Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for generating likely demodulation candidates using Vector Candidate Sampling (VCS). VCS is used to generate high likelihood candidates for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) demodulation that approaches optimal maximum a posteriori (MAP) performance with reasonable complexity. A receive data vector is recorded corresponding to a signal received at a MIMO receiver. A plurality of likely candidates are determined for MIMO demodulation via VCS, based at least on the receive data vector. Determining the likely candidates may include perturbing the receive data vector for each candidate based on a pre-determined perturb vector, and estimating a corresponding transmit data vector based at least on the perturbed receive data vector for the candidate and an estimator matrix, wherein the likely candidate comprises the estimated data vector.