Call of Duty: Vanguard introduces a new zombie mode. But what do the zombie experts from developer Treyarch have in store? MeinMMO presents an overview of the mode.
Who is behind the new zombie mode in Vanguard? The developer of CoD Vanguard is actually the studio Sledgehammer Games, but for the zombie mode, the experts at Treyarch were once again recruited. This studio, known primarily for the Black Ops series, also originally created the zombie mode for CoD.
Therefore, these developers are also ideally qualified to realize the next incarnation of the co-op shooter. The zombie mode is part of the Vanguard package, and you have full access to the co-op carnage if you purchased Vanguard.
Update November 6: After the release of Vanguard, we have updated the article to the latest version. You can find 5 tips for getting started in the zombie mode here.
All information about the zombie mode
You start with a weapon and an active ability, and fight your way through increasingly stronger zombie hordes. This not only produces many body parts but also resources with which you can upgrade your equipment.
Gradually, you evolve into an anti-zombie soldier who can clear dozens of undead with just a few shots. But the zombies are no pushovers and also upgrade – with every mission you complete, the enemies become stronger.
In previous zombie modes of CoD, the difficulty increased when you had eliminated all the zombies of a round. “The Beginning” focuses on a sort of command center from which you start various missions to achieve progress.
The zombie story of Vanguard
What is the story about the zombies: Vanguard continues the story of the zombie mode from Cold War. Or rather “precedes”, because the World War setting of Vanguard takes place before the events of Cold War in the 80s, where the zombies even overrun Berlin.
The new zombie campaign sends you to the beginning – in the truest sense. Because the first zombie experience in Vanguard is called “The Beginning” and tells the story of an ambitious Nazi who gains the ability to bring the dead back to life – if you want to call it life. You can find a deeper insight into the story here:
The map of zombies – “The Beginning”
What we know about the first map: At the release of Vanguard, the zombie mode starts with “The Beginning”, which plays across several maps. At the start, you are in zombie-infested Stalingrad and have a sort of command center that you can expand. From here, portals lead to other maps, and you get specific tasks assigned.
By completing tasks on other maps, the difficulty of the entire match increases, and you unlock new areas around your command center. In these areas, there are new enemies, but also new opportunities to upgrade your equipment.
This way, the first zombie mode of Vanguard distances itself somewhat from earlier experiences, which doesn’t necessarily sit well with every player (via GamePro).
Everything about the gameplay
How will zombies play in Vanguard? You can expect familiar mechanics, but the composition of your bonuses in Vanguard also involves randomness and demons. As in Cold War, there are also in Vanguard:
- Essence and scrap as currency
- Pack-a-Punch machines for crazy weapons
- Workbenches for equipment and armor
- Collectible perks in the world
- Field upgrades with cooldown
However, the perks and field upgrades work differently in Vanguard. You obtain perks through the demonic well, which you find near your command center or in mission areas. You can even get the first perk for free here; after that, the upgrades cost essence.
However, new is the “Altar of Alliances.” All players in the match form an alliance with a demon from the Dark Aether and can secure superhuman bonuses this way.
The bonuses you can choose are partly random. Your current weapon plays a role, but also the selected “demon”, that is, your field upgrade. However, you can never be sure which bonuses will be offered to you at the altars. This allows for a great variety of abilities builds, but strictly planned rounds like in the predecessor Cold War are no longer possible.
To use the altar, you need sacrifice hearts, which you receive after completing a mission.
The field upgrades are also tied to the demons. With the artifacts that bind you to the demons, you can use familiar skills like “Frost Shot” or “Fire Ring”.
An overview of all perks, alliances, and some tips for your first rounds can be found here:
Complete integration into the CoD ecosystem
How is the zombie mode connected to the rest of the CoD universe? To put it briefly: Completely.
This starts with the progression system. When you play the zombie mode, you can level everything you can also level in multiplayer: weapons, operators, your account, and the battle pass. Overall, you can even level your account and the battle pass across 4 CoDs: Vanguard, Warzone, Cold War, and CoD MW – all remain part of the progression system.
Also, the story is now fully integrated. Through Warzone, whose story was closely linked to Modern Warfare from 2019 at release, CoD MW and Black Ops found a common narrative. Part of this story includes zombies, which were the reason for the destruction of modern Verdansk. Since then, the battle royale takes place in Verdansk ’84 – a version of the city in the 80s.
As part of the official story, CoD MW from 2019, Cold War from 2020, Black Ops 1 from 2010, Black Ops 2 from 2012, and CoD: World at War from 2008 are currently considered. A connection with the “Black Ops” titles that take place in the future and the respective zombie modes in the mentioned games, which are considered part of the story, is still not entirely certain.
Vanguard will also then be part of this CoD story and contributes its own part to the universe of the shooter series. A truly terrifying contribution that promises a lot of fun.
