First raid (beginner guide)

Everything a new player needs before the first deploy, in the order you need it.

Your first raid

1
Gear up at the FOB
Use the Free Loadout for your first raids: you lose nothing you paid for. Later bring a plate carrier, a backpack, a weapon and a Medkit.
2
Pick how you deploy
Free Roam drops you anywhere, Dynamic Operations start you with an op, Story Missions drop you near the mission. Squad Fill is on by default; turn it off to play alone.
3
Infil
A ground infil is free and random. Vehicles, a helicopter or the cargo plane cost DMZ Cash; the plane lets you choose where you land.
4
Do objectives
DMZ Orders and Dynamic Operations give XP and cash; Dynamic Operations pay straight into your Bank. Start with the Human Intel chapter: its rewards include UAVs.
5
Loot
Start in quieter areas such as Deadtown or Imjin Farmland. Put the one item you cannot lose in your Secure Slot.
6
Watch the threat
Every AI kill fills the hostiles meter; when it is full, a Hunt Squad comes for you. A UAV Tower shows enemies nearby, but switching it on shows you too.
7
Exfil
Find green smoke, call the helicopter and get on. Check for players waiting at the exfil first. Late in the raid the radiation closes exfils one by one.
8
Back at the FOB
Sell what you do not need and keep upgrade materials in the Stash. Upgrade the Bank first: cash over its limit is lost.

3D PrinterDMZ level 2
Craft gear and FOB upgrades from materials.
VendorDMZ level 5
Buy and sell; the stock rotates.
GunsmithDMZ level 10
Buy a weapon after you extract its Weapon Manual.
Dog Tag CaseDMZ level 20
Keep the Dog Tags you bring back.
Boss BoardAfter the first DMZ Orders
Buy Lieutenant intel and collect boss rewards.
OperatorsFrom the start
Traits, Active Duty, MIA recovery and Prestige.

MIA: Your Operator died or missed exfil. Recover them for DMZ Cash; the price rises with their trait points.
Secure Slot: A backpack pocket whose item you keep even if you fail to exfil. The Medium Backpack has one.
Last Stand: Downed but alive. A tourniquet gets you up Wounded (less max health) until a Medkit; a Self-Revive Kit or a teammate gets you up without the wound.
Hunt Squad: Sent after you when the hostiles meter fills from AI kills.
Lieutenant: A named boss in one area. Find them with Boss Board intel or a Lieutenant Hunt Tower.
Commander: A roaming boss: Colossus, the Deathstalker or the Tank.
Dog Tag: Dropped by operators and bosses. Picking up a Lieutenant's tag reveals your position.