Here is a very lengthy and detailed guide on how to play Vanguard Zombies, designed for both newcomers and seasoned players.
Ready to face the undead horde? Let's dive in!
Welcome, soldier, to the Dark Aether! If you're new to the world of Zombies in Call of Duty: Vanguard, you're about to experience a fast-paced, objective-based take on the classic mode. Forget the traditional round-based maps you might be used to; Vanguard Zombies throws you right into the action with a hub-and-spoke design and a fresh set of mechanics. Don't worry, we're here to guide you through every step of surviving and thriving.
Step 1: Get Familiar with the Hub and Objectives
The first thing you'll notice in Vanguard Zombies is that you don't just start in one area and open doors. You begin in a central hub, known as the Fountain Square in the map Der Anfang. From this hub, you'll see several portals, each leading to a different objective. Your game progresses not by completing rounds, but by completing these objectives.
Understanding the Objective Types
There are three main types of objectives you'll encounter:
Blitz: This is your classic "survive the waves" mode. You'll be transported to an area and tasked with simply staying alive against a relentless horde of zombies for a set amount of time. It's a pure test of your skills and loadout.
Harvest: In this objective, zombies will drop "Runestones" when they are killed. You must collect these Runestones and deposit them into a "Sin-Eater Obelisk" to fill it up. After filling it, the obelisk will move to a new location. You need to fill it multiple times to complete the objective. Think of it as a mobile zombie-slaying treasure hunt.
Transmit: This one is a bit different. You'll need to follow a floating zombie head around the map. Staying close to it fills a meter on your screen. If you stray too far, you'll start taking damage. Stick with it, and once the meter is full, you're good to go. It's a high-stakes escort mission.
Completing these objectives is the key to progressing, earning resources, and unlocking new areas in the hub.
Step 2: Master Your Resources and Upgrades
In Vanguard Zombies, your in-game currency is called Essence, and it's essential for everything from buying doors to upgrading your gear. You earn Essence by killing zombies and completing objectives.
The Altar of Covenants
This is a game-changing feature. In the hub area, you'll find the Altar of Covenants. After completing an objective, you'll earn a Sacrificial Heart. You can spend these hearts at the Altar to acquire powerful, passive abilities called Covenants.
Covenants are randomized, so you'll never know exactly what you'll get. This adds a fun layer of unpredictability to each run.
Covenants have different rarities: Rare, Epic, and Legendary. The longer you play, the higher the chance of seeing more powerful, higher-rarity Covenants appear.
You can equip up to three Covenants at a time. Mix and match to create a build that suits your playstyle!
For example, you could combine Brain Rot (chance to turn a zombie) with Cull the Weak (more damage to slowed enemies) for a devastating combo.
Perk Fountains
Forget buying perks in a specific order. In Vanguard Zombies, there are five perk fountains scattered throughout the hub map:
Fiendish Fortitude (Juggernog): Increases your health. This is a top priority!
Aethereal Haste (Stamin-Up): Boosts your movement speed.
Diabolical Damage (Deadshot Daiquiri): Increases critical damage.
Venomous Vigor (Quick Revive): Boosts your health regeneration speed.
Demonic Frenzy (Speed Cola): Boosts your reload speed.
The base version of each perk is free! However, you'll need to spend Essence to upgrade them to higher tiers (Tier 2, 3, and 4). Upgrading a perk significantly enhances its effects. For instance, a Tier 4 Fiendish Fortitude will give you a massive health boost.
The Pack-a-Punch Machine
Of course, no Zombies experience is complete without the Pack-a-Punch machine. This is where you transform your regular weapons into super-powered zombie-shredding machines.
In some maps, you'll need to complete a ritual or find parts to activate the machine. Look for on-screen markers to guide you.
Once activated, you can upgrade your weapon up to three times. Each upgrade increases its damage and gives it a new look.
Tier 1 (Pack-a-Punch): Boosts damage and adds a unique camo.
Tier 2 (Double Pack-a-Punch): Further increases damage.
Tier 3 (Triple Pack-a-Punch): Maxes out the damage and gives the weapon a legendary orange rarity.
Step 3: Choose Your Loadout Wisely
Your starting loadout is crucial. You can choose a primary weapon, secondary weapon, and a field upgrade.
Best Weapon Loadouts
While personal preference plays a huge role, some weapons are consistently excellent for fighting the undead:
Shotguns: The Combat Shotgun is a powerhouse, especially in close quarters. It can clear a lane of zombies with ease.
LMGs: For sustained damage and large hordes, LMGs like the Whitley or the DP27 are fantastic.
Assault Rifles: The STG44 is a reliable all-rounder.
Special Mention: The Einhorn Revolving. This new weapon is a beast and often considered one of the best in Zombies.
Field Upgrades (Artifacts)
These are your special abilities, each tied to a Dark Aether entity. You can choose one before the match.
Energy Mine: A throwable explosive. Great for clearing hordes in a pinch.
Aether Shroud: Makes you invisible to zombies for a short duration. Perfect for getting out of a sticky situation or reviving a teammate.
Ring of Fire: Creates a fiery circle that boosts the damage of anyone inside it. Excellent for boss fights or holding down a chokepoint.
Frost Blast: Slows enemies caught in a frigid vortex. A great crowd-control tool, especially when paired with the Cull the Weak covenant.
Step 4: Know Your Enemies
You'll be facing more than just shambling undead. Vanguard Zombies has a variety of special enemies that require different tactics.
Boom Schreiers: These guys explode when they get close. Keep your distance and take them out from afar.
Sturmkriegers: Heavily armored zombies with a minigun. Aim for their weak points (usually a glowing spot) and use your field upgrade to take them down quickly.
Disciples: These enemies can buff other zombies and heal themselves. Focus them down as soon as they appear.
Step 5: How to Exfil (Extract)
Want to end your game and keep all your progress? You need to exfil.
Activate the Exfil Rune: In the hub area, a rune will appear that allows you to start the extraction process.
Kill the Required Zombies: Once activated, you'll have a set number of zombies to kill within a time limit. The number increases with each round.
Find the Portal: After you've eliminated all the required zombies, a portal will spawn on the map.
Enter the Portal: You'll have a limited time to reach and interact with the portal to successfully exfil. Don't waste a second!
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Pack-a-Punch in Vanguard Zombies?
To get the Pack-a-Punch machine working, you'll need to find and collect two machine parts. Look for the star icons on your mini-map that will lead you to them. Once you have both, return to the machine, activate the ritual, and defeat the zombies that spawn to complete the process.
How to upgrade weapons in Vanguard Zombies?
You can upgrade your weapons at the Pack-a-Punch machine up to three times. Each time you Pack-a-Punch, your weapon's damage increases. You can also upgrade your weapon's rarity by getting higher-tier weapons from the Mystery Box or as drops from boss zombies.
How to get perks in Vanguard Zombies?
Simply walk up to the perk fountain and interact with it to get the base tier for free. To upgrade a perk, spend Essence at the same fountain. Each upgrade tier costs more Essence but provides a significant boost to the perk's effect.
How to get covenants in Vanguard Zombies?
Complete objectives to earn Sacrificial Hearts. Take these hearts to the Altar of Covenants in the hub area and spend them to get a random covenant. The selection of covenants on offer changes after each objective.
How to get more Essence in Vanguard Zombies?
The primary way to earn Essence is by killing zombies. The higher the round (or objective tier), the more Essence you'll earn. Completing objectives also grants a large Essence bonus.
How to heal and regenerate health in Vanguard Zombies?
Your health automatically regenerates over time. You can increase your regeneration speed by acquiring and upgrading the Venomous Vigor perk.
How to revive a downed teammate in Vanguard Zombies?
Walk up to your downed teammate and hold the interact button to revive them. Having the Resurrectionist covenant will allow you to do this much faster.
How to get the Mystery Box in Vanguard Zombies?
The Mystery Box is a random weapon vending machine. It's marked by a question mark on your mini-map and can be found in a different location each time. Just walk up to it and pay the Essence to get a random weapon.
How to get more armor in Vanguard Zombies?
Armor plates can be found as drops from zombies and special enemies. You can also craft them at the crafting table in the hub area using Salvage, which is a resource dropped by zombies.
How to play solo in Vanguard Zombies?
You can start a solo match by selecting the Zombies mode from the main menu and choosing to play alone. The game will automatically adjust the difficulty and zombie health for a single player.
