CoD: Vanguard’s 10 most popular weapons
Call of Duty: Vanguard Season 1 is nearing its halfway point which makes it the perfect time to look at which weapons have increased in popularity. Here are the top 10 primary weapons in Vanguard, as of January 7.
Vanguard Season 1 Reloaded is arriving on January 11, and players have had plenty of time to experience all of the almost 40 weapons available. But of course, some weapons are better than others and have become more popular because of it.
Popular Warzone stats site Warzone Ranked, which lists the most popular guns and which streamers you’ve played against, has built a similar service for Vanguard – COD Ranked. This displays your Vanguard stats and also reveals the most popular primary popular weapons, so we’re counting down the top ten.
Top 10 most popular primary weapons in Vanguard
Bear in mind that Vanguard doesn’t provide SMG data, so the top 10 weapons list doesn’t include any submachine guns yet. But COD Ranked confirmed that they’re going to contact Sledgehammer Games to try to get the data, so we’ll update this list accordingly.
Here are the top ten primary weapons listed on COD Ranked according to their kill share.
10. ITRA Burst – 3.0%
Unfortunately, with weapons being able to two-shot opponents, the ITRA Burst is the least used Assault Rifle (available at launch) in the game.
It fires four shots instead of three, which makes it unique for a burst-rifle. And if you manage to land all four of those bursts, you’ll drop the enemy immediately. But if only a couple of the bullets connect, the ITRA’s time to kill will significantly drop, and you might die before you can get another burst downrange.
To make sure it’s as strong as possible, check out the best ITRA Burst loadout you can use.
9. DP27 – 3.5%
The DP27 is the first of two weapons to break into the top ten list since our previous ranking and the LMG has definitely earned its stripes.
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This iconic CoD weapon boasts incredible range and power as most LMGs do. The DP27 sets itself apart from weapons in its class with a surprisingly quick fire rate. It truly does feel like more of an Assault Rifle than LMG at times with how versatile it is.
8. Kar98k – 3.7 %
The Kar98k makes the list this time around alongside the DP27 and it just edges out the LMG to grab the eighth spot. This is the first time a Sniper makes the list which proves that the Kar98k is the top choice for a marksman.
Although it does boast noticeable differences from previous CoD titles including a unique ADS mechanic, the Kar98k will still provide a sense of comfort for longtime snipers.
7. Volkssturmgewehr / AS44 – 5.0%
Similar to the Automaton, the Volkssturmgewehr boasts a fantastic fire rate, making it especially effective for close-range fights.
You won’t be beaming enemies across the map with the Volk, but if you’re looking to get in the mix with an Assault Rifle, it’s a great choice. It’s likely not as popular as the missing SMGs from the list, but it’s deserving of its place.
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The AS44 shares the fifth spot as an extremely strong close-range weapon, but its high recoil and bloom mechanic cause it to fail at longer ranges. Similar to the Volk, the AS44 will suit you well when pushing up to enemies but you don’t want to use it on bigger maps such as Oasis.
6. MG42 – 5.1%
The classic MG42 has made it into the current top ten, being even more popular than the majority of Shotguns.
The MG42 is a surprisingly powerful pick, having a fast fire rate, a huge magazine size, and low recoil. And it’s quite mobile, so you’ll still be able to move around the map without the heavy MG weighing you down.
If you haven’t experimented with LMGs yet, you can’t go wrong with the MG42.
5. BAR – 5.9%
The BAR maintains its spot as the fifth most popular weapon, missing out on the fourth spot by 0.1%.
The BAR isn’t the best weapon for pushing up for close-range fights, but if you manage to mount up and hold down a position, there will be no stopping you. Each bullet deals massive damage, so it only takes a couple to down an opponent.
4. NZ-41 – 6.0%
The NZ-41 is a powerful, versatile Assault Rifle choice in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
It’s one of the more versatile weapons in the game, being suitable for any form of engagement. The only thing hampering its popularity is the STG44, which fills the same role but is unlocked first and arguably does it better.
In our first ranking, we said the NZ-41 would rise as the weeks went on and the weapon has gone from sixth to fourth.
3. Combat Shotgun 9.3%
Since the beginning of Vanguard, players have been achieving incredibly rapid V2 Rockets and the Combat Shotgun has become popular thanks to the Ship Haus playlist.
With this Shotgun, you can tear through the enemy’s spawn without even thinking about it. Just keep tapping the trigger and you’ll get kill after kill.
Players are both chasing those incredible nuke clips and ranking up Shotguns while they’re overpowered, making the Combat Shotgun the most popular Shotgun in Vanguard.
If you’re looking to be a menace on Ship Haus, make sure you’re running the best Combat Shotgun loadout possible.
2. Automaton – 13.2%
Once players tired of the STG and tried out the Automaton, it was quickly recognized as an extremely powerful choice thanks to its exceptional accuracy and fast fire rate.
The Automaton can either be built to shred up close or be incredibly accurate at range – it can do it all. We called it the best weapon in the game, so it’s no surprise that it’s the second most popular Assault Rifle in Vanguard.
1. STG44 – 22.4%
It will come as no surprise that the STG44 is the most popular weapon in Vanguard, making up almost a quarter of the game’s kill share. It’s the first Assault Rifle you unlock, has almost no recoil, and has an excellent TTK.
While it’s perhaps not the best weapon in the game, this classic WW2 Assault Rifle is extremely easy to use and players of all skill levels can take advantage of it.
The bugged two-shot attachments got nerfed and the STG44 still remained atop the pecking order. It remains an extremely solid choice in Vanguard’s multiplayer, so make sure you’re using the best STG44 loadout.
And those are the top ten most popular weapons in Vanguard, not counting SMGs (yet). If you’re interested in the SMGs, you can check out Vanguard’s best SMG loadouts.
Image Credit: Sledgehammer Games