Embarking on the Call of Duty: Vanguard campaign is an experience filled with explosive action, gripping storytelling, and memorable characters. Whether you're a seasoned Call of Duty veteran or new to the franchise, this guide will help you navigate the chaos of World War II and emerge victorious. So, are you ready to rewrite history and become a true Vanguard? Let's dive in!
How to Play Call of Duty: Vanguard Campaign: A Step-by-Step Guide
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| How To Play Vanguard Campaign |
Step 1: Getting Started – Your First Dive into WWII
Alright, soldier, before we jump into the thick of it, let's make sure you're properly equipped. Have you installed the game and all necessary updates? This is crucial for a smooth experience. Sometimes, the campaign mode might appear locked if the multiplayer or Zombies modes downloaded first. Don't worry, it's an easy fix! Just hover over the "Campaign" mode on the title screen and look for a "Start Install" prompt. Press the indicated button (Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox, or follow the PC prompt) to initiate the campaign download.
Once that's sorted, it's time to make your initial choices:
Difficulty Setting: Vanguard offers four difficulty levels:
Recruit: Perfect for newcomers or those who just want to enjoy the story without much challenge.
Regular: A balanced experience that offers a fair challenge.
Hardened: For players seeking a more intense and tactical firefight.
Veteran: The ultimate challenge, where enemies are deadly and mistakes are heavily punished. Choose wisely – you can always adjust this later if needed, but starting on a comfortable setting is recommended.
Audio and Visuals: Take a moment to adjust your settings. Ensure your audio is clear, and your brightness and contrast are calibrated to your liking. These small tweaks can significantly enhance your immersion.
Step 2: Understanding the Campaign Structure and Story
The Vanguard campaign is a linear, cinematic experience that doesn't feature branching paths or collectibles (unlike some previous Call of Duty titles). This means you can focus entirely on the narrative and the action.
Sub-heading: The Narrative Thread
You'll be introduced to Task Force One, a diverse group of elite soldiers from different nations, brought together to combat a shadowy Nazi project known as "Project Phoenix" in the waning days of World War II. The campaign weaves together the backstories of these individuals – Arthur Kingsley, Polina Petrova, Wade Jackson, and Lucas Riggs – showing how they became the heroes they are. The story jumps between different theaters of war, from the deserts of North Africa to the frozen battlegrounds of Stalingrad, providing a rich and varied backdrop for the action.
Sub-heading: Missions and Pacing
The campaign consists of nine distinct missions:
Tip: Stop when you find something useful.
Phoenix
Operation Tonga
Stalingrad
The Battle of Midway
Numa Numa Trail
Lady Nightingale
The Rats of Tobruk
The Battle of El Alamein
The Fourth Reich
Each mission introduces new gameplay mechanics or showcases the unique abilities of the character you're playing as. The pacing is generally fast, with intense firefights interspersed with dramatic cutscenes that push the story forward.
Step 3: Mastering the Gameplay Mechanics
While Call of Duty is known for its run-and-gun action, mastering a few key mechanics will make your Vanguard campaign experience much more rewarding.
Sub-heading: Movement and Cover
Tactical Sprint: Use your tactical sprint to quickly move between cover or rush objectives. Remember, it has a limited duration before reverting to a regular sprint.
Sliding: Sliding into cover or through tight spaces can be a lifesaver. Practice this move to avoid incoming fire and reposition quickly.
Mounting: Press the designated button (usually aiming down sights near cover) to mount your weapon. This significantly reduces recoil and improves accuracy, making you a deadly force in static engagements.
Peeking: When mounted, you can often peek over or around cover to get a clear shot while minimizing your exposure.
Sub-heading: Combat Essentials
Aim Down Sights (ADS): Always aim down your sights for increased accuracy, especially at medium to long ranges.
Hip Firing: Useful in close-quarters combat or when you're overwhelmed, but significantly less accurate.
Grenades: Frag grenades and stun grenades are your best friends for clearing out entrenched enemies or gaining a tactical advantage. Don't forget to "cook" your frag grenades by holding the throw button for a moment before releasing, reducing the enemy's reaction time.
Melee Attacks: When enemies get too close, a quick melee attack can save your life.
Regenerating Health: Your health regenerates automatically when you're out of harm's way. Take cover when your screen turns red to avoid dying.
Sub-heading: Character Abilities (Operator Skills)
Each of the main characters you play as in the campaign has unique abilities that are integrated into the gameplay:
Arthur Kingsley (British Paratrooper): Often focuses on tactical advantages and leading the charge.
Polina Petrova (Russian Sniper): Excels at stealth and precision long-range engagements, with the ability to climb certain surfaces and wall-run for tactical positioning.
Wade Jackson (American Pilot): His sections often involve aerial combat, but on the ground, he might have abilities related to focusing on specific enemies.
Lucas Riggs (Australian Demolitions Expert): Naturally, his gameplay revolves around explosives and breaching.
Pay attention to the in-game prompts and tutorials for each character's specific skills. Utilizing these effectively is key to success.
Step 4: Tips for Success and Immersion
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To truly dominate the Vanguard campaign and soak in the experience, keep these tips in mind:
Sub-heading: Situational Awareness is Key
Tip: Read at your natural pace.
Listen for Audio Cues: Pay attention to enemy footsteps, dialogue, and grenade pings. Sound design is excellent in Call of Duty and provides vital information.
Check Your Corners: Always clear rooms and corridors thoroughly. Enemies can often be lurking in unexpected places.
Utilize the Mini-map: Keep an eye on your mini-map for enemy positions (marked in red) and objective markers.
Sub-heading: Weapon Proficiency
Experiment with Weapons: Don't stick to just one weapon. The campaign provides a variety of firearms, each with its own feel and effectiveness. Try out different assault rifles, SMGs, shotguns, and sniper rifles to find what suits your playstyle in different situations.
Conserve Ammo (on higher difficulties): While ammo is generally plentiful, on Hardened or Veteran, you might find yourself running low. Aim for headshots to conserve ammo and take down enemies more quickly.
Sub-heading: Pace Yourself
Don't Rush Every Encounter: Sometimes, taking a moment to assess the situation, plan your approach, and eliminate enemies methodically is more effective than charging in.
Utilize Cover Effectively: Cover isn't just for hiding; it's for strategic repositioning and gaining an advantage.
Step 5: After the Campaign - What's Next?
Congratulations, soldier, you've completed the Call of Duty: Vanguard campaign! But the journey doesn't have to end there.
Sub-heading: Replaying Missions and Exploring Difficulties
Replayability: You can revisit any mission at any time from the campaign menu. This is great for trying out different tactics, finding any hidden Easter eggs (though true "collectibles" aren't a thing in this campaign), or simply reliving your favorite moments.
Challenge Yourself: If you played on an easier difficulty, consider replaying the campaign on Hardened or Veteran for a true test of your skills. The increased challenge will force you to refine your tactics and aim.
Sub-heading: Achievements and Trophies
For completionists, the campaign offers a variety of achievements or trophies to unlock. These often involve specific actions during missions, completing the campaign on certain difficulties, or achieving certain combat feats. Check your platform's achievement list for details.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to improve aim in Vanguard campaign?
To improve your aim, focus on controller sensitivity settings (find a comfortable balance where you can turn quickly but also make precise adjustments), utilize Aim Down Sights (ADS) for most engagements, practice burst firing for better recoil control, and remember to mount your weapon on cover for maximum stability.
Tip: Review key points when done.
How to use perks in Vanguard campaign?
Unlike multiplayer or Zombies, the Vanguard campaign generally does not feature customizable perks that you equip. Character-specific abilities are integrated directly into the gameplay as part of their unique skill sets, which are activated contextually during missions.
How to use killstreaks in Vanguard campaign?
Similar to perks, traditional multiplayer killstreaks are not a feature in the campaign. Any in-mission support or special abilities (like calling in air support or artillery) are scripted events or character-specific abilities triggered by reaching certain points in the mission, not by earning a killstreak.
How to change difficulty in Vanguard campaign?
You can change the difficulty setting from the main campaign menu before starting a new game or replaying a mission. Look for the difficulty option on the mission select screen.
How to skip cutscenes in Vanguard campaign?
Typically, you can press and hold a specific button (often the "Options" button on PlayStation, "Menu" button on Xbox, or "Esc" on PC) during a cutscene to skip it. A prompt usually appears on-screen when skipping is possible.
Tip: Stop when confused — clarity comes with patience.
How to find collectibles in Vanguard campaign?
Call of Duty: Vanguard's campaign does not feature traditional collectibles or intel. The focus is entirely on the linear narrative. Any small Easter eggs or hidden details are purely for fun and don't contribute to a collectible count.
How to replay missions in Vanguard campaign?
After completing the introductory mission, you can access the mission select screen from the main campaign menu. From there, you can choose any previously completed mission to replay.
How to deal with snipers in Vanguard campaign?
Against snipers, utilize cover effectively, use tactical sprint to close the distance quickly, or flank their position. If playing as Polina, leverage her unique mobility to find an advantageous sniping position of your own.
How to survive on Veteran difficulty in Vanguard campaign?
On Veteran, patience and tactical thinking are paramount. Use cover constantly, prioritize dangerous enemies (like snipers and heavy gunners), conserve ammunition, make every shot count (aim for headshots!), and learn enemy spawn patterns to anticipate threats.
How to best utilize grenades in Vanguard campaign?
Grenades are excellent for flushing enemies out of cover, clearing rooms, and stunning groups of enemies before pushing forward. Remember to "cook" your frag grenades by holding the throw button for a moment before throwing to reduce the enemy's reaction time and ensure the grenade explodes on impact or very shortly after.
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