Every season, Call of Duty’s weapon balance shifts enough to make last month’s unbeatable loadout feel mediocre, and Season 05 is no exception. Raven Software and Treyarch pushed a fresh round of damage, recoil, and handling adjustments across both Black Ops 7 multiplayer and Warzone, along with two brand-new weapons. Here’s what’s actually winning gunfights right now, and how to build around it. If you’re still getting comfortable with the basics before diving into loadout theory, our Call of Duty beginner’s guide is a good place to start first.
How the Season 5 Meta Shifted
The headline change this season is the arrival of the FG42, a full-auto assault rifle that landed strong enough to immediately become the most-used AR in Warzone. Alongside it, Raven Software rebalanced several established favorites rather than gutting them — the goal, per the patch notes, was to “open up the meta” without punishing players who’d already invested in a class. A few of the season’s biggest changes:
- AN-94 — buffed minimum damage, faster ADS speed, and reduced base recoil in Battle Royale and Resurgence, pushing it back into serious contention.
- M15 MOD 0 — improved damage range and bullet velocity, making it a legitimate long-range AR pick again.
- AK-27, MXR-17, and X9 Maverick — all took damage range and bullet velocity nerfs, knocking them down a tier from where they sat last season.
- Sturmwolf 45 and REV-46 — both SMGs got meaningful buffs (higher damage and improved ADS speed, plus a headshot multiplier bump for the REV-46), while the Carbon 57 and Dravec 45 saw their effective ranges trimmed slightly.
- Mammoth LMG — a new in-season LMG unlocked through the Machine of War event, hitting hard but currently restricted from Ranked Play during its launch window.
Best Assault Rifles This Season
FG42
The FG42 is the new benchmark AR: excellent damage and a strong fire rate, balanced by slightly slower handling and a short open-bolt delay before the first shot. It rewards players who commit to fights rather than tap-firing from a distance.
Recommended build: – Optic: FANG HoverPoint ELO – Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor – Barrel: 16″ Bandolier Barrel – Underbarrel: RIF Handguard – Magazine: Debase Extended Mag
AN-94
Post-buff, the AN-94 is one of the most well-rounded ARs in the game — strong minimum damage means it doesn’t fall off at range the way it used to, and the recoil reduction makes it far more forgiving for players still working on gunfight consistency.
Recommended build: prioritize a stock or barrel that improves ADS speed further, a mid-range optic (a Reflex or low-power scope works well), and a suppressor to stay off the radar during rotations.
M15 MOD 0
With its extended damage range and faster bullet velocity, the M15 MOD 0 now competes directly with marksman rifles at distance while still holding its own up close. It’s a strong pick if you’re rotating between long Verdansk sightlines and closer building fights.
Best SMGs for Close-Quarters
CBRS-3
Currently the most popular SMG in Warzone. It trades a small amount of range for excellent handling, and pairs well with a Fabricator Mag for sustained fights — just note the mag now has a short delay before it starts refilling ammo after firing, so don’t rely on it mid-gunfight.
Recommended build: FANG HoverPoint ELO optic, LTI Stentorian Brake muzzle, 11″ Gaunt Barrel, MFS Carousel Fast Mag, Casino Light Stock.
Sturmwolf 45
Buffed twice in quick succession, the Sturmwolf 45 now hits harder at close range with a noticeably faster ADS speed. It’s an aggressive, run-and-gun weapon best suited to players who want to win the first shot rather than out-trade in a prolonged fight.
REV-46
The REV-46’s headshot multiplier increase and faster ADS speed make it a strong secondary pick for players who land shots consistently — the damage rewards precision more than raw spray now.
Best Warzone Loadouts by Playstyle
| Playstyle | Primary | Secondary | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggressive rusher | Sturmwolf 45 or CBRS-3 | FG42 | Fast ADS SMG for entry, AR backup for mid-range cleanup |
| All-around mid-range | AN-94 | REV-46 | Buffed recoil control covers most engagement distances |
| Long-range holder | M15 MOD 0 | CBRS-3 | Extended damage range up top, SMG for close punishes |
| Vehicle/objective play | FG42 | Mammoth LMG (unranked) | Sustained damage output for holding zones and vehicles |
Perks and Equipment Worth Running
This season’s loot pool update also changed which perks you’ll actually find in the field. Contract rewards now commonly drop Tempered, Surveyor, Mountaineer, and Scavenger, while Legendary Supply Boxes lean toward Survivor, Momentum, Mountaineer, and Scavenger. Scavenger and Mountaineer both showing up in two separate loot pools tells you where the current balance philosophy sits — sustained ammo economy and faster rotation around the map are valued highly right now.
On the equipment side, Thermite grenades are back in general loot rotation this season after a damage reduction against vehicles, so they’re worth picking up again for area denial and anti-personnel use even if they’re no longer a reliable vehicle-killer.
Multiplayer vs. Warzone: Does the Meta Differ?
Largely, yes — Black Ops 7 multiplayer’s faster time-to-kill and smaller maps favor a slightly different top five: M15 MOD 0, Dravec 45, AN-94, Sturmwolf 45, and Hawker HX currently lead most competitive tier lists for 6v6 modes. The overlap with Warzone’s meta (AN-94, Sturmwolf 45, M15 MOD 0) means building comfort with those three weapons pays off in both formats, which is a good place to focus your unlock grind if you’re trying to gear up efficiently across modes.
Once you’ve settled on a loadout, where you actually land matters just as much as what you’re holding — check our guide to the best Warzone landing spots for the POIs where these weapons show up most reliably early in a match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the single best all-around weapon in Warzone right now? The FG42 is the most dominant pick this season thanks to its damage and fire rate combination, though the AN-94 is the more forgiving choice if you’re still building recoil control muscle memory.
Q: Is the Mammoth LMG worth unlocking? It hits hard and is currently a strong pick in casual Battle Royale and Resurgence, but it’s restricted in Ranked Play during its launch window, so don’t build your ranked strategy around it just yet.
Q: Do attachments matter more than the base weapon choice? Both matter, but a strong base weapon with mediocre attachments will usually outperform a weak weapon with a perfect build. Get the weapon choice right first, then fine-tune attachments to your playstyle.
Q: Why did some of my favorite guns suddenly feel worse this season? Raven Software specifically nerfed the AK-27, MXR-17, and X9 Maverick this patch, trimming their damage ranges and bullet velocity to make room for other weapons in the meta. If your go-to gun feels off, check the latest patch notes before assuming it’s you.
Q: Are Warzone and multiplayer loadouts interchangeable? Mostly, yes — weapon unlocks and attachments carry across both modes since progression is shared, though the ideal attachment priorities (range vs. mobility) can shift slightly given Warzone’s larger engagement distances.
The Bottom Line
The Season 5 meta rewards players who commit to a couple of strong, versatile weapons rather than chasing every buff announcement. Start with the FG42 or AN-94 as your primary, pair it with a fast-handling SMG like the CBRS-3 or Sturmwolf 45, and build attachments around your actual playstyle instead of copying a pro loadout wholesale. For the full picture of what’s changed across the franchise this season, our complete Call of Duty guide is the best place to keep tabs on future balance updates.