Vanguard Zombies update changes Ray Gun & Decimator Shield after community backlash

Hamza Khalid
Ray gun and Decimator Shield in Vanguard Zombies

Activision have responded to community backlash by bringing some major changes to the Decimator Shield Ray Gun Wonder Weapons in the new Vanguard Zombies update.

Vanguard Season 2 brought a plethora of changes to the game’s Zombies mode, including the addition of powerful Wonder Weapons like the Decimator Shield, as well as the return of the Ray Gun.

However, players reported that the Ray Gun wasn’t working properly, so the developers responded to complaints by implementing some major changes in the February 22 Vanguard Zombies update.

Vanguard Zombies Ray Gun changes

operator aiming and firing ray gun in vanguard zombies

According to the official description of the Ray Gun, the weapon should be able to “tear zombies apart in just one shot,” but Vanguard players reported that enemies could tank one or two shots even in the early rounds.

The developers responded to this by increasing the weapon’s base damage, Pack-a-Punch damage, splash damage radius, ammo count, and ammo pickups in the February 22 update patch.

Here is the full list of Ray Gun changes:

  • Increased base damage, Pack-a-Punch damage, splash damage radius, ammo count, and ammo pickups per community feedback.
  • Base damage increased from 300 to 400.
  • Pack-a-Punch Tier I damage increased from 600 to 900.
  • Pack-a-Punch Tier II damage increased from 1200 to 1800.
  • Pack-a-Punch Tier III damage increased from 2400 to 3600.

Vanguard Zombies Decimator Shield changes

decimator shield in cod zombies

Besides the changes to the Ray Gun, the Decimator Shield Wonder Weapon also received some major buffs in the February 22 update after fans called for the developers to make some changes.

This melee weapon should be able to take out normal zombies in just one strike, but players noticed that enemies were able to survive multiple hits, so the developers increased the Decimator Shield’s base melee damage.

Here are the Decimator Shield changes:

  • Drastically increased base melee damage per community feedback.
  • Standard melee attack now kills normal zombies in one hit through Round 12.
Vanguard Zombies Syphoncores

The February 22 Vanguard Zombies also addressed an issue that would cause enemies to move at slower speeds than intended, as well as ensuring that super sprinters would now show up in Round 12.

It’s reassuring to know that the developers listen to feedback, these new changes might make it more fun to play on the new Terra Maledicta Zombies map, which fans haven’t been too impressed with.


For more Vanguard content, check out the best Ranked Play loadouts for Vanguard Season 2 as well as Scump’s best Vanguard Ranked Play MP40 loadout.

Image credits: Sledgehammer Games