Let’s be real for a second. The AS VAL is a weird gun. In the world of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone, it was this legendary, high-skill-cap beast that shredded in multiplayer but felt like a wet noodle if you didn't know how to handle the recoil. When you bring that same energy into the undead hordes, the AS VAL zombies challenges become a whole different type of headache. Most players treat it like any other assault rifle. They jump into a match, spray at a few heads, and wonder why they’re running out of ammo before the first exfil window even opens. It’s frustrating.
You’ve probably seen the camo grinds. You know the ones where you need 2,500 critical kills or 10 kills in rapid succession without getting hit. With a 20-round base magazine, that’s not just a challenge; it’s a chore.
The AS VAL isn't your typical workhorse. It’s an assassin’s tool that got lost in a survival horror game. To actually knock out those AS VAL zombies challenges without losing your mind, you have to stop playing like a soldier and start playing like a scavenger. We’re talking about a weapon that has an incredibly high fire rate—roughly 900 rounds per minute—which is great for DPS but a total nightmare for ammo economy in a mode where you’re outnumbered fifty to one.
Why the AS VAL Zombies Challenges Feel So Grindy
The core issue is the magazine capacity. Honestly, trying to finish "get 20 kills without reloading" when your gun only holds 20 bullets is a joke. Even with Pack-a-Punch doubling your capacity, you’re still looking at a tiny reservoir compared to an M4 or a Grau. This is where most people get stuck. They try to brute force the challenges in high-threat zones where the zombies have more health than a tank.
Mistake. Huge mistake.
If you're looking to clear the "10 kills in 5 seconds" or the "critical hit" requirements, you need to manipulate the spawn logic. In the current zombies' meta—especially if you're playing Modern Warfare III's MWZ or even older iterations through mods—the AS VAL requires you to be a master of the "train." You loop the zombies, get them in a tight line, and use that high bullet velocity to pierce through multiple skulls at once. If you aren't using the SPP 10-round semi-auto conversion for specific long-range or headshot challenges, you’re basically playing on hard mode for no reason.
The SPP rounds change the gun entirely. It goes from a bullet hose to a marksman rifle. For the AS VAL zombies challenges that require precision, this is your secret weapon. It hits harder, consumes less ammo per kill, and keeps your accuracy stats from plummeting.
Technical Specs and the Pack-a-Punch Reality
Let’s talk numbers, but not the boring kind. When you Pack-a-Punch the AS VAL, it usually becomes the "Vintorez" or some variation of that. In most CoD titles, the magazine jumps to 40 or 60 rounds. Still low. However, the damage multiplier on headshots with the VAL is among the highest in its class.
Here is what you need to focus on for your build:
- Strelok Stock: You need the stability. Without it, the VAL kicks like a mule after the third bullet.
- VLK 200mm Osa Barrel: It’s built-in suppressed, which doesn't matter much to zombies, but the range boost is vital.
- Large Magazine: Do not, under any circumstances, enter a match with the 20-round default. Use the 30-round mag. It’s the difference between life and death during a reload.
- Sleight of Hand: This isn't optional. It is a mandatory requirement for the AS VAL.
The real challenge isn't the zombies; it's the downtime. You spend half the game reloading. To bypass this, savvy players look for the "Speed Cola" or "Fast Bolts" equivalent in whatever version they’re playing. If you’re tackling the AS VAL zombies challenges in a round-based format, you need to prioritize your perks in a specific order: Juggernog, then Speed Cola, then Deadshot Daiquiri. Deadshot is the MVP here because it snaps your crosshairs to the head, making those "Critical Kill" camos go by three times faster.
The Myth of the "Bad" Ammo
Some "experts" tell you to avoid the 10-round semi-auto mags for zombies. They’re wrong. Sorta. If you’re doing high-round survival, yes, stay away. But if you are specifically hunting the "Longshot" or "Elite Zombie Kills" part of the AS VAL zombies challenges, the 10-round mags offer a massive damage-per-bullet increase. It turns the gun into a scalpels. You can sit back and pick off Manglers or Disciples from a distance without wasting three magazines of standard 9x39mm ammo.
Specific Strategies for Common AS VAL Challenges
Every player hits a wall with the "Kills shortly after reloading" challenge. It’s a classic. With the VAL, this is actually easier than with an LMG because the reload animation is snappy. The trick? Fire one bullet into the air, wait for a crowd, hit reload, and then unleash. Because the fire rate is so high, you can dump half a mag into a crowd in the 2-second window the game gives you for that "post-reload" credit.
Then there’s the "Camo Grind" for the gold or mastery skins.
- The Train Method: Don't shoot. Just run. Get about 15 zombies behind you. Turn. Slide. Aim high. The AS VAL’s penetration is surprisingly decent. You can clear a whole line in one burst.
- Insta-Kill Optimization: When that skull icon drops, swap to your VAL immediately. This is the only time the fire rate is purely an advantage. You can clear an entire map's worth of enemies in seconds, ticking off those "Multi-kill" challenges that usually feel impossible.
- The Ammo Cache Loop: Since the VAL is an ammo hog, you need to map out where the ammo caches are. Don't wander into the middle of a field. Stay within a 30-second sprint of a refill.
Honestly, the AS VAL feels like a weapon that wasn't designed for this mode. And that’s why completing the AS VAL zombies challenges feels like such a badge of honor. It shows you actually know how to manage a weapon's quirks rather than just relying on a 200-round LMG belt to do the work for you.
Dealing with Elite Enemies and Special Zombies
We have to talk about the Big Guys. The Megatons, the Krasny Soldats, or the Abominations depending on your game. The AS VAL struggles here. Its high DPS is offset by the fact that you have to reload four times to kill one boss.
If you’re trying to finish a challenge that requires "Elite Kills," do not solo them with the VAL unless it’s triple-packed. Use a secondary—like a shotgun or a Wonder Weapon—to strip their armor first. Once the "core" or the "head" is exposed, swap to the VAL and let it rip. The game counts the kill for the weapon that dealt the finishing blow.
This is a dirty trick, but it saves hours of frustration.
Why People Give Up
Most people quit the AS VAL zombies challenges because they try to use it like an SMG. They get close, they get swamped, and they die while reloading. The VAL is a mid-range weapon. Even in zombies. Keep your distance. Use the built-in suppressor to your advantage (in some game versions, this actually keeps distant zombies from aggroing as quickly).
You’ve got to be methodical. The VAL rewards players who tap-fire. Even though it’s full-auto, treating it like a burst weapon will save your ammo and keep your accuracy high enough to trigger those "Deadshot" bonuses consistently.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
If you’re loading into a match right now to finish these AS VAL zombies challenges, here is your immediate game plan.
First, ignore the objective for a minute. Go straight to a low-tier extraction point or a "Safe Crack" contract. These spots spawn endless waves of weak zombies. This is your farm.
Second, get your build right in the gunsmith before you even start. If you don't have the 30-round mag unlocked, go play a few rounds of Team Deathmatch first. Doing these challenges with 20 rounds is a form of self-torture that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
Third, prioritize the "Cripple" or "Freeze" ammo mods if your game has them. Slowing the zombies down gives you the breathing room you need to handle the AS VAL’s frequent reloads. Once you get the rhythm—shoot, reload, slide, shoot—the challenges start falling like dominoes.
Stop treating it like a bad gun. It’s not bad; it’s just high-maintenance. Treat it like a Ferrari. It’s fast, it’s expensive to run, and it breaks if you don’t handle it right, but man, does it look good when you finally unlock that mastery camo.
Go get those headshots. Watch your ammo count. And for the love of everything, stay away from the corners when your mag is empty. Success with the VAL is about space management just as much as it is about aiming. You’ve got the tools; now just stop spraying and start picking your shots.