Researcher's Dilemma DMZ Guide: Vondel Zoo, Church, and Fake Notes Explained

Warzone 2 DMZ has never been shy about sending operators on a wild goose chase, and Researcher's Dilemma is a textbook example that still pops up for players revisiting Vondel in 2026. The mission sits in the Black Mous faction's Tier 2 lineup from Vondel's launch window, and it demands a trio of objectives completed in a single deployment: find the researcher's notes in the Vondel Zoo Veterinary Office, place those notes in the church near the Castle, and then plant the fake notes found at the church back in the Veterinary Office. Pulling off that little switcheroo rewards an Aquarium Key and 10,000 XP, which is nothing to sneeze at. Operators who charge in without a game plan often end up sprinting around Vondel like a chicken with its head cut off, so a clear route is worth its weight in gold.

Mission Objectives at a Glance

Step	Objective	Key Detail
1	Find the researcher's notes	Vondel Zoo Veterinary Office
2	Place the researcher's notes in the church	Church south of the Castle, same deployment
3	Place the fake notes in the Veterinary Office	Return to the original spot, same deployment

Rewards: Aquarium Key and 10,000 XP

Finding the Researcher's Notes

The first stop on this treasure hunt is the Vondel Zoo Veterinary Office, which sits on the southwest corner of the zoo. There is a catch, though: the building can sometimes spawn as a Stronghold. For that reason, savvy operators carry a Stronghold Keycard in their backpack so the whole run does not get derailed before it even starts. Nothing stings quite like finally reaching the front door and realizing it is locked tighter than a drum.

The notes are not just sitting out in the open waiting to be scooped up. They are tucked inside the Veterinary Lab, a locked room adjacent to the right-side entrance of the Veterinary Office. To pop that door open, an operator needs either a Veterinarian Key or a Skeleton Key. The Veterinarian Key can be earned by completing the Tier 1 Phalanx mission called Cross Town, so it may already be sitting in a key stash for players who have been grinding faction progress. Once inside the lab, the prized item is at the far end of the room: the Vondel Gas Researcher Notes. Grabbing those notes checks off the first objective and sets the wheels in motion.

Placing the Researcher's Notes in the Church Near the Castle

After the notes are secured, there is no time to dawdle because the second objective must happen in the same deployment. The destination is the church near the Castle, a named point of interest on the northwest side of Vondel. More precisely, the church sits just south of the Castle and is a spot where the Castle Buy Station often makes an appearance. That makes it a hot zone at times, so operators should keep their eyes peeled for enemy squads trying to crash the party.

Once at the church, the play is to climb the ladder to the second floor. Up there, an operator will find the False Vondel Gas Research Notes needed for the third step. The order matters more than a little here: loot the false notes first, then place the real Vondel Gas Research Notes in that very spot. This is the old bait-and-switch, and doing it in the wrong order can leave the mission stuck in limbo. With the real notes planted, the second objective is in the bag.

Placing the Fake Notes in the Veterinary Office

The final leg of this run is a classic DMZ backtrack. After grabbing the False Vondel Gas Research Notes from the church, operators must haul it back to the Veterinary Office and plant the fake notes exactly where the original notes were found. The game does not ask for any fancy detours here, but the trip across Vondel can get spicy, especially if the gas is creeping in or if rival operators are hanging around the zoo. A vehicle or a well-planned route through the canals can turn a nerve-wracking return trip into smooth sailing.

When the fake notes land in the original location, the mission wraps up and the rewards drop into the operator's inventory. This means the Aquarium Key and 10,000 XP are finally secured. Because all three steps must be completed in one deployment, it is wise to bring plenty of plates, a stack of cash for a possible Buy Station run, and a key stash that covers the Veterinary Lab and any Stronghold surprises. With the right setup, Researcher's Dilemma is less of a head-scratcher and more of a well-choreographed loop across Vondel.

Field Tips for a Clean Run

• 🗝️ Bring a Stronghold Keycard in case the Veterinary Office spawns as a Stronghold.

• 🔑 Have a Veterinarian Key or Skeleton Key ready before starting the mission.

• 🪜 At the church, grab the false notes before placing the real notes to avoid a mission-breaking order mix-up.

• 🚗 Use a vehicle for the return trip to the Veterinary Office, since Vondel can live up to its reputation as a chaotic map.

• 📍 Track the mission progress after each objective to make sure the same-deployment requirement is still intact.

Following that rhythm keeps the run clean and avoids the dreaded restart after a wipe halfway through. For Black Mous loyalists, knocking out Researcher's Dilemma is a solid way to build momentum through the faction ranks while earning an Aquarium Key that may open even more doors later on.