What’s the best map in CoD: Vanguard? Every map ranked from worst to best
Call of Duty: Vanguard already has a staggering selection of 19, quality maps to choose from, and we’re going to rank every single one of them from worst to best.
Maps are a vital component of a Call of Duty game and can determine how successful it is. Campaign missions and guns are fun, but it’s the best Call of Duty maps that players remember the most fondly.
Crash, Terminal, Nuketown, Raid, Highrise, and so many others evoke memories for players and even create new ones as their popularity leads to map remasters.
Call of Duty: Vanguard looks to carry on this trend by offering prospective buyers and fans another year of compelling gameplay on interesting and varied maps.
All maps in Call of Duty: Vanguard ranked list
Before we deliver an in-depth look at all of the Vanguard maps created by Sledgehammer Games, we will first quickly assign a position to all of the game’s maps. More are going to be added during its cycle, and we will continue to update this list.
Here’s every map in Vanguard ranked.
Call of Duty: Vanguard maps ranked from best to worst
- Eagle’s Nest
- Hotel Royal
- Castle
- Berlin
- Numa Numa
- Das Haus
- Sub Pens
- Decoy
- Radar
- Gavutu
- Demyansk
- Tuscan
- Desert Siege
- Bocage
- Paradise
- Dome
- Shipment
- Red Star
- Oasis
19. Oasis
Possibly the only slightly underwhelming map in all of Call of Duty: Vanguard, and that’s saying something. There’s just not too much truly special about Oasis apart from its scorching setting.
It’s mainly open ground with two or three buildings that players can use to control the game and it can become very campy.
18. Red Star
A frosty hello awaits anyone who crosses your path in this open square covered in snow. The desolation is apparent throughout each of the map’s buildings with large chunks missing, making for more devious gunfights and sniping and flanking opportunities.
Stalingrad can become problematic if it’s only a 6v6 match though, running into the middle of the map is just pure suicide, and games end up contesting the same two or three buildings.
We will argue that it’s pretty, plentiful, and feels more like what Cold War’s troublesome Miami map should’ve been like.
17. Shipment
An all-time Call of Duty map, in terms of its history, is back to attack the K/D of many Vanguard players.
Now, similarly to Dome, Shipment isn’t everyone’s ideal vision of a great map, but its history and prestige cannot be denied, it made the “small map” what we know today. The map shape is a simple square with cover in each corner and an accessible cross-section in the middle.
If you’re careful enough, you can earn some top-tier Killstreaks in no time and it’s a very risk and reward map, especially the modern version with open crates above to diversify the gameplay. But, its spawning will forever be a constant torment to every player on the map, especially if you get stuck in an endless death loop.
16. Dome
One of Vanguard’s remastered maps, Dome is very reminiscent of smaller maps like Shoot House, Dust, and Shipment, and guarantees endless, frequent bloodshed.
Effects such as Combat Fog make Dome feel more alive than ever, and Combat Pacing is out of the window with Dome as every game is uncontrollable bedlam. This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but you’re guaranteed action and XP at least.
15. Paradise
A Season 1 introduction. Paradise has a glorious-sounding name and it is indeed played out under some stunning weather.
But it’s not the most interesting map we’ve ever seen in a CoD game. It has a standard 3-lane system, and the majority of the action will come through them as it’s it has two or three ways to get there.
One spawn definitely feels a lot campier than the other as snipers can set up home. The side channels are where the most fun is to be had.
14. Bocage
Bocage is a fine example of having nice features that make it fun to play, such as the barn that can help to control flags and other objectives.
A criticism would be that its side channels aren’t too memorable as one is a bit disjointed, but does connect back to the middle lane buildings nicely. However, the long side channel feels rather isolated and exposed.
13. Desert Siege
Desert Siege has a hint of Cold War’s Collateral map in terms of its aesthetic but definitely doesn’t share its campy and slower-paced gameplay.
Vanguard simply excels at creating long and bloated channels filled with cover and cleverly placed walls. Desert Siege is a beneficiary of this focus, and it has lots of mini-lanes for you to transition from section to section. It also makes for quality objective-based game modes like Search & Destroy and Patrol.
12. Tuscan
Its classic Roman architecture gives Tuscan a personal vibe and Sledgehammer hasn’t made Tuscan as accessible as other maps in this list.
This doesn’t hinder the map though, and battling your way through the church or the highly-volatile side channel that inevitably meets in one room becomes strategic and explosive! Aside from some open windows up above that can be used to lock down the middle of the map, you have different ways to approach your attack.
Tuscan’s long, eye-catching channel is shrouded with smoke and ash and the reduced visibility makes for some remarkably tense, ranged firefights.
11. Demyansk
It wouldn’t be a Call of Duty game without some kind of snowy-themed map, and Demyansk is the first of its kind to appear on this list.
Demyansk is quite big, and such requires some more thought than just aimlessly running around in the open. It may not be as exciting as other maps, but it makes sure to give you options and vantage points – particularly the Watch Tower.
There are sniping opportunities aplenty in Demyansk and its versatility allows you to use any class of weapon really.
10. Gavutu
A location that truly makes use of the capabilities of state-of-the-art, modern-day hardware. Gavutu is a stunning war-torn island that pelts the player with rain and various weather effects, whilst also offering several different ways of fighting.
There’s the classic beachfront complete with cover and means to flank the opposition, there are several pathways that link the three main channels together (even providing sniping lanes), and the matter of a giant ship situated on land that provides widely unique battles in and around it.
Gavutu is a contender for one of the most gorgeous maps in the series’ portfolio, and it has more than enough interesting POIs to keep you coming back.
9. Radar
A remake of Modern Warfare 3’s Dome map (not to be confused with the existing Dome map) and it’s a solid choice for a reimaging.
Definitive spawn points are always a must, and Radar’s are very well guarded against enemy fire. It’s got a brilliant risk/reward nest above that can be attacked from a few angles, but can be deadly if defended.
It just has cover in all the right places and the only thing we’d hold against it is that the spawns being so well-guarded can limit your actions when you hop back in.
8. Decoy
Decoy is remarkably unremarkable. It’s a few houses in close proximity of one another, but its destruction possibilities turn it into something out of Battlefield – cue chaos.
It feels very connected, meaning the action never lets up, even if you’re playing it with Tactical Pacing enabled. It might be a bit too dangerous running straight across the courtyard, but the buildings are close enough to allow you to move around without too much fear.
Decoy is a lesson in game design as the houses and barns have different layouts within, proving that something basic on the outside can be wonderfully crafted from within.
7. Sub Pens
Sub Pens might be one of the most ambitious maps that Call of Duty has ever had. Technically, you can pretty much see from one end of this gigantic map to the other, but it’s best to go exploring.
All three channels are massively different and the levels of verticality on Sub Pens are unmatched. You can fight in small pockets below the subs, engage in combat on the subs, or battle your way through tunnels and corridors to eventually congregate in the main control room that guarantees Grenades, gunfights, and great action.
Players generally become magnetized toward the main control room above, but with some creative liberty, you’ll find that there’s so much more to love here.
6. Das Haus
We’re going to keep this short and sweet, just like Das Haus itself. This map is unbelievably fun and will keep you coming back time and time again.
Not everyone is a fan of spawn, die, spawn, die. But forget that, equip a close-range weapon and just go and let loose amid a sea of Thermite, Killstreaks, and multi-kills.
5. Numa Numa
Inevitably, all battles lead to the middle of Numa Numa, but where you approach from is up to you. You’re quite literally fighting in a muddy battlefield with sneaky hidey holes and enough slopes and hills to make you consider how aggressive you are.
There’s no sniping here, it’s a true test of Assault Rifle and SMG skill with very little room for camping. It suits all the different Combat Pacing options, with more numbers only adding to the war-feel that Numa Numa carries.
It may not have the character of Gavutu, Castle, or several other maps that Vanguard provides, but at its core, Numa Numa is made for out-and-out gunplay.
4. Berlin
A large-sized urban map that takes place in Berlin, Germany, it has a little bit of everything and it makes for a rewarding combination.
Aside from the map feeling like a perfect example of World War 2, its gritty and well-designed nature ticks all the boxes for pretty much every game mode.
You can snipe, you can use smaller channels for SMGs, and it’s almost as if it’s two maps in one. In lots of other CoD games, Berlin would be one of the game’s best.
3. Castle
Castle is another map from 2008’s Call of Duty: World at War and has never been seen in a CoD game since, until now. Its primarily situated in and around a Japanese castle, which is evident because of the iconic rooftops and shoji screens – which are now fully destructible.
It’s positively striking and is a testament to Sledgehammer Games for making it pop and capture the magic of Castle. Not only that, but the winning formula of Castle has translated very nicely to modern CoD gameplay with a variety of sightlines and routes to maneuver through.
2. Hotel Royal
Centered around a giant hotel complete with a full kitchen, bar, lounge areas, and other facilities, Hotel Royal might be one of Call of Duty’s most expansive and insane maps ever made.
If you’re not eager to throw yourself into the inevitable carnage within the building, you can opt to flank all around the outside of it, contesting tight 1v1s on ledges and rooftops.
But the real fun is on the inside of the premises, as the game’s new emphasis on destruction leads to explosives blowing doors open and bullets puncturing holes in the walls. You’ll need to wade through the shattered glass into tight rooms filled with multiple players – thanks to the game’s Combat Pacing options.
The new element of destructibility allows Hotel Royal to realize its full potential and every game genuinely feels different from the rest.
1. Eagle’s Nest
It was a close one, but Eagle’s Nest aptly reaches the top of the mountain thanks to its flawless map design that we can find no fault with.
Spawn areas are defined, each side channel is the polar opposite to each other, with the added suspense of windows allowing players to peek through and spy each side. By themselves, the channels are intriguing enough, but, like Hotel Royal, even more, destruction awaits on the inside.
Only, Eagle’s Nest feels far more controlled and doesn’t feel the urge to throw you all into one big room with tons of sightlines and dangers. No, Eagle’s nest has a million breakable walls and doors, but more than enough cover to shelter you if needed.
Sledgehammer Games truly struck gold with Eagle’s Nest, and with many more maps to come, it’s a genuine wonder if anything will be able to top it before the game’s content ends.
Those are all of the CoD: Vanguard maps that players can dive into and enjoy right now. The selection of online multiplayer maps feels like one of the best in years and should keep players entertained for months a long time.
For some more Vanguard content, why not check out our ranking of every Vanguard weapon or even our reviews of the Multiplayer and Zombies.
Image Credits: Activision / Sledgehammer Games