Best Warzone loadouts & meta guns in Season 1 Reloaded
DexertoWarzone’s meta has shifted again following the launch of Season 1 Reloaded, so to make sure your classes are still competitive, you need to update your loadouts.
The arrival of a whole arsenal of new BO6 guns and several buffs & nerfs means that you’ll once again have to figure out what to use in Call of Duty’s battle royale. After all, your old builds won’t necessarily cut it anymore if you want to win as many games as possible.
In their place, these top options offer a fast time to kill, great range, and low recoil, allowing them to outgun their peers. To help you out, we’ve put together this list of the best Warzone loadouts, with these recommendations putting you in the best position possible to dominate.
Absolute meta loadouts
If you’re looking to use the best guns in the game, you are going to want to use these weapons. They outperform everything else right now and define the current meta:
Long-range weapons (ARs, LMGs, Battle Rifles & Snipers)
XM4
Dexerto- Optic: Jason Armory 2X
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
- Stock: Buffer Weight Stock
The addition of the Buffer Weight Stock in Season 1 has turned the XM4 into the best gun in Warzone. Unlike most other BO6 weapons, this now has access to an attachment that improves both vertical and horizontal recoil. The only penalty for using this is a slight reduction in handling, which is almost negligible given how absurdly accurate this build is.
It isn’t as though the XM4 was inaccurate in the first place. In fact, it has some of the least recoil of any gun in the game. The only issue was that a lot of this recoil was horizontal, but this stock attachment fixes that entirely. As a result, it is now a laser-accurate assault rifle that has a competitive TTK and is difficult to compete with if you are using any other automatic weapon.
LR 7.62
Dexerto- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Lightweight Handguard
- Rear Grip: Quickdraw Grip
- Stock: Heavy Stock
- Fire Mods: 7.62 NATO Overpressured
If you have played Warzone at all since Black Ops 6 was integrated, you’ve probably noticed that snipers are incredibly strong right now. Most assault rifles and LMGs are less accurate than they used to be, leaving these one-shot goliaths free to wreak havoc on lobbies.
While several snipers are strong, the LR 7.62 is the best overall option. It has an impressive one-shot kill range and high bullet velocity, but that’s not unique to this weapon. What helps it stand out most is its superb handling for a gun like this, which completely outclasses the KATT-AMR, MORS, and LW3A1 Frostline. If you are a skilled marksman, it’s time to switch to this gun.
GPR 91
Dexerto- Optic: Kepler Rod Dot
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
The GPR 91 emerged as the best weapon in Black Ops 6’s arsenal at the start of Season 1, and still remains a top-tier option after the mid-season update. It offers an incredible balance of accuracy and damage. In multiplayer, it is accurate but has a slow TTK, but in Warzone, this assault rifle has one of the best TTKs in the game yet maintains that low recoil that is perfectly suited to battle royale.
This is the ultimate long-range weapon, filling the same role that the DTIR and STG have in seasons gone by. They are both still good options but don’t have the mobility and handling to match up with the GPR 91, which is also a surprisingly mobile weapon given its many other strengths. Incredibly, this gun was even slightly buffed in Season 1 Reloaded, having its bullet velocity increased by 7%.
Model L
Dexerto- Optic: Kepler Red Dot
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
The Model L is an excellent assault rifle that, while not flashy, does everything you need a primary weapon to do. It’s accurate, easy to use, has a large magazine, and deals enough damage to be competitive both at medium and long range. It’s a true jack of all trades option that has very few weaknesses, and it even received a small buff in Season 1 Reloaded, making it better than ever.
In many ways, it feels similar to what the Grau 5.56 once was, albeit not quite that potent. Much like the legendary AR, the Model L has an almost exclusively vertical recoil pattern that is very easy to control, allowing it to laser enemy squads from some distance. Given how popular these kinds of weapons are, it’s no surprise that so many players favor this rifle.
Close-range weapons (SMGs, Shotguns, Pistols)
Jackal PDW
Dexerto- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
- Stock: No Stock
The Jackal PDW is an incredible SMG and the current top pick in the close-range meta. This powerful weapon has the fastest TTK of any Black Ops 6 gun at 616 ms, making it by far the most effective option if you land shots. It also has excellent mobility and handling, so those who enjoy rushing are going to fall in love with this loadout.
That high damage does come at the cost of versatility, with the Jackal PDW very much being a traditional SMG. It shreds up close but quickly falls off, so you’ll want to try and keep duels within 16 meters for the best results. This makes it the best weapon in Resurgence modes, where close-range, fast-paced action matters more than anything else.
PP-919
Dexerto- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
- Laser: Steady Aim Laser
- Fire Mods: Recoil Springs
It took over 20 years, but Call of Duty finally has a rendition of the PP Bizon that is worth using. The PP-919 is a low-recoil submachine gun that is easy to use up close yet also competitive at medium range. It even deals surprisingly good damage, currently sitting as the sixth-fastest killing BO6 gun in Warzone.
That’s an incredible feat when you consider that it comes equipped by default with a 64-round magazine, so you effectively have a free attachment slot to use as you please. This ensures that the PP-919 is the most versatile SMG in the meta, as well as a top pick for those who prefer a more balanced weapon over something like the Jackal PDW, which is only effective up close.
Saug
Dexerto- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
- Stock: Light Stock
From the Fennec 45 to the WSP Swarm and FJX Horus, SMGs with a high rate of fire are no strangers to Warzone’s meta. There’s practically always at least one that is competitive, and Season 1’s latest entry is the Saug. This submachine gun is an incredible option for close-range gunfights and racking up kills with ease, especially if you enjoy playing more aggressively.
It was practically made for Resurgence, with its excellent mobility allowing you to fly around the map, taking as many gunfights as you please. However, this does come at the cost of increased recoil, which limits its ability to compete beyond 13 meters. As such, it isn’t quite as versatile as the PP-919, but there’s no denying that the Saug is still a phenomenal option that can dominate in the right hands.
C9
Dexerto- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
- Stock: No Stock
That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, another MP5 variant has made its way into the Warzone meta. It feels as though there’s always at least one, and this time it’s the turn of the C9, Black Ops 6’s variant of the legendary submachine gun. It hasn’t disappointed either, serving as an impressive all-rounder that has very few real weaknesses.
If there is one area it could be better, it’s recoil control. Thankfully, using the Compensator and Vertical Foregrip makes the C9 much more accurate, allowing it to hold its own both up close and at medium range. It isn’t quite as versatile as the PP-919, but it also isn’t only competitive at close range like the Jackal PDW and Saug. You can consider this to be a happy medium that works well in most situations.
Meta loadouts
These guns certainly pack a punch but don’t quite compete with the Absolute Meta options. Even so, the meta loadouts listed below are still great in their own right and are well worth using:
Long-range weapons (ARs, LMGs, Battle Rifles, Snipers)
XMG
Dexerto- Optic: Kepler Red Dot
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Fire Mods: Recoil Springs
You never quite know how LMGs are going to perform, with them ranging historically from utterly useless to meta-defining. The XMG is neither of those, but it certainly strays closer to the latter, with this newcomer now being the best machine gun in Warzone, and by a good margin at that.
It’s main selling points are its impressive mobility for an LMG and its default 100-round magazine. You can even upgrade it to 150 rounds by equipping the Extended Mag I, which doesn’t actually reduce handling stats at all. A magazine that big would cripple the handling of any MW3 LMG, giving the XMG a clear advantage over the very guns it has superceded.
SVA 545
Dexerto- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: STV Precision Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Magazine: 60 Round Mag
- Rear Grip: Citadel Grip
Since MW3’s integration, there has yet to be a time when the SVA 545 wasn’t at least viable. Even in the Black Ops 6 era, it remains a very competitive weapon, largely thanks to its incredible performance at long range. Unlike the DTIR and STG, it wasn’t nerfed in Season 1 Reloaded either, making it the last remaining MW3 rifle that can compete with its BO6 counterparts.
What makes the SVA 545 so unique is its hyperburst. The assault rifle’s first two shots fire together in a burst, so if you tap fire, it turns into a two-round burst weapon. The main advantage of this is that it becomes incredibly accurate even at extreme distances, giving the SVA unrivaled ease of use.
Kar98k
Dexerto- Muzzle: Sonic Suppressor L
- Barrel: Prazisionsgewehr 762 Long Barrel
- Optic: Range Caller v3.4 Optic
- Ammunition: 7.92 High Grain Rounds
- Sling: Recon Sling
When the Kar98k returned to Warzone, it immediately became the best weapon in the game. This led to inevitable nerfs targeted at controller players, but the Kar98k remains an exceptional weapon even after the introduction of the BO6 weapons. It was nerfed back in Season 1, but its handling and mobility remain untouched, and they are the real reason why so many players love using the Kar98k.
This sniper has an effective one-shot range of 67 meters, which is slightly less than it had before the nerfs. Even then, it’s still the best sniper for playing more aggressively, having effectively replaced the XRK Stalker in this role. It’s not that the XRK Stalker is bad, but rather that the Kar98k is so absurdly good that it’s hard to justify using anything else.
Goblin Mk2
Dexerto- Optic: Kepler Microflex
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Precision Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
Unless they are extremely good, it’s usually hard to recommend using a semi-auto AR in Warzone. We’re talking prime FAL levels of broken to justify picking these guns. However, the Goblin Mk2 is certainly worth trying, as it is the second-fastest killing gun added alongside Black Ops 6. Since it has a fast rate of fire and good handling, that actually makes it a really good weapon up close.
Obviously, you’ll still need to land shots, and that’s harder to do with a semi-auto than an automatic gun, but you can’t ignore this entirely. For those who are skilled enough to make the most out of it, the Goblin Mk2 is a genuinely meta gun that can hold its own in any lobby. Just be prepared to put in the time to master this rifle before you write it off, as it isn’t nearly as accessible as its full-auto rivals.
MCW
Dexerto- Optic: Corio Eagleseye 2.5x
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: 16.5″ MCW Cyclone Long Barrel
- Magazine: 60 Round Drum
- Ammunition: 5.56 High Velocity
The MCW has made a comeback in Season 1 Reloaded following an update that improved idle sway and reduced visual recoil. Raven Software has also fixed the Quartermaster Suppressor, bringing back one of the best attachments on this gun. These changes mean that the MCW is once again hyper-accurate, making it the perfect choice for low to medium skill players who want a gun that’s comically easy to use.
A true no-recoil gun doesn’t exist, but the MCW is about as close as you can get. This assault rifle is able to challenge at just any range, with it even being possible to laser snipers down before they get off a shot. The two big downsides are that it has mediocre handling and a subpar TTK, so a good player using the XM4 or GPR 91 is going to outgun you more often than not.
Close-range weapons (SMGs, Shotguns, Pistols)
Kompakt 92
Dexerto- Optic: Kepler Microflex
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag III
It might not have much range, but the Kompakt 92’s time to kill is staggeringly fast at just 605 ms. That makes even the Jackal PDW look sluggish, which is hard to fathom given that it is widely considered to be the best SMG in Warzone. This fast-firing submachine gun also received a big buff in Season 1 Reloaded, with it now being much more consistent and less reliant on headshots.
Obviously, it still won’t be particularly versatile , with the Kompakt 92 being designed for close quarters and nothing else. Even so, using both the Compensator and Vertical Foregrip at least makes it accurate enough to compete from a little further away, allowing this powerful weapon to consistently outperform some of the meta’s best options.
Striker
Dexerto- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Striker Recon Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Paracord Grip
- Ammunition: .45 Auto High Grain Rounds
- Magazine: 48 Round Mag
The Striker has been in and around the meta for some time but was never quite good enough to justify using over other top-tier SMGs. That changed after Raven buffed its damage ranges a while back, allowing it to finally take advantage of its main strength – its impressive versatility. It was nerfed slightly this season, but these changes haven’t affected the gun too much, with it still being a strong option.
This gun has low recoil and great range, letting it compete from further away than most other guns in its class. Despite this, it’s also competitive up close, having a TTK comparable to the Static-HV, in addition to good mobility and handling stats. It’s a true jack-of-all-trades SMG that works great regardless of what role you need it to fill.
Superi 46
Dexerto- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Lux 30 Heavy Barrel
- Stock: Rescue-9 Stock
- Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
- Magazine: 40 Round Mag
Way back in MW3 Season 4, the Superi 46 took over Warzone, and it continues to see success even now in Season 1. Its mobility stats alone, which are among the best of any SMG in the game, are enough to make it meta, but it also has a fast TTK and even great recoil control. There’s not much that this gun can’t do, though recent nerfs to its damage range have made it less versatile than in the past.
Even with these nerfs, it’s rare to see an SMG that is this well-rounded. It’s reminiscent of some of the battle royale’s greatest SMGs, such as the MP5 and MAC 10. While the Superi 46 hasn’t quite had the same legacy as those legends, you shouldn’t overlook how good this gun is. Even with the addition of eight new SMGs this season, this remains a highly competitive option.
Static-HV
Dexerto- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Garrote-8 Long Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Stock: Spry 24 Light Stock
- Underbarrel: XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop
The STG44 wasn’t the only gun to takeover the meta when it was added in MW3 Season 5, as the Static-HV did much the same. However, it has fallen out of favor somewhat in the Black Ops 6 era, with hefty nerfs to its bullet velocity and damage range making it much more situational. The Static-HV still hits hard but no longer has the versatility it used to have.
Regardless, this SMG is still a good option for those who enjoy playing aggressively. It has retained its excellent mobility and handling stats, which were a big reason why so many players loved using it in the first place. As long as it doesn’t lose these and continues to deal good damage, it’s unlikely that the Static-HV will be leaving the meta anytime soon.
WSP-9
Dexerto- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: WSP Reckless-90 Long Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
- Magazine: 50 Round Mag
When it comes to theoretical TTK and damage, the WSP-9 performs very well. This rendition of the iconic Uzi hits hard, has great mobility, and is even competitive at medium range, unlike most other submachine guns. This is because its slower fire rate makes it easier to control and more accurate from further away.
However, that slower rate of fire is a double-edged sword, as it also makes the WSP-9 less forgiving. If you miss a couple of shots, its time to kill becomes significantly worse. Therefore, this is a high-skill weapon that rewards aim above all else, so while it won’t be for everyone, those who can use it are sure to dominate.
All Warzone guns
Below you’ll find a list of every gun that’s currently available in Warzone across MW2, MW3, and BO6, with links to guides on the best loadouts for each of them:
Assault Rifles
| Weapon (MW2) | Guide | Weapon (MW3) | Guide | Weapon (BO6) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M4 | Loadout | SVA 545 | Loadout | XM4 | Loadout |
| TAQ-56 | Loadout | MTZ-556 | Loadout | AK-74 | Loadout |
| Kastov 762 | Loadout | Holger 556 | Loadout | AMES 85 | Loadout |
| Lachmann-556 | Loadout | MCW | Loadout | GPR 91 | Loadout |
| STB 556 | Loadout | DG-56 | Loadout | Model L | Loadout |
| M16 | Loadout | FR 5.56 | Loadout | Goblin Mk2 | WIP |
| Kastov-74u | Loadout | RAM-7 | Loadout | AS VAL | Loadout |
| Kastov 545 | Loadout | BP50 | Loadout | Krig C | Loadout |
| M13B | Loadout | BAL-27 | Loadout | ||
| Chimera | Loadout | STG44 | Loadout | ||
| ISO Hemlock | Loadout | ||||
| Tempus Razorback | Loadout | ||||
| FR Avancer | Loadout | ||||
| M13C | Loadout | ||||
| TR-76 Geist | Loadout |
SMGs
| Weapon (MW2) | Guide | Weapon (MW3) | Guide | Weapon (BO6) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VEL 46 | Loadout | Striker | Loadout | C9 | Loadout |
| MX9 | Loadout | WSP Swarm | Loadout | KSV | Loadout |
| Lachmann Sub | Loadout | AMR9 | Loadout | Tanto .22 | Loadout |
| Vaznev-9k | Loadout | WSP-9 | Loadout | PP-919 | Loadout |
| FSS Hurricane | Loadout | Rival-9 | Loadout | Jackal PDW | Loadout |
| Minibak | Loadout | Striker 9 | Loadout | Kompakt 92 | Loadout |
| PDSW 528 | Loadout | RAM-9 | Loadout | Saug | Loadout |
| Fennec 45 | Loadout | HRM-9 | Loadout | ||
| ISO 45 | Loadout | FJX Horus | Loadout | ||
| Lachmann Shroud | Loadout | Superi 46 | Loadout | ||
| ISO 9mm | Loadout | Static-HV | Loadout |
Battle Rifles
LMGs
Sniper Rifles
Shotguns
Marksman Rifles
Pistols
That’s all for the best meta loadouts in Warzone, but you’ll also want to check out the best assault rifles, submachine guns, sniper rifles, and most popular guns. Alternatively, out Black Ops 6 gun tier list will help you dominate in multiplayer too.