We’re here to help you improve your gameplay and work out which gun you should be using if you find yourself struggling against meta weapons. Just below you can peruse our tier list of the best Warzone guns, followed by our thoughts on each of the very best guns in the game - and the best part is it’s all up-to-date and ready for Caldera
The best guns in Warzone Pacific
With a stupendous arsenal of over 100 guns now available in Warzone, it can be rather daunting for new players, or even returning players, to dive back into the game and get a feel for the current weapons meta. Our Warzone weapon stats page is a good place to go if you’re looking for hard damage, range, and handling data, but for those who just want to know which guns to prioritise picking up and kitting out, below you can see which guns we consider to be the strongest right now.
Here are the best Warzone guns:
Automaton NZ-41 M1912 PPSh 41 DP27 EM2 AK-47 (Cold War) MP5 (Cold War) Bullfrog Swiss K31 Kar98k MG82
These S-tier guns are listed in no particular order. Each one is at the very top of the current meta of Call Of Duty: Warzone, and you should be quite happy taking any of them to the end of a match as part of your bespoke Warzone loadout drop. If you want to know how a different Warzone gun stacks up against the rest, then take a look below at our Warzone gun tier list.
Warzone Pacific guns tier list:
Now, let’s talk in more detail about the S-Tier weapons in this table, which we consider to be the very best guns in Warzone right now.
Automaton
At a glance, the Automaton may look like an underwhelming Assault Rifle. It has a solid rate of fire and extremely low recoil, but relatively poor damage per shot. However, look a little deeper, and its standout traits jump off the screen. With the proper setup, the Automaton has by far the best range in the Assault Rifle category. Nothing else comes close to touching its potential 100+ meter base damage range. Low recoil, low damage, high range Assault Rifles have always seen success in Warzone. The Krig 6, for example, dominated the meta for six months in 2021. The Automaton looks like the clear successor at the launch of Caldera, especially in the loadout-restricted Vanguard modes. Check out our Caldera-ready best Warzone Automaton loadout guide to get the build!
NZ-41
If the Automaton is the new Krig 6, then the NZ-41 is heir to the legacy of the CR-56 AMAX and EM2. This unique-looking Assault Rifle has an extremely low rate of fire but packs monster damage per shot. With a couple of headshots, its damage output is nearly unparalleled. It is restricted slightly by small magazines, but those 30-45 rounds go farther than you might think with this much damage. The NZ-41 will be an incredibly powerful weapon in mid to long-range Warzone gunfights, of which you’ll find plenty on Caldera. Expect this to be a loadout staple in Warzone Pacific. Visit our best Warzone NZ-41 loadout guide to get ready for the Pacific!
M1912
The M1912 reminds me of the MAC-10’s heyday in the early Cold War seasons. It has a fantastic rate of fire with enough damage to make it shred. Its recoil is totally manageable with the right setup. Its range is respectable. Plus it has huge magazines. Seriously, they’re massive. The default 50 rounders are nearly as big as the MAC-10’s highest capacity magazines, and the 100 round extended mags are unprecedentedly enormous for an SMG. You can spray and pray for days with the M1912, all while doling out top-tier damage. This will undoubtedly be a meta weapon in Warzone, even if it sees some future nerfs. Check out our best Warzone M1912 loadout guide to get the best setup.
PPSh 41
The Vanguard edition of the PPSh-41 is one of the fastest killing SMGs we’ve seen in Warzone. With an incredible rate of fire and above-average damage, the PPSh drops enemies as fast as pre-nerf iterations of some of the game’s most historically dominant weapons. However, those guns often had peripheral drawbacks, often in magazine sizes. For example, the OTs 9 has only a 40 round maximum magazine capacity. The PPSh drops enemies faster than the current, balance-adjusted OTs 9, but packs a 71 round mag. There’s just nothing to hold the launch version of this SMG back from obliterating every fight. Until the inevitable nerf (which it may well survive), the Vanguard PPSh will be one of the best guns in Warzone.
DP27
The DP27 has been slept on a bit during pre-release hype, but that won’t last long. This fast-firing cannon has everything you want out of an LMG. Its recoil is perfectly manageable in long-range fights, its damage is excellent, and its handling stats are far from the worst you’ll see in the LMG class. The DP27 is well-positioned to compete with the likes of the MG82 and Stoner 63 in damage output, with recoil closer to a PKM or even Bruen. Everything about the DP27 is just solid. This LMG has the power and accessibility to stay in the Warzone meta for a long time. See out best Warzone DP27 loadout guide to get the best setup.
AK-47 (Cold War)
The Cold War AK-47 has been one of the top sniper support weapons in Warzone for the entire Cold War era. This classic rifle has maintained top-tier damage through every season, alongside solid mobility and reasonable recoil. However, now this old-school weapon is even competitive at long range. Previously, the AK-47’s sharp damage drop-off made it a poor choice for fights in large, open areas of the map. However, the last several balance patches have repeatedly reduced long-range damage on many of the most popular weapons. The AK can now hang with the likes of the XM4 and FARA at every range, making it one of the best overall weapons in Warzone in nearly all situations. Whether you’re on Verdansk or Rebirth Island, the AK-47 is practically the only gun you need. We even have a best Warzone AK-47 loadout page to help you kit it out!
EM2
The EM2 is finally gaining the popularity it always deserved in Warzone. We’ve been singing this high-damage rifle’s praises since it released, and more and more players are starting to see the light. The EM2’s damage per shot is just astronomically high relative to every other Assault Rifle. While the low rate of fire makes poor accuracy extra punishing, if you’re on target the EM2 is unparalleled. In the hands of a skilled player, the EM2 is one of the best long-range weapons in Warzone. Visit our Warzone EM2 loadout guide to get the best build.
MP5 (Cold War)
The Cold War MP5, on the other hand, has the aforementioned range advantage alongside a larger magazine. While the MP5’s 50 rounds may not seem like a huge bonus over the OTs 9’s 40, it is profoundly impactful, especially in Trios and Squads. Both weapons will need around 8-10 hits to drop a fully armored foe at close range. We know that you, dear reader, would never miss a shot, but most players will. For them, those extra 10 rounds are often the difference between a clean squad wipe and an ill-timed reload resulting in an all-expenses-paid trip to the Gulag. Of course, the OTs 9’s mobility can often be the difference too. Your choice between the two should come down to your playstyle, and what stats compliment you most. If you need help with the build, head over to our Warzone MP5 loadout guide.
Bullfrog
The Bullfrog is more well-rounded than its S-Tier SMG compatriots, if also a bit weaker. It comes with some absolutely colossal magazines, including a maximum capacity of 85 rounds. Its recoil pattern is linear and easy to control. And a single headshot jumps its time-to-kill form average to great, if still not quite as fast as the MP5 and OTs. The Bullfrog also has excellent range for an SMG, making it a viable sniper support option. In the hands of the average player, the Bullfrog will be the most reliable SMG in Warzone. Check out our Warzone Bullfrog loadout build, and make the most of this smooth-handling terror.
Swiss K31
The Swiss K31 remains Warzone’s best Sniper Rifle, a title it’s held since practically the day it released. The Swiss has vastly superior ADS speed to almost every other Sniper, while also claiming the highest chest shot damage in the game. It does have lower bullet velocity, but a mobile, aggressive player isn’t going to feel that in 99% of their fights. That holds especially true if you’re playing Rebirth Island, which is just too small for the max bullet velocity of something like the LW3 - Tundra to matter. Unless you prefer perching on Verdansk rooftops for an entire game (and please, don’t do that), the Swiss K31 easily beats out every other Sniper Rifle in Warzone. Learn how to build this beast with our guide to the best Swiss K31 loadout in Warzone!
Kar98k
The Kar98k, while technically a Marksman Rifle, is the Swiss K31’s only real competition in most situations. It lacks the Swiss K31’s massive chest damage, but it does have a significantly faster ADS speed. If you want the Warzone equivalent to old-school Modern Warfare 2 quickscoping, the Kar98k is as close as you can get. The lower chest damage makes it a less-forgiving option than the Swiss, but if you have the precision to land those flick headshots, chest damage won’t matter one bit. Check out our guide on how to build the best Kar98k in Warzone to help with this one.
MG82
LMGs still struggle with mobility and reload speed in Warzone. However, a few of them have such excellent damage that you can easily justify the drawbacks. The MG82 epitomizes that group. This rapid-fire LMG simply melts targets. It can drop enemies faster than even an AK-47 up close and has enough range to beat many of the best Assault Rifles in longer-range fights. In terms of damage output, the MG82 has essentially no weaknesses. If you can get all that - plus a 100 round default magazine - and all it costs you is some mobility and handling, you take that trade with a smile. Give our Warzone MG82 loadout a glance for the best setup. And there you have it! Hopefully now you’re a master of the Warzone weapons arsenal, and you’re ready to put your newfound knowledge to the test. If you need pairings for these top-tier guns, check out our guide to the best loadouts in Warzone! Plus, get ready for Caldera with our full guide to the new map!
