How Call Of Duty: Vanguard's Gunsmith Weapon Customization Works
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Firearms are an obvious emphasis in any first-person shooter, and Call of Duty: Vanguard boasts an impressive weapon customization system called the Gunsmith. This exciting feature is greatly evolved from its previous iteration found in 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. With some weapons featuring up to ten different attachments, and each type of attachment featuring multiple different options, players are able to tailor-make their weapon loadout to fit their personal needs. Shown off during Vanguard's recent alpha test run, the Gunsmith adds a ton of customization to the series' newest installment.
Call of Duty players often find one particular weapon that works for them, and Vanguard's recent alpha test run proves that remaining loyal to one gun pays off in the Gunsmith. Using a gun in-game levels up that particular firearm, and leveling up a weapon unlocks new attachments to equip. These attachments come in several different categories, with each category serving to improve a different aspect of the gun's performance. By mixing and matching different attachments players can wildly alter a gun's performance, but negative attributes to each attachment ensures that the game remains balanced for all players.
To augment a weapon towards a player's preferences and strategies, they should be aware of each attachment category's benefits. Muzzle attachments can reduce recoil or silence the weapon. Underbarrel attachments consist of grips, which increase stability, or bayonets which increase melee damage. Barrel attachments improve recoil or range, while magazines can improve the number of rounds held before a reload. Different ammo types can drastically affect a weapon's performance, such as increasing damage or penetration of destructible environments. Optic attachments consist of sights or scopes for increased accuracy, and rear grips affect recoil and the speed of aiming down sights. Stocks can affect accuracy or movement speed.
Alongside the long list of weapon attachment categories available in Call of Duty: Vanguard's alpha test, each weapon can also hold two Mini-Perks which have a passive affect on the player and their weapon. The game's first Mini-Perk category is Proficiency, which directly affects the performance of a weapon in a unique way. These powerful perks include Pressure, which allows for faster reloads when injured, and Vital, which increases the area where he wielder can shoot to score a headshot. The second Mini-Perk is Kit, which buffs the player while they're holding the associated weapon. These Mini-Perks can change melee speed, melee range, available ammo at the start of a match, equipment reload time and more.
By overhauling the Gunsmith system, Call of Duty: Vanguard has introduced an abundance of new customization options to the first-person shooter series. Each weapon has multiple attachment slots, meaning players can tweak every quality to suit their unique needs to help them survive Vanguard's combat and reach a killstreak. Some weapons can hold up to ten attachments, so every player's version of that same gun is likely to perform slightly differently. With Mini-Perks further changing how gamers perform, Call of Duty: Vanguard makes for a deeply personal World War II simulation.
Call of Duty: Vanguard will release on November 5, 2021 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.