Although the description of the Owen Gun in Call of Duty: Vanguard indicates that the weapon is highly accurate, the stats tell a different story. It is indeed easier to control compared to other SMGs, but it's actually in the middle of the road when it comes to speed and accuracy.
Instead of trying to turn this into a close-range SMG, why not use its strengths and make it a mid-range powerhouse on the outskirts of battle? Keeping the perimeter clear is a key to winning in Call of Duty: Vanguard and the Owen is up to the task as much as any weapon in the game.
Operator
- Lucas
Players who have been diligently unlocking all of the operators will be pleased to know that their efforts have paid off. After getting 100 hipfire kills, gamers will have access to Lucas, who they will probably recognize from the campaign.
When Lucas is equipped with the Owen, he gets a bonus to experience, not just for himself but for the gun. It makes the leveling process quick, which means access to all of those glorious attachments even faster. They're a match made in heaven.
Attachments
|
Muzzle |
No. 3 Rifle Brake |
|
Barrel |
Gawain 188mm Shrouded |
|
Optic |
Nydar Model 47 |
|
Stock |
Gawain H4 Folding |
|
Underbarrel |
M1930 Strife Angled |
|
Magazine |
62 Gorenko 72 Round Drums |
|
Ammo Type |
Subsonic |
|
Rear Grip |
Stippled Grip |
|
Proficiency |
Steady |
|
Kit |
Surplus |
Gamers who bought different versions of the game have access to different blueprints and attachments at first, but eventually, all of these are accessible to any player after enough rounds of practice. It's got great recoil reduction and accuracy for those kills out in the open.
The stealth gadgets here are no surprise, they're commonplace for SMGs, but the difference is how they are used. Instead of charging into combat, find a nice bridge or chokepoint on the outskirts that opponents will try to use to get on the player's side. Then kill everyone who tries to cross, silently and surely.
Secondary Weapon
- M1 Bazooka
Playing defense won't help with getting the Tickets Please achievement during the campaign, but defense is a perfectly exciting experience in multiplayer. Keeping the lines open is support for offensive SMG and shotgun users who need to charge in.
These offenses can further be supported by shooting down killstreaks in the sky that threaten the minimap and stealth systems for players who need them the most. Taking a few seconds to shoot down these vehicles saves countless lives of teammates and helps their kill counts climb.
Perks
|
Perk 1 |
Cold Blooded |
|
Perk 2 |
Forward Intel |
|
Perk 3 |
Tactician |
There are a number of campaign missions that would have greatly benefitted from the use of perks. Being able to use them in multiplayer adds that special zest to this Owen loadout that makes the build more than just a loadout waiting to shoot option.
Cold Blooded is purely defensive. Since the Owen is not generally in combat, players will generally rely on killstreaks to take out the player, but Cold Blooded nixes that plan. Forward Intel lets players see the movement of enemies even before they enter the scope.
Lethal Slot
- Demolition Charge
The selection of starting weapons is a mixed bag of good and bad, but there is no doubt about the Demolition Charge. It amounts to a kill that opponents can rarely see and requires no ability to shoot straight or react quickly.
As the Owen waits in an overwatch position, there are bound to be a could of places that opponents can use for cover. If they don't use the cover, shoot them. If they do, hit the detonator and blow them up. It's a win-win and what makes this loadout so frustrating to fight against.
Tactical Slot
- Smoke Grenade
There is some thought about using the Decoy Grenade, which can be used to lure unsuspecting enemies to their deaths. But the point of the loadout is to keep enemies away from the area, not draw them in. It might help the player get a few kills, but the team player knows how to get more kills by empowering their teammates.
Smoke Grenades, especially with the Tactician perk, will provide cover for teammates who need help across to the other side of the map. Not every enemy will get close enough to allow the player to shoot them, but there is precious little they can do about opponents they can't see.
Killstreaks
- Care Package
- Emergency Airdrop
- Local Informants
Sticking with the theme of playing support, having packages to call in are hard to resist. It's already well-noted that the Care Package is a phenomenal choice, giving players better than a 92% chance to get a killstreak equal to or greater than the four kills required to get the package.
By the same math, getting three packages for eight kills then makes it so there is a 100% chance for the killstreak to yield better rewards. Local Informants is the most expensive killstreak reward in the game, but because this loadout is so hard to take out, it's a natural candidate for saving up.
Field Upgrade
- Supply Box
Capping off the loadout, the Supply Box is obviously a great help to the team. It's a fast recharge and gives snipers and other backline soldiers a necessary refresh, making their killstreaks more achievable. But this selection goes beyond supporting the team.
It can be hard to remember that this is, after all, an SMG. It goes through ammunition like any other SMG. Being able to refresh the ammo count means not having to leave position and scavenging, which is a fatal idea sometimes and, all the other times leaves a position exposed for enemies to exploit.
Call of Duty: Vanguard was released on November 5th, 2021, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.