If you've been waiting patiently for a new map to wreak havoc in when it comes to Call of Duty: Warzone, now Warzone Pacific, the agonizing countdown is finally over. The new map, Caldera, is here! And with it comes a smattering of new content, as well as a new series of quirks and features that longtime fans will want to know about so they can play at their full potential.

Yes, Caldera's meta brings plenty of change for even expert players who know the game like the back of their hand. If you're looking to get up close and personal with Caldera, we've got your back with tips, tricks, and more to keep in mind while playing. Get ready to drop with Warzone's first new full-sized map and its unique Pacific flavor.

New Map, New Season

With the debut of the Caldera map, Call of Duty: Vanguard shifted into a very different beast. The removal of the Verdansk map for the time being meant Caldera's official Warzone: Pacific Season 1 began on December 9 for all players after a brief period of early access for those who own Call of Duty: Vanguard. Now, Caldera is the main battleground you'll be duking it out on, with plenty of changes to terrain and its location in general.

Caldera is roughly the same size as Verdansk, in terms of both scale and player count. It's more of a remote setting, however, with more rocky terrain and mountaintops than the city rooftops of Verdansk. It's palm trees and emerald trees for miles, which means you'll be able to wade through shallow waters and navigate rivers and swamps.

This is a remote island, after all, and the developers have gone a long way toward making it look and feel like one, with more jungle-centric terrain than the hustling, bustling feel of Downtown Verdansk. Expect plenty of rocky formations to hide behind, water to mask your molotov cocktail explosions and create smoke clouds, and open terrain that you'll need to be extra careful when traversing.

Best Spots to Drop in Caldera

If you played Warzone regularly when Verdansk was still in rotation, you probably had a good idea of where to drop each time you started a new match. Caldera has several sweet spots of its own you're going to want to commit to memory, so you're not left wondering what to do when the match kicks off. We've selected some of the best picks for where you can drop in Caldera to get a leg up on the competition.

Industrial Docks: At the northern tip of the island, you'll find plenty of abandoned warehouses, derelict ships, construction sites, and other wartorn detritus. This is where you can go if you aren't into the idea of immediately being gunned down while out in the open areas of other landing zones. You can make plans to move to one of the other, more dangerous quadrants while quietly picking others off here, which means you have a bit of time to form a strategy. That makes it one great place for beginners to set up shop, at least for a little while.

Phosphate Mines: If you're itching for a scuffle, land here in the Mines, one of the hottest areas that tends to attract a wide variety of players. While there are plenty of areas that will be hotly contested as you work your way through this high-risk, high-reward location, you've got a good reason to remain there. There are sniper's nests all throughout the Mines, and plenty of options if you want to make things especially ugly for anyone trying to charge at you. It really has a little something for every type of player.

River Village: Drop near the central western part of the map near the coast, where you'll find land stretching all the way to the hills. You'll be met with terrain perfect for close-quarters combat, with huts you can retreat to for a quick reprieve, as well as paddy fields and foothills you can move to if you get caught in a particularly dangerous firefight. From there, you can work your way to the Capital or the Airfield in the south, just in case you need a moment to catch your breath.

Runway: This is one of the less densely populated areas that you can run to if you need equipment and gear. Most people will want to immediately start gunning down the competition and won't think to go to the Runway. That leaves gear and loot for you to get ready with, as everyone else kills each other off. It's also centrally located, so you can move out whenever you feel you're sufficiently geared up. Sometimes you don't want to run right into the line of fire, and the Runway is a great place to go if you want to avoid this.

Best Weapons to Gear Up With

So you know where you should drop, but what arms should you take up against the enemy? There are plenty of great picks, but here are some pieces of gear you should have your eye on from the drop to when you're reaching for your favorite gun to claim a kill.

MAC-10 SMG: Love to fire from the hip? This SMG is a great companion for you as you make your way through Caldera. Its high fire rate and low recoil make it a great pick for letting bullets rain down without aiming at a concrete target, which makes it absolutely perfect for close-range combat. You'll want to use a long-range firearm for long-range shots, but this is a reliable gun to ensure you claim any time you can.

STG 44 Assault Rifle: This Vanguard rifle is an all-around fighter, with great accuracy, firepower, and fire rate. It's also quick and light, meaning you can move around Caldera freely without having to worry about being hindered. It's a tried-and-true AR that's more powerful than a smaller SMG, but you don't have to sacrifice speed and lightweight weapon access for power.

Kar98k Rifle: If you're more interested in finding places to snipe from while scouting out Caldera, you're going to inevitably want to find a sniper rifle. The Kar98k is a great option for this. It's heavy and plodding, but it still offers decent mobility. Of course, you're going to want to make sure your aim is true, but it'll ensure you make short work of anyone you want to pick off from a reasonable distance.

Streetsweeper Shotgun: Sometimes, you've just gotta whip out the shotgun. Do it with confidence when you have the Streetsweeper, with plenty of ammo and the fastest fire rate you can find in the game. It takes quite a long time to reload, but when you come up close and personal with an enemy, they're going to be all but eliminated as soon as you pull the trigger.

Now that you’ve had a bit of a prep class on Caldera, you should be ready to find the best place to drop in, and the best arms to help you come out on top in this new vision of Warzone: Pacific. Be sure to pair this knowledge with a pair of Call of Duty: Vanguard Performance Thumbsticks and Performance Grips to make sure you're at the top of your game, no matter what.