Buffs for Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Ray Gun were promised shortly after it was added, and thankfully Treyarch did not take long to deliver the changes. While players were happy with the look of the Ray Gun and the animation when it fired, its damage output was laughable. Splash damage was extremely low, giving the gun a shockingly small blast radius, and it was noticeably weak beyond round 15. Given how strong the Ray Gun was in its previous appearance with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and the fact that regular Shotguns killing better than the iconic Ray Gun, the changes were necessary.

RELATED: Call of Duty Zombies Fan Remakes Five in Minecraft

Breaking Down The Ray Gun and Decimator Buffs

Fortunately, the Ray Gun buff is not disappointing in the slightest, as Treyarch has given the weapon’s stats a significant boost in both its regular and Pack-a-Punch forms. The default Ray Gun has had its base damage increased to 400, with its previous number being 300. Pack-A-Punch Tier 1 takes it from 600 to 900 damage, Tier 2 provides a massive jump from 1200 to 1800, and Tier 3 brings it from a 2400 damage output to an impressive 3600. With its Pack-A-Punch damage doubled, it should be a lot more powerful in the higher rounds, with players able to spot the difference instantly.

It is also worth noting that the Ray Gun’s buffs have gone beyond just damage. The weapon now has more splash damage, a higher ammo count, and ammo pickups that will drop from the undead. As for the Decimator Shield unlocked during Terra Maledicta’s main quest, its buff is useful but a lot more subtle. The default melee bash of the shield will now one-hit kill the undead through round 12. Its special ability remains unchanged, though, so it will be interesting to see if Treyarch responds to feedback that the blast charges up too slow.

Call of Duty Zombies fans that found Terra Maledicta to be too simple should be happy with the other change mentioned in the patch notes, as Zombie movement has been adjusted. For whatever reason, Zombies moved extremely slow on the new map, but the latest fix has restored their intended movement speed. Super Sprinters will also spawn on round 12 from now on, something that should make gameplay in the hub area more challenging sooner rather than later.

Clearly, the February 22 update has made some welcome changes to the flow of Terra Maledicta. While Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies has its issues, it is nice that Treyarch is continuing to improve it for those that enjoy it.

Call of Duty: Vanguard is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

MORE: Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies’ Terra Maledicta Easter Egg is a Bad Sign for The Future

Source: Sledgehammer Games