Fastest ways to level up in Vanguard: Rank, Weapons & Operators

Liam Mackay
Constanze Operator in CoD Vangaurd

Call of Duty: Vanguard is finally here, so we’re breaking down the fastest ways you can level up your Rank, weapons, and Operators.

The latest Call of Duty title, Vanguard, has arrived. This offers players a ton of weapons, Operators, and more as they progress through the 55 levels on offer.

All of Vanguard’s Weapons and Operators will be coming to the battle royale in December with Warzone Pacific. There’s no guarantee which Vanguard weapons will be the Warzone meta, so you might want to get them all leveled up as soon as possible. Plus, there’s plenty of Vanguard content to unlock, such as camos and Operator skins.

With so much content to take in, we’re detailing the fastest ways to level up your Rank, weapons, and Operators in Vanguard.

How to level up Vanguard Rank fast

Vanguard Operators running

The following tips will help you level up in Call of Duty: Vanguard as fast as possible. They also help with ranking up your weapons and Operators, but we’ve got some detailed tips that specifically focus on leveling them up too.

Play your favorite multiplayer mode

To level up in Vanguard as fast as possible, you should always play your favorite mode that you’re best at. You might hear that some modes offer XP faster, or you can get more kills – but it’s entirely up to you and your playstyle.

Search and Destroy offers a lot of XP for performing well, but there’s no point in grinding it out if you’ll only end up with a couple of kills on average. Just play the mode you perform best in, and you’ll find the grind a much smoother and more enjoyable experience.

And this goes for Weapon XP too, always make sure you’re playing your favorite mode.

Complete challenges

Call of Duty Vanguard bootcamp challenges

Vanguard offers a ton of challenges across multiplayer, Zombies, weapons, Operators, and more.

First, you should try to blast through all of the easier challenges, such as getting Mounted or Crouched kills. Keep them in the back of your mind and you’ll blast through them, earning some sweet XP.

Then, you can start focusing on some of the more difficult challenges that offer better rewards. But if you’re only focused on XP, don’t spend too long on something that will hinder your performance and waste valuable time.

Finish multiplayer matches

This might go without saying, but make sure you’re sticking around until the end of your matches.

Getting your Match Bonus XP is definitely worth sticking around for, even if you’re not having the best game. Plus, you even get some bonus XP for voting for the match’s MVP, which is a nice little boost with minimal effort.

Change your Operator and weapons

Polina Petrova in Vanguard

To keep earning more and more XP, you shouldn’t just stick to one loadout or Operator.

Once you’ve maxed them out, you won’t be earning any more XP, so make sure that once you’ve fully leveled a weapon or Operator, you change them up. Earning camos and completing challenges will all award XP, keep trying out every aspect of the game and you’ll keep raking in passive XP.

Play during Double XP events

Vanguard will offer a Double XP event every few weeks, so you should check out our guide on when the next Double XP weekend is, and make sure to take advantage of them.

In these events, you’ll be able to get your hands on Double XP, Double Weapon XP, Double Operator XP, and Double Battle Pass XP. Playing in these events will give you a massive boost, so it’s always worth checking them out.

How to level up Vanguard weapons fast

Use the right Operator

Vanguard Lucas Operator with Owen Gun favorite weapon

Each Operator has their own favorite weapon, and you’ll actually earn much more Weapon XP when combining the right gun and Operator.

As you use and level up a specific Operator, you’ll earn chunks of XP for their favorite weapon. For example, if you’re looking to level up your Type 100, you should use Wade.

Here’s every Vanguard Operator and their favorite weapon:

  • Daniel – M1 Garand
  • Wade – Type 100
  • Halima – MP-40
  • Polina – 3-Line Rifle
  • Solange – NZ-41
  • Shigenori – Type 11
  • Roland – STG44
  • Lucas – Owen Gun
  • Beatrice – AS44
  • Arthur – STEN
  • Constanze – MG42
  • Padmavati – Combat Shotgun

We recommend you make sure you’re using the right Operator, and not wasting any time using an Operator with a weapon you’ve already leveled up.

Call of duty Vanguard red star map

Play Blitz Combat Pacing

Vanguard has introduced a brand-new Combat Pacing setting, and Blitz’s chaos is perfect for leveling up.

Blitz allows for the maximum amount of players on the map, which gets you into gunfights far more often. You’ll be able to rack up much more multi-kills, and you won’t waste any time running around the map looking for enemies.

Party up on PlayStation

When partied up with friends, PlayStation players get an extra +25% Weapon XP. So, if a weapon would usually take you four hours to max out, you can do it in three.

If you’re focusing on ranking up all of the weapons as soon as possible, you should try to make sure you’re always playing in a party with friends.

Avoid Vanguard’s Zombies mode

Unfortunately, YouTuber JGOD has done the math, and Zombies mode simply isn’t worth it if you’re grinding weapon XP. He figured out that you’ll need to kill 12,000 Zombies to max out a weapon, which he calls “terribly inefficient.”

How to level up Vanguard Operators fast

CoD Vanguard Wade Operator challenges

Complete Operator challenges

Each Vanguard Operator comes with their own set of challenges, and you’ll want to be completing these to rank them up quicker.

Just stick with your Operator until you finish all of their challenges. These aren’t usually too difficult, but you might need to change up your weapon or playstyle to get them done.


And that’s everything you need to know about leveling up fast in Call of Duty: Vanguard! You’ll get access to a variety of weapons and skins, and you’ll quickly be on your way to having everything ready for Vanguard Pacific in December.

For more Vanguard, you can check out how devs will balance the WW2 weapons in Warzone.

Image Credit: Sledgehammer Games

About The Author

Liam is CharlieIntel's Editor. After graduating in Journalism from Edinburgh Napier University, Liam made use of his passion for FPS games, including Call of Duty, by writing for sites such as The Nerd Stash, Red Bull Gaming, and GAMINGbible before joining CharlieIntel in November 2020. You can contact Liam at [email protected].