Warzone Season 04 Reloaded patch notes: AN-94, Champion's Quest and major balance changes
By TourneyTime ·
The short version
Warzone Season 04 Reloaded is a proper systems patch, not just a cosmetics drop. Raven Software’s June 24 patch notes add the AN-94 assault rifle, the Executioner’s Duet melee weapon, a refreshed Rebirth Island variant, Squad Gun Game, the return of Champion’s Quest, and a sizeable balance pass across weapons, equipment and gas-play behaviour. Raven Software
The biggest gameplay theme is clear: Raven is trying to make late-game gas play less forgiving. Supply Boxes deep in the gas are disabled, Stims regenerate 40% less health inside the gas, and the deep-gas grace distance shrinks from 40m in Circle 1 to 30m in Circle 2 and 25m from Circle 3 onward. Raven Software
Dexerto’s patch breakdown matches the official notes on the headline additions and the major balance points, including the AN-94, Champion’s Quest, the gas-play changes, and the long weapon-adjustment list. Dexerto
New content in Warzone Season 04 Reloaded
| Area | Confirmed change |
|---|---|
| Event Pass | Nick Cage Event Pass with the Nick Cage Operator, Executioner’s Duet melee weapon and AN-94 listed among rewards |
| Map update | Rebirth Island seasonal variant, keeping the Season 02 winter-update POIs including Turbine and Outpost |
| Mode | Squad Gun Game LTM: 30-player Trios on Fortune’s Keep, Haven’s Hollow and Rebirth Island |
| Playlist | Fortune’s Keep added to Resurgence Casual rotation |
| Returning LTM | Buy Back Quads from July 9 to July 13 |
| Ranked | Warzone Ranked Series In-Season event with 50-player leaderboards |
Champion’s Quest is back
Champion’s Quest returns with a new multi-step chain. The official notes say squads can qualify by winning five consecutive Core Battle Royale matches or 30 total matches within a single season. Once activated, the quest sends squads through objectives including transporting a radioactive isotope, recovering a hard drive and escorting a missile transport vehicle. Raven Software
The important twist is that the run is designed to become a server-wide fight. Objective locations are randomised, active quest squads are visible, and enemy teams can intercept key items to earn a Champion’s Quest token for a future match.
Gas play and equipment nerfs
| Item | Change | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Boxes in gas | Disabled when located deep in the gas | Less reward for staying outside the playable area |
| Deep-gas distance | 40m Circle 1, 30m Circle 2, 25m Circle 3+ | Later circles demand faster rotation |
| Stims | Health regeneration reduced by 40% inside gas | Makes gas tanking weaker |
| Grappling Hook | Max movement speed -15%; early-detach vertical boost -25%; early-detach max speed -25%; momentum retention 75% to 70% | Slows extreme repositioning |
| Point Turret | Range 25m to 18m; acquisition delay 0.3s to 1s; max deployed 2 to 1 | Less passive area denial |
Weapon balance: the standout changes
The official patch notes are long, but these are the changes most likely to matter immediately in Warzone:
| Weapon | Change | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| VX Compact | Max damage range 0-30m to 0-38m; bullet velocity 870m/s to 890m/s | Buff |
| MK35 ISR | Medium damage 32 to 35 and medium range 38-47m to 38-52m | Buff |
| Sturmwolf 45 | Medium damage 40 to 41; minimum damage 30 to 33; range bands extended | Buff |
| REV-46 | Recoil reduced by 10%; headshot multiplier 1.16x to 1.2x; ranges extended | Buff |
| CBRS-3 | Rechamber every 40 bullets instead of 30; horizontal recoil reduced by 10% | Buff |
| Voyak KT-3 | Slightly increased gun kick and view kick | Nerf |
Treat the VX Compact, Sturmwolf 45 and REV-46 as the first weapons to test after the update. The numbers are explicit buffs in the official notes; the only caution is that real meta impact still depends on recoil feel, attachment builds and live lobby behaviour.
Ranked restrictions
Two new attachments are restricted in Ranked Play while Raven evaluates their impact in standard playlists:
- XR-3 Ion — Vulcan Minigun underbarrel
- DS20 Mirage — Dual Fire Kit underbarrel
That is a sensible early warning: both attachments are flashy enough that players should expect more tuning if they distort public matches.
Sources we check
For patch-note coverage, the official Raven Software/Call of Duty patch notes are the anchor. We then compare the main facts against established Call of Duty desks before writing. For this article, Raven’s June 24 notes are the primary source, with Dexerto corroborating the Season 04 Reloaded timing, additions and balance summary.
FAQ
Is the AN-94 in Warzone Season 04 Reloaded?
Yes. Raven lists the AN-94 assault rifle as a new weapon in the Nick Cage Event Pass. The notes describe its returning hyperburst behaviour, where the first two shots fire faster before settling into full-auto fire.
Did Stims get nerfed?
Yes, but specifically inside the gas. Raven says Stims now regenerate 40% less health while inside the gas, which directly targets late-game gas-tanking strategies.
Is Champion’s Quest available again?
Yes. Champion’s Quest returns with access through either five consecutive Core Battle Royale wins or 30 total wins in a season, followed by a multi-stage match objective chain.
