Call of Duty: Warzone has a diverse collection of over 70 weapons, leaving many newcomers stumped on what to actually use on the field.
To help you conquer the new season with some in-meta picks, here are our recommended Warzone weapons to use by type.
The best Warzone Assault Rifle: AK-47 (Black Ops)
How to unlock: Reach Character Level 7
Iconic in its own right, the AK-47 is the go-to weapon for anyone who wants a standard battle rifle.
Though many people swore off the gun due to its confusing recoil pattern, the developers made some slight adjustments to nudge the AK-47 back into the meta.
As an accessible gun with high damage output, the AK-47 is a reliable piece to any Warzone loadout that’s in need for medium to long-range domination.
The best Warzone Submachine gun
How to unlock: Using SMGs, kill 2 or more players rapidly in 15 different matches
As a Season 2 favorite, the MAC-10 still stands as a strong close-range weapon. Despite getting its damage nerfed in Season 3, the main advantage of this SMG is its speedy fire rate.
Sporting a plethora of potential attachments, you can play the MAC-10 as a spray-and-pray killer up close or use its substantial range to chip down enemies from a medium distance.
The best Warzone Shotgun
How to unlock: Reach Character Level 1
Another accessible weapon at hand, the R9-0 shotgun is more than capable of decimating enemies at arm’s reach.
Equipped with a double-barrel that provides two rapid shots before each re-chamber, you can weave in and out of cover without having to worry too much about reloading.
Though it might not deal as much damage as a pump-action, you’ll be able to rely on the R9-0’s mobility and faster fire rate.
The best Warzone Light Machine Gun
How to unlock: Reach Character Level 24
With a lot of top-tier SMGs like the Bullfrog getting nerfed, Activision may be pushing Warzone into an LMG-dominant meta, and the SA87 is your best entry into it.
The SA87 stands out as an LMG that excels in mobility and control. While its stats seem standard at first, you can attach a Tac Laser to grant some substantial ADS time bonus. It also has a straight recoil pattern that looks pretty easy to rein in after a few sessions.
The best Warzone Tactical Rifle
How to unlock: Reach Character Level 10
In the same light as the AK-47, the M16 has been an all-time favorite in previous seasons for its damage output and bullet velocity. Even though Raven Software nerfed its damage and the time between bursts, players can expect the same gameplay from the tactical rifle.
It’d be best to see the M16 as a solid medium-range armament. Make sure to use that range to give yourself enough time to line up your burst fires for the inevitable kill.
- All weapon patch notes for Call of Duty: Warzone Season 3
- All attachment patch notes in Call of Duty: Warzone Season 3
The best Warzone Marksman Rifle
How to unlock: Reach Character Level 33
Labeled as a marksman rifle, the Kar98K is a deadly long-range weapon that could rival its slower variants in the sniper rifle class.
With a high damage output and fairly adaptable fire rate, you can slot this WW2 relic in to easily catch out enemies trying to scout you and your squad from afar.
The Kar98k is definitely perfect for Warzone’s more open landscape in Verdansk ’84, especially in places like Downtown and Stadium.
The best Warzone Sniper Rifle
How to unlock: Reach Character Level 11
As one of the sniper rifles left untouched in Warzone Season 3, the HDR remains a high-grade option for those who want to take their time for the perfect shot.
Faster-paced players might prefer the Kar98k over the slower sniper rifle, but the HDR offers more damage and an unbeatable bullet velocity, giving you the option to down enemies from a distant vantage point.
The best Warzone Handgun
How to unlock: Reach Character Level 4
Though people have been raving about the Sykov and its deadly Akimbo attachments, the 1911 provides a simpler approach to your secondary slot.
As a base handgun, the 1911 keeps you mobile during any encounter. Find yourself stuck in cover with an empty AR mag? You can quickly switch to the 1911 and guarantee a few more hail-mary shots to win the firefight.
The best Warzone Rocket Launcher
How to unlock: Reach Character Level 35
A Modern Warfare favorite in Warzone, the JOKR comes in as a fine choice for the launcher class.
As a fire-and-forget weapon, the JOKR is hands down the most accurate launcher with the best range. Moving trucks and helicopters might be hard to track, but you can flawlessly take them down with this bad boy.
The best Warzone Melee Weapon
How to unlock: With the Knife equipped, perform 2 finishing moves in 10 different matches
The melee weapon type is definitely a sore thumb when it comes to its effectiveness on the field, but the Wakizashi is a definite flex in any kill-confirm situation.
The katana-like sword still gives you some apt mobility when running in and out of buildings. If you do get the chance to perform some finishing moves, get ready to watch your operator slash through your opponent with ease.
READ MORE: The complete beginner’s guide to Call of Duty: Warzone
