Call of Duty: Vanguard has proven to be a solid entry in the long-running franchise, with many praising the game’s multiplayer. A detailed gunsmith and tons of weaponry has been one major strength for Call of Duty: Vanguard, as has the addition of Operator levels and unlockable skins. When it comes to PvP, the game features more launch content than any Call of Duty game released since Modern Warfare 3, something that has served as a pleasant surprise for the community.
Following the addition of Shipment, Call of Duty: Vanguard features a staggering 17 traditional multiplayer maps. While that number will be growing come the release of Season 1 early next month, it is worth taking a look at the current lineup to determine the best and worst that the game has to offer. While the map lineup is strong overall, every game has a few weak links and a handful of instant classics, all of which can be placed nicely into a tier list.
D Tier: Red Star And Decoy
Red Star: During Call of Duty: Vanguard’s beta, Red Star was the least popular map available - and that has not really changed with the game’s full release. While it does play better with more players, its big issue is that one side of the map is entirely pointless. If the A flag were moved so that it was in line with B and C, and the large square was cut, the map could be a fan favorite. As it stands, though, it is unnecessarily large and slow.
Decoy: Decoy is a great example of taking a good thing too far, as the entire map is destructible. While Call of Duty: Vanguard’s destruction is an excellent feature in small doses, it’s a lot less fun on this map. Campers can poke a small hole in a wall and shoot players through any surface, and the middle of the map is impossible to traverse. Essentially, every match of Decoy plays the same, with players sitting in the two buildings that face each other and never moving. A nightmare on objective modes and a map that punishes close range players for trying to move away from their side of the map, Decoy earns its spot in D tier.
C Tier: Oasis, Eagle’s Nest, And Numa Numa
Oasis: Oasis is similar to Decoy in the sense that it heavily favors long range players and staying on one side of the map, with those who like sniping in Call of Duty: Vanguard sure to love the layout. Virtually every lane is patrolled by a sniper, though the map does feature a fair bit of cover to keep things from being overly frustrating. Fights for Domination’s B flag can be intense as well, and visually the map is impressive due to the colorful desert setting.
Eagle’s Nest: Another map that Call of Duty: Vanguard fans got to test out during the beta, Eagle’s Nest is one of the coolest maps conceptually. Set around a base on top of a mountain, players can attack from the cliff on one side or push down a narrow path on the other. However, this is another map that limits playstyles, as Call of Duty: Vanguard’s SMGs and Shotguns dominate here. As such, Assault Rifle, LMG, and Sniper Rifle users are out of luck in this hectic arena, as 80% of the map is a large building with tight lanes.
Numa Numa: Numa Numa is a strange map, as it is a circular design that features trenches, caves, and some open space. Its biggest positive and negative is that circular design, as it leads to some of the strongest spawn traps in the game. As such, whether a Call of Duty: Vanguard player enjoys Numa Numa will likely come down to whether their team is trapping the enemy in the cave or is suffering from that entrapment. The crude trenches and yellow-colored sky also help give the map a distinct appearance, setting it apart from those seen in other Call of Duty games.
B Tier: Tuscan, Gavutu, And Bocage
Tuscan: Tuscan is the epitome of the solid-but-forgettable map. There is nothing offensive about it, and the burning portion is impressive visually. Players can camp in the church window or the building across the way, while SMG users can push through the various buildings and flank on the sides. While this map is unlikely to become a fan favorite Call of Duty location or crack any “best of the best” lists, players will not mind playing on it.
Gavutu: Another beta map, this rainy warzone plays well on Domination due to the raisable platform in the ship. Here, players can press a button to lift the platform to the upper or lower levels of a ship. This is a great feature, as it allows players to move the flag to wherever they can best protect it. While the map has its issues, like an inaccessible main lane that favors snipers too much, it always shines in Call of Duty: Vanguard's objective modes.
Bocage: Bocage is a good map that features some unique flank routes, with Call of Duty: Vanguard players able to jump from windows or push through a canal near the tower. The various buildings are plenty of fun for fans of close quarters gameplay, while those who like to play a bit back can succeed if they stick to the left or right lanes. Another visually impressive map due to its farmland setting, players should have a good time whenever it appears in the rotation.
A Tier: Shipment, Das Haus, Dome, Hotel Royal, And Demyansk
Shipment: Call of Duty: Vanguard’s version of Shipment is a bit different from others, yet it is somehow more hectic than it has ever been before. While some players do want to see changes to the map’s score limit, as matches in certain modes fly by due to how fast kills can be racked up, this play space is just as hectic as players would expect. The added shipping containers on the upper levels are a lot of fun, and if the Piercing Vision perk is eventually nerfed, Shipment could find itself in S tier.
Das Haus: Das Haus has quickly become a fan favorite map due to its small size, though its middle lane still manages to provide an avenue for fans of Sniper Rifles and Assault Rifles. Every match of Domination is guaranteed to be close since players are always near the flags, and frequent spawn flips will keep gamers on their toes. While small maps are not everyone’s cup of tea, and this map’s size was crucial to Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Shotguns being nerfed, there is a reason it has already featured as a 24/7 playlist. A great avenue for weapon leveling and high kill games, Das Haus will likely go down as a fan favorite.
Dome: Dome is a remake of a Call of Duty: World at War map, and given how well it plays, it is no wonder that Sledgehammer Games chose to bring it back. Always hectic, the circular area and its small building makes for intense gunfights, while the upper levels are fun to hold down for ranged players. Having the option to move outside of the building helps change up the flow of the game, too. If Dome was not a prime example of Call of Duty: Vanguard’s spawn issues, it would be in S Tier. With players spawning in front of, behind, or next to their foes, though, it needs to get some adjustments before it earns that spot.
Hotel Royal: A solid map through and through, Hotel Royal was the best map in the beta and a strong map in the full lineup. The mode plays well in Search and Destroy, as the bomb sites take advantage of the upper and lower levels of the building. The breakable glass around Domination’s B flag is fun, too, and if it didn’t feature spawns that flip far too easily, this would be another S tier map. It is fun visually, too, as Sledgehammer Games did a great job capturing the hotel aesthetic.
Demyansk: The best snowy map in the game, Demyansk is a rare example of how a map can favor one playstyle yet still be fun to play. While Snipers will litter the tower, the woods, and the building rooftops, close range players still have a great way to flank via the bridge on the side of the map. Heading under this bridge and across the frozen water makes for some great Play of the Game opportunities, and it ensures that every type of player can have fun. Still, this map is undoubtedly a sniper’s playground, and it is a great place to go to level up those weapons.
S Tier: Castle, Sub Pens, Desert Siege, And Berlin
Castle: This Call of Duty: World at War remake plays as good as it looks, with the Japanese location making the most of all the game’s systems. Destructibility shines in the main castle area since thin walls can be torn apart, while players can use tactical sprint to their advantage in the other areas of the map. Fans of long-range play can hold the top of the castle, while short range players can flank to sneak up on them. Castle, like fellow S tier maps Berlin and Desert Siege, is a clear example of how the combat pacing feature stops bigger maps from being boring and turns them into some of the best options in the game. The map's beauty is also undeniable, as the colorful tress help create a serene setting.
Sub Pens: One of the most unique maps in Call of Duty: Vanguard, Sub Pens feels a bit different from what is usually seen in Call of Duty due to most of the fighting taking place in one area. If players can successfully hold the highly contested upper level, they can look down to see players running below them or across from them. Players can also avoid the upper-level fights completely though, battling it out on or around the submarine and going for a game-changing flank. While Sub Pens has suffered from an annoying out of map glitch, its verticality is so strong that it still deserves a spot at the top.
Desert Siege: As a map that has something for everyone, Desert Siege has no real downsides. One side of the map features some dunes and broken structures, which is guaranteed to house a Sniper or two and usually becomes a place for intense one-on-one battles. The opposite side of the map features a broken-down train, with players able to peek around the cars and into the spawns for some mid-range engagements. In the middle of the map sits a large building with a few different floors, which is where players can do some damage with an Owen Gun or M1928. The spawns are fair here, too, with flips usually being clear and not overly common.
Berlin: Finally, there is Berlin, a nighttime map that is once again on the large side. Despite its size, it is never hard to find players, and the war-torn city is as eye-catching as it is enjoyable. One of the best original maps in the game, it features everything Call of Duty fans love. A fair B flag placement, special spots that can be reached with a few clever jumps, and routes for every type of player all come together to make a stellar multiplayer map. With a good mix between roofed areas and open space making killstreaks like the Bombing Run useful but not too annoying, Berlin might just be one of the best-executed large maps in franchise history.
Call of Duty: Vanguard is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.