Best guns in Black Ops 6: Weapon tier list
Now that Black Ops 6 has arrived, the meta is starting to take shape. Some weapons have already established themselves as meta standouts but others are best avoided.
Treyarch is back at the helm for Black Ops 6 and since its October 25 launch, we’ve been trying out all the different weapons across its 16 brand-new maps.
After spending a whole weekend with the game, we have a solid grasp on which are the best guns and which ones you should stay away from, so here’s the breakdown in a full tier list.
BO6 weapon tier list
Rankings
- S: Absolute meta guns that are viable on virtually every map or mode.
- A: Very strong options that won’t let you down, but may lack some of the strength of S-tier weapons.
- B: Average guns that shine in certain situations but aren’t quite as competitive overall.
- C: Weapons that are best to steer clear of unless they suit your playstyle or you need them for a very specific situation.
S-Tier weapons
SVD
CharlieIntelAlmost every Call of Duty game that has featured the Dragunv, or a variation of it, has struggled to balance it. Semi-auto Sniper Rifles have long been a major annoyance as they simply don’t keep up with their bolt-action counterparts but in BO6, it’s one of the best guns.
Compared to the other two one-shot snipers, the SVD has more ammunition, scopes in almost as fast, and doesn’t require bolt time. It deserves a nerf soon as it completely outshines the other two choices.
Jackal PDW
CharlieIntelSo far in Black Ops 6, the Jackal PDW has dominated lobbies regardless of skill level, game mode, or map. This is mostly because of its remarkable adaptability; despite its nerf in the beta, the Jackal is still devastating up close while maintaining pinpoint accuracy from a distance.
This meta weapon may outshoot Sniper Rifles across the map especially when equipped with attachments like the Compensator that reduce recoil.
Tanto .22
CharlieIntelOne of the top weapons in Black Ops 6 is the Tanto .22. This slow-firing SMG is one of the best all-around weapons, excelling in damage, range, and controlling recoil. It was a monster in beta and it’s even worse now that it’s out.
It does have a sluggish firing rate, which is a drawback despite its other advantages. This renders it less ideal for close-quarters use and makes the Jackal PDW the somewhat superior choice. Still, it’s a nail-biter, and the SMG is great when used correctly.
XM4
CharlieIntelThe XM4 is an Assault Rifle that’s the quintessential jack of all trades but master of none. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it; it’s just the standard, dependable beginning choice that the majority of players will use until they get a better option. It’s practical since it’s easy to use and provides ample time to kill.
Despite being marginally less accurate than competing guns, this won’t be a problem on the vast majority of maps due to their smaller size. You can’t go wrong with the XM4 if you’re seeking an AR to remain with for the long haul.
Grekhova
CharlieIntelOur Black Ops 6 tier list isn’t complete without the Grekhova, the only sidearm that justifiably occupies its place in S-tier – you get the power of an SMG in a secondary slot without using Overkill.
It’s even easier to use than the 93R, which dominated MW3, because of its fast firing rate as an automatic pistol. With its clean iron sights and low enough recoil to perform adequately at medium range, you have many options for improving its shortcomings with the right attachments.
KSV
CharlieIntelThe KSV is slowly being recognized among the best SMGs in Black Ops 6. It has a high rate of fire, and decent hip-fire accuracy, but excellent range for its class. Plus, it unlocks at a very early level 7, which is great.
A-Tier weapons
C9
CharlieIntelThose in need of a solid SMG need not go any further – the C9 provides exceptional maneuverability, control, and damage. It lacks the range of the S-tier SMGS which drops it down to A, but don’t sleep on it.
AMES 85
CharlieIntelBlack Ops 6’s laser beam Assault Rifle is the AMES 85. BO6 is lightning quick, and a missed shot may cost you dearly, so it makes perfect sense to use a rifle with such pinpoint accuracy. However, BO6’s smaller maps makes it easy for someone with an SMG to outmaneuver you.
AK-74
CharlieIntelThe AK-74 is a powerful weapon with significant recoil, providing the polar opposite of what the AMES 85 achieves. Those with more experience will be able to handle its powerful kick, and in return, they will have access to one of Black Ops 6’s fastest-killing ARs.
AS VAL
CharlieIntelThe AS VAL’s enormous damage output nearly guarantees that it will be a meta-defining weapon in Black Ops 6.
In addition to being a bit of a pain to level, this weapon’s strong recoil and tiny magazine capacity make it difficult to use. To get the most out of it, you’ll need an extended magazine. With the correct attachments, though, it becomes a formidable weapon.
Although it has its flaws, when used correctly, this weapon is among the best in Black Ops 6. For the time being, nevertheless, its A-tier status is due to its steep learning curve and attachment requirements.
XMG
CharlieIntelEven with the TAQ Eradicator, one of the best LMGs in Modern Warfare 3, it was still unable to compete with the majority of ARs. It appears that the issue has been addressed in Black Ops 6, which is great news because the XMG is an excellent weapon that has been underappreciated despite its obvious advantages.
With its low recoil and tremendous damage output, the XMG is a fantastic long-range weapon. If you’re looking for an LMG that approaches the S tier, this is your best bet, but it falls short of the meta ARs.
Kompakt 92
CharlieIntelBlack Ops 6 features the Kompakt 92 spitfire SMG, where the rapid fire rate of this weapon is both its strongest and weakest point.
This weapon is very inaccurate, has a ton of recoil, and uses ammo quicker than any other in the game. It has several negative aspects. What it excels at, though, is swiftly dispatching enemies from close quarters. Although it lacks the merits of an S-tier weapon, the Kompakt serves its purpose admirably.
DM-10
CharlieIntelThe DM-10 is an excellent semi-automatic Marksman Rifle. Because of its massive damage per shot, it has the highest two-shot kill potential of any weapon in its category. It is also surprisingly consistent, having a low TTK at most ranges.
With its huge default mag size and two shots needed to kill, this weapon can easily shred lobbies, albeit it’s a bit trickier to handle than, say, spraying and praying with an SMG. The DM-10 could be considered an S-tier weapon if it could one-shot with headshots.
AEK-973
CharlieIntelWith reliable three-shot capability, the AEK-973 is an unexpectedly powerful burst weapon. This rifle is a beast at most ranges, with minimal recoil and the ability to kill in three bullets even at 25+ meters. If you manage to land those three hits, you’ll have a very low TTK.
If it weren’t a burst rifle, it would be busted. As easy as it seems, you’ll have to deal with the three-round burst rhythm while everyone else is crouching, sliding, jumping, and diving. This is an excellent weapon if you can reliably group three bullets on target. Otherwise, you’ll have trouble.
B-Tier weapons
LR 7.62
CharlieIntelWith its exceptionally forgiving one-shot kill and rare hit indicators, the LR 7.62 is an outstanding weapon. Scud and other huge maps make it easy to pick off at long range with its high damage, making it terrifying in the hands of an experienced marksman.
This sniper is powerful, although it isn’t quite S-tier. On smaller battlefields, the LR 7.62 is easily outclassed by the Jackal and C9 because of its somewhat sluggish handling. Not to mention the SVD completely outclasses all other Marksman and Sniper Rifles.
PU-21
CharlieIntelIf Black Ops 6’s movement didn’t create such a huge skill gap, the PU-21 would be an ideal weapon. With plenty of ammunition and low recoil, it can deal serious damage from a distance. Its long ADS time and clumsy handling, however, let it be outclassed by faster weapons.
There are two ways to use this weapon: either take advantage of its weaknesses and use a rapid mag to make it worse than an AR, or play to its strengths and use choke spots.
GPR-91
CharlieIntelWith a decent fire rate, standard 30 mag size, near-perfect accuracy without attachments, and unlocked at a very early point in the game, the GPR-91 is a formidable weapon.
To start, it has a total of 90 rounds because it only comes with two extra magazines. If you want to keep this Assault Rifle functional for longer than a few minutes, you’ll need to either scavenge or utilize an extended magazine.
Secondly, it has the class’s worst damage. This is why the GPR is classified as a B-tier weapon: it excels at everything except killing enemies. Despite being one of the poorest ARs available, its accuracy makes it passable at medium range.
Model L
CharlieIntelSimilar to the GPR, the Model L does little damage but it’s reliable. Among Black Ops 6’s ARs, the Model L is among the most accessible and user-friendly, but that’s about it. Other than its very low recoil and clean iron sights, this rifle is otherwise rather average.
Its four-shot kill wouldn’t be terrible if it had a little quicker firing rate. Thankfully, it still has a 4-shot kill range beyond 25 meters, so it’s decent at medium range. But with SMGs being so powerful and most BO6 maps being so small, you’ll be at a disadvantage most of the time if you choose this weapon.
PP-919
CharlieIntelGiven the abundance of powerful SMGs, the PP-919 is average at best. It’s poorer than comparable guns in its class in almost every manner, but its magazine size is its defining characteristic. Now that we’ve reached this point, we find that using Fast Mag 1 allows us to reload faster and handle better, therefore we choose to take fewer rounds.
While it can still be strong in the right hands, it doesn’t provide much in the way of advantages over other SMGs. Although it appears to be a poor SMG on paper, in practice it fits nicely into B-tier.
Tsarkov 7.62
CharlieIntelTrying to rank the Tsarkov 7.62 is no easy feat. First of all, when compared to other Marksman Rifles, its TTK is the worst. However, its one-shot headshot potential makes it a decent choice but there’s no need to prioritize this weapon above the SVD and other Marksman Rifles.
SWAT 5.56
CharlieIntelAnother three-round burst gun,the SWAT 5.56 is a difficult sell in Black Ops 6 because of the game’s fast-paced Omnimovement mechanic.
With all those attackers flying about, it’s really difficult to hit all three body shots with the SWAT’s recoil. It is in B tier because it’s significantly more difficult to use than the AEK-973.
GPMG-7
CharlieIntelWith the GPMG-7, you get a weapon that can kill quite reliably without the usual qualities of LMGs, such as near-limitless ammunition and superb accuracy, and it doesn’t even have the speed or handling of an SMG. Even though this LMG is unlikely to ever become a meta weapon, it only lands in B tier due to the weapon’s tremendous improvement with the correct attachments.
Stryder .22
CharlieIntelThe Stryder only takes four shots to kill so if you master the art of semi-auto firing, the TTK is really short. If handled properly, this, together with the pistol’s moderate recoil and respectable range, makes it a respectable weapon.
9mm PM
CharlieIntelLooking at it from the outside, the 9mm PM appears to be the kind of standard-issue pea shooter handgun that is almost useless. Despite appearances, the 9mm PM is an unexpectedly capable handgun with respectable iron sights, a decent three-shot kill range, and more range than you’d expect from a standard pistol. It just doesn’t quite match the other options.
C-Tier weapons
Marine SP
CharlieIntelGetting hitmarkers at point-blank range isn’t uncommon with this pump-action shotgun because of how unreliable it is. Not only that, it fires at a snail’s pace, rendering its two-shot TTK useless and necessitating those one-shot kills for any hope of being competitive. For shotgun fans, the Marine SP may come as a disappointment.
ASG-89
CharlieIntelHanging out in C tier right alongside Black Ops 6’s other Shotgun is the ASG-89, although it’s arguably worse than the Marine SP. Neither are great, but the ASG’s almost complete lack of 1-shot kill potential is a huge knock against it.
You’re better off running an SMG in most cases rather than using this weapon. Sure, it’s a bit more consistent than the Marine, but at least that thing can one-shot. Ultimately, both Shotguns are just not great picks for multiplayer unless you’re on a small map and playing corners well.
LW3A1 Frostline
CharlieIntelConsidering how excellent the SVD is and how the Tsarkov 7.62 can one-shot a marksman’s head as a rifle, it’s hard to see the use in using the LW3A1 Forstline.
However, if you’re the quickscoping kind, you’ll find that this sniper becomes much more useful with the correct attachments.
GS45
CharlieIntelTo put it bluntly, the GS45 is Black Ops 6’s weakest weapon. When compared to other options, it is an unsatisfactory sidearm due to its slow firing rate, three-shot kill that isn’t improved with headshots, and heavy recoil. It’s simply an inadequate firearm.
Goblin Mk. 2
CharlieIntelThe damage profile of this semi-automatic Assault Rifle is comparable to that of close-range handguns. With low damage, there’s simply no reason to use it unless you’re grinding for camos.
But, remember that meta firearms aren’t your only option for improving your performance. Additionally, make sure you’re using the optimal settings for your controller, PC, and console.
You can also check out the best audio settings for hearing enemy footsteps and the ideal PC settings to give you the edge over the competition.
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