Launched in November 2022 alongside the release of Warzone 2, DMZ mode dropped players into the expansive battleground of Al Mazrah. This new open world extraction shooter mode gained quick popularity for its PvEvP gameplay and rewarding progression system. The highly anticipated Season 2 update in February 2023 added an entirely new map for DMZ – the foggy island landscape of Ashika. This guide will provide expert insight into locating and looting the crucial Ashika Island Information Booth, one of the most valuable points of interest added in Ashika.
DMZ Mode Overview
For context, DMZ matches feature teams of operators battling enemy AI combatants, retrieving mission items, and extracting loot. The self-described “extraction shooter” mode took inspirations from Escape from Tarkov and other hardcore shooters. Teams choose loadouts and drop into sprawling maps to complete infil/exfil cycles during 45-60 minute matches.
Operators earn XP, weapons, cosmetics, and other unlocks by surviving encounters, securing loot, and extracting safely. There is no single victory condition – success depends on strategy, coordination, and tactical skill. Unlike traditional PvP, DMZ also incorporates PvEvP elements, allowing factions to engage each other or AI enemies. This open ended structure gave DMZ near infinite replayability at launch.
Welcome to Ashika Island
The Season 2 update in February 2023 added the brand new map of Ashika Island for DMZ. Raven Software designed Ashika as a “refreshed and reset” destination, with new challenges to master [1]. The island features dense fog, coastal cliffs, shipwrecks, villages, and aged ruins. Players must carefully traverse the terrain, tuning strategy and loadouts to counter ever-present environmental threats.
Beyond navigational challenges, Ashika also hides valuable new sources of loot for operators to discover. Key locations include bunkers, locked rooms, and scattered caches, many requiring special keys to access. This brings us to one of the most essential spots for loot – the Ashika Island Information Booth.
Ashika Island Information Booth Overview
Among the points of interest (POIs) added in Ashika, the Information Booth should become a top priority for squads to locate each match. As its name suggests, the booth serves as a central source of intel, keys, rewards, and resources for teams. While small, its stash of rare loot makes it well worth uncovering.
The Ashika Information Booth closely mirrors the original Information Booth found in Al Mazrah during Season 1. It occupies an innocuous storefront location, with a locked door requiring a special key to open. Behind the door lies piles of loot, making it a frequent hotspot for activity.
Operators who unlock the Information Booth early in a match gain a major advantage. The booth can provide weapon blueprints, satchel upgrades, killstreaks, cash, armor, and keys to unlock other areas. It becomes a central hub for gearing a squad. Let’s breakdown how to find it.
Ashika Island Information Booth Location
The Ashika Island Information Booth is situated on the west side of the Town Center point of interest, at coordinate D5 on the map. To locate it specifically:
- Drop into Ashika Island for a DMZ match
- Travel to the Town Center area, distinguished by a large church
- Head to the smaller white brick building just left of the church
- Approach the door at the end of the interior hallway
This inconspicuous door, just beside some vending machines, leads to the valuable Information Booth loot. But first, we need to get inside.
How to Get the Ashika Island Information Booth Key
The Information Booth remains securely locked until players acquire the matching Ashika Island Information Booth key. This special key randomly spawns around the map, and must be obtained to gain access.
While random, certain methods yield higher chances of obtaining the key:
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Eliminating AI Enemies: All AI combatants have a small chance of dropping the key upon death. Prioritize Heavy armored soldiers.
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Completing Contracts: High Value Target contracts provide rewards including rare loot drops like the key.
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Looting Supply Boxes: Check every crate and cache for potential key spawns.
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Looting Players: Defeating rival operators may yield a Booth key they previously acquired.
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Sharing with Teammates: Coordinating to share existing keys helps unlock the Booth faster.
With persistence across multiple engagements, operators can eventually secure the Information Booth key and reap the interior riches.
Looting the Ashika Island Information Booth
Once unlocked, the Booth contains a clustering of rare loot piles players can sort through and take:
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Weapon Blueprints – Powerful weapon platforms ideal for loadout drops
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Satchel Upgrades – Increases carrying capacity for extracted loot
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Killstreaks – Offensive support items like Cluster Strikes
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Keys – Grant access to locked rooms across Ashika Island
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Cash – Used to purchase guns, streaks, revives, redeploys
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Intel – Unlock in-game lore and backstory through text, audio logs
Operators should loot quickly and watch for ambushes from outside. With coordination, teammates can provide security. Prioritize weapon blueprints, additional keys, satchels, and any unowned loot types before gathering cash.
Ashika Island Information Booth Strategies
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Ideal Squad Roles: When going for the Booth, assign squadmates defensive and supportive duties like area security, distraction, reconnaissance.
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Loadout Optimization: Equip Cold Blooded to avoid AI detection when raiding. High Alert helps prevent flanks.
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BOOTH FIRST: Make the Information Booth the first major objective after landing and looting starting POIs.
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Map Knowledge: Study the Tac Map prior to understand navigation routes to the Booth location.
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Stay Alert: Constantly scan surroundings when looting the Booth. Enemy teams will be drawn to the activity.
How Ashika Island Compares to Al Mazrah
The original Al Mazrah map for DMZ featured a similar Information Booth POI near the Taraq Village area. However, Ashika Island presents new challenges for operators:
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Restricted visibility from constant fog
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More verticality and complex terrain
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Higher AI enemy density in compounds
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Longer travel times between major POIs
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Lack of identifiable natural landmarks
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More maze-like interiors in buildings and bunkers
These factors make quickly locating and securing the Ashika Island Information Booth more difficult. But the payoff remains immense.
Summary
The Ashika Island Information Booth should become a top priority for every match. The keys and loot obtained can kickstart progression and make future missions easier. While high risk, the high reward nature makes it an essential early objective.
With the strategies provided in this guide, operators now have expert knowledge to tackle the Booth. Just stay alert, be willing to fight for the loot, and emerge stronger after each successful extraction.
The riches of Ashika Island await! Move carefully, aim true, and see you in the fog.
Citations:
[1] Raven Software, Call of Duty @CallofDuty, February 1, 2023. "Season 02 will introduce Ashika Island, a new free map with new contracts, enemy factions and mysteries to uncover." https://twitter.com/CallofDuty/status/1620786220614795271