Operation Grid Assault is one of the harder MW4 DMZ story missions. You hack the drone control network in DBN Headquarters, collect a second code segment at Hotel Lucera, compile and upload the code while you defend an antenna, and finish by climbing a radio tower to broadcast the kill code. This walkthrough covers every step, the fights that end most runs and what the Helicopter reward actually gives you. We finished it with a full squad in the first days of DMZ.
- Grid Assault unlocks after Critical Extraction, Silent Ledger and Shopping Hacks.
- It takes place in The Grid, a Critical threat area, and DBN Headquarters is rated Extreme inside.
- Five steps: hack the drone control, get the second code segment, compile the code, upload it while you defend the antenna, then broadcast the kill code from the radio tower.
- The enemies hit hard. Peek corners, do not rush rooms and take them one at a time.
- Bring a parachute for the long trips between buildings.
- Rewards: an armory key, a Helicopter infil and $25,000.
Operation Grid Assault at a Glance
| Detail | What the game shows |
|---|---|
| Location | The Grid, Hajin City |
| Threat assessment | CRITICAL |
| Recommended equipment | 3-Plate Armor Vest, Medkit |
| Main objectives | Access the Network, Download Network Intel, Upload Kill Switch |
| Rewards listed | Armory key x1, Helicopter, $25,000 |
The radio tower above the financial district sends out the enemy’s drone commands. Hack the network and you shut the drones down and get into the enemy’s network, with Ghost on overwatch.
Click to enlarge Grid Assault on the Select a Mission screen. 
How to Start Operation Grid Assault
Open Select Deployment, choose Story Missions and pick Operation Grid Assault. It sits one row up on the mission tree and stays locked until you finish the three earlier story missions, Operation Critical Extraction, Operation Silent Ledger and Operation Shopping Hacks. You spawn in the middle of the map and make your own way to The Grid.
Operation Grid Assault Walkthrough
1. Find the Drone Control
Head into DBN Headquarters, an Extreme threat area once you are inside. Take the elevator up and find the drone control laptop in a server room. Hold to hack it.
Click to enlarge The entrance of DBN Headquarters. 
Click to enlarge Hold to hack the drone control laptop. 
2. Get the Second Code Segment
The hack gives you the first part of the code. The second segment is in Hotel Lucera, a building over in The Grid. A nearby SAM site controls the airspace here, so do not count on flying in.
Click to enlarge Hotel Lucera holds the second code segment. 
Click to enlarge A SAM site controls the airspace here. 
3. Compile the Code
Go back to DBN Headquarters and your laptop. Hold to hack again to compile the code from both segments.
4. Upload the Code
Now upload the code at the antenna and protect it until the upload finishes. Enemies push in from several sides while it runs, so hold the room and keep them off the antenna.
Click to enlarge Protect the antenna while the code uploads. 
Click to enlarge Upload done. Now send the broadcast. 
5. Broadcast the Kill Code
Once the upload is done, the signal is still not strong enough to send from there, so the game sends you to the radio tower that overlooks the city.
Climb the radio tower to the very top. It takes some parkour, so send your best climber while the rest of the squad covers the base. Upload the code at the top and the mission is complete.
Click to enlarge The radio tower for the kill code broadcast. 
Click to enlarge Uploading the code at the top of the tower. 
Where Squads Get Stuck
The enemies are very strong. If you stop paying attention, you are downed in an instant. Peek corners carefully, do not push into rooms, and take enemies down one at a time. That goes double for the antenna defense, where they come at you from several sides.
The other time sink is moving between buildings. DBN Headquarters and Hotel Lucera are not next to each other, and taking the stairs down every time is slow. If you have a parachute, bring it. We took the fast route instead and jumped from the top of the building to the ground, then used a Self-Revive Kit or had a teammate revive us.
Rewards and Payout
Grid Assault rewards an armory key, a Helicopter and $25,000. The Helicopter is the reward that matters. It lets you spawn in with a helicopter, an infil that otherwise costs 50,000 DMZ Cash, and you keep it once you are on the map. It is very fast and speeds up the start of a match, but it has little health. One missile and it is over.
Loadout and Squad Tips
- Wear the recommended 3-Plate Armor Vest and bring a Medkit.
- Pack a Parachute, or a Self-Revive Kit if you plan to jump off the roof.
- Decide before the mission who climbs the radio tower and who covers.
- Play slow inside DBN Headquarters. Corners and doorways are where squads get wiped.
The Grid is one of the Critical areas on the map. Our MW4 DMZ Hajin map guide shows where it sits. The other hard story mission we have covered is Operation Iron Citadel, the story ends with Operation Fallen Ember, and our DMZ Orders guide lists every order page.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you unlock Operation Grid Assault in MW4 DMZ?
Finish the three earlier story missions first: Operation Critical Extraction, Operation Silent Ledger and Operation Shopping Hacks. Until then the mission tree shows Grid Assault as locked with the requirement Complete the 3 Previous Missions.
Where does Operation Grid Assault take place?
In The Grid, the walled-off financial district of Hajin City. Most of the mission happens in and around DBN Headquarters, with a detour to Hotel Lucera for the second code segment. It is a Critical threat mission, and DBN Headquarters is rated Extreme inside.
How do you broadcast the kill code in Grid Assault?
After the upload at the antenna finishes, you still have to send the broadcast. Climb the radio tower to the top and upload the code there. The climb takes some parkour, so let your best climber take it while the others cover.
What are the Operation Grid Assault rewards?
Grid Assault rewards an armory key, a Helicopter and $25,000. The Helicopter reward lets you spawn in with a helicopter, an infil that otherwise costs 50,000 DMZ Cash. It is very fast but has little health, so one missile takes it down.
