If you’re jumping into this year’s Call of Duty: Vanguard, then chances are you’re starting to get to grips with Sledgehammer Games’ multiplayer maps. While many of them are terrific, there are quite a few duds. Fortunately, thanks to the game’s silky smooth gameplay, you can still have a blast, even on the maps that are slightly below standard. Still, it’s handy knowing which ones are the lemons, right?
It’s worth noting that this list will focus on the launch content of Call of Duty: Vanguard, as rest assured that the 16 multiplayer maps included at release will be expanded on further with future updates. Additionally, with the title’s new Combat Pacing system, it’s worth mentioning that your experience with each map may vary slightly, as increasing and decreasing the amount of players does change the dynamic of each map quite significantly.
With all that in mind, then, we thought that now would be a good time to rank all 16 of the multiplayer maps in Call of Duty: Vanguard. So, without further ado, let’s get into it, shall we?
16. Sub Pens
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Sub Pens? More like sub-par, amirite? Seriously, though, Sup Pens sucks so bad. While it shares the same name with another World at War map, it’s actually a completely different layout. Instead, this one’s set on a U-boat base off the coast of France.
Not only are some of the spawn-points a bit borked, but you’ll often get killed by enemies and half-the-time not even know where the heck the gunfire came from. In other words, there are quite a few nooks and crannies for campers, which doesn’t bode well for all you run-and-gunners out there.
Further still, flashbangs and grenades are fairly ineffective thanks to the map’s unusual design, and there’s simply not much effective cover to hide behind. Overall, Sub Pens suits longer-range over CQC, and it’s just a bit of a bummer when it comes up in the rotation.
15. Red Star
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Set in the wintry, war-torn city of Stalingrad, Red Star is a medium-sized map that favors snipers as there are quite a few nests hidden high up that oversee large sections of the battlefield. The central water fountain is the main congestion point, and sees a lot of CQC action.
Ultimately, this one’s a bit of a dud map. There are just a few too many places to hide for campers, and it’s just a bit forgettable, overall. Sorry, Red Star, you’re one of the weakest links — goodbye. Still, at least you’re not as bad as Sub Pens…
14. Dome
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
A remake of World at War’s fan-favorite map – and not to be confused with Modern Warfare 3’s one of the same name – Dome is a super small-sized map based in the German Reichstag building that’s reminiscent of Shipment’s tight confines. However, it’s simply nowhere near as great as Shipment because the spawn points in Dome are absolutely atrocious! Seriously, the spawn-killing is wild on this one.
Honestly, I really wanted to like this map more, but the spawn-points ruin it for me. That all being said, it can be bloody chaotic, I’ll give it that. And when you’re not on the receiving end of the spawn-killing, it can still be a bit of an anarchic thrill.
13. Tuscan
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Set atop the picturesque mountains of Tuscany, this medium-sized map boasts some verticality, a few camping spots, and a couple of buildings that can turn into useful power positions if you can hold them down with your team.
With a crypt, bell tower, command center and a church, there’re quite a few interior areas that emphasise closer-range combat. While Tuscan features some gorgeous architecture, it’s not a very memorable map, overall. Not the worst by any stretch, but not that great, either.
12. Gavutu
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
If you’re a sniper, then Gavutu may be the map for you. Indeed, with its long winding pathways and its vast sandy beach, there’re quite a few spots for long-range encounters on this one. Meanwhile, that aforementioned shoreline can be used as an effective flanking opportunity, as long as you try and stay hidden, of course.
Additionally, the central ship is an effective power position to hold down, but it can get fairly chaotic if you’re not careful.
Situated near a ship refuelling station on an island in the Pacific, and based on a real-life conflict, this map has a pretty cool tropical vibe. Objective-based modes can get fairly hectic, and if you’re running-and-gunning, you’ll probably get demolished by a lot of the sniper crossfire.
Top tip: Avoid the central pathway if you want to survive longer than 30 seconds. You’ve been warned!
11. Desert Siege
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Taking place near the source of the Suez Canal in Libya, Desert Siege is surprisingly the only large-sized map in Vanguard. Boasting a wide open space with nice visibility, and some battered vehicles littering the dune that can grant players a wee amount of cover in a bind, this is an alright map that can still yield a few thrills here and there.
With a bevy of small buildings to hunker down in, and a few spots to camp and monitor, this isn’t one of Vanguard’s best offerings, but instead a fairly middling one, overall. Next!
10. Eagle’s Nest
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Set in one of Hitler’s real-life bases atop the German Kehlstein Mountain, this small three-lane map possesses a few long corridors that feature some decent sightlines for long-range conflicts. There are a few destructible doors and tight cubby holes, too, so close-quarters combat can get the job done quite nicely on this map.
The central building is the major convergence point, but there are a couple of flanking routes that can be exploited if you want to get the jump on your foes. While Eagle’s Nest is an OK map, there’s nothing super special about this one. Not bad, but not exactly great, either.
9. Das Haus
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
A nazi training base situated in Germany, Das Haus is an incredibly small map that is modelled on a mock-up of the inner layout of the American White House. It obviously emphasises interior combat, which can be occasionally fun and frenetic. Plus, there are some destructible walls that helps change things up.
However, the lack of verticality, some poorly placed spawn-points, a limited number of flanking opportunities, and just the sheer tightness of the map gives Das Haus a distinct one note vibe. It almost feels like the designers were trying to recreate the magic of other smaller and popular maps like Killhouse, Shipment and Nuketown, but Das Haus unfortunately fails on most fronts compared to those aforementioned classics.
That all being said, if you’ve got a shotgun, this is the map for you. Seriously, shotguns are super OP in Das Haus.
8. Bocage
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Situated in a villa in Northern France, Bocage is medium-sized map that’s a textbook three-lane offering. With lots of flanking opportunities available, destroyable wooden walls, and a bunch of stables in the center that act as the main convergence points, this is a solid map that’s also quite pretty to look at. Oh, and it’s even based on a real-life conflict of the same name, too.
Balancing close-quarters, mid-range and long-range combat, there’s a decent variety of options available to players, including some stalled tanks for cover and a wee bit of verticality to help all you snipers out there to set up shop and pick off unsuspecting passers-by. Not too shabby, overall!
7. Decoy
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Reminiscent of the original Black Ops’ iconic Nuketown map, Decoy is a medium-sized map that’s essentially a mock-up of a fake village. Used by Special Forces as a training ground, this map boasts destroyable wooden walls that can quickly change the dynamics and sightlines for both teams.
Unfortunately, while the map is a lot of fun, there are quite a few instances of poor spawn placements which can occasionally lead to some frustrating spawn killing. Additionally, there’re a few cubby holes for snipers to sneakily lay waste as well. Overall, it’s a pretty good map that would really benefit from a patch to improve the spawn-points.
6. Oasis
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Not the English indie band, silly, but a sun-kissed Libyan watering hole, instead. This medium-sized map boasts destructible brick walls, gorgeous ocean vistas and a bunch of rusty, abandoned tanks. Amongst the rubble, you’ll also make out a crash-landed heavy bomber plane over in the distance.
In the center of the map is the titular canyon spring which acts as the main convergence point, and this is where most of the engagements kick-off. If you can hold this power position, you can pretty much control the entirety of the map. While Oasis also boasts a handful of flanking opportunities for savvy soldiers to help get the jump on the competition, it’s the pretty view that’s really the icing on the cake. Time to work on our tans boys!
5. Hotel Royal
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Whisking players away to a more luxurious setting, Hotel Royal is another top-notch map which takes place in Paris, France. It’s a smallish three-lane map, and its backstory is that its set two months after a successful D-Day invasion. The backdrop is full of war imagery, flames and destruction topped off by the silhouette of the iconic Eiffel tower.
If you can remember Kowloon from the original Black Ops, this map is very reminiscent of it, as both blend interior and exterior combat encounters with lots of rooftop battles, too. If you manage to net an Attack Dogs killstreak on this map, though, you’ll likely nab a ton of kills as a lot of the area takes place in fairly tight spaces. In other words, Attack Dogs are pretty OP on this specific map, so take note!
4. Numa Numa
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Taking place in the burnt-out trenches of Bougainville Island in Papa New Guinea, Numa Numa is based on the real-life battle on the beachhead at Pica Forks. It’s a small map littered with derelict war machinery and desolated palm trees. The center of the map culminates in a set of big anti-air guns which can be a good power position to hold if possible. Plus, they can be used for cover in a pinch.
Not only is there a nice ebb and flow to objective-based modes thanks to the great design of the map, but there’s also some tight convergence points within the winding, subterranean furrows of the trenches that emphasises closer-range combat. Basically, this one’s a super fun map, and definitely one of the best offerings in this year’s multiplayer package.
3. Castle
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Originally from 2008’s World at War, Castle is an iconic map that takes place in an old fortress in Okinawa, Japan. It’s a fairly small map that boasts some good vantage points for sniper support. Moreover, all the pathways culminate in a central building that acts as the main chokepoint, and this is where the majority of the action goes down.
Set against a beautiful autumnal Japanese mountain range, the trees really pop with gorgeous orange and red hues which are calming to gawk at between the whizzing bullets and gunfire. Put simply, there’s a relaxing beauty to this map that juxtaposes nicely with the chaotic moment-to-moment mayhem of the back-and-forth conflict between the Axis and the Allies. This one’s a fun map!
2. Berlin
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Situated in the war-torn German capital, this large-sized urban map is inspired by the real-life Battle of Berlin that took place in 1945. Amongst the bombed-out urban ruins are a bunch of back alleys and flanking routes that can give daring players the upper hand, while a few enclosed areas offer players a myriad of power positions to help change the tide of the battle.
The Berlin map comes to a head near the center, where you’ll find a destroyed wall and a broken-down tank that acts as decent cover, and it’s a major chokepoint, too. Round things out with a derelict train yard and an abandoned warehouse, and you have a decent mix of interior and exterior combat areas that lend themselves well to short and mid-range encounters. Overall, Berlin’s a damn good time.
1. Demyansk
Ranking CoD Vanguard’s Multiplayer Maps from Worst to Best
Taking our top spot is Demyansk, a small-sized map with a church situated by a frozen lake in the frosty mountains of the Soviet Union. Divided in the center by an icy river, this map boasts a wide open space with excellent sightlines that lend themselves well to longer-range tit for tat combat.
With crumbling graves, pine trees and snowy rock formations that can be used as cover, as well as ample flanking opportunities, too, Demyansk is a terrifically designed map that hits a really sweet spot between long, medium and short-range encounters. In short, it always puts a smile on my face when I see this one pop up in the rotation.
But what say you, though? What do you think are the best and worst maps in Call of Duty: Vanguard? Hunker down in the usual place down below and let us know.
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