Skip to main content

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

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.

Recommended Videos

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.

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

Recommended reading

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.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joseph Yaden is a freelance journalist who covers Nintendo, shooters, and horror games. He mostly covers game guides for…
Topics
The best Wildcards in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Kill Order gameplay in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

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.
All Black Ops 6 Wildcards, ranked

There is a level of personal preference in which Wildcard you will find better than others, but in most cases, the ones we've ranked as the best will help every player gain an edge in online matches. Here's our ranking of each Wildcard from best to worst, along with what level you unlock them at.
Perk Greed - Level 54
The last Wildcard you unlock is easily the most powerful. Perk Greed lets you unlock a fourth Perk to your loadout instead of being limited to three, which can borderline break the game if you choose the right set of Perks. It is also the most versatile of the Wildcards since it gives you the most options to play with instead of a specific bonus you may not find useful. It can also more easily unlock the special bonus buff you get for equipping three Perks from the same category.
Gunfighter - Level 33
Right in the middle of the unlock list, Gunfighter is one Wildcard you could easily make a case for over Perk Greed in some situations. This one increases your attachment points for your primary weapon by three. If you're rocking a top-tier weapon already, this Wildcard can let you tweak its stats even higher. We rank it second because it only applies to one weapon and thus is a bit more limiting.
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
Field upgrades are powerful, don't get us wrong, but having two instead of one isn't always that much of a game-changer. It's a bit less useful than Gunfighter only because field upgrades are more situational and require more attention to use to their full potential. If that's you, then this is a great choice.
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.
Tactical Expert - Level 15
The first Wildcard you get is better than nothing, but only just. It's exactly like Danger Close, only you can hold two Tacticals instead of Lethals. This is, by nature, a little worse since Tacticals don't have the ability to kill an enemy (unless you get super lucky and you directly hit an enemy with one who is on low HP). You can get some use out of them, but you're better off upgrading as soon as you have another option.

Read more
The best Perk-A-Colas in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
A screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's zombies mode.

There's nothing more refreshing than taking a nice big swig of a Perk-A-Cola during an intense Zombies match with your pals in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Besides tasting great (we assume), these colas empower you with buffs that will keep you alive until the later rounds. These bonuses are just as important as the Pack-A-Punch, but come in a wider range of flavors. It is possible to stack them all, but that gets expensive very fast so you need to be thrifty about choosing which ones are most valuable early on. These colas come in eight different types that may or may not be worth your Essence to chug. If you want to know which ones are the best in Black Ops 6, check out our ranking.
Best Perk-A-Colas in Black Ops 6

We're ranking these Perk-A-Colas based on their base bonuses, not any additional effects you can get if you Augment them, from best to worst.
Jugger-Nog
You can never go wrong with the classic Jugger-Nog. Increasing your health by 100 is useful for the entire duration of a Zombies mode, but especially in the early rounds. Going down is at best a major setback and at worst a cascade into defeat. This extra health allows you to get out of a bad situation that would otherwise end your run.
Quick Revive
This Perk has two components, with the less useful one being the ability to revive teammates 50% faster. Ideally, that shouldn't be needed but is nice. However, what makes it rank so high is the 50% shorter delay on health regen. Your health will come back over time in Zombies but at a dreadful pace. Starting to heal faster means less time running and kiting zombies around and more time in the action helping the team.
Speed Cola
The best early guns for Zombies mode have a large magazine, fast reload, or both. Running out of ammo at the wrong time and not being able to get more rounds in the chamber fast enough has ended many a run, but Speed Cola is the solution. It will speed up your reloads and armor plating by 30%. That's not a massive number, but fast enough to make the difference.
Stamin-Up
These zombies aren't the shambling types. They will chase you down like sprinters, and some of the monstrous ones can outpace you even at full tilt. Stamin-Up sounds like it would let you run for longer, but actually just lets you run faster since you have no limit on sprint in Black Ops 6. Positioning is everything in Zombies so being able to get where you need to be faster is never a bad thing, especially if it's a downed teammate bleeding out.
Deadshot Daiquiri
Every zombie has a weak spot, which is most often the head. Deadshot Daiquiri makes a critical hit hurt even more than normal, plus increases your auto-aim on those weak points when you aim down sights (ADS). That second part shouldn't factor much if you've got good aim, which is why this is only a decent Perk-A-Cola.
PhD Flopper
Not being able to hurt yourself is situationally useful, and the ability to cause an explosion by diving is a risky move. Yes, it's cool, but you don't want to be lying prone surrounded by zombies. This is a cool gimmick, but save yourself the Essence and skip it.
Elemental Pop
When Elemental Pop works, it's great. The problem with it is that you can't rely on it. It gives a small chance on every shot you take to add a random ammo mod effect, which is cool but impractical. If you have spare Essence on you, sure, it won't hurt you to have, but it isn't something that will turn the tide for you or your team.
Melee Macchiato
Finally, Melee Macchiato bottoms out the list. It is fine in the early game when the hordes are small and you're better off meleeing enemies since it will smack enemies away with each hit, but quickly drops off in usefulness. When the zombies get too strong and too numerous, you will need a lot more than a strong punch to deal with them and end up forgetting you even have it.

Read more
The best Call of Duty games, ranked
Soldier holding weapon in Modern Warfare II.

Few video game series are as influential and popular as Call of Duty. The annualized franchise throws players into fast-paced battles across various historical time periods -- along with fictional eras as well. Call of Duty has taken us to World War II, the Cold War, a modern setting, and even to the future.

Although it's one of the most successful video game franchises out there, Call of Duty's quality varies significantly from game to game, with some fantastic entries in the series, but many mediocre ones as well. But which Call of Duty games are worth your time and which ones should you skip? To answer that question, we've ranked all the mainline entries in the series, with details about why you should or shouldn't play a particular game.

Read more