Best M4A1 loadouts in XDefiant: 3 class builds for low recoil and damage

Shane Black
M4A1-Xdefiant

The M4A1 is the default weapon in XDefiant, and while it may be the starting gun, that doesn’t mean it is any less impactful compared to other weapons.

This assault rifle is a steady weapon to have at your disposal to be able to hold your own in just about any combat scenario in the game.

Here is a breakdown of the best way to kit out the M4A1 and make sure that you are a consistently powerful presence in any XDefiant match.

Contents

XDefiant M4A1

The best loadout for the M4A1 turns this otherwise unimpressive weapon into a nightmare for enemies:

  • Optic: Reflex Sight
  • Front Rail: Superlight
  • Stock: Padded Stock
  • Magazine: Fast Mag
  • Rear Grip: Quick Draw

The strength of the M4A1 is that it’s a jack-of-all-trades weapon; these attachments will help enhance it even more.

However, you’ll also want to equip the Superlight and Quick Draw to improve the speed at which you can aim down the sights. These attachments will keep the M4A1 consistent at close range.

The Padded Stock is your best all-around option in the category, making you much more stable in tense firefights and keeping your aim on target even while under fire.

In addition, the Fast Mag reduces the time it takes to reload the weapon, so you won’t have to worry about someone getting the drop on you. Finally, the Reflex Sight helps accurately line up shots and makes using the assault rifle much easier.

Your best bet for a secondary will be the M9 Pistol, a great complement to any loadout that provides more close-range support. This is thanks to its semi-automatic rate of fire.

You can then top off the loadout with the Frag Grenade to help clear out rooms and provide some explosive support for yourself and your teammates.

This is the ideal jack-of-all-trades setup for this weapon, but there are some other loadouts that specialize in certain areas you may want to give a try.

Best M4A1 loadout for low recoil

The M4A1 has a significant amount of recoil in the game. Here is a loadout you can consider to reduce the recoil:

  • Barrel: Stabilizing Barrel
  • Front Rail: Tactical Grip
  • Stock: Padded Stock
  • Magazine: Extended Mag
  • Rear Grip: Lightweight Grip

The Stabilizing Barrel is another good attachment as it increases horizontal and vertical recoil control by +2.5% for each.

The Padded Stock which will give your weapon +10% ADS stability and +5% ADS flinch control. It will also give +15% recoil recovery which will further help make M4A1 have a low recoil.

The Lightweight Grip improves the recoil recovery by 25%, as well as the ADS walking speed which when paired with the Padded Stock’s +10% ADS stability, greatly enhances the weapon’s stability.

Finally, the Tactical Grip will give you an additional +35% recoil recovery paired with a 5% increase in ADS time.

The Extended Mag will be a huge boon for if you’re trying to take out opponents at longer ranges, counteracting some of the damage falloff by giving you more bullets to send down range. It’s a luxury item, though, and can be replaced with an optic if you prefer.

The D50 is a good fit for your secondary weapon as it deals a significant amount of damage fast. Since you’ll want to beam people at range with this setup, run a Proximity Mine to keep people off your back.

Best M4A1 loadout for high damage

The M4A1 is a well-balanced weapon. However, if you’re looking to maximize its damage, we’ve got the perfect loadout for you:

  • Muzzle: Muzzle Booster
  • Barrel: Heavy Barrel
  • Front Rail: Superlight Grip
  • Magazine: Fast Mag
  • Rear Grip: Quick Draw Grip

The Muzzle Booster will give a +2.5% Rate of Fire which, when paired with Superlight Grip will help you get in fast with +2.5% Movement Speed with a +10.0% ADS Time.

Use the Heavy Barrel to add +5.0% Weapon Damage. The Fast Mag along with this will give you +5 ammo capacity and +50% Reload Speed to help you mow down enemies without interruption.

Lastly, the Quick Draw Grip will give you faster Sprint-Shoot time and faster ADS speed, letting you run around without worry.

The 686 Magnum is a good secondary weapon to be used in this loadout as it deals high of damage at close range. Though it’s kind of a niche option, the Flash Grenade goes well with this loadout for hitting hard and fast when your opponent isn’t expecting it.

How to unlock the M4A1 in XDefiant

The M4A1 is automatically unlocked in XDefiant as soon as you start playing. There are no prerequisites to get it.

Check out our best XDefiant AK-47 loadout build here.

If you’re looking for other options in different weapon types, you can also check out our picks for the best SMGs and best Sniper Rifles. Make sure you’re also keeping up with all the upcoming Season 1 content too.