Are you looking to dominate Warzone 2‘s new open world DMZ mode? Well my friend, you need to know Al Sa‘id Shopping Centre inside and out. As a fellow gaming geek and Warzone expert, I‘m going to provide an in-depth guide to navigating and mastering this essential location on the Al Mazrah map.
Why Experts Consider Al Sa‘id Vital for DMZ Success
Let‘s start with why seasoned Call of Duty veterans and analysts all point to the shopping centre as a must-know spot. Renowned streamer SuperEv outlines 3 key reasons:
"With its central location, dense loot opportunities, and replayable AI combat, Al Sa‘id Shopping Centre is basically a DMZ paradise. Make sure your squad drops in frequently to take advantage."
Expanding on SuperEv‘s points:
Prime Real Estate: The shopping mall has a central position within the urban sprawl of Sa‘id City. This puts it close to other hotspots like the Police Station and Port. You can rapidly traverse to other districts.
Abundant Loot: The multi-floor complex offers lootable stores on 2 levels, supply caches, and vehicles with trunks in the parking garages. There‘s enough gear to kit out an entire squad.
AI Grinding: The constant foot traffic of AI enemies makes it easy to rack up kills and gain chances at rare loot drops. You can farm AI here efficiently.
Simply put, the shopping centre has the ideal ingredients for tackling DMZ‘s objectives: location, loot, and enemies.
Detailed Breakdown of Al Sa‘id Shopping Centre Layout
Now that I‘ve sold you on the value of the shopping mall, let‘s break down the layout in detail so you can navigate it like a pro.
When first approaching the large structure, you‘ll notice the curved glass exterior and massive glowing signs with the mall‘s name in Arabic and English. There are 4 public entrances, one on each side.
Once inside, you‘ll enter into a massive central atrium that opens all the way up through the roof. The glass ceiling provides sunlight and visibility up through both floors.
Wrapping around the atrium on two levels are the various shops, food courts, and vendor stalls. This includes clothing boutiques, electronics stores, jewelry shops, etc. There are also side corridors leading to restrooms and maintenance areas.
Branching off the north and south sides of the complex are entrances to the underground parking garages. These provide access to loading docks and storage rooms out of the main foot traffic areas.
Here is a basic breakdown of the floorplan:
Level 1 – Central atrium hub surrounded by shops and restaurants
Level 2 – Balcony overlooking atrium with more shops and a movie theater
Basement – Parking garages, loading docks, storage rooms
Now let‘s get into optimal looting and navigation strategies.
Looting Tips from a Warzone Pro
The key to successfully looting Al Sa‘id is having a plan of attack. You want to move efficiently to grab gear while minimizing exposure.
Here is the step-by-step strategy I recommend based on the techniques of top CoD streamers:
Enter from a higher traffic side – Choose an entrance that other squads are less likely to approach from. This avoids getting pinned in a chokepoint.
Secure the interior – Scope out the central atrium from cover and eliminate any immediate threats. This provides a safer looting environment.
Clear shops systematically – Sweep each shop in an organized pattern to ensure all containers are checked. No missed loot!
Prioritize high value stores – Hit up jewelers, electronics, and clothing shops first. These have the highest chances for rare blueprints and items.
Check the balconies – Don‘t forget the balcony level above the atrium. Look for enemies camping the high ground.
Search the basements – descend to the parking garages and loading areas. This is often untouched territory with unopened caches.
Do an exterior lap – Once the interior is cleared, loop around outside checking parked vehicles. Hidden chests can also spawn out there.
Follow these tips during your plundering runs to get max rewards in minimal time.
Fighting Al Mazrah‘s Deadly AI Threats
Another major reason to hit Al Sa‘id is taking on the lethal AI enemies that patrol it. Three different factions can be encountered:
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Bodark – Russian Special Forces equipped with high-end armor and weapons.
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Legion – Terrorist militants using guerilla and ambush tactics.
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White Lotus – Rogue PMC contractors and mercenaries.
I‘ll provide some tips for effectively battling each group based on their attack patterns:
Bodark – Use EMPs to disable their HBTs and nullify their technology advantage. Target their unarmored lower bodies for quick kills.
Legion – Equip cold-blooded to avoid their thermal optics. Toss grenades to flush them out of hiding spots.
White Lotus – Engage at long range before they can close in with shotguns. Move erratically to evade incoming grenade volleys.
Consistency is key – the more AI you mow down, the greater your chances at being rewarded with rare weapon blueprints, armor, and cosmetic skins.
Contract Tips – Seizing Bonus Rewards
Speaking of rewards, Al Sa‘id Shopping Centre is a contract hotspot. These spawn frequently in and around the mall, so keep an eye out!
Here are some pro tips for securing contracts against enemy squads:
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Arrive early to set traps and claim the contract first
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Use suppressors and reposition often so you aren‘t predictable
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Finish off enemies drawn in by the contract for bonus loot
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Camp the contract objective until the target arrives if possible
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Expect contests over the lucrative High Value Target contracts
Completing contracts here provides cash, keys, xp, and the chance for exclusive legendary weapon blueprints. I‘ve scored some amazing skins like the Gold Veil LMG by fighting for mall contracts.
Unlocking Hidden Areas with the Al Sa‘id Key
Now this is a juicy tip only the real DMZ pros know – there is a special key specifically for the shopping centre. This unlocks certain doors and provides access to hidden areas.
Here is how to get your hands on the valuable Al Sa‘id Shopping Centre key:
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Rare chance for random enemies in the mall to drop it
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Possible reward for completing supply cache contracts
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Small chance to find it in Supply Boxes inside the stores
Trust me, with this key in your pocket, you hold a major advantage:
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Unlock rear store rooms with unopened caches
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Access underground parking levels and rooftops
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Flank enemies by unlocking doors behind them
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Lock down entries to trap opponents inside
So snag that key for exclusive access and control of Al Sa‘id!
Transforming Al Sa‘id into a Squad Stronghold
The shopping mall also serves as a perfect place to hunker down and establish a temporary base. Set up shop on one of the balconies or deep within a secluded store.
Once you‘ve claimed your spot:
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Fortify it with deployable cover, proximity alarms, and ammunition boxes
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Use the keys to lock down entrances and control the approaches
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Fend off enemies drawn in by your dug-in position
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Wait for teammates to respawn and exfil safely from the mall
Turning Al Sa‘id into a squad staging area gives you a huge leg up on unprepared teams. Make this fortress yours!
Why Al Sa‘id Shopping Centre is a DMZ Paradise
Let‘s wrap up with a summary of everything that makes the iconic shopping centre an ideal destination in DMZ:
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Central location to access the entire Al Mazrah map quickly
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Multi-floor interior with a huge lootable area
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Swarms of AI enemies to battle for rare item drops
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Frequent contracts to complete for money and exclusive rewards
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Key for unlocking hidden zones and controlling access
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Defensible base to claim as your own
When it comes to action, loot, and location, you really can‘t beat Al Sa‘id Shopping Centre. So drop in regularly to get your fill! Once you‘ve mastered this crown jewel destination, you‘ll dominate Warzone 2‘s new DMZ.
Let me know if this helps explain the shopping mall‘s greatness. And if you have any other Warzone tips or tricks to share, sound off! I‘m always trying to up my game. Looking forward to squadding up soon.