The best weapons in Call of Duty: Warzone for season 3

AK-47 (CW)

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Kicking off our list is the Cold War version of the AK-47. This has a tremendously fast time to kill (TTK) and is much easier to use than it used to be, thanks to recent updates. The nice thing about the AK-47 (CW) is that it shoots slowly, meaning you can get away with using a smaller magazine size. Though, most players will opt to run the 60 round magazine size with it. Even after a slight nerf on May 4, this weapon still dominates.

The AK-47 is an excellent weapon for skilled players who want to be aggressive while ensuring mobility and aim down sights (ADS) speeds aren’t penalized much. This weapon isn’t as easy to use as the Krig or the Grau 5.56, but its TTKs make up for it. It’s best to practice with this weapon on Rebirth Island since most of your engagements will be within 100 meters, meaning recoil won’t be as much of an issue.

Automaton (VG)

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The Automaton doesn’t have the best TTKs, but it’s relatively easy to control and has a large magazine size, perfect for securing multiple eliminations. Thanks to a very slight nerf on May 4, the Automaton hits a little harder at range.

If you build the weapon to prioritize recoil control and stability, you should have an easy time sticking to your target. The nice thing about the Automaton is that it features a ridiculously fast fire rate at 833 rates per minute, making it forgiving if you miss some of your shots. In fact, this fire rate rivals some SMGs, so it’s absolutely worth trying out. The Automaton is best used at around 20 meters or so, in the mid-range area, falling in line between an SMG and long-range assault rifle.

C58 (CW)

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The C58 is similar to the AK-47 (CW) in that it hits like a truck, but is slightly easier to control, making it an appealing choice. Its recoil isn’t as manageable as Krig 6 or the QBZ-83, but given how powerful the C58 is, we highly recommend it. This is a great weapon to use if you’re familiar with controlling mild recoil and want some extra oomph. In this case, you can get away with using the 45 Rnd Drum instead of a larger magazine since the C58 shoots a little slower, allowing you to maximize the potential of each bullet.

Some newcomers might be turned off by the more powerful weapons like the EM2 or AK-47 due to their recoil, so the C58 is a great middle-of-the-road option that can be mastered without having to spend too much time. We also appreciate the C58’s ADS speeds, reload times, and movement speed — all of which compete nicely against the other top-tier assault rifles.

Cooper Carbine (VG)

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The Cooper Carbine is unique in that it’s an assault rifle, but it’s best used as an SMG. Sure, you can deck it out for range — and we recommend trying that — but the best way to use the Cooper Carbine is as a close-range SMG, prioritizing speed, ADS speeds, and fire rate. The nice thing is that even if you do build it for close quarters, it still excels at mid-range since it’s an assault rifle, making this the perfect sniper support weapon.

Raven Software has nerfed the Cooper Carbine, but it remains a top choice due to its accuracy, TTK, and versatility, all of which are key when selecting a weapon for Warzone. If the above build is too hard to control, we advise swapping a few attachments for recoil stabilization so it’s easier to control. Though, if you play often, you’ll likely have no trouble controlling the SMG version of the Cooper Carbine, especially if you only use it up close.

CR-56 AMAX (MW)

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Remember the CR-56 AMAX? There was a time when this weapon was at the top of the Warzone meta, but following a nerf, and the launch of many other rifles, it fell by the wayside. But now, as of the season 3 update, the AMAX is back as one of the best assault rifles in the game. The main reason for this is that its TTKs are actually better than many other assault rifles (depending on where you hit the enemy), including the AK-47 (CW) and XM4.

Despite this, the AMAX doesn’t feel overpowered since it’s a bit of a slower weapon and caps out at 45 rounds. One of the best things about the AMAX is that it’s relatively easy to control, despite being powerful — typically the stronger the weapon, the higher the recoil — but that isn’t the case with the AMAX. It’s recommended to utilize the Amped perk with this weapon, allowing you to swap to your secondary faster. This is to make up for the low 45-round count, which will likely lead to some sticky situations, even if your aim is spot on. Nonetheless, the AMAX hits hard and is easily one of the best weapons, despite some smaller shortcomings.

EM2 (CW)

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Hands down, the king of assault rifles right now is the EM2, at least when measuring TTKs. It kills dramatically faster than most of the assault rifles in the game but is even harder to control than the FARA 83 — again, showing Raven Software’s commitment to balance. This weapon has a few quirks we should mention, such as its slow rate of fire and heavy handling. In many ways, the EM2 feels like an LMG, which might be a turn-off to some.

Though, if you build the weapon appropriately, you can significantly improve its mobility and handling. One thing we highly advise is to use a different optic than the default option. This scope has comically slow aim down sights (ADS) speeds and will almost certainly get you killed in the heat of battle. If you equip the Field Agent Grip and Agency Suppressor, you’ll have a much easier time controlling this weapon. In addition, stick with the 40 Rnd to reduce your ADS times (as opposed to the 50 Rnd), as the weapon fires slowly enough to justify having a smaller magazine size.

FARA 83 (CW)

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AUG (MW)

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It’s not often a Modern Warfare SMG makes it to the top of the meta, but given Warzone‘s current state, there are plenty of options across the board. In this case, the AUG is still a sleeper hit, offering competitive TTKs, with a bit more versatility than some of the other SMGs on this list. More specifically, the AUG works well at mid-range, serving as a decent sniper support option while still holding its own up close.

The main thing to watch out for with this weapon (and all Modern Warfare weapons) is its mobility. It’s a slower SMG that might struggle to compete against weapons from Cold War or Vanguard, but if you know how to finesse your opponents, you’ll do well with the AUG. Thankfully, it hits hard and is easy to control, so we highly recommend giving it a go.

Milano 821 (CW)

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The Milano 821 is an anomaly on this list because it’s an SMG that excels at long range. It’s not as good as the best assault rifles but it makes up for that since it’s a fast, mobile SMG. If you build the Milano like an assault rifle, you’ll find it to be a competitive option that still works well up close. When using something like the C58 or the Grau 5.56, you pretty much have to take on enemies from afar. Anyone who challenges you up close with an SMG will likely beat you if you’re using an assault rifle. So, the Milano is a great choice since it performs decently from afar and just as well up close since it has great mobility and fast ADS times. One downside is that you’ll run out of ammo more often with this weapon since it’s an SMG, and SMG ammo caps out at 150 (plus whatever is in your clip), as opposed to assault rifles, which cap out at 210.

MP5 (CW)

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Ah, the classic MP5. The Cold War version has gone in and out of the game’s meta but has always been good. Now, due to a nerf to the previous top dog — the OTs 9 — the MP5 (CW) has reclaimed its position at the top spot. This is because the MP5 (CW) has excellent TTKs, even if it isn’t super easy to use.

That’s why you should stick with the MP5 within 10 meters to ensure its high recoil doesn’t negatively impact you much. This weapon has high mobility, high damage, and is overall a blast to use. You can also build it to excel at mid-range, but we’d recommend avoiding that, and instead, equipping attachments suited for close-quarters engagements.

MP40 (VG)

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The MP40 is the quintessential Vanguard SMG, boasting fast TTKs, high mobility, and overall ease of use. This weapon is the king of SMGs right now, as many aggressive players have grown fond of its fast fire rate and other close-range benefits. With this build, the MP40 is set up to focus on a run-and-gun playstyle, with lightweight mobility, and quick ADS speeds. This will allow you to easily start shooting your opponents before they even know what hit them.

As with many Vanguard weapons, you can go in a totally different direction with the attachment setup, instead opting for recoil control for mid-range battles. Though, we think the MP40 is at its best when used up close. Still, try out a variety of loadouts and see what works best for you.

Owen Gun (VG)

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The Owen Gun has been in the No. 1 spot on the SMG list for a while now due to its extremely fast TTKs up close. Seriously, nothing else even comes close to this weapon in terms of power, and even after a slight nerf here and there, it’s still the best up-close. Beyond that, it supports up to 72 rounds, has tremendously fast mobility, and is easy to control in close-quarters engagements.

The main thing to watch out for is the Owen Gun’s large ammo container that protrudes from the right side of the weapon, obstructing your view on that side. This, at times, can actually cost you a gunfight if an opponent rushes you from that side. You can actually negate this downside if you use the M38/Slate 2.5x Custom, but this will hurt your ADS speed slightly, so it’s a tradeoff. In addition, the Owen Gun doesn’t work well at mid-range, so you’ll want to bring along a weapon that covers your bases beyond close-quarters.

OTs 9 (CW)

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Our last SMG pick is the OTs 9, a weapon that easily outclasses every other option in the game — at least within 8 meters or so. The OTs 9 is one of the best close-quarters weapons, allowing you to take down your opponents faster than any other SMG, as long as you’re within a few meters. It has low enough recoil when used up close that it’s easy to use while allowing you to wipe the floor quickly with your opponents.

But surely a weapon this good has its downsides, right? Well, the OTs 9 is practically useless past 15 meters, and its recoil past that range becomes high enough to make it hard to use. The other major flaw is that it has a low ammo capacity of 40, meaning you likely won’t be able to take on more than two opponents at a time with it. To help mitigate this flaw, we advise using the VDV 40 Round Fast Mag, which gives you faster reload times. Despite its downsides, it’s well worth trying, thanks to its extremely fast TTK up close.

PPSh-41 (CW)

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Kicking off our SMG recommendations is the PPSh-41, a great all-around option that works well in many scenarios. It doesn’t have the best TTKs up close, but it’s a tremendous weapon to use past 17 meters or so. Typically, SMGs are far less effective past 15 meters, but this is where the PPSh shines. With that in mind, this is a good weapon to use as sniper support or alongside a long-range assault rifle like the Krig 6.

The best thing about the PPSh-41 is its massive magazine potential of 71. This is enough to wipe a full squad before needing to reload, which is major. Despite being physically larger (especially with that huge ammo drum), the PPSh has fantastic ADS speeds and mobility, coming in line with the best SMGs in the game. The PPSh-41 is continuously slept on and is still worth trying out during season 3.

PPSh-41 (VG)

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As we’ve grown used to by now, Warzone has another duplicate weapon — this time, the PPSh-41 from Vanguard. Despite sharing the same name, the Vanguard version is quite different from the Cold War PPSh, though both are excellent. In this case, the Vanguard version has a much faster fire rate, allowing it to excel more up close, which — for some players — is ideal. It actually has a faster TTK than the Cold War PPSh up to 11 meters, so if you’re wanting a wild close-range SMG, we highly suggest it.

Keep in mind, the PPSh-41 (VG) has a noticeable amount of recoil and may be harder to control. If so, you might want to use the Cold War PPSh instead. The build above is more so meant for close quarters, with an emphasis on mobility. Both options are fantastic. It just depends on your skill and playstyle.

Type 100 (VG)

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The Type 100 is secretly the best SMG in the game in terms of TTK. That doesn’t mean you’ll always achieve that fast TTK since the best build does have a lot of recoil, but if you’re in close proximity to your target, the weapon should be easy to control. With this build, we advise using the Recoil Booster to improve the weapon’s fire rate. This does increase the recoil (hence the name), but the TTK will improve. The other key to this build is the Gung-ho Perk, which allows you to hip-fire while sprinting.

This is huge, as it’ll allow you to start shooting an enemy first. The main strategy is to sprint, then begin hip firing at the opponent, and then aim down sights. By the time you’ve aimed down sights, the enemy will already be damaged, allowing you to finish them off quickly. The Hollow Point rounds absolutely help as well, though only for close-quarters battles. We wouldn’t recommend engaging with enemies past 12 meters or so with this build.

Welgun (VG)

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The Welgun is comparable to the Type 100, though it’s easier to control in certain situations. The main idea is that it hits hard, even without boosting its fire rate. Because of this, it’s a tad more practical than the Type 100, making it a little more useful at mid-range (though not by much). Ultimately, the tradeoff here is that the Welgun is slightly easier to control and hits a little harder, while the Type 100 has the potential for a faster TTK as long as you’re super close to your opponent. Both weapons are worth using; it will just come down to your playstyle.

Another factor is that the Welgun has faster ADS speeds and slightly faster reload speeds when compared to the Type 100. So it really is a toss-up when it comes to picking the best SMG. The Welgun also has a faster rate of fire, which makes it a bit more forgiving. At the end of the day, give both a try and see which one is more consistent for you. We tend to lean toward the Type 100, but the Welgun might work best for you.

Gallo SA12 (CW)

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Speaking of close-quarters, let’s touch on a weapon category that is often overlooked: Shotguns. Since shotguns are only useful at around 8 meters or so, many players opt against using them, which is understandable, but if you play your cards right, you can become unstoppable with the right setup. Arguably the best option in the game is the Gallo SA12. It’s tough to measure TTKs with a shotgun, but based on our testing, you can down a player in as low as two shots depending on proximity (and how much armor they have equipped).

Aside from the high damage potential, shotguns are great because they’re primarily fired from the hip, as opposed to aiming down sights. This means you can start dealing damage to your opponents first since your pellets will come out faster. The Gallo SA12 is the best option for longer ranges — of around 10 meters or so. Even though a maximum of 12 pellets doesn’t sound like much, you’d be surprised how much damage you can deal with that amount.

JAK-12 (MW)

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If you’re new to using shotguns, there’s one more recommendation you might want to try. The JAK-12 is our second choice in the shotgun category due to it being fully automatic. This means you can simply hold down the trigger to fire off a consistent stream of pellets. Up close, this is absolutely devastating, even though each pellet doesn’t deal as much damage as the Gallo SA12. If you’re within 5 meters or so, the JAK-12 pretty much beats anything else, so it’s at least worth trying out.

One thing to note is that we advise using the Frangible — Disabling Perk on this weapon, which slows your foes’ running speed when you deal damage to them with the JAK. This allows you to close the gap faster, potentially leading to an easier elimination.

Bren (VG)

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When it comes to Vanguard weapons, the Bren is at the top of the list in terms of long-range automatic firearms. Though it’s an LMG, which makes it a little slow and clunky, you can actually build it to be a little more lightweight, making it feel more like an assault rifle. The main reason to use the Bren is that it’s highly accurate, with low recoil and competitive TTKs, even up close.

This weapon might take a little bit to get used to since it’s not great when you don’t have the best attachments unlocked. But once you’ve got it leveled up, it’s a beast of a weapon. In fact, Raven will likely nerf the Bren’s recoil, though, at this point, it still remains at the top of its class. Give it a try before it’s nerfed!

MG 82 (CW)

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Hands down, the MG 82 has one of the best TTKs in the entire game. In fact, past seven meters or so, it outranks the AK-47 (CW) and the OTs 9, making it a top choice. The problem is that it’s not the easiest weapon to use and has slow mobility due to it being an LMG. Still, you can deck it out in a variety of ways to make up for most of its shortcomings.

The build described above is more so meant for mid to long-range and works well for players who know how to control recoil. This will stabilize its recoil as much as possible while ensuring it works well from afar. As a tip, we advise pulling back hard on the stick to keep it steady. Do keep in mind, you can build this weapon for close quarters as well, which works great on Rebirth Island. Either way, the MG 82 is an absolute beast if you know how to use it.

Kar98k (MW)

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In Warzone, being able to take out enemies from afar quickly is ideal, and that’s where the Kar98k comes into play. This sniper is meant to be used much more aggressively than something like the HDR and works great in fast-paced engagements. The Kar doesn’t have the range of the slower, heavier snipers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t secure long-range eliminations from hundreds of meters away with it.

The main reason the Kar is so useful is that it features high damage and fast ADS speeds, meaning you can quickly scope in, pull off the shot, and adjust if need be. It’s deadly accurate and can be fired off quickly, making it one of the best snipers in the game — especially for aggressive players. It’s recommended to couple this weapon with a close-range firearm, like an SMG or shotgun.

Swiss K31 (CW)

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The Swiss K31 is virtually identical to the Kar9k. However, the Swiss is slightly slower but deals more damage to the chest, so it warrants your attention, for sure. Pretty much everything we explained about the Kar98k applies to the Swiss. It has fast ADS speeds, is lightweight, and is great for aggressive players. One of the other upsides to using the Swiss K31 is that it has a built-in sniper scope (as opposed to the Kar). Because of this, you essentially have an extra attachment slot to use, which could give it the upper hand against the Kar.

In this case, we like using the Vandal Speed Loader, which grants you significantly faster reload times. Being able to reload quickly could save your life, so we suggest giving this attachment a try when using the Swiss. Ultimately, the Swiss and Kar are both fantastic. Which one you end up leaning towards will come down to slight differences and personal preference.

ZRG 20mm (CW)

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