When it comes to selecting the best assault rifle (AR) in Call of Duty Vanguard, you are spoilt for choice. Ranging from mid-range menaces to some armed with incredible rates of fire, there is an AR to suit all styles of play, making the category arguably the most versatile in the entire game. With Season 3 right around the corner, there's every chance that this particular AR could continue to dominate the metagame in the not-too-distant future thanks to its sheer versatility.
Arguably the most popular AR to use in multiplayer is the Automaton, featuring an incredible rate of fire but a high damage drop-off, meaning it's less effective at longer distances.
Despite this, there are a number of attachments that can be selected in order to improve performance. With that said, find the best Automaton attachments and the best Automaton loadout to use in our guide!
What Is The Best Automaton Vanguard Loadout?
Attachment | Name |
|---|---|
Muzzle | MX Silencer |
Barrel | ZAC 600mm BFA |
Optic | Slate Reflector |
Stock | Anastasia Padded |
Underbarrel | M1941 Hand Stop |
Magazine | 6.5mm Sakura 75 Round Drums |
Ammo Type | Lengthened |
Rear Grip | Polymer Grip |
Proficiency | Tight Grip |
Kit | Fully Loaded |
This build dominates Vanguard multiplayer thanks to its lack of recoil and improvements to damage output. Arguably the highlight of this set of attachments is the huge magazine, allowing you to deal with multiple opponents without the need to reload.
Automaton Unlock Level
The Automaton is available to players as soon as they hit Level 8, meaning it's one of the very first ARs to unlock in Vanguard multiplayer. Its fire rate often sets it apart from other offerings in the category but the lack of long-distance firepower is often a deciding factor.
Best Automaton Attachments in COD Vanguard
Thanks to a reimagined Gunsmith, you can select up to ten attachments onto a single gun, meaning there are limitless combinations to provide various improvements to the Automaton. After experimenting with a number of different selections in multiplayer, we eventually settled on this build which dominates in close and mid-range engagements.
- Muzzle: MX Silencer
- Barrel: ZAC 600mm BFA
- Underbarrel: M1941 Hand Stop
- Optic: Slate Reflector
- Stock: Anastasia Padded
- Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
- Magazine: 6.5MM Sakura 75 Round Mags
- Ammo Type: Lengthened
- Proficiency: Tight Grip
- Kit: Fully Loaded
This particular combination of attachments is a slight modification of a build being used by a number of professional players in the Call of Duty League.
The likes of the Polymer Grip and the Tight Grip Proficiency provide accuracy boosts when firing for a prolonged period of time, which is ideal considering the immense rate of fire. Speaking of fire rate, selecting the Sakura 75 Round Mags is a no-brainer as the standard magazine only comes with 25 bullets in the clip. Attaching this will stop you from reloading after every elimination.
The Best Automaton Vanguard Perks and Equipment
Along with a fully-equipped Automaton, selecting a strong Perk combination is another way to further your impact during a match. As well as the best Perks, choosing Equipment and a Field Upgrade to complement your style of play is hugely important in order to build the best Automaton loadout.
Perks
- Fortified (Perk 1)
- Radar (Perk 2)
- Lightweight (Perk 3)
Even with the arrival of a Trophy System in Vanguard, the chances of being hit by a grenade are extremely high which is why we've opted with Fortified in the Perk 1 slot. With a 15% reduction in damage from explosives, the likelihood of surviving the impact of a grenade is much higher thanks to this particular Perk.
For the second Perk, Radar is a sure-fire pick in order to spot enemies firing unsuppressed weaponry on the minimap. The third and final Perk we went for is Lightweight. With the attachments already providing significant mobility increases, the addition of this Perk further increases movement speed, making it much easier to contend with submachine gunners in those hectic close-quarters battles.
Equipment
- Lethal: Gammon Bomb
- Tactical: Stim
Gammon Bombs are hugely underrated in Vanguard multiplayer thanks to their ability to explode as soon as they touch a surface, whether it's the ground or a nearby enemy. Stim is also an essential pick, especially in Assault and Blitz combat pacing matches where there is non-stop action. Pop the stim for an instant health regeneration to stay in the fight for longer.
Field Upgrade
- Dead Silence
Although it's still relatively tricky to hear the footsteps of enemy players, we've still opted for Dead Silence to guarantee moving around the map with nobody managing to determine your location. With completely silent movement, patrol a specific area of the map and catch any opposition off-guard with ease.
- More Loadouts: Best Type 100 Vanguard Loadout
The Best Automaton Blueprint in Vanguard
With several Automaton blueprints to choose from, the best one to get your hands on is Venom which features a bright yellow body alongside a detailed cobra on the stock of the rifle. To unlock it, simply purchase the Snake Handler bundle from the store for a reasonable 800 COD Points.
Is The Automaton Good in COD Vanguard?
With minimal attachments equipped, there are definitely better options than the Automaton but once it's been equipped with ten, the Automaton is certainly up there with some of the very best assault rifles in the entire game thanks to its deadly rate of fire and incredible mobility levels.
Even though the STG 44 may still be a popular choice, I can see players slowly discovering the immense power of the Automaton to spark a change in the metagame.
There you have it! That's the very best Automaton attachments and loadout to use in Vanguard multiplayer. For more guides, check out the best Combat Shield loadout and how to complete Elite Operator challenges.