Among the myriad additions coming to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0 in season 5, one in particular stands out as handsome and good: Merlin the dog.
According to today’s Call of Duty blog post, which details the five new operators, two new weapons, eight new skins, and more included with BlackCell (a premium version of the normal Battle Pass), the operator Arthur will be able to strap a dog to his belt, providing “the unparalleled benefit of companionship.” The dog in question, named Merlin, is a very handsome good boy. Observe:
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Not only does Merlin have a sleek coat of black fur, a sweet Secret Service earpiece, and piercing brown eyes, he’s also sporting an outfit that wouldn’t look out of place in Death Stranding. I can’t even get my cat to wear a bowtie. And she’s a tuxedo!
Merlin has his own finishing move, which you can catch a glimpse of at the 0:25 mark in the BlackCell season 5 trailer. Apparently, this little guy (read: debonair killing machine) won’t be the only pet coming to Modern Warfare 2. The blog post mentions “other tactical pets,” and I’m holding out hope that cats, despite their indifference to the affairs of humans, might play a larger role in the shooter’s future. This guy is more uncanny than cute:
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(OK, he’s pretty cute, too, and he’s rocking the hell out of that ballistic vest.)
It’s worth noting that Merlin and his unannounced furry friends can’t be hurt on the battlefield. That’s all well and good, because I absolutely do not want to see any harm come to them. In fact, if I see Merlin hanging out on your uniform in Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, DMZ, or Warzone 2.0, you can be assured that I will not shoot at you, even if you’re on the other team. I have principles.
My question is: If these Tactical Companions can’t be hurt, what happens to them when their operator dies? Do they sprint away to hang with the other animals? Do they sneak off to take a nap? Do they continue running rampant, playing their part as invincible killing machines that multiply with every respawn, for the duration of the match? I’ve reached out to Activision for comment.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 season 5 launches on Aug. 2 across multiplayer, DMZ, and Warzone 2.0.