Call of Duty: Vanguard fans have shown off plenty of impressive videos with the game’s arsenal of weaponry, though it is rare for a launcher to make an appearance. It is even rarer for a launcher kill to come completely out of nowhere, though this is what one Call of Duty: Vanguard player was able to pull off.
The clip from Reddit user FootsieMcDingus easily ranks among some of the most entertaining footage players have shared thus far. After all, while clips like the Care Package and Throwing Knife kill have been heavily praised for taking so much skill, players have some control over these moments. In the case of the Redditor’s launcher kill, they had no idea that an enemy was nearby, and the kill came without even firing the weapon in the direction of the foe.
At the start of the clip, FootsieMcDingus can be seen aiming at a Spy Plane and lining up a rocket launcher shot. While it is unclear if they are working on Call of Duty: Vanguard’s camo challenges or simply trying to be a good teammate, the lucky player is very clearly focused on taking out the enemy streak. Eventually, they move a few plane lengths in front of the vehicle and take their shot, hoping that they will land the hit. However, before they even get to see what happened, the “comeback” medal appears on their screen.
My bazooka blowback killed a guy trying to sneak up on me. Heard a “WHAT THE FU-“ as it happened. It was extremely satisfying, ⅔ of my team had quit and we were getting slaughtered from CODVanguard
As mentioned in the title of the post, this Call of Duty: Vanguard match was not going well for the Redditor and their team. A majority of the players on their side had left, as they were being dominated by the opposition. This explains the comeback medal, which is awarded after players break a deathstreak, though the kill clearly caught the launcher user off guard. While their actual rocket may have been nowhere the enemy, the backblast from firing the M1 Bazooka managed to take out a sneaky enemy.
With the Call of Duty: Vanguard Operator Shigenori unlocked by pulling off 25 finishing moves, the launcher’s victim was likely trying to perform a melee takedown. However, as they got close, the perfectly timed shot caused a small explosion that took them out. This is a neat detail that gives the launchers an element of realism, and it is neat that Sledgehammer put the time into including it. However, as mentioned by Redditor Reflex1681, it is only a matter of time before players are trolling with backblast kills.
While it remains to be seen if Call of Duty: Vanguard fans will be able to recreate this moment, it seems likely that more people will eventually pull off accidental launcher kills. For those looking to rack up some finishing moves, avoiding launcher users may be a wise idea.
Call of Duty: Vanguard is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.