Best Call of Duty: Vanguard weapon loadouts

There are nearly as many different playstyles for Call of Duty's multiplayer as there are people playing the game. Still, certain weapons eventually find their way to the top of everybody's custom class list, ultimately becoming the "meta" for the game, until a patch comes along to either nerf or buff them.

At launch, there were over 30 firearms in Call of Duty: Vanguard's weapon list. You'll have to reach level 55 overall to have access to all of the weapons and perks, however, and you'll also need to level up each weapon gradually via its own XP system before you can access all attachments. This is a good opportunity to experiment with what attachments and weapons best suit your playstyle.

Currently, it seems the majority of players are holding on to the STG-44 and MP40 as they're both readily available, and using them heavily while leveling up to gain access to other guns unlocks a majority of their attachments. If you're looking to branch out and try another class, however, we have some of the best loadouts currently available regardless of your playstyle.

Run and gun loadouts

Run and gun players have taken a pretty heavy hit as far as Vanguard's multiplayer is concerned. Sledgehammer Games has introduced a severe "bloom" mechanic into Vanguard, which causes assault rifles and SMGs to have bullet spread when continuously firing. This results in shots becoming less accurate at medium to long range, and becomes worse the longer the player holds the trigger down.

Traditionally, players may have wanted to go for attachments that would increase weapon aspects like sprint to fire time or damage velocity for a run and gun build, but the bloom mechanic turns that plan on its head. Instead, Vanguard makes it necessary to find a balance between accuracy and sprint to fire time, however.

Close quarters run and gun

Primary: PPSH-41

• Marauder flash hider
• ZAC 300MM barrel
• Slate reflector optic
• ZAC folding stock
• M1930 Strife angled underbarrel
• 8MM Nambu 71 round magazine
• Lengthened ammo
• Fabric grip
• Steady proficiency
• Quick kit

Secondary: Panzerfaust

Perk 1: Ninja

Perk 2: Engineer

Perk 3: Lightweight

Lethal: Gammon Bomb

Tactical: No 69 Stun Grenade

Field Upgrade: Dead drop

Mid-range run and gun

Primary: NZ-41

• Iscove flash hider
• Orbweaver custom barrel
• Slate reflector optic
• Ravenwood padded stock
• Carver foregrip underbarrel
• .303 British 20 round fast mags
• Subsonic ammo
• Leather grip
• Unmarked proficiency
• On-hand kit

Secondary: MK11 Launcher

Perk 1: Cold Blooded

Perk 2: Engineer

Perk 3: Scavenger

Lethal: Gammon bomb

Tactical: Decoy grenade

Field Upgrade: Dead silence

Shotgunner

Primary: Combat Shotgun

• M87 full choke muzzle
• No optic
• Wire custom stock
• 12 gauge 5 round tube magazine
• Slug ammo
• Fabric grip
• Quick kit

Secondary: Klauser

Perk 1: Ghost

Perk 2: Tracker

Perk 3: Lightweight

Lethal: Gammon bomb

Tactical: MK V gas

Field Upgrade: Dead silence

Tactical camper loadouts

Call of Duty fans have a long, sordid history with the term "camper." Realistically, though, if you're playing an objective-based mode that requires defending a specific point having the entire team scooting across the map at breakneck speed doesn't really help anybody win. That's where tactical campers become the unsung heroes of multiplayer.

Sniper rifles and marksman rifles do not suffer from the aforementioned bloom mechanic, so we're not forced to give up perks that can hasten aim down sight time. However, the majority of the sniper rifles in Call of Duty: Vanguard are bolt action due to the time period. If you want something that is going to fire a little more rapidly, you can opt for an assault rifle instead. Assault rifles do suffer from the bloom mechanic, but this can be circumvented by pressing left on the D pad to convert your weapon to a single shot instead of an automatic or semi-automatic fire pattern. You will have to pull the trigger more rapidly for multiple shots, but your shots will be more accurate.

Variable marksman

Primary: G-43

• F8 stabilizer muzzle
• Wyvern burst barrel
• ZF4 3.5X rifle scope
• Fitzherbert reinforced stock
• M1941 hand stop underbarrel
• Shrouded proficiency
• Deep breath kit

Secondary: Gracey Auto

Perk 1: Cold Blooded

Perk 2: Forward Intel

Perk 3: Overkill

Lethal: Thermite

Tactical: S-Mine 44

Field Upgrade: Jammer

Single-fire assault

Primary: BAR

• Iscove flash hider muzzle
• Cooper 21-inch scythe barrel
• M19 4.0x flip optic
• Chariot WR stock
• M3 ready grip underbarrel
• 8MM Klauser 20 round mags
• Frangible ammo
• Taped grip
• Driller proficiency
• Surplus kit

Secondary: Ratt

Perk 1: Cold Blooded

Perk 2: Piercing Vision

Perk 3: Tactician

Lethal: Gammon Bomb

Tactical: S-Mine 44

Field Upgrade: Jammer

Tactical sniper

Primary: 3-line rifle

• Mercury silencer muzzle
• 270mm voz carbine barrel
• Type 97 5x telescope optic
• Kovelevskaya S01 stock
• Mark VI skeletal underbarrel
• .30-06 20 round mags
• Armor-piercing ammo
• Leather grip
• Awareness proficiency
• Deep breath kit

Secondary: Machine pistol

Perk 1: Cold Blooded

Perk 2: Piercing Vision

Perk 3: Tactician

Lethal: Thermite

Tactical: S-Mine 44

Field Upgrade: Field mic

Multiplayer mix-ups

Sometimes even the staunchest objective-minded player needs to stretch their legs and become one of multiplayer's agents of chaos. Noob tubers and panic knifers have quite a bit less to choose from as far as Call of Duty: Vanguard goes, but there is still some wiggle room for those who can't help but want to bring a knife to a gunfight.

Turtle power

Primary: Combat Shield

Secondary: Gracey Auto

• AS smoothbore muzzle
• Chariot sport stock

Perk 1: Fortified

Perk 2: High Alert

Perk 3: Overkill

Lethal: Gammon bomb

Tactical: No 69 stun grenade

Field Upgrade: Armor plates

Knife and shield

Primary: Combat Shield

Secondary: FS Fighting Knife

Perk 1: Ghost

Perk 2: Engineer

Perk 3: Lightweight

Lethal: Throwing knife

Tactical: Smoke grenade

Field Upgrade: Dead silence

As always with Call of Duty, the overpowered weapons that reach the meta rarely stay on top for long. Changes to weapon balance are inevitable as Sledgehammer Games and the other supporting studios look forward to the upcoming changes to Call of Duty: Vanguard. Call of Duty: Warzone's merger with Vanguard, as well as the first season of new content are expected in December, even as the franchise's publisher, Activision-Blizzard, continues to face repercussions surrounding lawsuits alleging labor violations and workplace harassment.