Surprise Vanguard AR has one of Warzone’s best win rates in Season 5

Nathan Warby
Warzone Operator carrying Assault Rifle

There are dozens of different Assault Rifles to choose from in Warzone Season 5 Reloaded, so picking the right one can be tough. If you’re looking for a new weapon to run, a surprising Vanguard AR is topping the chats when it comes to Warzone win rate.

When it comes to Assault Rifles, most Warzone players will lean toward the meta options that are consistently strong. Picks like the STG44, Cooper Carbine, and other WWII guns have dominated matches since Vanguard was released, and are widely considered some of the best in the game.

But with the launch of Warzone 2 getting closer and closer, many players might be looking to shake things up and experiment with some of the lesser-used weapons, while still being competitive in every game.

Well, when it comes purely to winning games, a surprising Vanguard Assault Rifle is coming out on top even though very few players are using it.

According to stats on WZ Ranked, the Assault Rifle currently with the best success rate in Warzone is the Volkssturmgewehr (Volk). The Volk has a win rate of 4.03%, making it the top AR and third-best weapon overall.

For context, the Cooper Carbine and STG44 have scores of just 2.39% and 2.28% respectively.

Despite the impressive figures, the Volk only has a pick rate of 0.54%, leaving it outside the top 30 most popular weapons in Warzone, while the likes of the XM4 and Grau.5.56 continue to come out on top.

The Volk sits in a similar bracket to the Cooper Carbine in the sense that it is classed as an AR, but its blistering fire rate makes it more useful in short-range situations like an SMG. This is perhaps why players have looked elsewhere when building their loadouts.

The fast-firing AR did have a brief spell in the meta after a buff in Season 3, but has been largely forgotten ever since. Based on these figures, it might be time to dust the Volk off and take it for another spin.

Check out the Volk loadout that earned this excellent win rate below:

Best Volk loadout for Warzone Season 5 Reloaded

  • Muzzle: Recoil Booster
  • Barrel: VDD 287mm
  • Optic: Slate Reflector
  • Stock: Reisdorf 22V Adjustable
  • Underbarrel: Mark VI Skeletal
  • Magazine: 7.62 Gorenko 45 Round Mags
  • Ammunition: Subsonic  
  • Rear Grip: Granular Grip
  • Perk: Sleight of Hand
  • Perk 2: On-Hand

This setup maximizes the Volk’s mobility, as well as buffing its fire rate to bring the TTK down, making the gun absolutely devasting at close range. We recommend pairing it with a long-range Assault Rifle or a Sniper Rifle to achieve a perfectly balanced loadout.

So, if you’re looking to shake things up in Warzone’s final season while still being competitive, consider running the Volk during your visit to Caldera.


For more on Warzone, be sure to check out our guide on the best sniper support weapon, and the perfect strategy to counter Riot Shields.

Image credits: Activision

About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].