Raven has done an amazing job balancing weapons in Season 3. It finally feels like they are listening to the community and being proactive when changes are necessary. After all of the nerfs, buffs, and changes, the meta in Warzone is in the best place it has been for months.
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In May of 2021, there are dozens of viable weapons for players to use, which is a vast improvement from Season 2's FFAR/AUG/M16 meta. The Kar98k remains the best sniper in the game, and for many, it is the top primary weapon to use. With the FFAR and AMAX out of the picture, gamers will need a versatile secondary to pair it with.
11 XM4
The XM4 has become one of the best medium to long-range options in the assault rifle class. It has a competitive time to kill, low recoil, and the requisite 60 round magazine. At close range, the XM4 will win a lot of gunfights, but it can lose to SMGs and shotguns. As a sniper support weapon, being viable in as many situations as possible is important. Players that hit their shots will have a lot of success using the XM4 as a secondary.
10 M4A1
Activision and Raven have not touched the M4 since they took over the game. The weapon was one of the first meta weapons in the first Season of Warzone last year. As times to kill got lower and lower over the course of the year, the M4 took a back seat to a number of guns that have since been nerfed.
This Season, the M4 is a reliable option alongside a sniper. It may not have the range capabilities of the XM4 due to a faster fire rate, but it has much better iron sights. Gamers can use the Tac Laser or a grip tape instead of an optic.
9 AK-47 (CW)
By the time this article is published, the AMAX has either been nerfed or will be nerfed very soon. The Cold War AK-47 has the fastest time to kill among assault rifles, excluding the AMAX. It pairs well with a sniper but requires more recoil control than the other weapons in this list.
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A buff to the recoil last month made the gun easier to control, but anything beyond 20 meters or so will still be a challenge. Subpar iron sights make using the weapon even more challenging. Players can use the iron sights and struggle with target acquisition or move slower with an optic.
8 MP7
The MP7 is one of the most enjoyable weapons to use in the game. It sounds amazing and is incredibly easy to control. While it may not have the TTK of the MP5s, it can be used up close and at extended ranges. After the gun's initial drop-off, it has a TTK comparable to the Bruen and PKM.
Unlike the multiplayer version of the MP7, the Warzone version has a sub-700-millisecond TTK up to infinite range. The MP7 has SMG movement, but assault rifle/LMG damage at range. Players can use an optic for better medium to long-range accuracy, or opt for the Tac Laser for better ADS speed.
7 RAM-7
There are a decent amount of users that enjoyed the RAM even before the Season 3 nerfs. The RAM has a very good TTK that is now quicker than the FFAR. The assault rifle also has less recoil than any of the lower TTK assault rifles.
In the class, it is probably the most reliable choice right now. Decent iron sights and a large enough magazine make the gun a top-tier option to support a sniper primary. However, recoil at range and movement/ADS speed will be slower than the Cold War alternatives.
6 Bullfrog
The MAC-10 is now borderline meta after the last balancing patch, which means the Bullfrog is certainly a top 3 SMG in the game. The gun has a slightly slower TTK than the MP5s, but it is way more controllable at intermediate ranges.
The Bullfrog will struggle beyond 24 meters, as the damage drop-off is drastic. At 25 meters it will take almost a full second to down an enemy. Gamers that feel comfortable using the Kar in the 20-30 meter range will enjoy using the Bullfrog as a second option.
5 Krig 6
The FFAR nerf dropped the weapon's time to kill all the way back to 600 milliseconds. In the same patch, the Krig was given a damage buff. The Krig will now down enemies up to 40 meters in less than 700 milliseconds. Unlike the FFAR, the Krig is a laser beam that barely needs to be controlled.
The Krig is okay at close range but competitive with almost every weapon in the game beyond 10 meters. Like the Grau, the Krig provides pinpoint accuracy and enough damage to win gunfights at medium range.
4 FiNN LMG (XRK LongShot Adverse)
As more of a circumstantial option, the FiNN LMG has an insane time to kill. With a Monolithic Suppressor and the XRK LongShot Adverse Barrel, the weapon has a TTK of just 550 milliseconds up close, which is better than the Bullfrog. Up to 34 meters, the gun will down enemies in under 600 milliseconds, with a maximum theoretical TTK of just 720 milliseconds.
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Players can use the No Stock attachment and Tac Laser to make the gun feel more like an SMG than an LMG. The only issues with this class are ammo and recoil. On most weapons, 60 rounds is more than enough. The FiNN has such a fast fire rate that it will burn through ammunition incredibly fast. Taking off the stock will make the weapon even harder to control as well.
3 FARA 83
Raven has stated that they plan to make some changes to the FARA. Assuming they do not change the base chest damage and recoil of the weapon, it will still fit the sniper support role. The FARA has competitive damage values at all ranges and has a great recoil plot after it was buffed. While the iron sights are not the greatest, players can drop one of the wraps for a better sight.
It is likely that the FARA's movement and strafe speed will be nerfed. Hopefully Raven only changes those values and the headshot multiplier, because the gun is balanced otherwise.
2 AK-47 (MW)
The Modern Warfare AK-47 has been a hidden gem in Warzone over the past couple of weeks. The gun does not kill as fast as its Cold War counterpart, but it has way less recoil. The AK-47 also has an attachment that doubles as a grip and barrel. The 23" Romanian barrel provides damage range, bullet velocity, and recoil control.
This means that unlike the CW AK, the MW version can be used with an optic. Alternatively, gamers can choose to boost ADS and movement speed to make it feel more like an SMG. It may surprise some, but the AK has a better TTK than both the FFAR and Bullfrog.
1 Grau
The Grau was included in this list because of how accurate it is at any range. Unlike the Kilo, M13, or Krig 6, the Grau has amazing iron sights that free up attachments for ADS speed or recoil control. With Rubberized Grip Tape, the Grau will feel like it was never nerfed in the first place.
Players will want to use the Grau at intermediate ranges, as the gun will not compete up close. Versatility and ease of use make the Grau a better option than other similar weapons in the game.