Infinity Ward shipped Modern Warfare II on 28 October 2022 as the sequel to the 2019 reboot, and it was the first Call of Duty to launch on Steam since 2017. It rebuilt loadouts around Gunsmith 2.0 weapon platforms and perk packages that unlock during a match rather than at spawn. Multiplayer launched with ten 6v6 Core maps plus a set of larger Battle Maps for 32v32 Ground War.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farm 18 | 6v6 Core, small | Fast weapon levelling, camo grinding | SMG entry fragger |
| 2 | Breenbergh Hotel | 6v6 Core, medium | Balanced SMG and rifle practice, flanking routes | SMG entry fragger |
| 3 | Mercado Las Almas | 6v6 Core, small to medium | Close range weapon levelling, objective practice | Assault rifle anchor |
| 4 | Taraq | 6v6 Core, large | Long range weapon levelling, sniper practice | Assault rifle anchor |
| 5 | Al Bagra Fortress | 6v6 Core and Ground War | Killstreak farming, vertical angle practice | Assault rifle anchor |
Farm 18: Starting Area
A compact shoot house style training facility with three parallel lanes and heavy indoor fighting. Spawns flip constantly, which rewards short weapons and punishes anyone camping a single room.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 6v6 Core, small |
| Key Rewards | Fast weapon levelling, camo grinding |
| Recommended Role | SMG entry fragger |
| Key Weapons | Lachmann Sub |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Gunsmith 2.0 weapon platforms. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Breenbergh Hotel.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Breenbergh Hotel: Early Game
A three lane hotel with an open central plaza and a maze of interior corridors, lifts and stairwells. The plaza looks like the main route but the interior flanks decide most rounds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 6v6 Core, medium |
| Key Rewards | Balanced SMG and rifle practice, flanking routes |
| Recommended Role | SMG entry fragger |
| Key Weapons | Lachmann Sub |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Perk packages. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Lachmann Sub if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Mercado Las Almas.
Mercado Las Almas: Mid Game
A night market packed with stalls, awnings and short sightlines, split by a raised walkway. Verticality is the trap here, since the walkway is watched from more angles than it seems.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 6v6 Core, small to medium |
| Key Rewards | Close range weapon levelling, objective practice |
| Recommended Role | Assault rifle anchor |
| Key Weapons | Lachmann Sub |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- M4 becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Weapon tuning for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Taraq: Late Game
A desert village of open courtyards and long lines of sight with buildings along each flank. Assault rifles and marksman rifles dominate the centre while SMGs are forced to the edges.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 6v6 Core, large |
| Key Rewards | Long range weapon levelling, sniper practice |
| Recommended Role | Assault rifle anchor |
| Key Weapons | M4 |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- M4 should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Field upgrades and killstreaks mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Al Bagra Fortress.
Al Bagra Fortress: Endgame
A coastal fortress that plays as a 6v6 Core map and also appears in Ground War rotation. Its high stone walls create firing positions that overlook the courtyard from multiple tiers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 6v6 Core and Ground War |
| Key Rewards | Killstreak farming, vertical angle practice |
| Recommended Role | Assault rifle anchor |
| Key Weapons | M4 |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Sniper lane holder for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Farm 18 → Breenbergh Hotel → Mercado Las Almas → Taraq → Al Bagra Fortress. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons: Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Guides
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Overview
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Best Builds
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Tier List
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Walkthrough
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Beginner's Guide
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Tips & Tricks
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Weapons Guide
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Combat Guide
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Boss Guide
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Crafting Guide
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Classes & Characters
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