Hot drops are high-risk, high-reward locations where many players land. You will either come out fully looted with several kills or die in the first minute. These are great for improving your combat skills.

Erangel

School / Apartments / Rozhok

The School complex is the most iconic hot drop in PUBG history. School itself is a two-story building with open interior, apartments is the multi-building complex to the north, and Rozhok is the town to the northeast. Together they form a massive combat zone.

Expect 5–15 players landing here when the plane flies nearby.
School has excellent loot density but is a death trap with its open layout and multiple entry points.
Apartments is slightly safer with more rooms and loot spread across multiple buildings.
The player who gets a weapon first usually controls the area. Land on weapon spawns, not rooftops.

Erangel

Pochinki

A dense town in the center of Erangel with high loot density across many compounds. Pochinki is perfect for players who want both loot and fights without the pure chaos of School.

Typically 4–10 players. The number of buildings means you can usually find a weapon before fighting.
Center-map position means you rarely need a long rotation to the first circle.
Compound-to-compound fighting with lots of cover. Good for practicing peek-and-shoot mechanics.
Clear the town systematically from one edge to the other instead of running into the center.

Sanhok

Bootcamp

The ultimate hot drop on Sanhok. A military compound in the center of the map with the highest loot density on the entire island. Fast, brutal, and chaotic.

Easily the busiest drop on Sanhok. Expect 8–20 players in a match.
The central two-story building has the best loot. Landing on the roof and working downward is the standard play.
Fights happen at point-blank range. Shotguns and SMGs are more useful here than ARs in the first 30 seconds.
Listen for footsteps above and below you. Vertical audio is critical in multi-story structures.

Miramar

Pecado

Miramar's answer to School. A small city in the center of the map featuring the Casino, Arena, and surrounding buildings. The Casino in particular is a multi-level deathtrap with incredible loot.

The Casino has some of the best loot density in the entire game. Multiple floors, balconies, and roof access.
The Arena (boxing ring building) is another popular drop. Lots of loot in a compact space.
Miramar's terrain means players rotating out of Pecado have excellent ridge cover nearby.
Less popular than Erangel hot drops overall, so the player count is usually 3–8.