While the rifles of Call of Duty: Vanguard may not be the best class of weapons in the game, they do carry the ability to be lethal killing machines in the right hands. In particular, snipers have been a common point of contention within the Call of Duty series, with debates around whether the class is overpowered appearing commonly online. The low TTK of Call of Duty: Vanguard has quietened this debate somewhat, but with enough practice, snipers and marksman rifles can still be viable options in multiplayer modes.
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C Tier: Call of Duty: Vanguard’s G-43
The G-43 stands with unsure footing in Call of Duty: Vanguard. While other marksman rifles such as the SVT-40 make it clear what they’re intended to be used for, Call of Duty: Vanguard’s G-43 is perhaps too fast for its own good. It has the highest rate of fire of all marksman rifles, but this comes with a major cost in the form of recoil, making it a difficult weapon to use at medium to long-range. Given this is the territory at which marksman rifles are intended to thrive, the G-43 is left in a confusing position. In longer-range gunfights, it can’t hold up against other rifles, and in close-range gunfights, players would be better served with an SMG.
B Tier: Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Type 99 and SVT-40
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Type 99 is the most maneuverable of all of the sniper rifles in the game, however, this comes at a cost. The Type 99 is also one of the weaker sniper rifles in Call of Duty: Vanguard, which makes it a questionable choice given that it is a bolt action rifle. The Type 99’s speed may appeal to some players, but they will need to have a steady hand in order to consistently hit the deadly zone of the upper torso and head. Overall, players may be better served opting for something stronger in another bolt action rifle, or something faster-firing in the SVT-40.
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s SVT-40 is one of the more unique weapons in the game, boasting the highest firepower of all of the marksman rifles. This leaves the gun in the unique position of having to tiptoe the line between sniper and marksman rifle, which it is capable of doing with some success. In a similar vein to the Type 99, players will need a steady hand in order to get the most out of the SVT-40, and while it comes with reduced accuracy in comparison to the Type 99, its semi-automatic firing mode makes it slightly preferable overall. Despite this though, it would be hard to justify choosing the SVT-40 over one of the stronger weapons in the game, so it remains in B tier.
A Tier: Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Gorenko Anti-Tank Rifle and 3-Line Rifle
One of Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Season 1 weapons, the Gorenko Anti-Tank Rifle, has just been added to the game, and it brings something that no other sniper rifle has. The Gorenko is a semi-automatic sniper rifle that packs a real punch, but its semi-automatic fire rate does prove to be fairly useless. The Gorenko’s recoil is pretty major, which makes sense given it is an anti-tank rifle, but in PvP this does mean that rapid-fire assaults are off the cards. This puts its fire rate in line with what could be expected from a bolt action rifle if accuracy is a consideration. Its firepower and accuracy are each impressive, though, and the ability to take on killstreaks makes the Gorenko worthy of A tier.
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s 3-Line Rifle, on the other hand, is slightly different in that it fits the mold of a bolt-action sniper rifle fairly well. The problem with the 3-Line Rifle that prevents it from crossing over into S tier is that there simply isn’t much reason to continue using it once players have unlocked the Kar98k. Unlike the Type 99, which differs enough from the other snipers available in the game to continue to appeal to players despite perhaps better options being available, the 3-Line Rifle is simply too similar to that which is on offer from the Kar98k. Hitmarkers are also still a consideration with the 3-Line Rifle despite it packing more firepower than the Type 99, which is an issue for a bolt-action rifle.
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S Tier: Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Kar98k and M1 Garand
The final marksman rifle, Call of Duty: Vanguard’s M1 Garand, may not stand out all too much on paper, but it is one of the best weapons in the game. Like the G-43, it is a fast-firing marksman rifle with low firepower when compared with the likes of the SVT-40. However, it has much more manageable recoil when compared with the G-43. This makes it a great option for players looking for a marksman rifle that is able to compete with some of the game’s assault rifles. The G-43 may have a faster firing rate, but the M1 Garand’s more manageable recoil makes it a much better weapon at medium to long-range.
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Kar98k is the last unlocked sniper rifle in the game, and this is for good reason. The only area in which the Kar98k is beaten by another sniper rifle in stats is speed from the Type 99. All around, the Kar98k is a great sniper rifle on paper, and this translates very well in-game. The Kar98k is popular among Call of Duty: Vanguard players not only because it is one of the more iconic weapons in the Call of Duty series, but because it is one of the best weapons in the game.
Call of Duty: Vanguard is out now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X.
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