Call of Duty: Vanguard fans have had plenty of content to enjoy since the game released, as the World War 2 shooter made its debut with 16 proper multiplayer maps. A dozen different Operators were available to choose from on day one, while a massive arsenal of weaponry allows players to make use of some of the best guns from the era. While Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies’ content is lacking in comparison, fans of PvP have had no shortage of things to do.
For better or worse, the first Season of Call of Duty: Vanguard continues this trend. Zombies fans will find some minor additions and much-needed adjustments, but no major content drops are coming in the next few weeks. For multiplayer fans, though, there are a few new maps to enjoy - one of which is a returning favorite from the franchise’s past. With some details regarding Season 1 Reloaded released as well, the next few months of the game’s life cycle have been outlined very clearly.
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s New Operators And Weapons
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s three new Operators come from Taskforce Trident, and each has a unique look and bio. Lanakila is the group’s leader, and his love for food and people sees him making meals for his fellow soldiers. He sports a ghillie suit, and his favorite weapon is the Cooper Carbine. Lewis Howard wears a hood and cloak and prefers the Gorenko Anti-Tank Rifle. He is described as quiet, and he grew up as a fisherman. Finally, there is Isabella, who prefers the Welgun and was trained in martial arts by her father. She joined the Hukbalahap Resistance after her dad passed away.
Each of these Operators can be seen in Call of Duty: Warzone’s story cutscene for those who want a better idea of how they look. Their favorite weapons are all Season 1 guns, which means players have a quick way to level up the new additions. The Cooper Carbine is a close-range Assault Rifle unlocked at Tier 15 of the battle pass, while the vehicle destroying Gorenko is a Sniper Rifle unlocked at Tier 31. The Welgun will be added in Season 1 Reloaded, with players being given a special challenge to unlock it.
Two melee weapons have also been added in Season 1, with the Katana coming in-season and the Sawtooth knife available at Tier 37 in Call of Duty: Vanguard’s first battle pass. A special holiday event will bring some exclusive cosmetics in a few weeks’ time, with players likely needing to complete challenges to unlock them. A PlayStation exclusive Combat Pack is also available, which contains a special batch of cosmetic items for those on PS4 and PS5.
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Multiplayer Content
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s first Season offers two new multiplayer maps that can be played right now. The first map should be very familiar to players, as it is actually a remake of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 map Dome. Dubbed Radar, the map has the exact same layout but has received a full visual makeover to make it look like it takes place on a Pacific island. The buildings surrounding the radar station have a completely different aesthetic, while breakable wood on the catwalks makes use of the game’s destruction mechanic.
The other multiplayer map added in Season 1 is much larger, which is not a bad thing considering Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Combat Pacing. Players can patrol the cliffs on one side of the map and a bunker can be fought through, with a wide open area in the center of the map that will please Sniper users. The map also includes a large underground tunnel, adding some verticality and an excellent way to flank enemies.
Alongside new Call of Duty: Vanguard maps, the popular game mode Control will be making a return. Set to arrive shortly after launch, players should soon be fighting for two capture points on the game’s various maps. The mode sees attackers winning by capturing both points or draining an enemy team’s lives, while defenders can win by fully eliminating the opposition or successfully protecting the points until the match timer runs out. For fans of objective-based gameplay, the debut of Control should prove to be exciting.
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Zombies Content
Unfortunately, Call of Duty: Vanguard fans hoping for round-based Zombies content are still out of luck. While it could eventually come in a future Season, the latest update makes it clear that the focus is currently on expanding Der Anfang. As such, players can experience a new objective called Purge, which sees gamers collecting runes to defeat some aethereal worms. New Covenants have also been added to the game, with one serving as a version of Deadshot Daiquiri and another being the Dead Wire ammo effect.
Other features include launchers being added to class creation and the Mystery Box, with all the new Season 1 weaponry able to be used in Zombies as well. Seasonal challenges have been added, too, and they work just like the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War system. Players will have until the end of the Season to level up and unlock all the challenges. Once unlocked, they can be completed whenever players want. Each completed challenge provides players with a calling card, with a Season Master card unlocked for finishing all the challenges.
Season 1 Reloaded’s Zombies content will be a bit more impactful, as it includes the Tome of Rituals. This mechanic will allow artifacts like Ring of Fire to be upgraded, with players making them stronger like they did in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. A new area called Von List’s Office will see players enter the villain’s base of operations, with intel likely to set up the Der Anfang main quest that is expected to come during Season 2. Killstreaks will also be added later in the Season, with the Death Machine and War Machine coming to the crafting table. Server Pause will be added as well, while a holiday-themed makeover for Der Anfang will come later in December to round out the Season’s Zombies content.
Call of Duty: Vanguard is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.