NICKMERCS’ overpowered VLK Rogue Warzone loadout kills in “one shot”

Theo Salaun
nickmercs vlk rogue shotgun warzone

Shotguns have dominated the Call of Duty: Warzone meta for a while now and FaZe Clan’s NICKMERCS thinks that a souped up, “one-shot” VLK Rogue class might be the next one up. 

First, it was the Origin-12 that supplanted the MP5 as everyone’s favorite secondary weapon in Warzone. After that got nerfed, people pivoted to the R9-0, also known as the “Doof Doof,” which, bolstered by Dragon’s Breath rounds, knocks fully armored enemies in just two shots.

Now, in anticipation of a nerf that many are hoping will come to the R9, Nick ‘NICKMERCS’ Kolcheff is taking TimTheTatMan’s suggestion and trying out the VLK Rogue. While many have become somewhat enamored with the semi-automatic shotgun in the early game, given its potency as ground loot, few have truly experimented with it in their loadouts.

Basing his class on Tim’s, Nick ran a Dragon’s Breath-powered VLK in a game with Swagg and the results were surprising. Although it may not overtake the R9 until nerfs come through, the potential is undeniable.

vlk rogue shotgun modern warfare
The VLK Rogue doesn’t look that big, but it packs a punch.

Noting that Tim and chat had been telling him to try the VLK, Nick built out a class for it and proceeded to drop a casual 30-bomb. Using the Kilo 141 at range, he managed to pull off some nasty close-quarters kills with the Rogue, suggesting it may actually be viable. 

Here’s the full class that Nick used to bully enemies with the VLK:

  • Muzzle: FORGE TAC Marauder
  • Barrel: 16” Warlord
  • Laser: 5mW Laser
  • Ammunition: 8-R Dragon’s Breath
  • Rear Grip: Stippled Grip Tape

After taking some time to get his loadout, Nick got his first kill with the Rogue at about the 6:20 mark in the video. In that fight, he encountered a bathroom camper and easily one-shot him as the enemy tried to turn the corner. 

Pulling off similar kills throughout the big game, the popular streamer proceeded to confirm suspicions that this shotgun really could play into the next meta once the R9 gets nerfed.

“If the R9 nerf actually does come in, do we think that the VLK is gonna take its place? Personally, I do. I think this is next up. If the R9 gets nerfed, I think people go to the VLK (or maybe we go back to the MP5).”

Related Topics

About The Author

Théo is a former writer at Dexerto based in New York and built on competition. Formerly an editor for Bleacher Report and philosophy student at McGill, he fell in love with Overwatch and Call of Duty — leading him to focus on esports for Dex.