Best Automaton loadout for CoD: Vanguard Season 4 Reloaded

Liam Mackay
automaton assault rifle in vanguard

The Automaton is widely regarded as the top gun in Vanguard. Make sure you’ve got the perfect attachments, perks, and equipment to build the best Vanguard Automaton loadout.

Vanguard‘s lifespan is rapidly coming to a close, but with Sledgehammer dropping the Season 4 Reloaded patch and Season 5 on the horizon, there are still plenty of reasons to jump into the game.

If you’re planning on jumping into some multiplayer, you’ll want to be using the best gun in the game, and it’s hard to look past the Automaton.

The current king of assault rifles, the Automaton has a good damage range, easy recoil control, and the stopping power to wipe out enemies.

If that sounds like your kind of gun, then we’ve got everything you need to create the best Vanguard Automaton loadout.

Best Vanguard Automaton loadout attachments

Vanguard Automaton loadout attachments
  • Muzzle: MX Silencer
  • Barrel: ZAC 600mm BFA
  • Optic: G16 2.5x
  • Stock: Anastasia Padded
  • Underbarrel: M1941 Hand Stop
  • Magazine: 6.5MM Sakura 75 Round Drums
  • Ammo Type: Lengthened
  • Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
  • Proficiency: Tight Grip
  • Kit: Fully Loaded

We’ll start off this Vanguard loadout by bringing the weapon’s recoil under control with the help of the MX Silencer muzzle, Polymer Grip rear grip, M1941 Hand Stop underbarrel, and Anastasia Padded stock.

You can take advantage of the improved precision by equipping the G16 2.5x optic to pick off enemies from a distance. The ZAC 600mm BFA barrel will provide a boost to the Automaton’s damage range, priming it for medium-range combat.

The 6.5MM Sakura 45 Round Mags will provide you with plenty of ammunition to take out multiple foes, and the Lengthened ammo type will greatly improve the weapon’s bullet velocity so that it can shred through enemies.

For the Proficiency, we’re opting for Tight Grip to bring the recoil further under control, and we picked Fully Loaded as our kit to ensure that we start off with the maximum reserve ammo.

Best Perks and equipment to use with Vanguard Automaton

CoD Vanguard Ghost Perk
  • Perk 1: Ghost
  • Perk 2: Radar
  • Perk 3: Lightweight
  • Lethal: Mk2 Frag Grenade
  • Tactical: Stim
  • Field Upgrade: Trophy System

Ghost is an excellent choice for Perk 1 as it keeps you hidden from enemy radars and Spy Planes while you’re on the move. For Perk 2, we recommend Radar so that you can use the classic minimap to find out where your enemy is.

And finally, for Perk 3 we went with Lightweight to boost your movement speed. The Mk2 Frag Grenade is perfect for clearing out rooms, using Stim for your tactical will grant you a health boost, and the new Trophy System Field Upgrade will protect you from enemy Lethal Equipment.

How to unlock the Automaton in Vanguard

automaton preview in cod vanguard

The Automaton is unlocked at Rank 8, so you’ll get your hands on it soon after unlocking Custom Loadouts.

To unlock and level up the Automaton as fast as possible, you can check out our guide on how to rank up fast in Vanguard.

Best alternatives to Vanguard’s Automaton

If the Automaton isn’t your cup of tea, we recommend using the STG44. It’s the first Assault Rifle you’ll unlock and is an incredibly powerful choice.

The MP-40 is still the go-to SMG in Vanguard, so if you fancy some close-quarters combat, we recommend grabbing it.

If neither of these guns tickle your fancy, make sure to check out our full guide to the best Vanguard guns, where we’ve ranked every single weapon in the game.

Image Credit: Sledgehammer Games

About The Author

Liam is CharlieIntel's Editor who focuses on Call of Duty but also plays lots of fantasy RPGs or anything else in his massive gaming backlog. After graduating in Journalism from Edinburgh Napier University, Liam freelanced in games journalism before joining CharlieIntel in November 2020. You can contact Liam at [email protected].