TheCall of Duty: Warzoneexperience is about to change drastically with the integration ofVanguardand the new Caldera map. Ahead of the integration, you’ll want to level up as many weapons as you can inVanguardso you’re prepared as soon as Caldera becomes available. Reaching max level with a weapon is often ideal inWarzone, as it ensures you’ll have the best attachments possible, increasing your odds of winning a gunfight.

Since a weapon’s viability isn’t always one-to-one across Call of Duty games, it’s impossible to predict whichVanguardguns will for sure become meta inWarzone. The gameplay inWarzoneis drastically different than inVanguard, but we can still accurately predict which weapons will likely come out on top.

InWarzone, you want a weapon with lots of ammo, low recoil, and high damage per mag, and thankfully, there are plenty ofVanguardfirearms that fit that description. It’s possible that weapons will be reworked for the integration, but assuming most of the stats remain the same, there are several guns that come out on top.

These are the 10 best weapons you should prioritize leveling up ahead of theVanguardintegration.

Kicking off our list is the AS44, an assault rifle that is known for its ease of use. It has low recoil and is easy to control, making it a top choice for many players, especially newcomers. One thing to note is that you should use the 45 round mags with this weapon to preserve its accuracy. If you use the 60 round magazine, you’ll have more ammo, but also higher recoil, so it’s a tossup. Generally, we advise sticking with attachments that assist with recoil stabilization so you’re able to ensure you’ll always hit your shots. It also has a tremendously fast rate of fire at over 900 RPM. This will work wonders at mid- to long range.

The Automaton is a top choice due to its high magazine count of 75. This, combined with its relative ease of use makes it ideal for long-range engagements — bolstered by its high fire rate of 833. A high rate of fire is ideal, as it means you’ll be able to connect with your shots faster while causing more flinch to your opponent. Often, a high rate of fire also means more recoil, but in this case, the Automaton is an exception, as it’s still easy to control.

Volkssturmgewehr

The great thing about the Volkssturmgewehr (Volk) is that it feels much like an SMG with assault rifle properties. This makes it the perfect choice for a sniper support weapon, which will cover your bases at close- to mid-range. Its low recoil means you can whip this out to take on enemies at around 20 meters or so, while your sniper is best used for firefights beyond that. InWarzone, versatility is often king, so the Volk will definitely be at the top of the list.

When using an SMG, one of the most important factors is a high rate of fire. Recoil control and accuracy don’t matter as much since SMGs are primarily used up close, which is where the M1928 excels. Its fire rate of 800 is competitive and with its 100 round mag, you’ll probably feel like a superhero when using it. Because of the M1928’s high fire rate, it does have some kick to it, so if you’re new toWarzone, it might be best to reserve your engagements to within 10 meters or so.

We’ve seen how well theCold Warversion of thePPSh-41performs and it’s no different inVanguard. This PPSh has a high fire rate of around 950, making it a forgiving SMG when used up close. The other shining aspect is its large 71-round drum, which gives you plenty of room to spray and take down multiple enemies before having to reload. The main thing to be aware of is that it can be tougher to control at mid-range, so if you’re planning on building it that way, don’t forget to use recoil stabilizing attachments along with an optic.

Although the Type 100 might not seem great on paper, a handful of attachments bring it to the top of the list. InVanguard, it has the capability to take down enemies in just a couple of shots, so long as you use the .30 Russian Short 30-Round Mags. Sure, this will put you at a disadvantage due to the low ammo count, but assuming the weapon performs similarly inVanguard, its fast time to kill (TTK) might be worth it. Ultimately, this will be a weapon that might be overpowered at first and will receive a nerf soon after its implementation.

LMGs are often tough to recommend due to their slow reload times and sluggish mobility, but the MG42 might make the cut due to its fire rate. In fact, this weapon has one of the highest fire rates in the game at around 1034 RPM, making it absolutely bonkers in practice. It does kick back a noticeable amount, but if you simply aim downwards, you’ll be able to control it with relative ease. You can equip it with a large 125-round mag, which is always nice, so it has a lot going for it. At the end of the day, it’s unclear what its TTKs will look like, but if they’re anything like the MG82 fromWarzone, it’ll likely be worth using.

Snipers are in an odd spot because it’s hard to get much better than the Kar98k and the Swiss K31 fromWarzone. Out of the threeVanguardsnipers, our pick is the Type 99, as it has the fastest aim down sights (ADS) speed, which is a key factor. It’s unclear how this weapon will stack up against the others, but at this point, we feel comfortable at least recommending the Type 99. Hopefully, it has some new feature that makes it viable, because otherwise, there wouldn’t be much of a reason to venture past the Kar98k and the Swiss.

The thing about the SVT-40 is that it can take out an enemy in one hit inVanguard. Of course, that likely won’t be the case inWarzone, but we imagine it’ll take around two or three shots to eliminate a player, which could make it a meta weapon. It maxes out at 15 rounds, and while this might put you at a disadvantage, you’ll deal enough damage to make it worth using. Time will tell how things will shake out, but we anticipate the SVT being a top-tier choice when the integration happens.

Machine Pistol

While it’s easy to ignore the secondary weapons inVanguard, doing so would be a mistake. Specifically, the akimbo version of the Machine Pistols could do exceptionally well thanks to their large magazine size and ease of use. Of course, you’ll need to be within eight meters or so for them to be viable, but they could still come in handy depending on the situation. This will work well, especially if you plan on running a Ghost loadout, at least to hold you over until you can grab a second primary weapon or an additional loadout.

Keep in mind, these are simply educated predictions that are based on what we know aboutWarzoneand how these weapons perform inVanguard. It’s possible many of their stats and properties will change when they’re added toWarzone, so it’s important to try a variety of weapons to see what works.