Fire bullets, known as **Incendiary Ammunition** for Vanguard weapons and **Dragon’s Breath** rounds for certain shotguns, add a devastating burning effect to your shots in Call of Duty: Warzone. These attachments cause ongoing damage after impact, disrupting enemy healing and armor plating, making them ideal for aggressive playstyles.
Why Fire Bullets Dominate Warzone Matches
Incendiary rounds ignite targets, dealing damage over time that persists even after you stop firing. This DoT (damage over time) effect hampers opponents’ ability to deploy armor plates quickly, giving you a crucial edge in gunfights. While they reduce bullet velocity and damage range, pairing them with close-range weapons turns them into a nightmare for enemies in tight spaces.
Dragon’s Breath shells function similarly on shotguns, spewing flames that burn foes at short distances. They’re especially potent in Warzone’s urban areas or building clears, where range penalties matter less.
Unlocking Incendiary Ammunition on Vanguard Weapons
Vanguard integration into Warzone allows up to 10 attachments per gun, far surpassing the five-attachment limit on Modern Warfare or Black Ops weapons. Incendiary Ammunition unlocks by leveling specific weapons—no special challenges required beyond reaching the designated level.
Here’s a breakdown of unlock levels by weapon category:
| Weapon Category | Weapons | Unlock Level |
|---|---|---|
| Assault Rifles | STG44, Automaton, iTRA Burst, BAR, AS44, NZ-41, Volkssturmgewehr | 44 (Cooper Carbine: 46, KG M40: 23) |
| Submachine Guns | MP-40, Sten, M1928, Owen Gun, Type 100, PPSh-41 | 33 (Welgun: 70) |
| Shotguns | Einhorn Revolving, Combat Shotgun, Gracey Auto, Double Barrel | 15 |
| Light Machine Guns | MG42, DP27, Type 11, Bren | 22 (Whitley: 64) |
| Marksman Rifles | M1 Garand, SVT-40, G-43 | 22 |
| Sniper Rifles | Type 99, 3-Line Rifle, Kar98k | 22 (Gorenko Anti-Tank: N/A) |
Level these weapons in Multiplayer, Zombies, or Warzone playlists. Focus on high-kill games or objective modes to grind XP efficiently. Once unlocked, equip via the Gunsmith in your custom loadout.
Dragon’s Breath Rounds for Shotguns
Modern Warfare shotguns like the Model 680, R9-0, VLK Rogue, and Expedite 12 offer Dragon’s Breath magazines. These require specific challenges, not just leveling.
- Model 680: 15 kills shortly after reloading (easy in close quarters), plus 3 longshot kills in 3 different matches with the 6-R Mag.
- R9-0: 10 kills while sliding—all in one match for quick unlocks.
- VLK Rogue: 3 longshot kills in 3 different matches.
- Expedite 12: Reach level 28; also unlocks at level 21 for full access. Some sources mention armory challenges like 150,000 XP.
These rounds excel in Warzone’s fast-paced fights, compensating for shotgun range loss with fire DoT.
Best Weapons and Loadouts for Fire Bullets
Pair fire ammo with weapons that mitigate its downsides. Here’s an optimized setup:
Top Vanguard SMG Loadout (MP-40)
- Incendiary Ammunition (Lvl 33)
- Extended Mag II
- Recoil Springs
- Krausnick 428mm 01V
- Removed Choke (hipfire boost)
- Other slots: Mercenary Foregrip, Plastic Grip
This build maximizes TTK (time-to-kill) in CQC while the fire effect finishes weakened foes.
Shotgun Beast: Model 680 Dragon’s Breath
- Dragon’s Breath Rounds
- 8-R Mag
- VLK 3.5x Optic (if needed)
- Speedforegrip
- Laser for hipfire
Counter velocity loss with bullet velocity attachments like heavier barrels.
| Weapon | Pros | Cons | Best Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| MP-40 (Incendiary) | High fire rate, mobile | Recoil | Resurgence |
| Model 680 (DB) | One-shot potential | Reload slow | Plunder |
| Cooper Carbine (Lvl 46) | Versatile AR | Higher unlock | BR |
Counters and Weaknesses
Fire bullets aren’t invincible. The **EOD Perk** reduces explosive and incendiary damage, cutting DoT significantly. Stay mobile, use cover, and prioritize plate-ups. Avoid open areas where range penalties hurt more.
Shotgun variants struggle beyond 10 meters, so flank aggressively.
Grinding Tips for Fast Unlocks
- Play Multiplayer Domination or Hardpoint for kill XP.
- Use double XP tokens on Vanguard weapons.
- In Warzone, drop hot to rack up kills quickly.
- For challenges like sliding kills, equip mobility perks (Double Time, Amped).
- Armory unlocks: Grind 150k XP passively.
Fire Bullets in Current Meta (2026 Update)
As of recent seasons, buffs to Vanguard handling make fire builds meta in Resurgence modes. Pair with Overkill for a fire SMG secondary. Watch patch notes for nerfs—velocity tweaks often follow popularity spikes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do fire bullets work on all weapons?
No, primarily Vanguard guns via Incendiary and specific MW shotguns via Dragon’s Breath.
Can I use fire bullets in Black Ops loadouts?
Not directly; stick to Vanguard for 10-attachment flexibility.
How do I counter burning damage?
EOD perk is key; it mitigates most DoT.
Are there free unlocks or bundles required?
Mostly level-based or challenges; no paid packs needed.
Best map for grinding?
Rebirth Island for CQC shotgun unlocks.
References
- How to get fire bullets in Call of Duty: Warzone — Pro Game Guides. 2023-12-15. https://progameguides.com/call-of-duty/how-to-get-fire-bullets-in-call-of-duty-warzone/
- How to UNLOCK Shotgun FIRE BULLETS Dragon’s Breath – Model 680 R9-0 VLK Rogue COD Warzone — YouTube (JGOD). 2020-12-20.
- How to get FLAMING BULLETS in Warzone — YouTube (TrueGameData). 2021-01-15.
- HOW TO UNLOCK THE FIRE BREATH ROUNDS IN… — YouTube. 2022-05-10.
- How to Unlock Dragons Breath Shotgun Shells in Warzone — YouTube. 2021-11-05.