For when you absolutely, positively need to kill everyone in your Call of Duty: Vanguard lobby, you need to get your hands on a light machine gun.
Lucky for you, Call of Duty has a collection of light machine guns that are perfect for shredding cover, enemy killstreaks, and even the players themselves. The finest example of this is the MG42, a godless killing machine that is easy – with our guide to the best MG42 Vanguard class at least – to keep on target for all 125 rounds in the magazine. The MG42 (shortened from the German Maschinengewehr 42, literally Machine Gun 42) is great for players that want to hold areas and take things a little slower.
If you’re always pushing objectives, you might want to try out something like our best MP40 Vanguard class or our best STG44 Vanguard class, but use this right and you can lock down entire areas of the map, or lock down a patrol area of hardpoint in a hail of brutal bullets.
So, if your Vanguard matches could do with a little bit more carnage, why not try this MG42 build, which will let you absolutely shred online.
Best MG42 Vanguard class
- Muzzle: F8 Stabilizer
- Barrel: Krausnick 450MM B42MG
- Optic: M38/Slate 2.5x Custom
- Stock: VDD 64M
- Underbarrel: Heavy Foregrip
- Magazine: 13mm Anti-Material 125 round drums
- Rear Grip: Stippled Grip
- Proficiency: Frenzy
- Kit: Fully Loaded
We set the MG42 up like this: we’re basically trading off aim-down sight speed and hip-fire accuracy to give you stellar recoil control, damage, and range. You can engage with this at any range, really – the only key thing is to have your gun up as you push into buildings or roll around corners.
Lots of these attachments are unlocked later on, so this is more of long term investment. If you want to get started early – the MG42 has 70 levels, so you could be at it a while – the most important parts are the Krausnick 450mm B42MG which improves your bullet velocity, range, accuracy, and controllability, although it hits your fire rate, hip-fire accuracy and aim walking movement speed. You’ll also want the VDD64M Stock which gives you tons of aiming stability, recoil control, accuracy and flinch resistance. All you have to do is give up some movement speed and aim down sight speed.
Finally, you’ll want the 13MM Anti-Material 125 Round Drums. This adds damage, penetration, velocity, and range. It’ll make your recoil a little more unmanageable, but the rest of the build helps address that.
Elsewhere, the build features little bonuses to usability for the gun, although the Frenzy proficiency is nice as it’ll start your health regen immediately after getting a kill. Fully Loaded also makes sure you have plenty of ammo, bumping you up from two to four spare mags.
Crucially, you’ll struggle here to shoot from the hip or any of the quick movements that usually typify a fast-paced Call of Duty match. However, once you’ve got into the flow with the MG42, you’ll easily be able to overpower enemies with sheer weight of firepower. 125 round drums mean you’re often carrying more bullets than anyone you might run into.
It’s going to be a little while before we can enjoy Vanguard ranked, but this is going to be solid for objective-based modes, so get your practice in early if you want to dominate.
