The last SMG to get unlocked in Call of Duty: Vanguard is a beauty. Right off the bat, it has the most base firepower of any SMG in the game and it has a few extra bullets in the cartridge. The firing rate does not disappoint. It and the Sten are the prototypical SMGs.
While it cannot compete with the Sten in terms of speed, it does have a bit more burst and staying power. The backline attackers in Call of Duty: Vanguard will want to give this gun a chance because, with the right loadout, it can be the source of a lot of enemy headaches.
Operator
- Any
Some operators give bonus experience to a weapon and, in turn, have the weapon give bonus experience to them. Sadly for the PPSH-41, no operator has it listed as their favorite weapon, even for gamers who have unlocked each one of the characters.
To be clear, this does not change how the gun performs at the highest tier of play, only how long it takes to get there. Consider this a license to play with the operator with the most interesting backstory or whose features look the most awesome in the highlights.
Attachments
|
Muzzle |
Strife Compensator |
|
Barrel |
ZAC 300mm |
|
Optic |
Slate Reflector |
|
Stock |
Empress Custom |
|
Underbarrel |
Carver Foregrip |
|
Magazine |
.30 Russian Short 35 Round Mags |
|
Ammo Type |
Subsonic |
|
Rear Grip |
Stippled Grip |
|
Proficiency |
Fleet |
|
Kit |
Quick |
Automatically unlocked weapons range from the amazing to the terrible, but this final tier of SMG with these attachments leaves them all in the dust; that's the reward for sticking with it and leveling up. It's a fast, quiet, and deadly loadout that focuses on being quick on the draw.
Many builds will tune down the firing rate and try to expand the magazine, but that's really not where this gun shines; other SMGs and almost every assault rifle that do the mid-range job better. Embrace the chaos and combine the PPSH-41's extreme rate of fire with stealth and speed.
Secondary Weapon
- FS Fighting Knife
Besides being the lightest weapon of the bunch, the FS Fighting Knife is great for the player who wants to take care of things personally. Since the PPSH-41 is already going to be in close, if enemies aren't looking, give them a stab. Different versions of the game have different unlocks, but this knife is available to everyone.
The knife is not meant to serve in place of ammunition, there's a perk for that. But if it makes more sense to instantly kill someone in melee than to shoot them and possibly alert the nearby area, then this is a smart option. Even for players who don't plan on stabbing, the speed boost is more valuable than any other secondary weapon.
Perks
|
Perk 1 |
Ghost |
|
Perk 2 |
Tracker |
|
Perk 3 |
Scavenger |
After playing through all of the campaign missions, players who fire up multiplayer will be happy to finally get access to perks. After packing so much stealth in the gun, it's time to combine this with some perks to truly become a deadly whisper in the wind.
These are all very typical SMG perks, especially for those going the silent route. Scavenger is more necessary for this loadout than others as it does chew through ammo rapidly and needs to replenish behind enemy lines.
Lethal Slot
- Throwing Knife
There's no point in staying quiet if the player is going to end up tossing grenades. Explosions might not give off a ping on the minimap, but they are loud and veteran players know to stay on alert if they hear one. The Throwing Knife, thankfully, gives off no noise at all.
Running out of ammunition might be the most common reason to use the knife, but it's a good first option, too. With the Tracker perk, getting behind enemies is a breeze and their footsteps will let players know if they have a free shot. In these instances, the knife is instant, even faster than the PPSH-41.
Tactical Slot
- No 69 Stun Grenade
Staying in stealth would have been incredibly helpful when knocking out the Ticket Please achievement, but the campaign doesn't allow for this level of customization. The No 69 Stun Grenade is an instant burst that freezes up enemies, the perfect introduction to a fight.
Use them when a group of enemies is together and engaging one will mean engaging all of them. The slow lasts long enough to take out a small squad before they can get a good aim. Also, if opponents are aware of the PPSH-41's presence on the battlefield, lead off with a No 69 Stun Grenade to tilt the fight in the player's favor.
Killstreaks
- Intel
- Spy Plane
- Attack Dogs
Acting as a ghost on the battlefield, the next important thing is to try and see enemies. Many snipers aren't willing to sacrifice their firepower for stealth, so Intel and Spy Planes will reveal therm and their assault rifle-wielding counterparts.
The first two killstreaks are cheap and easy to unlock. Attack Dogs are considered underwhelming for frontline combatants, especially for how expensive they are, but after sneaking around to the back, using the Attack Dogs can yield a lot of kills against unsuspecting victims.
Field Upgrade
- Dead Silence
To silence footsteps, players can either use the Ninja Perk or the Dead Silence field upgrade. Because the Ghost perk is so vital, the preferred method is to take that one and then crank up the Dead Silence field upgrade whenever it recharges.
And it will recharge often. The length is long enough to track down any footprints until reaching the opponent that they belong to. It's the cherry on top of this stealth sundae and the PPSH-41 is the perfect weapon for the job.
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.