There are very few submachine guns (SMG) that stand out in Call of Duty: Vanguard multiplayer, with the vast majority of them being overshadowed by the immense versatility of the MP-40. Despite its B-Tier placement, the Sten can be the perfect weapon for running and gunning but thanks to its lack of mid-range performance, it's not exactly the most versatile SMG in multiplayer. With Season 1 underway and players expecting a dose of weapon tuning as the season goes on, the Sten could well find its way as the best SMG in the entire game.
Thankfully, the flaws of the Sten can be addressed by equipping a variety of attachments that also improve its close-range performance which is arguably the best out of any available SMG. Find the best Sten attachments and best Sten loadout to build in our comprehensive guide!
Call of Duty Vanguard is out now. Follow the link to read our Vanguard review and early impressions.
Read More: Call of Duty Vanguard SMG Tier List: Submachine Guns Ranked Best To Worst
How To Unlock The Sten in Vanguard
The Sten is likely to be one of the very first SMGs you unlock when grinding through multiplayer. It unlocked at Level 8 during Vanguard's beta and if Sledgehammer hasn't changed its unlock requirements, it will be very straightforward to obtain.
The Best Sten Attachments in COD Vanguard
Rather than attempting to improve the range of the Sten, we've put all our eggs in one basket and have found a combination of attachments that transforms the SMG into one of the very best close-range weapons.
- Muzzle: M9 Flash Hider
- Stock: Gawain Para
- Underbarrel: Carver Foregrip
- Rear Grip: Leather Grip
- Ammo Type: FMJ Rounds
- Magazine: 9mm Para 50-Round Drums
- Proficiency: Acrobatic
- Kit: Fast Melee
Even though this combination of attachments doesn't use all ten slots, the Sten now deals incredible amounts of damage. This combined with high mobility levels makes it very difficult for the opposition to deal with you. The Flash Hider and Carver Foregrip work wonders in order to improve accuracy while the FMJ Rounds make it easy to shoot through any destructible surface an enemy could be using as cover.
As this build is designed for aggressive gameplay, the Leather Grip and Gawain Para decrease aim-down sight speed and sprint to fire time, enabling you to react as soon as you come into contact with an enemy attempting to halt your progress. To minimise the need to reload after every kill, the 50-Round Drums means you can eliminate multiple targets in quick succession before having to load another magazine.
The Best Sten Loadout To Use in Vanguard
Just like any multiplayer loadout, it's difficult to solely rely on the performance of your primary weapon to reach the top of the scoreboard. Here are the best Perks, Equipment, and Field Upgrade to use alongside the Sten.
Perks
- Perk 1: Ghost
- Perk 2: Radar
- Perk 3: Double Time
This combination is the perfect complement to the run-and-gun nature of the Sten. With all the moving around, Ghost keeps your location hidden from enemy Spy Planes when navigating the map while Radar enables you to spot any player firing an unsuppressed weapon during a match. Perhaps the most important Perk of this loadout is Double Time. Armed with an increase in Tactical Sprint length and crouch movement speed, the Perk allows you to move around the map as fast as possible.
Field Upgrade
- Dead Silence
With all the running and gunning, it will be very easy for the enemy to hear you so choosing Dead Silence as a Field Upgrade is a no-brainer to keep your location hidden.
Equipment
- Lethal: Gammon Bomb
- Tactical: Stim
These pieces of equipment are a sure-fire way to deal some additional damage and stay in amongst the action for longer. Gammon Bombs explode as soon as they touch a surface, giving you plenty of chances to eliminate even more players with ease. Considering you'll be in and out of enemy gunfire, Stim immediately begins health regeneration, giving you an opportunity to extend your Killstreak.
That's how to build the Sten to dominate in Call of Duty: Vanguard. For more guides, check out the best Combat Shield loadout and how to complete Elite Operator challenges.
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