Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0 launched with so much hope and positivity. But that has been slowly eroded by evermore frustrating changes to the games (or lack thereof). And the recent addition of operator bundles featuring DMZ bonuses has been terribly received among the Call of Duty community. The bundles have been deemed “pay to win”, and the latest example of this is the Roze and Thorn DMZ bundle.
Since the beginning of Season 3, operator bundles with questionable DMZ-only enhancements have been added to the in-game store. This includes operator skins that equip the player with a two-plate armor vest, self-revive, or medium backpack in DMZ.
Obviously, this gives players who own these skins a significant advantage in DMZ. One of the central focuses of the extraction mode is the collection of valuable loot and equipment. And deploying into a game of DMZ without having to search out a two-plate armor vest, self-revive, or medium backpack essentially bypasses a huge chunk of the initial challenge. It also provides an indisputable tactical advantage over other players.
Roze and Thorn is yet another “pay to win” bundle for DMZ. But what exactly does it include and why is it so controversial?
What does DMZ Roze and Thorn bundle include?
The Roze and Thorn bundle includes the following in-game content:
- ‘Thorns Out’ operator skin for Roze (with a free UAV in DMZ)
- ‘Bloodthorn’ Vaznev-9K weapon blueprint (15 minute cooldown in DMZ)
- ‘Bloodrose MCPR-300’ weapon blueprint (15 minute cooldown in DMZ)
- Active Duty Slot for DMZ
- ‘Razor Love’ weapon sticker
- ‘Deadly Rain’ loading screen
- ‘Terminal’ emblem
Bloodthorn Vaznev-9K blueprint attachments
The Bloodthorn blueprint provides an enhanced Vaznev-9K optimised for Sprint to Fire Speed, Vertical Recoil Control, and Aiming Stability. It is equipped with the following attachments:
- Muzzle: FTAC Castle Comp
- Barrel: SA Response III
- Laser: Corio LAZ-44 V3
- Stock: Markeev R7 Stock
- Rear Grip: True-TAC Grip
Bloodrose MCPR-300 blueprint attachments
The Bloodrose blueprint provides an enhanced MCPR-300 optimised for Aiming Idle Stability, Damage Range, and Bullet Velocity. It is equipped with the following attachments:
- Barrel: 22″ OMX-456
- Laser: Corio LAZ-44 V3
- Optic: SP-X 80 6.6x
- Bolt: Cronen Smooth Bolt
- Ammunition: .300 Mag High Velocity
Is DMZ Roze and Thorn bundle Pay To Win?
The controversy surrounding this bundle centres on its “pay to win” bonuses for DMZ. This includes the free UAV granted by the ‘Thorns Out’ operator skin and decreased weapon cooldown periods.
These bonuses are considered “pay to win” because players usually have to acquire UAVs in-game and weapon cooldown periods are typically far longer. UAVs are powerful tools in DMZ as they reveal the locations of enemy squads and AI soldiers.
Having a UAV from the beginning of a game provides an enormous advantage as enemy squads can spawn close by. This means a player with the skin has the ability to see other players on the map from the outset without having to earn the privilege. This puts players without the skin at a significant disadvantage if they encounter a player benefitting from a free UAV.
Likewise, reduced weapon cooldowns are beneficial as they minimise the impact of dying in DMZ. If an operator dies in-game while using an ‘insured’ weapon, they face long ‘cooldown’ periods before the weapon can be used again. With these Roze and Thorn blueprints, that is no longer a major concern as they will be available to use again after 15 minutes.
Furthermore, an additional Active Duty Slot for DMZ enables players to have another fully kitted-out operator in reserve. This would allow them to jump right back into the action without having to worry about looting and finding new equipment.
How much does Roze and Thorn bundle cost?
The Roze and Thorn bundle costs 1,800 COD points.
Do you consider this new Roze bundle “pay to win”? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
