Warzone Season 2 Doubles Down on Competition With Ranked Play and Iron Gauntlet

Raven Software is setting its sights firmly on competitive players with Call of Duty: Warzone Season 2, and the studio has now shared more details via social media about what’s coming. The upcoming update puts a clear emphasis on high-skill gameplay, highlighted by the return of Ranked Play and the debut of a brand-new mode inspired by the fan-favorite Iron Trials.

Ranked Play Makes a Comeback

Competitive Ranked Play disappeared from Warzone following the launch of Black Ops 7, but Season 2 is bringing it back in the form of Ranked Play: Resurgence. This mode will once again give skilled squads a structured environment to climb ranks and prove themselves.

At the moment, Warzone features two Resurgence maps: Rebirth Island and Haven’s Hollow. Raven Software hasn’t officially confirmed which map will host Ranked Play in Season 2, though historically, Ranked Play: Resurgence has been tied to Rebirth Island in previous seasons.

Introducing Iron Gauntlet: A New Competitive Experience

Alongside Ranked Play, Raven Software is also rolling out a beta version of a new mode called Iron Gauntlet. Described as an evolution of Warzone’s Iron Trials, Iron Gauntlet is designed to push players toward smarter, more deliberate gameplay.

According to the developer, Iron Gauntlet aims to “emphasize skill expression, smart positioning, and calculated engagements.” The mode will take place on a large-scale Warzone map and will introduce meaningful adjustments to health values, loot availability, and loadout rules to create a more competitive battlefield.

While full details on Iron Gauntlet’s mechanics haven’t been revealed yet, Raven Software noted that more information will be shared closer to Season 2’s launch in February.

One Competitive Mode at a Time

An important detail for competitive players: Ranked Play: Resurgence and Iron Gauntlet will not run at the same time. Whenever Iron Gauntlet is active, Ranked Play will be temporarily disabled.

Raven Software explained the reasoning behind this approach, stating:

“This approach will bring the competitive community together in an ecosystem with healthier matchmaking, stronger competition in matches, and exciting moments for our competitive community to chase unique rewards, while also giving us clearer insight into how each format performs.”

More Season 2 Content on the Way

Beyond competitive changes, Season 2 of Black Ops 7 and Warzone is shaping up to be a major update overall. Players can also look forward to a new Zombies map, the return of the Blackout battle royale, and a visual overhaul for Rebirth Island.

With Ranked Play returning and Iron Gauntlet raising the skill ceiling even higher, Season 2 is clearly aiming to give Warzone’s competitive community more reasons than ever to drop in.