Every weapon in Call of Duty: Vanguard multiplayer at launch

Here's the historic weaponry you can expect to find in your armory.

With the release of each new title to the Call of Duty franchise, there's the thrill of discovering and testing out each new weapon that the game has to offer. For Call of Duty: Vanguard's World War II-era setting, players are given an assortment of rifles, pistols, and even rocket launchers they can use to mow down the opposing teams.

Due to the historical nature of Vanguard, these weapons do feel like they don't pack quite as much punch as those we saw in 2020's Black Ops Cold War. With the right attachments and a good loadout, however, even the most underpowered pistol can rack up an enviable elim/death ratio.

As with previous Call of Duty titles, players unlock weapons by progressing through the initial leveling system. There are 55 levels prior to entering Prestige mode, and players must reach level four before they can create their own custom loadouts. Here is every weapon you can equip to your loadout via Create a Class at the launch of Call of Duty: Vanguard:

Primary weapons

Choosing a primary weapon often depends on play style choices, but there is a little something for everyone in Vanguard. Assault rifles are full and semi-automatic weaponry with decent damage at mid and long ranges; however because these are modeled after World War II firearms the damage is considerably lower than what players may have gotten used to in Modern Warfare and Cold War, both of which featured more modern weaponry.

Submachine guns — more commonly referred to as SMGs — feature high fire rates but lower damage overall and far less range. They pack a punch for close quarters combat, but they do not hold a candle to the high damage of a shotgun in a small room. That said, shotguns often suffer from low fire rates and slow reload times. Light Machine Guns (or LMGs) feature large clips and high damage output even at long range with decent fire rates but they go the way of the shotgun when it comes time to reload speed.

While any weapon can be equipped with any character skin, players can earn bonus weapon XP if they equip an operator's favorite weapon.

Assault rifles

• STG44
• Automaton
• Itra Burst
• Bar
• AS44
• NZ-41
• VOLKSSTURMGEWEHR

SMGs

• MP-40
• Sten
• M1928
• Owen Gun
• Type 100
• PPSH-41

Shotguns

• Einhorn Revolving
• Combat Shotgun
• Gracey Auto
• Double Barrel

LMGs

• MG42
• DP27
• Type 11
• Bren

Marksman rifles

• M1 Garand
• SVT-40
• G-43

Sniper rifles

• Type 99
• 3-Line Rifle
• KAR98K

Melee

• Combat Shield

Secondary weapons

Anybody who has ever played the tutorial of a classic Call of Duty title can tell you that it is faster to swap to your secondary than to reload your weapon when you're in the heat of battle. Vanguard's secondary lineup offers a handful of pistols to keep by your side when you are in a pinch, as well as launchers for destroying support vehicles, and one lone melee weapon for those who want to bring a knife to a gunfight.

Handguns

• Ratt
• Top Break
• 1911
• Klauser
• Machine Pistol

Launchers

• M1 Bazooka
• Panzerschreck
• Panzerfaust
• MK11 Launcher

Melee

• FS Fighting Knife

The Create a Class system will feel familiar to players who have played Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, with players having access to an armory and shop for weapon blueprints or the gunsmith to customize equipment. Weapons have an XP system that allows players to unlock attachments to change how the weapon performs in matches. There are weapon challenges that can be completed, such as kills while holding your breath or prone, that can help earn extra XP for quicker progression. Attachments and kits can be adjusted via Create a Class.

At launch, there are only the standard camouflage options available for most weapons and the Call of Duty store for Vanguard is only offering one bundle — the Call of Duty Endowment Timeless Pack — which features blueprints for a handgun and marksman rifle. This will undoubtedly change as Vanguard's official Season 1 content rolls out in December. Along with the new content expected with Season 1, Vanguard's weaponry will also be made available for fans of Call of Duty: Warzone — the popular, free-to-play battle royale that's one of the best Xbox shooters — that has functioned as a melting pot for operators and weapons from the last three Call of Duty releases.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

$60 at Xbox $60 at Amazon (Xbox) $60 at Walmart (Xbox physical)

Call of Duty: Vanguard is the latest title in Activision's annual first-person shooter franchise. The World War II-era blockbuster will put players on all four fronts of the war via an alternative timeline that centers around the birth of Task Force 1, an elite Special Ops team. Vanguard also includes access to multiplayer, the intense and fast-paced PvP Call of Duty experience we all know and love, as well as the prequel events for the Dark Aether storyline for Zombies.