Call of Duty: Warzone continues to build upon the amazing foundations laid by its predecessor, and if you’re keen to maintain a competitive edge without getting matched up against someone much more skilled than you, you’ll need a Warzone VPN. Think of it this way – with loads of other players out there already using one, you’re at a disadvantage if you don’t.
You can cultivate the best Warzone loadout, and know the locations of all the best Warzone guns, but if the other player is using a VPN to avoid throttling from their internet service provider (ISP) and to get matched up with players below their skill level, they’re going to be the ones climbing the leaderboards. By using one of the best gaming VPNs, you can help level the playing field and have a much better experience in the game.
Which is the best Warzone VPN?
When buying a VPN for the first time, you may feel overwhelmed. There are loads and loads of options. While you could read through our best VPN list to find the right choice, we’d recommend NordVPN as the overall top choice.
What makes NordVPN such a good Warzone VPN? Well, it comes down to a few key points:
- It is the fastest VPN and is one of the most popular and reputable VPN services in the world
- Its wide selection of connection points around the world means that you shouldn’t have any trouble finding new lobbies for games
- Its servers are broadly compatible with most major games and services (including Warzone) and their IP addresses are refreshed regularly so that even on the off-chance they end up getting blocked, they’ll soon be able to slide back in
These are just the main points that make it great for Warzone in particular, but you should read our detailed NordVPN review if you’d like to know more about the service at large.
Why you need a Warzone VPN
Some players have doubtlessly become frustrated with VPN-less play on Warzone and decided they need to get one, but what about those of you who are still on the fence? What does a VPN have to offer for the Warzone experience? Well, quite a lot, actually. Here are all the reasons you need a Warzone VPN:
- To protect yourself from malicious players: there are many wonderful people in the COD fan community, but anyone who’s played online and chatted with other players around the world will have encountered at least a few nasty individuals. If you’re unlucky enough to be paired with one who knows their way around a computer, they can find your IP address and then subject you to a DDoS attack which essentially destroys your connection. In a worst-case scenario, they may even be able to dox you. A VPN gives you an extra level of privacy that protects you from both of these things as the only IP address they’ll be able to see is the VPN’s.
- To gain access to easier lobbies: Have you ever gotten lucky in one game, and then found that Activision’s Skills-based Matchmaking system starts pairing you up against pro players who are obviously beyond your skill level? Well, using a VPN can give you access to easier lobbies – the specific mechanics of how and why it can give you easier matchups are not known (it’s potentially down to connecting via regions that are put into different game servers), but either way, many players have seen a marked improvement after they started playing with a VPN.
- To remove artificial speed restrictions: does your home connection become shockingly slow whenever you want a game of COD? Your ISP might be intentionally slowing your speeds down to stop you from using a lot of bandwidth. Frustrating as it is, it is not at all uncommon for ISPs to limit users’ internet access like this. However, with a VPN on, your ISP can’t see what you’re doing, and so while it can see that a lot of bandwidth is being used, it can’t see which device is responsible and so cannot slow anything down.
- To level the playing field: last but not least, there are already loads of Warzone fans actively using a VPN while they play. This essentially gives them an advantage that you don’t have, so if you want a fair chance to climb the leaderboards, then you should think about getting a VPN.
Outside of Call of Duty: Warzone, it’s also good to have a VPN for several reasons. When you’re using one, you don’t need to worry that some huge corporation is keeping tabs on everything you’ve been searching online (even in private tabs and incognito modes) and you’ll be able to access content that is usually restricted to other regions. I’m just scratching the surface of everything a VPN can do here.
How to use a Warzone VPN
The process for using a VPN while playing Warzone couldn’t be easier. Here’s a step-by-step process for you:
- Choose your preferred VPN provider and download the VPN
- Log in and open the VPN on your laptop or PC
- In the VPN, choose your preferred server and connect
- Once your VPN has had time to connect, launch Warzone
- Join a match and play as usual
If you do this and find no difference to your Warzone experience, disconnect from your VPN and then reconnect via a different service. It is unlikely that you would have to do this more than one or two times if it didn’t work initially. Also, please keep in mind that each VPN is ever so slightly different, so some may have a slightly different process (or give you the option of choosing gaming-specific servers), but broadly speaking these instructions should apply to all providers.
Can you get banned for using a Warzone VPN?
No, you can’t. Nothing in Activision’s Terms of Service prohibits VPN use. People were using a VPN to enhance their Warzone experience back when it was called Warzone 2, and before that, they were using them with the original version of Warzone back in 2020. In all that time, there have been no known cases of somebody getting in trouble for VPN usage, so you’ll be fine.
Which VPNs work with Warzone?
In addition to NordVPN, many other providers work just fine with Warzone too, including the following:
Can you get bot-only lobbies in Warzone?
You certainly can! Bot-only lobbies can be great for newer players who are still getting to grips with things and don’t want to compete against experienced human opponents just yet. Finding bot-only lobbies is a lot easier with a VPN, and while you won’t get one every time, it is the most reliable way to find them.
It’s not just Warzone that you can enjoy with a VPN – make sure to check out the best FPS games on PC for some other competitive titles where a VPN may come in handy, or take a peek at the Warzone Area 99 details to get further intel on Warzone’s latest addition.