COD Vanguard 1.5 mid-season update patch notes

Last Updated: January 12, 2022

January 11th’s COD Vanguard update patch notes reveal some important changes to Multiplayer and a new Zombies mode.

Call of Duty Vanguard has had mixed reviews since it’s release in November 2021. Developers Sledgehammer and Treyarch have – in COD update patch notes released on January 11th, 2022 – committed to improving Vanguard Multiplayer and Zombies following the feedback, while remaining realistic in their timeline for improvement. Here’s what has been changed in the latest Vanguard 1.5 patch notes for the mid-season update.

COD patch notes — Vanguard 1.5 Multiplayer update

The top changes to Vanguard Multiplayer include updated perks to counter fire damage and an adjustment to spawns in Control, with most having been implemented as a direct result of player feedback.

Spawning

• Spawn logic has been tweaked to improve high player counts spawns in smaller maps
• Dome spawn logic has been tuned for Domination mode
• Control spawns have been significantly improved to:
  • Prevent spawning outside of Tuscan
  • Stop spawning in enemy line-of-sight in Bocage
  • Put an end to players spawning on top of teammates

Weapon, Equipment and Killstreak amendments

Type 99 Sniper Rifle

• Reduced Aim Flinch
• Reduced ADS Time
• Retain One Shot Kill potential for chest shots when smaller caliber ammo is used

Stun Grenade

• Reduced Stun Grenade damage in Hardcore modes
• Reduced how long players are affected by Stun Grenades

Incendiary Grenade

Mortar Barrage Killstreak

• Duration of Mortar Strike has been reduced
• Number of Mortar Strikes per streak has been reduced
• Addressed issue where Mortar Barrage deployment was inconsistent

Changes to Perks

High Alert

• Slight delay added before Perk activates after being seen by an enemy

Dauntless

• Gives immunity to fire and burning effects, including Incendiary Rounds, Flamenaut, and lingering ground fire

Fortified

• Reduces fire damage taken by 30%
• Reduces excessive damage of all explosives

User Interface changes

• Seasonal Challenge menu now appears in the Challenges tab
• The Objective progression bar no longer clips into reticles
• The looping post-game level-up animation for Prestige 3 has been fixed
• Menu navigation for viewing Bundles in the store has been improved

As usual, this is just the top line of changes in this update. If you want the full, exhaustive list of changes, check out the full COD Vanguard update patch notes on Sledgehammer Games’ blog.

COD Vanguard update patch notes — Zombies

Access the Void from Von List’s Office

The biggest change to Zombies comes in the addition of a more classic gameplay mode that will make past players of the franchise feel more at home. Access a new area – Von List’s Office – from Stalingrad for a new story narrative, and new portal mode, the Void. In the Void, players will face increasingly difficult waves of Zombies, much like classic COD Zombies gameplay from the franchise’s past.

To find out more about the new Vanguard Zombies gameplay, check out our dedicated article to the Void.

Upgrade your Artifacts

The introduction of the Void brings with it the new Tome of Rituals. Located in Stalingrad, the Tome of Rituals will allow you to use your Sacrificial Hearts to level up Artifacts – which you’ll need to survive wave after wave of Von List’s undead army.

Frost Blast

• Tier II — Freeze normal and Special enemies for three seconds
• Tier III – Increases the Frost Blast radius by 100%
• Tier IV – Increases the number of charges from one to three
• Tier V – Frozen normal enemies are insta-killed when damaged

Energy Mine

• Tier II – Normal and Special enemies hit by Energy Mine are stunned for three seconds
• Tier III – Explodes three times in a row with 0.75 seconds between explosions
• Tier IV – Increases the number of charges from one to three
• Tier V – Increases the explosion radius by 66%

Aether Shroud

• Tier II – Automatically reload weapons when activated
• Tier III – Deal 500% bonus melee damage while active
• Tier IV – Additional 50% move speed, with duration extended from five to eight seconds
• Tier V – Increases the number of charges from one to two

Ring of Fire

• Tier II – Normal enemies within the Ring of Fire take damage equivalent to 2% of their max HP every second
• Tier III – Players within the ring use ammo from stock
• Tier IV – Staying within the ring for up to ten seconds increases the duration from 15 to 20 seconds
• Tier V – Staying within the ring for up to ten seconds increases damage bonus from +50% to +75%

Pack-a-Punch Camos

Pack-a-Punch Camos are finally back in Zombies with the COD Vanguard 1.5 update patch notes. Now, every time you upgrade a weapon (up to Tier III) at the Pack-a-Punch machine, it will be wrapped in one of three new, unique camos. Mystery Box weapons and Sturmkreiger drops will also be kitted out with a new camo, too.

Check out the Treyarch blog for the complete list of changes to COD Vanguard Zombies ahead of 115 Day, 2022.