With a new season ofModern WarfareandWarzonecomes a new set of weapons added to the ever-expanding roster of armaments in the game, while balancing changes, meta shifts, and new discoveries have re-defined the best weapons and builds over the course of the last season.Season 5 brings the ISO SMG, based on the Swiss B&T APC9 recently adopted by the US Military, plus the AN-94. Neither of these weapons change the meta too much, but huge shifts in Season 4 have rolled over into Season 5.
BothModern WarfareandWarzonesaw several loadouts and setups go viral after a few seemingly mundane balancing changes, which ultimately caused some weapon like the FAL to skyrocket in power and popularity. While some weapons are still at rock-bottom, many guns have slowly trended up in power, while others, like the MP5, have been nerfed considerably. Things will continue to evolve as Season 5 carries on, but for now this list represents the current state of the meta inWarzoneandModern Warfare. Guns are rated on power, versatility, and the elusive, all-important fun-factor.
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D-Tier Modern Warfare and Warzone Weapons
At the start of Season 5, only a few weapons grace the bottom of the barrel as worst in class, which is a sign that balancing changes are working. Weapons can end up in D-Tier if they are frustrating to use, woefully underpowered, or if there are other weapons that do all of the same things far better. For example, theEBR-14is a decent gun, but everything it does, theFAL does far better, making it practically obsolete and putting it firmly in D-Tier. Likewise, theM19is a decent 9mm pistol until one considers that the Renetti is 9mm, fires faster, and has a wide array of attachments that make it several classes above the M19.
TheKar98kis a slow bolt action without the stopping power of a sniper, theMG34is an outdated LMG that can’t compete with any of its modern counterparts, and theDragunovlacks the damage of a sniper or the versatility of a DMR. TheVLK Roguecan provide some entertainment as a frighteningly mobile shotgun, but it will surelytank the K/Dof any user. All of these belong in D-Tier as guns that don’t have a competitive use, and aren’t even that much fun to mess around with either.
C-Tier Modern Warfare and Warzone Weapons
C-Tier weapons are often decent enough, but lack the versatility to compete with top-tier guns that can be pushed into a variety of circumstances across all the ranges that the game presents. Some C-Tier weapons are great for a specific purpose, but fall flat outside of one relatively unlikely circumstance. For example, theOden is amazing at tearing through body armorand doing high damage, but its slow fire rate and oppressive recoil make it far less useful in other areas, making theOdena solid C-Tier choice.
TheP90, Uzi, andPP19 Bizonare all very respectable SMGs, with the P90 and Bizon sharing the advantage of high ammo counts. However, the SMG class is already full of strong contenders like the MP5 and MP7, making these guns less viable by comparison. TheM91is a middling LMG without any real flavor. Meanwhile, theSA87has great range advantages, but with 5.56 ammo and a slow fire rate, it is out-competed byARs set up for ranged combat.
TheModel 680’s slow pump action is incredibly damaging, but its saving grace isDragon’s Breath rounds. They are extremely strong and fun to use, barely hoisting the 680 out of D-Tier and into C. Likewise, the.357 Revolverhas great damage but a slow fire rate and glacial reloads, making it far worse than the Desert Eagle. At the very least, it is an extremely fun and satisfying weapon to use, and with Snake Shot rounds, it can do some serious work as a pocket shotgun.The Riot Shieldis the last weapon in C-Tier. It is extremely valuable as a utility, but anyone who has tried to get damascus will likely remember getting triple-kills with the Riot Shield as a dark time.
B-Tier Modern Warfare and Warzone Weapons
Past the B-Tier threshold, weapons are viable in a variety of situations and are typically pretty fun and unique. Usually, though, one or two glaring downsides prevent these guns from reaching the hallowed halls of the A- and S-Tiers. For example, the FR 5.56, orFAMAS, has great damage, blistering fire rate, and plenty of customization options. However, it is restricted to three-round bursts, which makes it a fun challenge to use but definitely holds it back from competing with the likes of the M4A1.
In the same class is theKilo-141, a slightly slower competitor to the M13 and M4A1 that has tweaked damage multipliers and the option of a drum mag, but just doesn’t hold up in DPS. TheFN SCARandAK-47are solid 7.62 caliber weapons, but theSCAR suffers in mobility and ammowhere the AK has low accuracy despite its wealth of customization options. The CR-56 out-competes them both as a mobile, accurate 7.62 gun with good customization choices. TheStriker 45, on the other hand, is a great B-Tier weapon because with a little practice it can compete strongly with high-tier guns. Its slow rate of fire is a downside, but can also help keep it accurate at range.
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TheR9-Ois a strong shotgun with a lot of ammo and the benefit of two rapid shots before needing to pump the action, but its customization options are lacking.The Holger-26has the benefit of being an LMG-style weapon with relativelyquick handling, but its damage is lackluster. TheSKSis a strong choice as a DMR, but is just edged out by the FAL in damage, fire rate, and versatility. The1911andJOKRare both middling choices in their respective classes, with not much to make them stand out from the rest.
Theknifealso finds itself in B-Tier because as fun as it is, the Kali sticks andDual Kodachisdo everything it does better. Likewise, theRytec AMRis a great compromise anti-material rifle for taking out killstreaks, but other snipers outplay it against human opponents. Closing out B-Tier is the newISO SMG. It seems like a strong contender at first, but all of its benefits can be had in other, better SMGs. It does have a good recoil pattern and high rate of fire, but its ammo counts are too low, and other weapons like the MP7, MP5, and Fennec can all out-compete it in each of its strong areas.
A-Tier Modern Warfare and Warzone Weapons
A-Tier is the ideal position for a weapon inModern WarfareandWarzone. A-Tier weapons are strong, fun, yet not overpowered. They are typically versatile all-rounders, but usually have a quirk or two that make them unique to handle. For example, theM13has a high fire rate and great accuracy and mobility, but also has low body-shot damage and a high headshot multiplier. That characteristic isn’t quite a downside, it just means that to reallymaster the M13players will have to get used to it, at which point it is extremely strong.
Other examples of solid A-Tier weapons include theMP7, with its high DPS, accuracy, and sharp damage dropoff, theFennecwith its blistering rate of fire balanced by limited ammo, and the725’s brutal damage limited to two shots at a time. TheOrigin-12shotgun can be strong even inWarzone, but has its limits, while theX16pistol offers great damage up close but lacks the rapid-fire of the Renetti or the stopping power of the .50 GS. TheMK2 Carbineis another great example of a gun with amazing one-shot potential, but unique handling that makes it challenging to master.
Some weapons end up in A-Tier just because they are so fun, even if the downsides are heavy.The Crossbowis the best example, followed by theKali Sticksand newDual Kodachis, both of which are incredibly satisfying to use depending on the map. Others are not quite so lucky, falling into A-Tier just because they are strong without quite being overpowered. TheBruen MK9 LMG, theHDR and AX-50 snipers, and thePILA and Strela-P launchersare all great at what they do, but typically stay in their lane without being OP.
S-Tier Modern Warfare and Warzone Weapons
At long last, S-Tier weapons sit at the very top of the game as genuinely OP guns that still feel great to use. While many of these guns have had balancing changes that stopped them from being too overpowered, they are still best-in-class weapons with no true rivals. The fact that none of these guns are still absolutely broken is a testament to the balancing efforts of the developer, but nonetheless they can’t be beat. TheMP5is the quintessential example. Despite anerf to 10mm ammo, it still sits at the top of the SMG food chain with great mobility, incredible point-blank DPS, smooth recoil for ranged fights, and a wealth of customization options.
TheM4A1,RAM-7, andGrau 5.56are all well-rounded, reliable beasts. The Grau offers negligible recoil and amazing range, the RAM-7 has the highest DPS, and the M4A1 is still the perfect middle ground as the gold standard by which all other ARs are measured. In 7.62 caliber rifles, theFAL is one of the most competitive gunscurrently inWarzone, and still serves admirably in core playlists. Meanwhile, theCR-56offers great accuracy, low recoil, and respectable handling, blowing the AK-47 and SCAR out of the water.
ThePKMis arguably the best LMG in the game, giving it an automatic S-Tier rating, and theRPG-7is the best launcher for taking out players but can still damage killstreaks in a pinch. TheRenettioffers a blistering 3-round burst mod, but is still a great pistol even without it, and the.50 GSblows enemies away with incredible stopping power and even more stunning style. Thenewest addition to S-Tier is the AN-94. Added just this season, theAN-94’s hyperburst feature on the first shot heavily rewards landing accurate flicks, but it still follows up with great damage and a well-rounded list of stats. As the season progresses, the meta will undoubtedly change and more weapons will come, but as always the key to victory is finding the gun that feels best for each individual player.
Call of Duty: Modern WarfareandWarzoneare available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
