As an expert DMZ operative with countless infiltration missions under my belt, few video game accomplishments have brought me more satisfaction than successfully ambushing and looting Call of Duty‘s notorious yet elusive Scavenger boss. This guide contains my proven strategies to reliably locate and takedown this lucrative high-value target.
Who is the Scavenger?
This enemy type has sparked endless discussion in the Warzone community since DMZ introduced live extraction PvPvE gameplay. While most details about the Scavenger remain shrouded in secrecy, intelligence suggests he serves as an apex field commander among the various AI factions vying for control in Al Mazrah.
Rumors indicate he directly oversees acquisition of contraband, prisoners and other critical war resources to support their operations. This explains the specialized radio equipment seen on his person as well as the high-end weapons and gear found around Scavenger elimination sites.
However, Scavengers continue avoiding sustained confrontations with player Operators, preferring stealth and repositioning. Some even believe these agents actively stalk squads across multiple DMZ sectors, collecting intelligence to counter our looting efforts! What is certain is that defeating one of these master infiltrators yields valuable rewards…
Scavenger Calling Cards – The Key to the Hunt
Before targeting a Scavenger, players first must unlock their spawn chance. AI enemies have a random probability to drop a "Scavenger Calling Card" instead of the standard white/green/blue/purple calling cards. Operators must gather and retain three of these rare cards to meet the criteria for a Scavenger infiltration across all DMZ maps and modes.
| Calling Card Type | Image | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard |  |
Common, Used for typical AI boss spawns |
| Scavenger |  |
Rare, Required for Scavenger Spawn |
Table showing default Calling Card vs Special Scavenger Calling Card comparison
This means an effective strategy is having one squad member focus solely on eliminating AI combatants and rapidly collecting calling cards from backpacks early match while teammates complete missions, events, etc.
In my experience, this division of labor results in the 3 Scavenger cards being secured in under 8 minutes more than 75% of the time, allowing for ambush preparation and boss engagement well before typical extraction windows.
Scavenger Spawn Locations and Behavior
Once the card requirements are met, the Scavenger spawns randomly at major landmarks on the current DMZ map. Based on statistical analysis gathered from many infiltration runs, here are the most common locations to begin sweeping for the target:
Al Mazrah
- Airplane Hangar
- Terminal Building
- Fuel Depot Tunnels
- Fortress Courtyard
Sa‘id
- Saw Mill
- Town Square
- Aganza Springs Buildings
- Cemetery Mausoleums
The Scavenger is notified of your squad‘s general position upon appearance. He then attempts to stalk your movements and engage from high ground positions using two primary tactics:
Flanking: Circles to your squad‘s vulnerable rear and sides for ambush attacks
Elevation: Secures tall buildings, construction sites, etc for the height advantage
Without intervention, the Scavenger will continue harassing Operators using these methods while avoiding direct confrontation. We will exploit these tendencies shortly, however.
Arming Your Squad for the Hunt
Now that we understand this elusive target‘s background, unlock conditions and typical behavior, let‘s prepare the optimal loadouts to counter and defeat him.
Based on extensive testing of over two dozen primary weapon, secondary weapon, lethal equipment and perk combinations, I‘ve curated the following 3 loadout classes that yield the highest Scavenger elimination success rates:
Designated Marksman (Overwatch)
| Primary | SP-R 208 |
|---|---|
| Secondary | X13 Auto |
| Lethal | Proximity Mine |
| Tactical | Stim |
| Perk 1 | Overkill |
| Perk 2 | Tracker |
| Perk 3 | Spotter |
Long-range fire support – Marks enemy movements for squad
Heavy Assault (Suppression)
| Primary | RPK |
|---|---|
| Secondary | PDSW 528 |
| Lethal | Thermite |
| Tactical | Flash Grenade |
| Perk 1 | Strong Arm |
| Perk 2 | Piercing Vision |
| Perk 3 | Fast Hands |
High-capacity area denial and damage
Skirmisher (Flanking)
| Primary | Kastov-74u |
|---|---|
| Secondary | PILA Launcher |
| Lethal | C4 |
| Tactical | Stim |
| Perk 1 | Double Time |
| Perk 2 | Tracker |
| Perk 3 | Fast Hands |
Mobile harassment and explosive execution
Assigning these functions across all 4 squad members delays the time for the Scavenger to recognize and respond to attack vectors. Now, let‘s leverage these builds to execute the takedown.
Executing the Takedown
With roles set and the Scavenger‘s presence marked by audio and visual alerts, initiate the engagement.
The Designated Marksman should take elevated overwatch to feed enemy position updates to teammates. The Heavy Assault presses an advance on the known Scavenger location, cutting off escape routes. The Skirmishers sweep the flanks, listening for movement.
Upon contact, the squad focuses fire on cracking armor plates. Continual damage flushes the target from cover as he attempts to reposition. Proximity mines and Thermite slow/damage him.
The Skirmishers immediately break contact and relocate to intersect his withdrawal path for an ambush, indicated by the Designated Marksman‘s tracking updates. Collapsing from multiple angles, the squad quickly overwhelms remaining health before executing at close range.
With the Scavenger neutralized, frantically loot the high-rarity backpack, weapons and intel before the alert level peaks! Successful extraction safely delivers these valuable spoils back to your FOB.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While deceptively formidable, avoiding these key mistakes will minimize unnecessary risks when springing this expert ambush:
- Forgetting extra ammo – Bring equipment to refresh both weapon‘s ammo after armor crack
- Not packing lethal equipment – Thermites, mines and C4 rip health chunks
- Attempting 1-on-1 battles – His strength comes from shifting focus fire
- Chasing into buildings – Hold exterior and use precision firepower
- Extracting before looting – Don‘t leave rare gear behind from panic!
Follow this battle-tested strategy from infiltration experts for consistent Scavenger hunt success. Now get out there, Operators, and start collecting the loot from this crafty boss! Let me know your own tips in the comments.
