Like every shooter out there, CoD: Vanguard launched with a lot of guns for you to take some heads off. The most popular weapon class are in general the assault rifles, so what are the best ARs in CoD: Vanguard? We got a complete tier list with all available assault rifles for you!
Call of Duty: Vanguard is the latest CoD of 2021. Of course, we immediately test all available guns and came up with a ranking to help you guys figure out, what to play. We already came up with the best Vanguard loadouts in general, but now we want to get into more detail.
Not every player is interested in Marksman Rifles or Snipers, so we will rank all the guns of each weapon category from best to worst for you. If you are looking for the best Vanguard weapon in a specific category, we got you covered. We have tier lists for SMGs, LMGs, Marksman Rifles, Sniper Rifles and Shotguns as well. But for now, let's start things off with the most popular category in the genre: Assault Rifles. What are the best Assault Rifles in CoD: Vanguard?
10. ITRA
I really want to like the ITRA 'cause I love me a good burst rifle. But we are talking about assault rifles right now – not DMRs – so naturally, the ITRA Burst is overshadowed by basically all the other ARs. While the four round bursts are extremely deadly, the delay between two bursts is just too high. That means if you miss the first shot, you won't have time to follow up with another burst.
Players with good aim can still have a good time with the ITRA though – especially at longer distances. So if you really want to pick up the ITRA Burst – maybe to challenge yourself – we already have a good ITRA Burst Setup for Vanguard here.
9. BAR
The BAR is an iconic shooter weapon. Name one WWII shooter that doesn't have the BAR in it! I can't think of a single one. Still, the BAR sadly isn't all that good in Vanguard. It has a really low rate of fire, high recoil and a small magazine. Yes, the damage output is terrific, but in most situations you will be outgunned by faster, more mobile weapons. If you don't know what to expect, think of an LMG rather than an AR. The BAR just feels really slow and somehow clunky while navigating the map. However, if you can consistently get those headshots, it has an impressive TTK. Here is our best BAR setup guide for Vanguard.
Ok that's enough, let's get back to the best ARs in Vanguard and follow up with the...
8. AS44
The AS44 is an okay AR with solid damage, but it falls short in precision and speed. It has a high rate of fire though, which makes it a good gun for short to medium range combat. Since it still is an assault rifle and can't really compete with the SMGs at short range, we do have to compensate for its lack of range. The AS44 is not a bad gun, but there are better ARs in Vanguard to destroy your enemies with. If you want to give it a try, check out our best AS44 setup and loadout.
7. Volkssturmgewehr
The Volk earns its place by being a really mobile assault rifle. It actually sits somewhere between an SMG and an AR, which makes it perfect for CoD's fast-paced multiplayer matches. The high rate of fire and mobility however come at the cost of more recoil. With the right attachments, the recoil gets less of a problem though and the Volk can also be played on longer distances. It will probably not be the new Warzone meta, but is definitely a good multiplayer AR in Vanguard. Try our Volk setup and pop some heads.
6. NZ-41
Apparently not many people like this gun, but we still think it is a really good AR. Its high damage output is only set back by its rather heavy recoil. The recoil of the NZ-41 definitely needs some practice, but especially on shorter distances and in confined spaces, the gun slaps. If you are more of an aggressive player and like to push your enemies, then the NZ-41 is perfect for you – think of it as a more powerful, slightly slower SMG. Just try our NZ-41 setup and let us know if you like it.
5. KG M40
The KG M40 was introduced with Vanguard Season 2 and is a rather slow assault rifle. However, it makes up for its lack of speed and rather poor mobility with very high damage, good range and good accuracy. It is definitely not a good choice for close combat, but it is quite useful for longer distances. Although it also cuts quite a figure in Vanguard multiplayer, it could find many fans, especially in Warzone. Long-range assault rifles are the meta in Warzone and here the KG M40 could perhaps establish itself as an alternative to the STG44. Here is our best KG M40 setup.
4. Nikita AVT
The Nikita AVT was introduced with Vanguard Season 3 and is not bad at all. It has a very high rate of fire, which makes it perfect for fighting in small spaces. However, the high rate of fire also means some damn heavy recoil, which you have to get under control first. With the right setup, however, you get a strong CQC weapon that plays similar to the Cooper carbine, only with more recoil. Here is our Nikita AVT setup.
3. Cooper Carbine
The Cooper carbine was added with Season 1 and is damn strong. It has a very high rate of fire, is extremely mobile and yet also very precise. Overall, it plays like a mix of an assault rifle and an MP, and with the right attachments, it destroys everything in multiplayer. Not the best weapon for long distances, but especially at medium ranges, the Cooper Carbine is absolutely deadly. Here we have our best Cooper Carbine loadout for you.
The Cooper Carbine is a fantastic sniper support in Warzone. Here are the best Warzone snipers.
2. Automaton
The Automaton kind of looks like a marksman rifle, but it really is an AR, and a good one as well. It is particularly good on longer rages thanks to its high precision and very low recoil. It also packs quite a punch, but isn't that mobile. We recommend using the Automaton on mid to long ranges to make the best use of its range and damage without having to worry too much about its lower speed and mobility. Give it a try and make good use of our best Automaton setup and loadout in Vanguard.
1. STG44
Finally, the STG44. Seriously, what else could make our number one spot? The STG44 is one of the most iconic WWII guns and by far the best gun in CoD: Vanguard. It is available right from the get go (like the M4A1 or XM4 in previous titles) and extremely versatile. It is easy to control, has good damage output and an ok rate of fire. Depending on the attachments, it can be played on every distance and be the best longe-range-AR as well as a capable short- to mid-range gun.
However, it really shines in mid- to long-range firefights, thanks to its low recoil. Definitely one of the best beginner weapons with great potential in Warzone as well. After all, you could already unlock the STG44 in Warzone before Vanguard was even released. Try our STG44 setup for Vanguard, and you'll see how good that gun actually is.
As of now, Vangard has a total of ten assault rifles, but we will of course update our tier list as soon as new ARs arrive. Of course, we will also provide rankings for the SMGs and all the other weapon categories of Vanguard. Until then, make sure to check out our best Vanguard Loadouts and if you prefer playing Warzone, we also have the best Warzone guns right here for you.