Underrated Vanguard AR is a beast on Warzone’s Fortune’s Keep map

AS44 on Fortune's Keep in WarzoneActivision

In need of a new assault rifle to get the job done on Fortune’s Keep? Well, there’s a gun from Call of Duty: Vanguard that has fallen out of the Warzone meta but can still rip through enemies.

With the start of Warzone Pacific Season 4, Raven Software introduced a brand-new map in the form of Fortune’s Keep. The idyllic island, which has become home to a band of mercenaries, is quite different from Verdansk, Caldera, and even Rebirth Island.

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In the short time since it’s been live, the narrow streets of Fortune’s Keep have become a playground for SMGs – especially the brand-new Marco-5 and old favorites like the MP-40.

However, like with the other maps, you can get plenty of joy from assault rifles too. That includes Vanguard’s AS44, which has gone under the radar as of late, but could see a little bit of a revival.

AS44 cod vanguardActivision
The AS44 is a sleeper pick in Vanguard.

The AS44 has been highlighted by a number of Warzone content creators, including WhosImmortal, because of its decent TTK and insanely quick fire rate.

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While the assault rifle can be built to maximize it’s TTK – putting it in the region of about 700ms and also working like an SMG – it also comes with a pretty nasty bit of recoil. So, some loadouts do take that into consideration.

WhosImmortal’s build balances the TTK buff and recoil control, with the YouTuber opting for the M1941 Hand Stop underbarrel, Polymer Grip, and Kovalevskaya Custom barrel to bring the recoil a little more under control.

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Best AS44 Warzone loadout

  • Muzzle: MX Silencer
  • Barrel: Kovalevskaya 615mm
  • Optic: G16 2.5x
  • Underbarrel: M1941 Hand Stop
  • Stock: Kovalevskaya Custom
  • Ammunition: Lengthened
  • Magazine: 7.62 Gorenko 50-round mags
  • Rear Grip: Polymer Grip
  • Perk 1: Gung-Ho
  • Perk 2: Fully Loaded

As the YouTuber himself notes, the weapon is in a bit of an “experimental” choice currently, seeing as not many players are using it. As per WZRanked stats, the AS44 has a 0.58 pick rate, so it hasn’t been completely abandoned like some other guns. However, it is absolutely under the radar.

It remains to be seen as to whether or not it’ll crack the meta, but with its impressive TTK and ability to fight at all ranges, the AS44 is definitely something worth using in Season 4.

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