Call of Duty: Warzone will be changing in some major ways once Call of Duty: Vanguard releases. Alongside the premium game’s launch, a better anti-cheat system is being added to the free-to-play title. Hopefully, this will keep hackers out of the game and allow players to enjoy the new map. With many excited to finally leave Verdansk behind and explore an island in the Pacific Ocean, there is a lot of hype around the month of November.
However, it is worth noting that some Call of Duty: Warzone fans are more concerned about the planned integration than they are excited. This is because many are worried that history will repeat itself and the integration with Call of Duty: Vanguard will go as poorly as the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War integration did. Based on what has happened with the game thus far, this seems like a genuine possibility, and Call of Duty: Vanguard’s guns could end up dominating the meta as soon as they arrive.
Why Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Weapons Could Be Broken
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s weapons are in serious danger of being overpowered. Ever since Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War debuted, guns from that game have been the only viable option, with the older weaponry from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare becoming useless. Not only are most Modern Warfare guns unable to compete, but some of the Cold War-era weaponry has proven so strong that it completely ruins the experience.
A clear example of this was the DMR 14 meta, with the tactical rifle being so broken that celebrities and pro players joined the calls for a nerf. Its reign lasted a shockingly long time, with the Tactical Rifle dropping enemies in just a few shots. When paired with the MAC-10, players were unstoppable. While nerfs eventually came, the weapon was instantly replaced by the AUG. At the same time, the FFAR’s rise to the top happened, meaning that the two Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War weapons were all players saw for several weeks.
On top of this, guns like the MP5 and CR-56 AMAX have been nerfed despite being some of the only viable weapons from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Unfortunately, there is a good chance that the same thing could happen once Call of Duty: Vanguard’s integration takes place. While it is possible that Raven makes the new guns incredibly weak to avoid this happening again, that would likely get the community even angrier. Instead, it seems likely that the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War guns fall down the ladder, with the Modern Warfare weapons becoming even more irrelevant.
The Issue With Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Ten Attachments
The other thing that is worth noting about the new guns is how Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Gunsmith works. Players can equip 10 different attachments on each weapon, and while this allows for more customization, it instantly creates a problem not seen with the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War guns. If no changes are made, Call of Duty: Vanguard’s guns will be able to hold more attachments than all the other weapons available in Call of Duty: Warzone.
Obviously, more attachments means stronger guns, and the Call of Duty: Vanguard weapons have some attachments that could provide a serious advantage. Ammunition types like FMJ could obliterate armor, while the Proficiency and Kit sections allow players to take two special perks with them into battle as opposed to just one. Even if Raven limits the number of attachments that Call of Duty: Warzone players can use on the Vanguard guns, they could still have an edge due to the type of attachments that are offered.
Not only could the Call of Duty: Vanguard weapons have strong stats on their own, but Call of Duty: Warzone loadouts that make use of the many attachment types may end up being blatantly overpowered. It is not hard to imagine a scenario where at least one of the ammunition types is broken, leading to everyone making use of the attachment regardless of the gun that they are using. With this in mind, players have yet another reason to expect a meta where the Vanguard equipment is the only thing worth using.
How Call of Duty: Warzone Can Avoid Another Broken Meta
Fortunately, there are a few things that developer Raven Software can do if it wants to prevent an unenjoyable meta from taking shape. The first option is the simplest, and it would see certain attachment slots removed for Call of Duty: Warzone’s versions of the Call of Duty: Vanguard guns. For example, things like the extra perk slot and the ammunition type could be left out of Warzone, as they are not available for the other weapons. While this would limit the customization available for the new weapons, it would help keep them in line with the older guns.
Another option would see the new weapons kept separate from the old ones. Rather than removing Verdansk 84, it could be left as is, with all the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War guns able to be used there. The new Pacific map could only use Call of Duty: Vanguard weapons, something that would allow players to use all 10 attachments without worrying about the weapons being overpowered. This would prevent the older guns from being outclassed, as they would be kept in their own set of playlists. This would also help with immersion, as players would only be seen using 1940s weaponry in a map from that time period.
No matter how it is done, Raven Software needs to be extremely careful with Call of Duty: Vanguard integration. Currently, all signs point to the weapon lineup being broken, with the meta completely shifting in favor of the Vanguard guns. If too many steps are taken to prevent them from being overpowered, though, they could be so weak that their addition is pointless. Raven needs to make smart decisions with these weapons, ensuring that new and old guns alike are worth using. If not, the massive arsenal available to the Call of Duty: Warzone community will be meaningless, as everything that isn’t from Vanguard would be ignored.
Call of Duty: Warzone is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.