Call of Duty: Vanguard, developed by Sledgehammer Games, is a first-person shooter that immerses players in the harrowing and intense battles of World War II. Available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows, Vanguard brings a cinematic campaign, thrilling multiplayer, and a chilling Zombies mode to the COD universe. It is the eighteenth game in the franchise and a critical addition to the COD BO7 legacy. Announced on August 19th, 2021, and released on November 5th, 2021, Vanguard later expanded to Steam on March 8th, 2023.
Campaign Mode: Reliving History Through Vanguard
The campaign in Call of Duty: Vanguard offers an emotional and character-driven narrative, depicting pivotal battles across multiple theaters of war. Players are immersed in the stories of soldiers who changed the course of history, experiencing the personal sacrifices and heroism that defined World War II.
Non-Linear Storytelling
Vanguard’s campaign is presented in a non-chronological order, providing a unique narrative style that gradually reveals each character’s role in the larger war effort. Players step into the shoes of multiple protagonists across different fronts, from the sands of North Africa to the icy streets of Stalingrad and the skies above the Pacific.
Key Campaign Missions
- Tobruk, Libya (August 1941): Private Lucas Riggs joins the Rats of Tobruk garrison, facing the Royal Italian Army and the Africa Korps. Missions include ambushes, supply recovery, and critical intelligence gathering.
- Battle of El Alamein (1942): Riggs and Desmond “Des” Wilmot defy orders to retake a strategic hill, calling in bomber support at great personal cost.
- Midway & Bougainville (1942–1943): Lieutenant Wade Jackson navigates naval air battles and survives a crash, fighting alongside the 93rd Infantry Division to reclaim Bougainville from Japanese forces.
- Stalingrad (1942–1943): Red Army medic Polina Petrova, aka “Lady Nightingale,” witnesses devastation at the hands of the Luftwaffe and seeks revenge on Wehrmacht commanders, highlighting the human cost of war.
- Normandy (June 1944): Sergeant Arthur Kingsley of the British Paratroopers plays a critical role in Operation Tonga, destroying enemy batteries and bridges to support the Allied invasion.
Formation of Task Force Vanguard
Kingsley, Petrova, Jackson, Riggs, and others are recruited by Captain Carver Butcher to form the first special operations task force, Vanguard, taking on high-risk missions including train hijackings in Hamburg, Germany, and infiltration of Kriegsmarine submarines. Their ultimate goal: uncover intelligence on Project Phoenix, a secret Nazi operation.
Characters in Call of Duty: Vanguard
Here’s a detailed overview of the key characters across factions and game modes:
| Faction/Group | Characters |
|---|---|
| United States Navy | Wade Jackson · Mateo Hernandez · Sam Davis · John Miller |
| United States Army | James “Booker” Washington · Lewis Howard · Marvin Pelfrey · Ray Kibble · Pernell Lenny · Thompson |
| British Army | Arthur Kingsley · Henry Baker · Richard Webb · Thomas Jones · Phillip Evans · Lucas Riggs · Desmond “Des” Wilmot · Henry Hamms · Robert Jacobs · “Bluey” Smith · Unnamed British Paratrooper |
| Red Army | Polina Petrova · Misha Petrov |
| Task Force Vanguard | Arthur Kingsley · Polina Petrova · Richard Webb · Wade Jackson · Lucas Riggs · Milos Novak |
| Nazi Germany | Hermann Freisinger · Jannick Richter · Leo Steiner |
| Civilians | Boris Petrov |
| Zombies Mode | Die Wahrheit: Wolfram Von List · Dark Aether: Kortifex, Saraxis, Inviktor, Norticus, Bellekar, Vercanna, Zaballa, The Decimator · Projekt Endstation: Ulrich Vogel, Oskar Strauss · Other: Gabriel Krafft, Alistair Rhodes |
| Multiplayer / Operators | Carver Butcher · Krampus · Kong · Godzilla |
| Operators by Season | Hellhounds: Wade Jackson, Daniel Yatsu, Halima Zambardi · Sentinel: Arthur Kingsley, Constanze Muller, Padmavati Balan · Barbarian: Lucas Riggs, Roland Zeimet, Beatrice Mercier · Shadow: Polina Petrova, Shigenori Ota, Solange Hardewijk · Trident: Francis “Kai” Lanakila, Isabella Reyes, Lewis Howard · Yeti: Anna Drake, Thomas Bolt, Gustavo dos Santos · Executioners: Snoop Dogg · Harpy: Mateo Hernandez, Florence Carter, Kim Tae Young · Immortal: Carver Butcher, Callum Hendry, Ikenna Olowe · Terminators: T-800, T-1000 · Tyrants: Raul Menendez, Khaled Al-Asad, He “Seraph” Zhen-Zhen, Gabriel T. Rorke |
Zombies Mode: Survive the Dark Aether
Vanguard Zombies, developed by Treyarch Studios, provides a tense, survival-based experience where players face waves of undead in a twisted Dark Aether storyline. The mode is a prequel to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, introducing a new generation of challenges.
Gameplay Features
- Maps & Objectives: Launching with Der Anfang, players navigate a central hub and multiple zones with Portal Objectives. Later maps include Terra Maledicta and a round-based Shi No Numa.
- Perk-a-Colas & Artifacts: Classic perks return as Demonic Fountains, and Field Upgrades are replaced by Artifacts linked to Dark Aether Entities for strategic combat boosts.
- Story Quests: Seasonal updates added new side quests and Story Quests, including boss fights, unique challenges, and narrative-driven objectives.
- New Entities: Vercanna introduces a Healing Aura Field Upgrade, while The Archon map features climactic encounters and complex mission objectives.
Zombies mode in Vanguard solidifies its connection to the larger COD BO7 universe, expanding both lore and gameplay mechanics.
Multiplayer and COD BO7 Connections
Call of Duty: Vanguard’s multiplayer combines traditional and modern FPS mechanics. Players can enjoy:
- Classic modes like Team Deathmatch and Domination.
- Seasonal operators and themed events from COD BO7.
- Dynamic maps reflecting real-world WWII locations, offering strategic depth for competitive play.
The integration of COD BO7 elements, including operator skins, seasonal weapons, and progression systems, ensures that Vanguard feels both nostalgic and modern, appealing to longtime fans and new players alike.
Call of Duty: Vanguard is more than a WWII shooter—it is a comprehensive gaming experience blending cinematic storytelling, diverse multiplayer, and terrifying Zombies encounters. Whether reliving historical battles in the campaign, coordinating with friends to survive the Dark Aether, or competing online in multiplayer arenas, Vanguard provides endless opportunities for tactical gameplay, all while continuing the legacy of COD BO7.
For players looking to jump straight into intense online battles, the experience doesn’t stop in Vanguard’s own multiplayer. Many dedicated gamers also explore ways to buy COD BO7 lobby to practice their skills, test new strategies, or enjoy competitive matches with friends in a controlled environment. This option provides another layer of excitement, keeping the spirit of Call of Duty alive and allowing fans to fully engage with the COD BO7 universe while mastering the tactics that make Vanguard such a thrilling experience.
