DMZ in Modern Warfare 4 is built around squads of three, but a lot of players go into Hajin alone, and the mode is more solo-friendly than its reputation suggests. Matchmaking tries to put solo players together, every player gets a free self-revive, story missions belong only to your squad, and players who spent the launch week solo met pre-made squads only a few times over several hours. Below we explain how to deploy solo, how solo matchmaking works, which traits and loadout make up for missing teammates, which missions suit a lone player, and how to get out alive.
Squad Fill is on by default, so the game adds random players to your squad. To deploy alone, turn it off on the Ready Up screen before you press Deploy: L2 or LT on a controller, 1 on a keyboard. Nothing else changes: solo players use the same map, the same FOB and the same progression.
Mostly, but not always. The developers have said that matchmaking is built to put solo players with other solo players, but it isn't guaranteed, and you will sometimes meet a full squad of three. A match holds 60 players, so there is a lot of map between you and everyone else.
In practice, solo DMZ is calmer than many expected. One player who spent six to eight hours solo in the launch week, reaching DMZ Level 22, ran into pre-made squads only three or four times. Fights with other players don't suddenly spike at higher DMZ levels either, despite rumors.
When you do meet a squad, you don't have to fight. Proximity chat and the ping wheel let you call a truce, and you can even join up with another squad for the rest of the match.
Without teammates, nobody picks you up, so your loadout has to cover healing and revives on its own.
| Slot | Solo pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | A suppressed rifle, such as the Han 86 | Silent kills don't alert nearby AI, and the Han 86 drops everywhere |
| Vest | 2-plate or better | Time to kill is short; one plate doesn't survive a player fight |
| Backpack | Medium Backpack | Its Secure Slot keeps keys and manuals if you die |
| Healing | Two or more Medkits | A Medkit removes the Wounded state after a tourniquet revive |
| Extras | Self-Revive Kit, gas mask, parachute | A second revive, radiation protection and no fall deaths |
Medkits are rare and purple, but Mirae General Hospital has many, and green Clinics have better odds than ordinary houses.
Every player can revive themselves once per match from Last Stand with a free tourniquet, but you come back Wounded with a lower health cap until you use a Medkit. Traits fill the gaps a squad would cover:
Story missions suit solo players best. You are the only squad with that mission active, a mission takes 10 to 15 minutes, and every story mission ends with a guaranteed exfil. Operation Silent Ledger, in the casino vault at Cheongun Village, rewards a Gold Bar and a Polaris Dagor, and Operation Critical Extraction at Mirae General Hospital rewards a Defibrillator.
Dynamic Operations pay cash straight to your bank even if you die afterwards, and a solo player can cancel an unwanted op instantly from the tactical map instead of waiting for a squad vote. Skip Sky Heist when you're alone: it's built for a full squad.
A few habits keep a solo run alive:
A solo player is most exposed at the exfil. Watch the site from cover before you call the helicopter, because a flare is visible to every squad nearby. Once you are on board, the helicopter leaves after 30 seconds. If an exfil looks camped, wait for the final exfil, which leaves at a fixed time and has gas masks on board.
If you'd rather have a pro player on your side than go it alone, our MW4 rent a booster service works in DMZ.
These guides cover the rest of DMZ.
These are the questions solo players ask most.
Yes. Turn Squad Fill off on the Ready Up screen before you deploy.
Matchmaking tries to put solo players together, but it isn't guaranteed. You will sometimes meet a full squad.
No. Every DMZ match has other players.
Yes, once per match for free with the tourniquet from Last Stand. A Self-Revive Kit gives you another revive without the Wounded state.
Possum, which lets you get back up once per match after going down, followed by Free Revive and Thermal Padding.
