This article was updated April 6.
The Season 2 Reloaded update for “Call of Duty: Warzone” introduced a number of changes to the Rebirth Island map as well as the new Armaguerra sub-machine gun (SMG) into loadouts. However, a slew of other changes by Raven Software will make you rethink which weapons and perks you’ll want to select.
Among the changes, operators now have 150 base health in the normal “Battle Royale” mode instead of 100, making snipers — which dispatch enemies with a headshot — all the more preferable and prevalent.
In the first major update for Season 2, developers noted they changed the ballistics behavior of “Vanguard” weapons to better match with “Modern Warfare” (2019) and “Black Ops: Cold War” weapons. Unofficial “Warzone” weapons tester James “JGOD” Godoy noted in a video that this usually means updating bullet velocity, travel speed and penetration. Godoy also added that bullet velocity for “Vanguard” weapons had been slower by approximately 20 percent or more previously.
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That means “Vanguard” weapons can better compete with “modern” weapons from “Cold War” and “Modern Warfare” games. A series of nerfs and buffs to base weapon statistics and attachments have also helped settle the choicest weapons.
In another important earlier change, developers reduced the base burn damage of “Vanguard” incendiary rounds from nine to six and instead of decreasing damage range by 5 percent, it decreased overall damage by 10 percent (3 percent for sniper rifles).
You might consider swapping out incendiary ammo from your loadouts now, but keep in mind it does still have the effect of preventing players from re-plating while they’re burning.
Between “Cold War,” “Modern Warfare” and “Vanguard,” there are plenty of well-rounded weapons to choose from. From those weapons, it’s important to pick one that you are most comfortable using. Remember, our approach is that there is no universal “best” weapon or loadout, just the weapon or loadout that feels best for a particular player.
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Read on below for more detail on loadouts, weapon classes and equipment that will prepare you for your next drop.
Viable primary and secondary weapons
Note: “Vanguard”-eligible weapons are in italics. Guns with multiple versions are noted in parentheses.
Assault rifles: AK-47 (CW), Vargo 52, Grau 5.56, XM4, M13, STG-44, Cooper Carbine, BAR, M40, Automaton
The Vargo was the most recent assault rifle to be released in “Black Ops Cold War.” Its damage profile is similar to the AK-47 (CW) but with a recoil pattern that is slightly more forgiving than the XM4.
The most frequent “Vanguard” assault rifles you’ll see players carrying are the STG-44 and the Cooper Carbine, both feature very low recoil even at range. The STG is a good option for taking down enemies at a distance because it does a good amount of damage relative to its recoil. The Cooper Carbine is likewise a strong option, mostly thanks to its ridiculous fire rate when fully kitted out.
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In Season 2, developers added the M40 assault rifle. It has very low recoil when built out with the best attachments. The only downside is that the time to kill is quite low compared to other weapons with low recoil, such as the Grau and M13.
Ricky “DougDagnabbit” Hobbs, owner of ModernWarzone, a news website for popular first-person shooter games, noted in a January interview that most engagements in Caldera are longer range, and optic selection should be adjusted accordingly. Even though Caldera and Verdansk are essentially the same size, there are slightly fewer points of interest on the island, and the open areas provide for long-range gunfights. He suggests using the SVT-40 PU Scope 3-6x attachment, as it allows you to home in on distant enemies obscured by tropical fauna.
From the “older” ARs, the M13 and Grau stand out because of their accuracy and fire rates and are solid all-around choices. In my personal experience playing on keyboard and mouse, the XM4 is harder to control, but downs enemies quite fast if you can hit your shots.
SMG: Owen Gun, MP-40, PPSh-41 (VG), Welgun, Type 100, Armaguerra, AUG (MW), LAPA
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As of the latest update, the Owen Gun sports the fastest time to kill (TTK) of all SMGs. Build it with the 9mm 72 round mags — which give less movement but more damage — and it sports a sub-400ms TTK.
Of the other “Vanguard” weapons I chose to highlight, the PPSh-41 is a great secondary to pair with your long-range AR or sniper. Developer Raven Software did nerf the weapon in a Dec. 10 patch, but the high fire rate and accuracy ensures the PPSh will still be a big part of the Caldera/Rebirth Island arsenal. The MP-40 is a great all-around weapon, and has been packing more of a punch since “Warzone” first moved to Caldera.
The Welgun was introduced in the middle of Season 1. The base model is noncompetitive, but once you level it up to our suggested build (see the “Support” loadout below) it can thrive in close-to-mid-range engagements and does a good deal of damage — if you can manage its notable recoil.
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Sniper and marksman rifles: Kar98K (VG and MW), Swiss K31
The Kar98K has earned a sterling reputation among skilled snipers, and the “Vanguard” version continues to grace players with its maneuverability, damage and accuracy. The World War II Kar98K suffers slightly from a higher aim down sight (ADS) speed, but with the Season 2 update, the medium telescopic optic makes it a lot quicker.
Shotgun: Combat shotgun, Streetsweeper
Hobbs said that while the combat shotgun can be built to be a one-shot kill with the sawed-off barrel and buck and slug ammo type, it’s struggled to find its place in the meta. Past 10 meters, and the combat shotgun will easily be bested by the PPSh-41 or a similar SMG. The Streetsweeper is included as an homage to past “Warzone” metas. It’s a great way to counter aim-assist on controller, plus it offers an 18-round magazine for maximum mayhem. It’s a good option to consider if you’re just starting out and quick-twitch accuracy isn’t your strength. Or if you’re a troll.
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LMG: Bren, MG-42, DP-47
If you want an automatic weapon that can deal decent damage with little recoil, you’ll want to look no further than the Bren or MG-42. The Bren is relatively easy to control and outputs high damage. The DP-47 acts more like an assault rifle and can be built for mid- and close-range engagements. I fell upon it by accident in the Gulag round, and was able to quickly delete opponents, nearly delivering a solo win. Plus the pancake magazine looks ridiculous, but in a fun way.
Handguns: 1911 (VG), Diamatti
I wouldn’t include the 1911 in any of my loadouts, but it’s probably one of the best starting pistols we’ve had in “Warzone” because of its high damage mixed with manageable recoil. With the X16 or “Cold War” 1911, I rarely shot anyone out of the sky, but with the “Vanguard” 1911, I was able to shoot two people out of the air after a couple hours of playing.
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The Diamatti however is a beast whether it’s the first pistol in your hand or your personally modded version from your loadout. It is always a good go-to Ghost perk secondary weapon because it can down an enemy in two bursts if you hit your shots.
Launchers: Panzerschreck, RPG
Have you been on the receiving end of an RPG in Verdansk and questioned your life choices? Well, the new map hasn’t changed anything in the launcher department. They still pack a wallop and are the best way to prevent getting run over by a cargo truck (assuming it doesn’t have a trophy system).
The Panzerschreck functions the same way, and it’s the highest-damage-dealing launcher from “Vanguard.”
Lethal equipment: Frag grenade, Throwing knife, Molotov cocktail, Semtex, Thermite
The promised buff for lethal grenades has made them more potent, but the throwing knife remains a prevalent choice, particularly around twitchy, top-tier players. The knife allows you to take out downed opponents with one throw, then reclaim the knife simply by running over it. It also reduces the required number of melee strikes to down enemies.
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I’ve recently added the Molotov cocktail into my arsenal because it provides good area of effect (AOE) damage.
The frag, which is the only other smart option for Vanguard Royale, sticky Semtex and thermite are the other picks. The latter helps more with area denial but is less useful on the wide-open Caldera.
Tactical equipment: Stun grenade, Stim shot, Heartbeat sensor
The heartbeat sensor was pretty much standard issue outside of the Vanguard Royale mode, allowing users to locate non-Ghosted players with ease. While it still performs that function, a significant increase in the time between pings makes it less useful for tracking the movement of opponents. At best, now you might get one quick sighting on the sensor before your enemies will be on top of you.
Absent the advanced tech, the stun grenade is totally debilitating to foes, leaving them at your mercy. The stim shot is also worth considering, particularly for players needing a speed boost if they fall behind the closing gas. That can be particularly problematic given how Caldera’s many inclines can make uphill movement sluggish.
The best perks to consider
Perk 1: Cold-Blooded, Double Time
Perk 2: Overkill, Ghost, Restock, Tempered
Perk 3: Amped, Battle Hardened, Combat Scout, Quick Fix
The classic perks still work well for the new map. I prefer to start with Cold-Blooded over Double Time because it counters the Combat Scout perk, which highlights you, even through walls, if an enemies damages you. Overkill was typically a no-brainer for Verdansk, but with Ghost now nerfed so it only masks moving players (to better counter campers) it makes even more sense to favor carrying two primary weapons via Overkill.
However, in the Vanguard Royale mode, it might be worth running Restock. You won’t be using the heartbeat sensor for your tactical equipment, so you can replace that with stuns and get a new one, plus a grenade (if you’ve already used one), every 25 seconds. We’ll discuss the Restock changes, as well as Quick Fix, in the Movement King loadout below.
Tempered, which gives you two beefier armor plates that equal three regular plates, is good for aggressive players because you can re-plate quickly if you are in a pinch. I personally think Restock outweighs the benefits of Tempered.
People are more split on the third and final perk slot. I personally prefer Amped because it allows you to swap weapons faster, giving you an edge when pulling out an SMG for an unexpected close-quarters gunfight. My second favorite perk is Battle Hardened because it gives you at least a fighting chance if you get hit with the pesky stun grenades, which are much more prevalent in Vanguard Royale. Combat Scout might be a good option for Caldera, where people can hide behind brush and rocks, but it can be countered with Cold-Blooded.
Five great loadout options
Based on interviews, research and “Warzone” playtime, we’ve narrowed down the available guns, equipment and perks into some handy loadout suggestions. (I used a mix of “Vanguard” and previous Call of Duty weapons, so they may not all work for Vanguard Royale). Have other suggestions that have worked for you? Leave a comment, and tell us what you are running in Caldera.
The ‘Vanguard’ meta
Primary: STG-44
- Muzzle: F8 Stabilizer
- Barrel: VDD 760mm 05B
- Optic: G-16 2.5X
- Stock: VDD 34S Weighted
- Underbarrel: Carver Foregrip
- Magazine: 8mm Kurz 45 Round Drums
- Ammunition: Lengthened
- Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
- Perk 1: Vital
- Perk 2: On-Hand
Secondary: MP-40
- Muzzle: Recoil Booster
- Barrel: VDD 189mm short
- Optic: Slate Reflector
- Stock: Krausnick 33M Folding
- Underbarrel: M1941 hand stop
- Magazine: 7.62 45 Round Drums
- Ammunition: Lengthened
- Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
- Perk 1: Brace
- Perk 2: On Hand
Lethal: Molotov
Tactical: Stims
Perks: Cold-Blooded, Overkill, Amped
These are the two “Vanguard” guns most professional “Warzone” players are using, plus or minus a few different attachments. The STG-44 is great at longer range and the MP-40 melts enemies within 10 meters, and adds good movement speed.
Primary: Bren
- Muzzle: MX Silencer
- Barrel: Queen’s 705mm Royal
- Optic: SVT-40 PU Scope 3-6x
- Stock: Queen’s Model 11 BH
- Underbarrel: Carver
- Magazine: 6.5 Sakura 40 Round Mags
- Ammunition: Lengthened
- Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
- Perk 1: Tight Grip
- Perk 2: Fully Loaded
Secondary: Welgun
- Muzzle: Recoil Booster
- Barrel: 120 Gawain Short
- Optic: Slate Reflector
- Stock: Gawain Skeletal
- Underbarrel: Handstop
- Magazine: 9mm 64 Round Drums
- Ammunition: Incendiary
- Rear Grip: Taped Grip
- Perk 1: Frenzy
- Perk 2: Quick
Lethal: C4
Tactical: Stims
Perks: Cold-Blooded, Overkill, Amped
If you need to get your teammate out of a hairy situation by raining down a deluge of bullets on enemies, then this is the class for you. The Bren doesn’t carry the bullet capacities of other LMGs and it’s not the fastest firing either. But when it connects, it rips. The range and damage it possesses are ridiculous, which makes it a powerful primary option. Pair that with an SMG like the new Welgun and opposing players will be questioning if “Warzone’s” Ricochet anti-cheat software is working. Opt for stims over the heartbeat sensor. You’re not going to be chasing down anyone with this weighty loadout, and the stims can give you a health and speed boost if you get caught in a late rotation or lagging behind the gas.
The movement king
Primary: Vargo 52
- Muzzle: GRU Suppressor
- Barrel: 18.6” Task Force
- Optic: Axial Arms 3x
- Underbarrel: Spetznaz Grip
- Magazine: Spetznaz 60 Rnd
Secondary: PPSh-41 (VG)
- Muzzle: Recoil Booster
- Barrel: 230mm Bo3P
- Optic: Kovalevskaya ISO2P
- Stock: Removed
- Underbarrel: Carver Foregrip
- Magazine: 7.62 Gorenko 71 Round Mags
- Ammunition: Lengthened
- Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
- Perk 1: Tight Grip
- Perk 2: Quick
Lethal: Semtex
Tactical: Stims
Perks: Cold-Blooded, Overkill, Quick Fix
Quick fix and Restock both got improvements, but here we’ll focus on the former since Restock would replace Overkill in this loadout. Quick fix now regenerates health immediately after inserting plates or killing players. The regeneration rate is also doubled when carrying, capturing or holding an objective.
If you wanted to swap in Restock for Overkill, consider using the Diamatti, which remains a viable SMG alternative thanks to its accurate burst fire. With Restock your lethal and tactical equipment will replenish even faster thanks to the latest update (25 seconds instead of 50). The exception is Stims, which take 60 seconds to avoid players spamming them for boosted speed or to survive in the late-game gas.
The dome finder
Primary: Kar98K (MW)
- Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
- Barrel: Singuard Custom 27.6
- Optic: Sniper Scope
- Underbarrel: Tac-Laser
- Rear Grip: Stippled Grip Tape
Secondary: Owen Gun
- Muzzle: Recoil Booster
- Barrel: Hockenson 142mm Rapid
- Optic: Nydar Model 47
- Stock: Ravenwood Mk 1SO
- Underbarrel: M1941 Handstop
- Magazine: 7.62 Gorenko 72 Round Drums
- Ammunition: Lengthened
- Rear Grip: Polymer
- Perk 1: Brace
- Perk 2: On-Hand
Lethal: Semtex
Tactical: Stims
Perks: Cold-Blooded, Overkill, Amped
The “Modern Warfare” Kar98K has a special place in my heart, and after some Season 1 updates it works more effectively than its “Vanguard” version. With the hard-hitting Owen Gun as your secondary, this makes a very strong sniper class with a top-tier support weapon.
Not meta, but it works
Primary: M13
- Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
- Barrel: Tempus Marksman
- Optic: VLK 3.0x Optic
- Foregrip: Commando Foregrip
- Ammunition: 60 Round Mags
Secondary: LAPA
- Muzzle: Agency Suppressor
- Barrel: 7.9” Rifled
- Underbarrel: Tiger Team Spotlight
- Optic: Microflex LED
- Ammunition: STANAG 50 Round
Lethal: Semtex
Tactical: Stims
Perks: Cold-Blooded, Overkill, Amped
The M13 is a great all-around option. Between its recoil, range, and hearty damage output, this weapon can be trusted in the jungles of Caldera or prison of Rebirth Island. Though few people run it, the LAPA features a high fire rate and holds its own well in close quarter gunfights.
A final loadout tip
Raven Software releases their patch notes on their blog and also maintains a public Trello board, so stay tuned for further updates. When the midseason update rolls around, we’ll have another look at our conclusions here and retool if necessary.
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