Best Assault Rifles in Vanguard Season 4: Ranked list
Assaults Rifles are always a powerful tool in Call of Duty, so we’ve ranked every AR in Vanguard Season 4 to help you find the best weapon in the class.
Vanguard is yet another Call of Duty game jam-packed full of guns competing with each other to come out on top. Vanguard’s Season 4 update introduced two new weapons to the game, and players continue to search for the best Assault Rifle to use.
The game already has a ton of popular weapons and loadouts, so we have gone through each of Vanguard’s Assault Rifles and decided to rank them from worst to best.
Every Vanguard Assault Rifle ranked
This is our complete list of every Assault Rifle in Call of Duty: Vanguard, taking into account all of their vital statistics, how they feel in-game, and their final forms in terms of attachments too.
Here is every Vanguard Assault Rifle ranked:
- ITRA Burst
- KG M40
- NZ-41
- AS44
- Nikita AVT
- Volk
- BAR
- STG44
- Cooper Carbine
- Automaton
Best ARs in CoD: Vanguard
For a more detailed look into every Call of Duty: Vanguard Assault Rifle, we’ve gone through each gun and explained the logic behind their positions.
These ARs can all be used in different ways and depending on your preferences, you could find that one works better than another.
10. ITRA Burst
As is usually the case with burst weapons, the ITRA Burst is a very high risk and high reward weapon with accurate players able to benefit greatly from it. Its main fault sticks out like a sore thumb, and it’s that you’ll only get five bursts to take down an opponent or two.
Thankfully, attachments can improve this drastically, making the ITRA Burst a must-try weapon to see if it’s for you. But for a while, the 4-round burst makes the ITRA Burst a very volatile weapon to use.
If you fancy giving this burst weapon a spin, check out our best ITRA Burst Vanguard loadout.
9. KG M40
The KG M40 was added to Vanguard’s list of Assault Rifles in Season 2 as a free Battle Pass weapon, and players can still unlock the KG M40 by completing an in-game unlock challenge. Unfortunately, the KG M40 has failed to reach the heights of the Cooper Carbine as a post-launch Assault Rifle.
Simply put, the KG M40 lacks firepower as an average damage output prevents it from killing as fast as some other ARs. Nonetheless, it claims the 9th spot mainly due to its accuracy. With the proper attachments, the KG M40 is one of the most accurate weapons in Vanguard.
Check out our best KG M40 Vanguard loadout to get the right attachments.
8. NZ-41
In many Call of Duty games, you’ll get weapons that don’t necessarily perform badly, it’s just that there are few redeeming qualities about them that make them desirable.
The NZ-41 carries that vibe, despite its decent accuracy and firepower, it’s hurt by some erratic recoil. This AR doesn’t hold up to other weapons on this ranked Assault Rifle list that are simply better, despite being a menace in Warzone.
Check out our best NZ-41 Vanguard loadout to try it out for yourself.
7. AS44
The AS44 is a decent Assault Rifle and as with most weapons, it tends to get much better and improves with proper attachments. But after you’ve fired a few shots and experienced its wild recoil pattern, you’ll begin to see why it’s just not as heavily favored as other guns.
Despite how difficult it could be to properly aim the weapon, there’s no denying its strength. The AS44 is still worth testing out as it boasts the lowest TTK in Vanguard.
Make sure you’re running the right class with our best AS44 Vanguard loadout.
6. Nikita AVT
The Nikita AVT was added to Vanguard’s arsenal of weapons alongside the Season 3 update. The AR is a free Season 3 Battle Pass weapon so most players will get their hands on it with ease.
Unfortunately, it isn’t the most powerful weapon around. The one thing it does have going for it is its incredible accuracy. Although the Nikita will feel like a pellet gun at times, it is supremely easy to use which allows it to claim the 6th spot.
If you want to try out the Season 3 weapon, take a look at our suggested loadout for the new Nikita AVT.
5. Volk
The reality is that the Volk is really good, and its undisputed feature is its fire rate. It has the essence of an SMG within it but is still very much a powerful Assault Rifle in Vanguard.
The recoil may deter players, but as usual, if the Volk has the right attachments on it, it immediately becomes a force to be reckoned with, just don’t try to hit distant targets as its subpar range holds it back from being a top AR. Despite receiving nerfs in Season 3, the Volk retains the fifth spot on this list.
Get the most out of this weapon with our best Volk Vanguard loadout.
4. BAR
Of all the ARs, the BAR seems to have the most noticeable impact in mid-to-long-range fights, which is supposed to be offset by its 20-round mag. As we know, the BAR can hold 30 rounds quite easily, and this helps to keep the BAR firing its strong rounds for longer.
Don’t expect to win every close-range skirmish though, but have confidence that the BAR can get the job done. You’ll also notice a very slow fire rate that may take some getting used to.
You can use this dominant weapon with the best BAR loadout for Vanguard.
3. STG44
A common pick amongst AR users in Vanguard, the STG44’s recoil pattern is extremely easy to learn and only gets better once you start slapping some goodies on it.
It will perform well at any engagement distance and has enough firepower to not require you to be the world’s leading marksmen to kill with it. It’s unlocked from the get-go and you’ll find a few STG44’s in each match because it’s just that good.
Check out our best STG loadout to use one of Vanguard’s most reliable weapons.
2. Cooper Carbine
The Cooper Carbine Assault Rifle was added to Vanguard with the Season 1 update and was available through the Battle Pass. The Cooper Carbine is perhaps the most versatile AR on this list. Players can equip attachments for long-range or close-range combat.
Regardless of how you prefer to use this Assault Rifle, its excellent fire rate will suit aggressive players nicely. Once you unlock the Recoil Booster attachment, the Cooper Carbine turns into a deadly killing machine.
Check out our best Cooper Carbine Vanguard loadout.
1. Automaton
A weapon that most players quickly became acquainted with is the Automaton. Although the STG44 generated the most buzz shortly after launch, it didn’t take long for the Automaton to take over, and it remains the best Assault Rifle in Season 4.
In its most primitive form, the Automaton only requires a gentle tug of the analog stick or mouse to keep it hammering the bullseye over and over. Its fire rate is phenomenal, and once you slap on the Anastasia Sniper barrel and Tight Grip proficiency, then your accuracy with this weapon is bound to skyrocket.
Make sure you’re using the game’s most powerful AR correctly with our best Automaton Vanguard loadout
And those are the best AR loadouts for Season 4. Metas change and another AR may arrive in Vanguard Season 5, so we’ll keep this list updated throughout the year.
You can also check out how all of these ARs compare to the rest of Vanguard’s weapons.
Image Credit: Activision / Sledgehammer Games