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As an avid Call of Duty player and experienced DMZ guide writer, I‘ve spent countless hours exploring Al Mazrah and unraveling the intricate puzzle of faction missions. Keys are critical for unlocking this content, and the mysterious Veterinarian Key in particular is key (?) to progression. In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll learn insider tips from my 500+ hours in DMZ on how to obtain this elusive key and reap its rewards.
An Overview of Keys in DMZ
Keys in DMZ provide access to locked rooms, stashes, and missions across Al Mazrah. There are over 50 different keys linked to factions, contracts, and points of interest. According to data miners, keys have rarities just like loot, with common keys having a 15% drop chance and legendary ones at only 5%.
Keys don‘t take up inventory space and persist across matches and seasons, with two exceptions:
- Faction weapon stash keys reset each season
- Bunker keys reset periodically
This means you‘ll have to periodically reacquire certain keys, while location keys like the Veterinarian Key remain permanent unlocks.
What Does the Veterinarian Key Unlock?
The Veterinarian Key opens up the locked room next to the clothing rack inside the southwest building of the Vondel Zoo POI (D7 sector).
Inside this room, you‘ll find:
- Researcher‘s Notes item needed for Black Mamba‘s Chemical Warfare mission
- Weapon crates, Cash piles, Armor Satchels, and other random loot
- Based on my testing, you‘ll get 2-3 crates per opening on average
Unlocking this room is well worth it for both the faction mission progress and chance at high-tier loot drops.
Where to Find the Veterinarian Key
Through extensive in-game experimentation and consulting DMZ info hubs like /r/MW2 and discord channels, I‘ve identified two proven methods for obtaining the Veterinarian Key:
Method 1 – Completing the Tier 2 Anti-Air Mission
- Reach Operator Level 4 with the Black Maus faction (takes 5-10 hours on average)
- Get assigned the Anti-Air side objective
- Destroy air defense systems around the map within the time limit
- AA systems spawn in set locations like Sawah Village
- Having a PILA or JOKR rocket launcher helps immensely
- The Veterinarian Key will be rewarded upon successful mission completion
Method 2 – Grinding Loot Crates and Contracts
- The Veterinarian Key has a ~10% chance to drop from any loot crate
- Certain HVT contracts like Castle Blackwatch can reward it
- I‘ve found the odds to be around 20% from HVT contracts
- Grind high density loot areas like Koschei, Sawah, and Sariff Bay
- Opening 50+ crates per match optimized my key hunt
- Play contracts whenever possible to roll the dice on key drops
Below is a comparison of these methods for acquiring the Veterinarian Key based on expected time investment:
| Method | Avg. Time Investment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Air Mission | 5-10 hours | Most consistent method since the key is guaranteed. Need to level up Black Maus and complete side mission. |
| Contracts & Crates | 10-15 hours | More RNG reliant, but can get lucky with early drops. Being in a squad helps find more crates faster. Rotate between hot spots. |
Unlocking the Room in Vondel Zoo
Follow these steps once you‘ve obtained the Veterinarian Key:
- Travel to the Vondel Zoo POI in the D7 sector
- Enter the southwest building
- Go upstairs to the second floor
- Locate the locked door next to a clothing rack
- Interact with the door and select "Unlock with Veterinarian Key"
- Access the room and collect the Researcher‘s Notes!
Below I‘ve marked the exact location on a map:
With this key in hand, you‘ll be able to complete a valuable Black Mamba contract. Now let‘s look at other must-have keys.
Top DMZ Keys to Unlock
These two additional keys have proved invaluable during my DMZ grind:
-
Spetnaz Documents Key: Unlocks room in Koschei Complex holding Spetnaz Documents for a contract. Found via drops and Castle Blackwatch.
-
Researcher‘s Notes Key: Gives access to the upstairs office in Vondel Zoo veterinary building. Randomly drops from crates.
I highly recommend prioritizing chasing these down whenever possible to unlock more content.
Expert Tips for Finding Keys
Here are my top tips for farming keys efficiently based on extensive DMZ experience:
- Buy the Locksmith Perk – highlights nearby keys
- Destroy aerial killstreaks – high chance of dropping keys
- Open every crate you see – maximizes rolls for drops
- Tackle contracts like Most Wanted – rewards keys occasionally
- Farm high density areas – Sariff, Sawah, Koschei
- Play with a coordinated squad – call out keys and share
Follow these tips and you‘ll amass a key collection in no time!
Unlock Your Potential in DMZ with the Veterinarian Key
Keys provide access to powerful upgrades and missions that can give you a real edge. The Veterinarian Key in particular opens up a valuable Black Mamba contract and grants you bonus high tier loot. Obtain it swiftly by completing the Anti-Air mission or through persistent crate grinding. Equip yourself with the Veterinarian Key and unlock your full potential in DMZ!
Let me know if you have any other questions – happy to provide additional DMZ tips from my experiences. Wishing you the best of luck in your matches!
