Attack From Elevated Positions

The Serpent Island DMZ: Recon map has plenty of high buildings and cliffsides that can give you a good elevation advantage for gunfighting. Try going to the top of some of the high-rise buildings to gain a good overview of the surrounding enemies below you. Then, you can open fire on enemies beneath you to kill them somewhat more easily. Many human enemies probably won’t even notice you’re targeting them from the rooftops of higher buildings.

To further exploit elevation, equip one gun better suited to medium and long-range gunfighting, such as a sniper or assault rifle. Make sure you add a good scope attachment to it. Then, you can pick off smaller targets from an elevated distance more efficiently.

Purchase Radiation Masks or Pills

DMZ: Recon has an expanding radiation zone that increases during matches. Thus, radiation can become an issue if you’re not equipped for it. Make sure you purchase either radiation masks or cheaper pills for Recon matches. Both items will give you some protection from the expanding radiation, which can be hard to avoid in the late stages of matches.

Try to Play Alongside Teammates

The squad size for DMZ: Recon matches is three players. Try moving with and playing alongside teammates when you can. Teammates can help you with killing the many AI enemies you’ll frequently encounter. Although most standard AI enemies aren’t hard to kill, supporting teammates will save you ammunition by shooting them down. Plus, they can also revive you when knocked down by AI or human opponents.

Hold Your Melee Weapon to Move Faster

Your melee weapon, typically the knife, is much lighter to carry than most guns. Holding your lightweight knife considerably increases your movement speed in DMZ: Recon. Try switching to your knife whenever you’re in a hurry to reach an Exfil extraction point. Doing so will enable you to reach extraction points somewhat faster.

Move Your Most Valuable Loot Into Insured Slots

The inventory screen in DMZ: Recon has three insured slots. You will keep the loot added to those slots even when killed during a match. So, make sure you move the most valuable loot you’re carrying, ideally legendary or mythic items, into those slots during matches.

Don’t Leave Your Exfil Exit Too Late

One thing to avoid during DMZ: Recon matches is leaving your map extraction too late. Firstly, because there are fewer and more heavily contested exfil points in the late stages of matches, which makes it harder to make a safe exit then. The larger radiation zones can also make it harder to reach extraction points intact and in time.

Thus, sticking around longer to collect more high-tier loot can backfire big time if you start your map exit too late. Consider leaving a DMZ: Recon match with about 10 minutes to play, because it might take five minutes (maybe even longer) for you to reach an exfil point and extract. Much depends on how far you are from the nearest extraction points, so check the map to determine when you should make your exit.

Activate UAV Towers to Reveal Enemy Positions

DMZ: Recon includes numerous UAV Towers, marked with radio station icons on the map. Those are tactical intel points that reveal (ping) enemy locations on your mini-map with red dots for short time periods. Activate those towers to reveal where all nearby AI bots are for you to kill.

Play it Safe

The best way to climb the rankings in DMZ: Recon is to survive and exit matches with some loot in the bag. Some players might be tempted to frequently fight for more highly valued loot in safes and boss areas where many enemies lurk. Yet, too much gunfighting can get you killed, and you’ll lose most of the loot you’re carrying with that.

So, don’t get too carried away trying to stuff your bag with legendary and mythic loot. Fill your bag up in safer map areas and start moving toward Exfil points with a reasonable amount of time left. Your main objective should be to survive matches with some collected loot to take back with you.

Don’t Sell Most of Your Legendary and Mythic Loot

Though it might be tempting to sell more valuable legendary and mythic loot, there’s a good reason why you shouldn’t. Legend and mythic loot are collectible items that enable you to unlock permanent buffs. Storing collectible items in your gallery gives you more collection points for unlocking permanent buffs. For example, you’ll need 200 collection points to unlock the first permanent buff. So, keep hold of the most legendary and mythic loot you pick up for that purpose.

Attack Flametrooper Bosses From Distance

Flametrooper bosses are among the toughest AI enemies I’ve encountered in DMZ: Recon. Those guys have dangerous flamethrower weapons that can be quite devastating at close quarters. The best way to deal with Flametrooper bosses is to shoot at them from a distance, out of range of their flame attacks.

Call of Duty Mobile DMZ: Recon certainly offers an interesting alternative to the multiplayer and battle royale modes. Sticking to the tips above will help you climb the new Recon mode rankings faster. Good luck, and have fun looting in the new COD: Mobile game mode!