Short answer
Each Operator gets 18 trait points, with at most 9 in one tree. Your first point in a tree buys a random Minor, and Majors come in either/or pairs (community trackers place them at 3, 6 and 9 points). Picks stay until you Prestige or dismiss the Operator.
Trait points
- Each Operator has 18 trait points, earned from Dog Tag Steel I through Onyx III.
- One tree takes at most 9 points, so you can fill two trees completely or spread points across all three.
- There are three trees: Warfighter, Scout and Survivalist. Each has 22 traits: 6 Majors and 16 Minors, 66 in all.
Minor traits
- The first point you spend in a tree buys a random Minor. You don't choose it.
- More Minors appear in groups of three between the Major gates.
- A Minor can show up in a tree you wouldn't expect.
- Locked spots show ??? until you unlock the row before them.
Every Minor, with its icon and effect, is in the trait atlas.
Major pairs
Majors come in fixed either/or pairs. Taking one locks out the other. Community trackers place the pairs at 3, 6 and 9 points in a tree:
| Points in tree | Warfighter | Scout | Survivalist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Equipment Professional or Combat Resistance | Hostile Looter or Container Looter | Faster Revive or Consumable Duration |
| 6 | Viper Sense or Quick Fix | UAV Upgrade or Field Crafting | Impact Smokes or Free Revive |
| 9 | Possum or Adaptive Restock | Overwatch or Thermal Padding | Numb the Pain or Die Hard |
The 3/6/9 placement comes from community trackers (CODMunity and DMZTracker), not the official guide. The official guide also lists Adrenaline Burst, Investor and Air Superiority as main traits; the trackers and the in-game layout treat them as Minors.
Planning your picks
- Decide which trees you want to fill. You can max out two (9 points each) or spread across three.
- Check the 3, 6 and 9 pairs for those trees in the trait atlas before you spend.
- Expect your first point in each tree to give you a random Minor.
- At each gate, choose one Major of the pair. You can't take both.
No respec
There's no respec. The only ways to clear your picks are to Prestige the Operator or dismiss it.
Common mistakes
- Following 2022 DMZ guides. This page covers the Modern Warfare 4 DMZ on Hajin. Advice written for the Al Mazrah DMZ may not apply.
- Planning on both Majors of a pair. Each pair is either/or.
- Spending points before checking the gates. With no respec, a wrong pick stays until you Prestige.
Related
- Operator trait atlas: every trait, icon and effect
- What happens when you Prestige an Operator?
- Which traits do players pick?