When first playing multiplayer in Call of Duty: Vanguard, loadouts aren't even available right off of the bat. There are a few operators up for grabs and some pre-selected killstreak perks, but other than that, it's hard to fathom putting together a complete build based on the options initially presented.
The first steps should always be made with the goal of getting the next great weapon in Call of Duty: Vanguard. Grabbing one of these guns is worth the player's time and money, should they be spending cash or in-game currency. Ignore the fool's gold, these are the winners.
10 Thunderhead
SMGs, especially starting SMGs, are in a really bad place this year. There are assault rifles that beat them up close and anybody who has unlocked a shotgun will put them in the ground. Assuming, of course, the snipers haven't taken them out already.
Still, the Thunderhead is a legendary weapon, filled with gadgets and extras that players can make use of. For players with the patience to dodge snipers and fight in close quarters, the Thunderhead might make a believer out of the early SMG doubters.
9 Rat-A-Tat
Contrary to the name, the speed of the gun is the only category in the red for the Rat-A-Tat. But with firepower, accuracy, and ammo all in the green, players will enjoy many of the benefits that other guns don't get.
Some might view the decreased speed as an advantage, giving the player additional time to adjust their aim in between shots as they squeeze the trigger. It's a nice way to cut down on recoil without sacrificing the functionality of the assault rifle.
8 Debt Collector
Boasting the best firepower of all the armory's assault rifles, it's hard to argue against the stopping power of the Debt Collector. The speed is also rather high, giving it a damage-per-second output that contends with any other gun on this list.
The big issue comes with landing shots. It's not the most accurate of assault rifles and that's usually while players use assault rifles over, say, SMGs. But that's talk for players who live in a fictional world. Veterans understand misses happen, it's all about making the most of the shots that land.
7 Bomber Menace
The Bomber Menace is the least exciting of any weapon on this list. Outside of the awesome paint job, it's hard to say that it does anything best-in-class, outside of its ammo capacity, which is handly during prolonged firefights.
But, looking at each statistic, it's in the green on all of them, meaning it is above average in all attributes. No other assault rifle can make the same claim, making it an ideal weapon for gamers that don't like to sacrifice any one statistic for another.
6 Bonerattler
The story of the Bonerattler is easy to tell. It's an assault rifle that shoots faster than an SMG while still capable at mid-range. The damage per bullet is slightly less than an SMG, but the rate of fire puts the DPS higher than any starting SMG.
Getting into short-range fights isn't recommended, but players rarely get to choose how their opponents attack. The Bonerattler makes a seamless transition from shooting at range to shooting nearby.
5 Heirloom
The Heirloom is either roughly the same or worse than the other marksman rifle on this list based on the four major categories, so why include it at all? This weapon proves that what works in practice sometimes doesn't show up on paper.
As far as sniping goes, it's a very mobile gun, quick to aim down the sights and lacking any need for going prone and stabilizing. Purist snipers might say this is a weakness, but the pros who play know that even the best snipers have to move around.
4 Breacher
A cursory glance at the lineup of assault rifles reveals something rather remarkable; they all have roughly similar firepower. Since there is very little difference in bullet damage, the next goal becomes to make each bullet as fast and accurate as possible.
That's where the Breacher puts itself above its competitors, giving itself the highest combined total between speed and accuracy when compared to the other starting assault rifles. This also gives it some versatility at close and long-range.
3 White Obsidian
The White Obsidian is the very best "sniper rifle" to learn with. Technically, it's a marksman rifle, but that designation is quite helpful for players who aren't always so sure about their shots. The firing rate and ammo capacity are both increased.
The one knock on it is that it isn't silenced, so be ready to pick up sticks after killing an opponent. But the initial kill that it does get is very reliable, helpful for players looking to stay even in their kill-to-death ratio while playing against better-geared players.
2 Warning Track
As one of only two legendary weapons available, it's no surprise to see the Warning Track so close to the top of this list. Early on, players are noticing that sniper rifles are extremely powerful thanks to slow character movement and flat map layouts.
This assault rifle plays much like a sniper rifle, forfeiting speed and firepower for a ton of accuracy. The Warning Track is a perfect gun for beginners who need the ability to snipe and engage in mid-range combat.
1 Snowstorm
By virtue of being the only sniper rifle in the armory, and by that fact alone, the Snowstorm tops this list. Because player movement has been slowed down to the point where full-fledged tactical sprints still look like a mild jog while covered in molasses, sniping has never been easier.
Better sniper rifles are coming, but, for now, there don't need to be more sniper rifle options available. It would be first on this list even without the built-in silencer, but with it, the Snowstorm is overpowered, allowing players to stay in place and take easy shots without risking death at any level.
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.