Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies Early Game Round Strategy: Guide

Call of Duty: Vanguard’s Zombies mode, developed by Treyarch, introduces a fresh take on the classic survival experience with the new objective-based Der Anfang and Terra Maledicta maps. While the core mechanics of zombies remain—waves of undead, Perk Sodas, Mystery Box spins, and Pack-a-Punch upgrades—the early rounds are critical for setting up a successful run. A poor start can lead to an early downfall, while a strong opening can pave the way for high-round dominance. This guide will walk you through essential strategies for the early game (Rounds 1-10), covering loadouts, objectives, economy management, and movement tactics.

1. Choosing the Right Loadout

Your loadout is the foundation of your early-game strategy. In Vanguard Zombies, you can customize your starting weapon, attachments, and Covenants (perk-like upgrades) even before dropping into the match.

Starting Weapon: Opt for a weapon with high damage output, manageable recoil, and good ammo efficiency. Recommended choices include:
- STG44: A versatile assault rifle with solid damage and accuracy.
- MP40: Excellent for mobility and close-quarters combat.
- Combat Shotgun: Devastating at close range, especially when upgraded. Avoid sniper rifles or pistols initially, as they lack the firepower needed for rapid kills in tight situations.
Attachments: Prioritize attachments that boost ammo capacity, damage range, and reload speed. A larger magazine helps avoid frequent reloads during swarms.
Covenants: Early covenants like Splatter Fest (zombie explosions on critical kills) or Blood Lust (melee kills grant health) can significantly improve your survivability. Choose covenants that complement your playstyle—aggressive players may prefer damage boosts, while defensive players might opt for healing or armor benefits.

2. Understanding the Objective System

Unlike traditional round-based zombies, Vanguard features objective-based gameplay from the start. You’ll be tasked with completing objectives like Harvest, Transmit, or Blitz across different portals. These objectives reward you with Essence (the in-game currency), Covenants, and other upgrades.

Prioritize Objectives: In the early rounds, focus on completing objectives quickly. They provide substantial Essence payouts, which are crucial for purchasing perks, weapon upgrades, and doors.
Harvest: Collect souls by killing zombies within a designated zone. Use equipment like grenades to gather souls efficiently.
Transmit: Escort a floating head while it moves through the map. Stick close to the objective to maximize progress.
Blitz: Defend a specific location against waves of zombies. Use barriers and choke points to control zombie movement.

Completing objectives not only accelerates your progression but also unlocks new areas and portals to further regions.

3. Economy Management: Essence and Spending

Wisely managing your Essence is key to surviving the early rounds. Wasting it on unnecessary purchases can hinder your progress later.

First Purchase: Perks: The first 2,500 Essence should typically go toward a Perk Soda. Juggernog (increased health) or Quick Revive (faster health regeneration and revival speed) are top priorities. If playing solo, Quick Revive is invaluable.
Weapon Upgrades: After securing at least one perk, consider upgrading your weapon at the Pack-a-Punch machine. The initial upgrade costs 5,000 Essence and significantly boosts damage. Alternatively, if your starting weapon is underperforming, invest in a wall buy like the STG44 or MP40.
Avoid Early Mystery Box Spins: The Mystery Box costs 950 Essence per spin and offers random weapons. In the early rounds, it’s a gamble—you might get a powerful wonder weapon or a useless pistol. Instead, rely on your loadout or wall buys until you have excess Essence.
Door Purchases: Only open doors that lead to objectives or essential areas. Don’t waste Essence on unnecessary paths.

4. Movement and Positioning

Zombies in Vanguard are fast and aggressive, especially in higher rounds. Mastering movement and positioning early on will help you avoid getting trapped.

Keep Moving: Never stay in one spot for too long. Circle around groups of zombies rather than backing yourself into a corner.
Use Verticality: Maps like Der Anfang feature multi-level areas. Use elevated positions to gain a tactical advantage and force zombies into choke points.
Train Zombies: “Training” is a classic zombies technique where you group zombies together in a loop, then turn and eliminate them with explosives or automatic fire. Practice this in open areas like the courtyard in Der Anfang.
Barriers and Reinforcements: Repair barriers to slow down zombies and gain small amounts of Essence. This is especially useful when waiting for objectives to progress.

5. Utilizing Equipment and Field Upgrades

Don’t overlook equipment and Field Upgrades—they can save your life in critical moments.

Lethal Equipment: Frag grenades or Molotovs are great for clearing groups of zombies clustered around objectives.
Tactical Equipment: Decoys can distract zombies, giving you time to revive teammates or complete objectives.
Field Upgrades: Choose a Field Upgrade that suits your role:
- Frost Blast: Slows down zombies, perfect for escaping tight situations.
- Energy Mine: Deals high damage to groups, useful for objective-based modes.
- Aether Shroud: Provides temporary invisibility, ideal for revives or avoiding damage.

6. Teamplay and Communication

If playing with others, coordination is essential.

Assign Roles: Have one player focus on objective completion while others cover them.
Share Essence: If a teammate is short on Essence for a perk, consider sharing points to strengthen the entire team.
Revive Prioritization: Use Quick Revive and Aether Shroud to safely revive downed teammates. A team wipe in the early rounds often means game over.

7. Practice and Adaptation

Finally, remember that no strategy is foolproof. Adapt to the situation—if you’re overrun, fall back to a safer area. If you’re low on ammo, use melee attacks or purchase ammo from wall buys. The early rounds are the best time to experiment with covenants and weapons to find what works for you.

By following these strategies, you’ll build a strong foundation for mid-to-late game success. Whether you’re a solo player or part of a squad, mastering the early rounds is the first step toward achieving high rounds and completing objectives in Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies. Good luck, and stay vigilant—the undead won’t wait for you to prepare.