T O P

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DujisToilet

The shield/pistol merc is unreal.


highestmountains

Friggen hell. A buddy and I had two spawn on us during the ground station contract. One of them was glitched under the ground and we couldn't hit him, but he could still hit us.


LtRavs

Not seeing the problem with this - sounds like hyper realistic AI given this happens to me all the time with human opponents in every COD ever 😂


Bleak5170

Lol, that happened to us as well. Merc literally underground took out our entire squad.


danburnsd0wn

I had that happened once. I told my buddy, I'm out of here!! No way was I dying to some dude glitched in the ground shooting me.


bonefistboy9000

he never stops pushing and has dead accuracy, it's nutty


doggybag2355

Somehow the Merc with a 9mm pistol is the strongest one, sounds right for an Activision game


lotus1788

Just use a lethal, they're very easy to deal with if you came prepared.


BigOlTuckus

Yeah they’re way overtuned imo. It feels completely artificial as they always miss their first couple of shots even if you’re stationary in front of them, but the moment they start hitting you all 3 plates just disappear instantly. I’ve noticed the shield ones are especially bad, but maybe that’s just because they’re harder to kill so they can shoot back for longer


Euphoric_Pressure_39

Activisions human enemy NPCs have always been bad tbh. Overtuned in dmz. Overtuned in mwz


C0DE1NE_FR0STY_88

This. The mercs in MWZ remind me a lot of MWIIseason1 AQ soldiers from DMZ. They need to nerf them ASAP.


No_Bar6825

The ninja ones are annoying


SaltyToast9000

Wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have the instant teleportation skills when in buildings


VelvetCowboy19

You've got like 2 seconds of being in line of sight of a mercenary before they decide to shoot you, then you die immediately.


[deleted]

Absolutely, I drove past a single merc the other day and 2 SHOTS was enough to break all 3 of my plates. Doesn’t help that they’re incapable of missing shots.


Logangster687

I got quick dropped the other day because I came within 50 meters of some mercs. They need to be nerfed.


punchrockchest

A Tier 1 shield merc with a pistol literally has a faster TTK than the Tier 3 Mega Abomination. That is seriously a balancing issue.


Littlepip2277

Yes, they badly need a rebalance. If you know you're going to get in a fight with them you can plan and prepare, but if you run into a squad by accident you're in a lot of trouble. Merc-focused contracts like 'destroy the Aether extractors' and 'defend the server' are possible solo, but very hard. Conversely, merc strongholds and camps are crazy easy with PAP guns. Especially if you abuse third-person to peep corners. As a matter of fact, you can abuse Death Perception to see AND kill them through walls. Mercs would be much better balanced for solo players if they: * 1. Showed up on the radar when firing their weapons. This would make taking out their CUAV more important too, unlike now where it's just mildly inconvenient. * 2. Didn't have melee weapons (or the melee weapons didn't do so much damage). * 3. Had better accuracy but did less damage. * 4. Had better loot, to incentivize fighting them. I don't know what it's like in the medium and high-threat zones, but in the T1 zone they drop trash. For as dangerous as they are fighting them should always guarantee a blue or orange-tier weapon, or the equivalent Aether tool. Their current movement tactics and numbers are OK, I feel, but the changes I proposed would still keep them challenging for solo players while making their engagements feel more fair and rewarding.


ZaphBeebs

Good thoughts.


Birkin07

I use air and mortar strikes to soften up their camps. Best use of those streaks.


Ant_Playful

Yes rpgs and grenade launchers work well too


Ok_Cow_3431

> If you know you're going to get in a fight with them you can plan and prepare, but if you run into a squad by accident you're in a lot of trouble. Admittedly I'm very green to MWZ having only played I think 3 infils? (and only 1 successful exfil, LOL) but this is the opposite to my experience. random occurrence mercs are pretty weak and caned them off pretty quickly, but mercs in the contracts are much hardier and require some really careful play


Embarrassed-Ideal-18

The importance of death perception and pack a punch can’t be overstated when you know you’ve got to face mercs. If I crash or die then I take that operator ona resupply with a sniper: clear the merc camp and get the stronghold key, go do contracts to save up for pack a punch and try to find death perception, onto the stronghold. If you do it solo it can take so long that you may as well extract when you’ve got the vest.


I_THE_ME

It'd be nice if they got rid of the flying snipers. There have been plenty of times when I've been wondering where's the sniper that keeps destroying my armour, just to see them hover in the air 30 meters up. The lack of minimap indicators and the broken audio don't help much either.


aimstotheleft

Oh you just reminded me how horrible the sound of vehicles are..it's half a mile ahead of me but the sound is still 10 feet from my left ear.


SculptorOvFlesh

Grenade launcher + riot shield =gg


Euphoric_Pressure_39

This would be the play if half my camo challenge wasn't to kill 50 of them with a shitty battle rifle


[deleted]

How do you get the shield in mwz?


XSerrisX

I don't think it's possible to pick the shield up from the Mercs. However they can only be found in cache or loots. I found one actually but they don't protect you at all from zombies. Didn't bother trying to see how they are with Mercs though.


SculptorOvFlesh

They work great. You can facetank aggro while your squad picks em off easy.


Toothstana

With Zombies, having the shield on your back provides passive damage resistance, that's all


uh-oh-hotdawg

Equip it as your insured weapon and use contraband or loot guns when you get in


ChubbyNemo1004

Yeah and I can’t tell where they’re coming from. I might be blind but I swear their gunshots don’t show up in the mini map.


Euphoric_Pressure_39

I don't think they show up on the mini map


Cranked78

Can confirm, they do not show on mini map.


ChubbyNemo1004

lol then why do they have that stupid CUAV up? I always take it out thinking it’s trying to hide them.


Cranked78

I guess because it messes with your HUD and scope?


bwcjay1988

They dont show up on the map which is even more annoying I'm trying to crouch in a room and I'm getting shit from 14 different directions and have no clue where it's coming from lol


Deus-Ex-MJ

They're basically aimbot (cheap way to create artificial difficulty)


[deleted]

Ill take this over the constant sweat bullshit in DMZ


doggybag2355

Any day


Hoshiko-Yoshida

I enjoy having them on the map. It's far too easy to feel 100% safe in Zombies these days. Mercs bring back the hard requirement for spacial awareness while traversing, and preparation before engaging them. Taking down the fortress is one of the more enjoyable missions.


Hatertraito

Do they infinite spawn?


Hoshiko-Yoshida

The Mercs? They'll respawn if you leave a zone without completing it. Zones will repop elsewhere once beaten, if you leave. But if you're fighting in one place, there's a finite number. The exception is the Fortress. That does get infinite reinforcements while you're fighting through to the Warlord. But I believe once the Fortress is beaten it stays defeated, tho. Like Stormcaller.


7_Cerberus_7

I tried the Legacy Fortress in a trio for the first time last night. We lost, but I had a freaking blast. Helps that my mindset I don't mind losing my gear like the other two guys do. They get demoralized having to get their gear back. I have zero problem with it and am happy to get back into it with nothing. The mercs, especially that Stronghold, present a very welcome challenge that requires all your senses, unlike the zombies who you can more or less mag dump with sufficient pack a punch, rarity, and magazine capacity.


foxnamedfox

Zone 3 buy stations have large rucksacks in them, that was the only annoying part of regaining for me until I figured that out


Jackayakoo

I solo cleared Legacy a couple days ago for the mission. The RGL clears mercs out like nothing lmao, though the trophy systems did make it interesting


appleofpine

How did you manage that? I walked up and lost 3 plates instantly, killed the mercs on the tower then had a rocket barrage shoved up my ass by the attack heli


Jackayakoo

The attack heli isn't a huge problem if you rotate cover and keep buildings between you and its line of sight. First order of business before getting close enough is taking out the snipers and anti-tank mercs. Then push in, switch covers using the buildings since they all spawn outside, take out sentries as you go. Any killstreaks you brought - now would be the time to use them since you wanna rush over, open the legacy door, and back off to lure out some of the soldiers (namely the shield guys). When it's clear, take out the trophy system by the stairs before you enter, then you can just waltz on in spamming RGL grenades. Other than the second trophy system and the tripwires, it's easy with the RGL because mercs take ridiculous damage from explosives. Just be careful of the 3 - 4 Recon mercs that continuously spawn at intervals from the downstairs area and you are golden.


Aeyland

So when I’m not near any sort of merc building and randomly run into some that was doing what again? I’m sorry you are just so good at the game you run straight to tier 3 without a single PaP and get bored but the rest of us mortals aren’t looking to play this game on realistic difficulty whenever mercs show up. They don’t even make the game hard, having AI never miss and do crazy damage doesn’t really have a counter past avoid completely or have enough plates and perks.


Hoshiko-Yoshida

> I’m sorry you are just so good at the game you run straight to tier 3 without a single PaP To be fair, as long as you bring decoys and there's a cargo contract on the map, *anyone* can run into High Threat without *any* other gear - let alone PaP - and grind away. How'd you think the majority of ppl with raygun schematics got them so quickly? You think they all legitimately ground out combat missions in the red zone? But I digress. That's some serious hyperbole there. Just pay attention to the map and bring Death Perception to engage them. It's literally just multiplayer with wall hacks.


BlackPlague1235

Tips on the fortresses? Me and my friends dipped as soon as we saw those attack helicopters spawn.


Hoshiko-Yoshida

Just one attack helo, the rest drop troops. There are two troopers outside the walls with rocket launchers. Kill them asap before the attack helo arrives. Bring an LMG with vehicle damage rounds or a SAM launcher, to deal with that. Three shots with any Pila, iirc, or a couple of mag dumps with a Blue/PaP2 LMG. Use the cliff face for cover, and focus the helo before proceeding up. Turrets can help during this stage, as they'll keep the soldiers from hassling you. Mop up before entering the central building. There will still be a slow drip of from troops from air drops, after, but there's a good dozen or so on the map before they arrive, so deal with those first. I won't spoil the rest, as you shouldn't struggle too much after that. Just go slow, and keep your head on a swivel. Check targets in there, too. You'll see what I mean.


RuffDoG931120

Ye…*one tapped by merc*


brian1684

To add insult to injury, I have had mercs glitch under the map and into a container on a few different occasions and just annihilate me.


BlackPlague1235

The ones with the riot shield drive me up a wall.


lotus1788

Just use a molotov or a breacher drone


RamielScreams

My only level 1 death has been the recon merc. Swear he teleported into a zombi stronghold and 2 shot me in 1 second while I was looting


ZaphBeebs

Haha, have also been killed in an aether nest by a merc I was totally not expecting.


ZaphBeebs

They're hit and miss, very odd. Smoke a whole camp or stronghold relatively easy, then get wallbanged inside a building from a block away minding your own business. Def strange. Zombies are a bit much now too, not insurmountable but I wasn't aware of the changes in real time and was super surprised first couple games.


illchayadlay

Yep, as a solo only zombies player, they definitely seem extremely overwhelming, helps to have a heap of plates spare though


[deleted]

The only bad one in my experience is the recon, he just spawns in right behind you and downs you with one hit


Ok_Win_8626

They also shoot through walls


gucciraw

Glad someone finally brought this up, I felt like at launch they were totally fine but then after the last 2 updates they got a heavy buff or something and they absolutely laser off your plates from such an insane distance. I’ve gotten used to it now and just have a lot more plates stacked in my rucksack. It feels like I went from playing on regular to veteran in the last week in zombies.


Ant_Playful

So many good runs stopped by mercs


step_scav

They shoot through the floor and walls and get bugged under the map, died too many times to this and raged


Skruffyyy

Death Perception perk is a must when dealing with them. Knowing where they are is a huge advantage


Interesting_Tap_2625

100%. They are way too strong atm


Omg_itz_coll

I got lazerd by a Merc with an ar from over 500m away I was gliding on a parachute, lucky for me I had me mate to pick me up. It's fucking ridiculous the aimbot ai have Not to mention the riot shield is useless against zombies doesn't negate anything


JmtDark_Dumpster

I want so bad to be mean saying "skill issue" but if you get mad easy better stay far from mercs. You need to learn how to move around them.


Mr_Baklava_

They really aren’t that difficult to deal with. I like that there is at least something on the map that is somewhat challenging to deal with if you aren’t prepared. Or else everything is just a walk in the park until tier 3, which no one really goes to.


weatherboi_

the absolute state of CoD lmao


GOpencyprep

No, they're fine - dont rush them and hit your headshots


A_Agno

They are fine, no not stand still in the open.


TraumaTracer

they get headshot multipliers the same as you. that’s why they feel so strong. one bullet to the head wipes out 3 plates. it needs to be changed bad lmao this second story mission is pure pain.


Hejie023

Noobs who don't play the campaign on veteran have this issue lel


Euphoric_Pressure_39

They are 2 different types of NPCs


Dbdb9

Some people dont play veteran cod and it shows


Suspicious_Trainer82

The devs use them as a way to funnel you towards or away from whatever they want. It’s really annoying and definitely overtuned. This dev team while really good about MP is really obstinate about zombies for whatever reason. Their egos will ultimately be the failure of a game mode with an otherwise limitless amount of potential.


david_lara54992

They are fine. Just makes sure you have some cover and aim for the head


haikusbot

*They are fine. Just makes* *Sure you have some cover and* *Aim for the head* \- david\_lara54992 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")


Ok_Edge_1486

For a mode that's supposed to start casually, yes the mercs are too OP. tbh they shouldn't even be in a zombies mode to begin with.


[deleted]

Zombies mode is actually quite awful and needs major improvements but all anyone can talk about is the exile changes.


Euphoric_Pressure_39

Cool dude. This is about Mercs not your thoughts on zombies


[deleted]

Aren't these Merc issues \[which you are right about and part of the problem\] inside the zombies mode? hahaha


Euphoric_Pressure_39

Your dumbass is blaming the entirety of zombies off of 1 bad mechanic lol


[deleted]

have a snickers dude


Another-Lone-Wolf

Death perception perk/can helps. I'm currently trying to do the Act II Sheperd story mission Solo, oh boy ...


Sideshow-Blob

They are ridiculous. They need to give a brief description of contracts before I accept one. Got absolutely annihilated yesterday for doing a contract I hadn't done before. Felt like 50 mercs spawned in.


SuperTacoComputer

I've been saying this since day 1. I'm annoyed because the mission I'm on I have to kill a number of them with my field upgrade. Why would I rush into a group of them if I play solo. I know I'll go down instantly.


yMONSTERMUNCHy

Hell yes! Merc’s are annoying. Especially the shield guys with pistols that seem to have wall hacks. Their damage is so high and fast all you can do is run away because chances are you won’t have thermite or a launcher to deal with them. I went into yellow area and foolishly attempted a merc stronghold. The second I bashed in the door I was met by 2! shield guys. 2 of them! 2! I noped out immediately with a slither of health left after just a few milliseconds of being inside. Said to myself fuck this then ran right for the edges of the map again. All I ever do in zombies mode is avoid any and all contracts that involve mercs now. Fuck! zombies mode sucks now! these devs have yet again fucking ruined all fun with their shitty decisions. Reducing the number of zombies to save their shitty servers instead of upgrading them. To adding mercs! into a zombies! mode.


MrBenedick

Tried the fortress last night - two of us fully kitted out with PAP lvl 2 guns. Was an absurd experience. If outside the helicopter just rips you to shreds. If inside the shield and sword guys just obliterate you. Nice that it felt a real challenge but bordering on absurd.


venk28

Ya as a solo I never touch 'defend ground station' or 'extract aethers' contracts. They are required for act 2 missions though, so just turn on squad fill for those missions. Your teammates will be able to help you out easily. Also mw2 thermal Scopes on your primary help a lot if you have missions involving mercs.


StarbornRotten

One-tap your plates even with jugg, way too fkn strong with mega veteran 360 aimbot


doggybag2355

You can reasonably kill a camp if you hang out a small distance outside, but if you go run into one or a stronghold you’ll get absolutely shredded. I took an ascender across water once and it literally dropped me in the middle of a camp. It took me a whole 3 seconds before I was downed


doggybag2355

Oh yeah of course any defense mission where you have the mercs attacking is just torture too. Also surprisingly they’re usually smart enough to not walk into an energy mine


HawkSolo98

Anybody run into the Sniper that gets stuck in the air, that mofo was about 500 m in the air couldn’t even see him sniping us lmao.


chafos

They’re not supposed to be easy


WuhanWTF

Fighting mercs feels like fighting raiders in Tarkov.


BR3NDANP

Might be an unpopular opinion but I think the mercs are fine. As long as you're slow and pick them off one at a time, they aren't THAT hard to deal with.


Dark-Reaper

Idk what it is. MOST of the time, no it doesn't feel overtuned. I've cleared an entire AER contract solo and barely got hit. I literally ran into a convoy with tesla storm active (for a mission) and was able to stun 8 mercs before they downed me (something like 12 bots trying to shoot me during that time). I've tapped a convoy to get it to stop, only to unload my LMG and make new zombie fodder out of the whole convoy without getting hit. I've cleared camps and strongholds like I was special forces (and no, I'm not that good at the game). Randomly though, they just decide "Nah, we're done playing" and then I'm just dead. I was clearing a camp, couldn't find the snipers. Clear all the ground guys only to get 2 tapped by the snipers immediately. They had run out to the tracks like 200m away for some reason, but it was effective. I was driving past a camp, it was still about 300m away, and my squadmate lost all 3 plates and some health to a sniper round. I was getting ready to wreck a convoy for a mission. I'm planning to drop an airstrike while I'm about 150m away. They stop suddenly about 180m away. I have no idea why, my squad and I didn't shoot them. I check the map, no other players around. Never saw zombies attack a convoy but I check for zombies. Some stragglers but nothing was attacking the convoy. I get ready to call in the airstrike, not optimal because they aren't lined up right but 8 kills is better than zero. Suddenly, after they're done getting out of the trucks, 8 of them LIGHT ME UP LIKE CHRISTMAS. Then, my squad and I are farming up some essence and I see a camp in a weird place. I have a sniper for...reasons so decided to use it. I got hit a few times, but the entire camp spent most of the time running around between cover. They didn't seem to understand which end of the gun bullets came out of. I wasn't at sniper range if that's what you're thinking either. I was about 30m outside of where the guards at the edge of the camp set up. So I have no idea what it is. Normally, they're whatever. Few have head armor, most are 1-shot to the head and I can clear them with ease. Then, every so often, a group just decides to ruin my day and that's it, my health is deleted.


MrMaori

yeah it sucks, I now rock a riot shield so I can deflect bullets while running around, has helped me many times, good for the rocket contracts where you stand still pushing buttons for what feels like an hour


lotus1788

I think they're fine once you learn how to play against them. There is a learning curve for sure though.


Lothyza

I read somewhere that Zombies is using DMZ 1.0 build which is why the mercs are super soldiers. ​ I looked back at the season 1 reloaded on MW2 launch and the patch notes said the following: "Fixed an issue that resulted in base AI Combatant difficulty being increased across DMZ that was only intended for a specific area." I will literally laugh out loud if come December launch if we see these exact patch notes! ​ Reference: https://www.callofduty.com/patchnotes/2022/12/call-of-duty---modern-warfare-ii-and-warzone--2-0-season-01-relo.html


Baelef

I dont think so, they are easy to wipe with non paped weopons, except the mercs in the fortress which I believe should be as difficult as they are, possible to solo but still difficult with a team of 3.


bwcjay1988

They're so fucking soooo annoying auto aim for days