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The 10 best Call of Duty: Vanguard weapons to level before Warzone Pacific

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The Call of Duty: Warzone experience is about to change drastically with the integration of Vanguard and the new Caldera map. Ahead of the integration, you’ll want to level up as many weapons as you can in Vanguard so you’re prepared as soon as Caldera becomes available. Reaching max level with a weapon is often ideal in Warzone, as it ensures you’ll have the best attachments possible, increasing your odds of winning a gunfight.

Since a weapon’s viability isn’t always one-to-one across Call of Duty games, it’s impossible to predict which Vanguard guns will for sure become meta in Warzone. The gameplay in Warzone is drastically different than in Vanguard, but we can still accurately predict which weapons will likely come out on top.

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In Warzone, you want a weapon with lots of ammo, low recoil, and high damage per mag, and thankfully, there are plenty of Vanguard firearms that fit that description. It’s possible that weapons will be reworked for the integration, but assuming most of the stats remain the same, there are several guns that come out on top.

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These are the 10 best weapons you should prioritize leveling up ahead of the Vanguard integration.

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AS44

AS44 in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Kicking off our list is the AS44, an assault rifle that is known for its ease of use. It has low recoil and is easy to control, making it a top choice for many players, especially newcomers. One thing to note is that you should use the 45 round mags with this weapon to preserve its accuracy. If you use the 60 round magazine, you’ll have more ammo, but also higher recoil, so it’s a tossup. Generally, we advise sticking with attachments that assist with recoil stabilization so you can ensure you’ll always hit your shots. It also has a tremendously fast rate of fire at over 900 RPM. This will work wonders at mid- to long range.

Automaton

Automaton in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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The Automaton is a top choice due to its high magazine count of 75. This, combined with its relative ease of use makes it ideal for long-range engagements — bolstered by its high fire rate of 833. A high rate of fire is ideal, as it means you’ll be able to connect with your shots faster while causing more flinch to your opponent. Often, a high rate of fire also means more recoil, but in this case, the Automaton is an exception, as it’s still easy to control.

Volkssturmgewehr

Volkssturmgewehr in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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The great thing about the Volkssturmgewehr (Volk) is that it feels much like an SMG with assault rifle properties. This makes it the perfect choice for a sniper support weapon, which will cover your bases at close- to mid-range. Its low recoil means you can whip this out to take on enemies at around 20 meters or so, while your sniper is best used for firefights beyond that. In Warzone, versatility is often king, so the Volk will definitely be at the top of the list.

M1928

M1928 in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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When using an SMG, one of the most important factors is a high rate of fire. Recoil control and accuracy don’t matter as much since SMGs are primarily used up close, which is where the M1928 excels. Its fire rate of 800 is competitive and with its 100 round mag, you’ll probably feel like a superhero when using it. Because of the M1928’s high fire rate, it does have some kick to it, so if you’re new to Warzone, it might be best to reserve your engagements to within 10 meters or so.

PPSh-41

PPSH-41 in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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We’ve seen how well the Cold War version of the PPSh-41 performs and it’s no different in Vanguard. This PPSh has a high fire rate of around 950, making it a forgiving SMG when used up close. The other shining aspect is its large 71-round drum, which gives you plenty of room to spray and take down multiple enemies before having to reload. The main thing to be aware of is that it can be tougher to control at mid-range, so if you’re planning on building it that way, don’t forget to use recoil stabilizing attachments along with an optic.

Type 100

Type 100 in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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Although the Type 100 might not seem great on paper, a handful of attachments bring it to the top of the list. In Vanguard, it has the capability to take down enemies in just a couple of shots, so long as you use the .30 Russian Short 30-Round Mags. Sure, this will put you at a disadvantage due to the low ammo count, but assuming the weapon performs similarly in Vanguard, its fast time to kill (TTK) might be worth it. Ultimately, this will be a weapon that might be overpowered at first and will receive a nerf soon after its implementation.

MG42

MG42 in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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LMGs are often tough to recommend due to their slow reload times and sluggish mobility, but the MG42 might make the cut due to its fire rate. In fact, this weapon has one of the highest fire rates in the game at around 1034 RPM, making it absolutely bonkers in practice. It does kick back a noticeable amount, but if you simply aim downwards, you’ll be able to control it with relative ease. You can equip it with a large 125-round mag, which is always nice, so it has a lot going for it. At the end of the day, it’s unclear what its TTKs will look like, but if they’re anything like the MG82 from Warzone, it’ll likely be worth using.

Type 99

Type 99 in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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Snipers are in an odd spot because it’s hard to get much better than the Kar98k and the Swiss K31 from Warzone. Out of the three Vanguard snipers, our pick is the Type 99, as it has the fastest aim down sights (ADS) speed, which is a key factor. It’s unclear how this weapon will stack up against the others, but at this point, we feel comfortable at least recommending the Type 99. Hopefully, it has some new feature that makes it viable, because otherwise, there wouldn’t be much of a reason to venture past the Kar98k and the Swiss.

SVT-40

SVT-40 in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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The thing about the SVT-40 is that it can take out an enemy in one hit in Vanguard. Of course, that likely won’t be the case in Warzone, but we imagine it’ll take around two or three shots to eliminate a player, which could make it a meta weapon. It maxes out at 15 rounds, and while this might put you at a disadvantage, you’ll deal enough damage to make it worth using. Time will tell how things will shake out, but we anticipate the SVT being a top-tier choice when the integration happens.

Machine Pistol

Machine Pistol in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
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While it’s easy to ignore the secondary weapons in Vanguard, doing so would be a mistake. Specifically, the akimbo version of the Machine Pistols could do exceptionally well thanks to their large magazine size and ease of use. Of course, you’ll need to be within eight meters or so for them to be viable, but they could still come in handy depending on the situation. This will work well, especially if you plan on running a Ghost loadout, at least to hold you over until you can grab a second primary weapon or an additional loadout.

Keep in mind, these are simply educated predictions that are based on what we know about Warzone and how these weapons perform in Vanguard. It’s possible many of their stats and properties will change when they’re added to Warzone, so it’s important to try a variety of weapons to see what works.

Joseph Yaden
Joseph Yaden
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joseph Yaden is a freelance journalist who covers Nintendo, shooters, and horror games. He mostly covers game guides for…
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The concept of a Wildcard might sound like a risky endeavor in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, but this part of your loadout isn't random at all. We haven't seen this system since Cold War, and even those who remember it from that game will need to learn all the new cards there are in Black Ops 6. You can only equip a single Wildcard on your loadout, but they are powerful enough to completely redefine your playstyle. So far, there are only six to unlock while grinding through the levels with your friends, but picking just one is still a tough choice, especially if you want to use a permanent unlock on one after hitting Prestige. We've ranked all the Wildcards in Black Ops 6 so you can always have the winning hand.
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Gunfighter - Level 33
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Overkill - Level 24
For such an early Wildcard, Overkill is quite a powerful choice. This card lets you equip any weapon (except melee weapons) in your Primary and Secondary slots instead of the ones typically reserved for each. That means you can build a loadout with two Primary weapons and be far more versatile on the battlefield. Instead of having to trade off range, damage, rate of fire, mobility, or any other aspect of your game, you can cover almost all your bases by picking two Primary weapons that cover each other's weaknesses.
Prepper - Level 45
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Danger Close - Level 38
Who doesn't want another grenade, Molotov, or combat axe? Is getting a second Lethal worth the Wildcard slot, though? Not in our opinion. Most of the time, Lethals are used in desperation or as a way to deny enemy movement for a time, and even then, they are risky because of how vulnerable you are while using them.
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Jugger-Nog
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Quick Revive
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Speed Cola
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Stamin-Up
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Deadshot Daiquiri
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PhD Flopper
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Elemental Pop
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Melee Macchiato
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