Modern Warfare and Warzone's Season 6 brings in two extremely powerful new weapons that are currently shaking up the meta, but as Modern Warfare and Warzone continue, constant balancing changes and updates also slowly shift popular consensus towards different guns. In general, balance changes have flattened the differences between the most powerful and the weakest weapons, meaning that practically any gun can be used to some effect in multiplayer. For those looking to take home wins in Warzone though, even a slight edge given by a strong gun can make the difference.
Some weapons in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone end up extremely powerful because of just one or two loadouts, while others are strong across the board. These ratings will focus on strength in the current meta, overall versatility, and fun-factor. Some weapons are strong in standard multiplayer while others are only practical in Warzone, but there is usually significant overlap between the two. This season's tier list may look quite a bit different from last season's, with a heavy emphasis on versatility now that so many guns are similar in power.
D-Tier Modern Warfare and Warzone Weapons
D-Tier weapons usually have a mix of poor performance and lackluster fun-factor. A weapon that is the worst in its class automatically ends up in D-Tier regardless of overall strength, and the same goes for any weapon that is made obsolete by another gun that just does the same job better. The Dragunov is a prime example: it is the worst sniper rifle in Modern Warfare, and plenty of DMRs do a better job at what it is supposed to do. The VLK Rogue is the worst shotgun, the MG34 is the worst LMG, the M19 is the worst pistol, and the JOKR is the worst launcher, all at least in comparison to others in its class.
The EBR-14 is made obsolete by other DMRs, much as the M91's relatively uninteresting gunplay leaves it outshone by several better LMGs. The Uzi may not be the weakest SMG, but its off-putting trigger delay and lack of good loadouts land it in D-Tier. The FR 5.56 is a good-looking, fun weapon, but it just can't compete with other ARs because of its lack of full-auto, while the FAL makes a better DMR-lite. Luckily, D-Tier is a relatively small category, as balancing changes have slowly buffed most of the worst weapons.
C-Tier Modern Warfare and Warzone Weapons
C-Tier guns may be quite strong in one particular area, but usually fall short in enough key areas that they can't find a stable place in the meta, such is the case with Modern Warfare's Oden. The Oden does great damage, but is cumbersome and suffers from high recoil and slow fire rate. The FN Scar 17 is a high-accuracy, high-damage gun, but its ammo count is too low to make it useful for Warzone. The P90's high ammo makes it great in hardcore, but its low damage means it's useless anywhere else.
Some weapons, like the ISO, may be relatively strong, but do nothing better than other top picks in their category. The 1911, PILA launcher, and Model 680 all fall into the same category. The Holger-26 has terrible damage and handling that its high ammo count just can't make up for. The SA87 is an interesting LMG that can push into AR territory, but isn't strong enough in either use to stand out from the pack. From here on though, every weapon will be strong enough to use regularly.
B-Tier Modern Warfare and Warzone Weapons
B-Tier weapons aren't weak, but they take getting used to. Those who main B-Tier weapons likely swear by their favorite gun, but other players might just not see what's so great about it. The Kilo 141 and M13 are two such weapons, with high accuracy yet low damage per shot. Kilo users love its high ammo counts and low recoil, while M13 mains swear by its rapid rate of fire and great headshot multiplier. Both take time to master, but have a really good payoff.
The AUG may seem weak at first, but becomes a high-damage, high-mobility powerhouse of an SMG with a 5.56 ammo conversion. The AN-94 excels only when players can land their first shots and take advantage of its hyperburst, much as the .357 revolver requires first-shot accuracy. The PP19 Bizon, Kar98k, and X16 pistol are all solidly B-Tier weapons. Some B-Tier weapons aren't necessarily strong, just fun to use, like the knife and Crossbow. The Riot Shield is also B-Tier because it can be extremely useful, just not for getting kills.
A-Tier Modern Warfare and Warzone Weapons
A-Tier weapons are some of the strongest guns for both Modern Warfare and Warzone, but typically end up in A-Tier because they are just shy of overpowered. A-Tier is the ideal spot for a weapon: strong, fun, and unique, but not broken. After its nerf last season, the FAL is a good example. It's great for bridging the gap between DMR and AR, offering some of the benefits of each class. The AK-47 is A-Tier just because of its versatility, while the Rytec AMR is so strong because no other sniper can also take out Warzone vehicles.
The Fennec is a great SMG for close encounters, while the Striker 45 is the best SMG for range. Other weapons land in A-Tier by virtue of being second best, like the PKM, which used to be the strongest LMG but was outshone by new guns. The HDR sniper and R9-O shotgun are also firmly in second best status. The SKS is a great DMR that often goes underappreciated, and the MK2 Carbine is a phenomenal one-shot machine that is extremely fun despite some shortcomings. The RPG-7 is great against human targets, but lacks both oomph and accuracy on vehicles and killstreaks. The Kali Sticks and Dual Kodachis are A-Tier just because of fun factor, and the fact that they are both slightly better than the standard knife.
Lastly, the AS VAL is placed in A-Tier. It may be extremely overpowered now, but a nerf to its game-breaking bullet penetration is almost certain, which will knock it down to a more reasonable level. Its high rate of fire and damage are great, but recoil should assure that it stays a close- to mid-range option.
S-Tier Modern Warfare and Warzone Weapons
S-Tier weapons are strongest-in-class, often bordering on overpowered. They usually have negligent downsides and are defined by massive strengths and great versatility. The M4A1 is the OG OP S-Tier weapon, with all-rounder performance and immense versatility in customization options. M4A1 builds are in no short supply, and they are almost all extremely strong. The RAM-7 can rival the M4A1 in DPS while losing out slightly on range, and the Grau 5.56 is the opposite, with extreme range and low recoil, making it a Warzone favorite.
The CR-56 AMAX is the best gun chambered in 7.62, while the Renetti, AX-50, Strela-P, and Origin 12 are all the best gun in their individual classes. The MP5 and MP7 are the two strongest SMGs in the game. Each has its strengths, but either one can carry a good player to victory. Likewise, the Bruen Mk9 and FiNN LMG vie for the top spot in the LMG class, although the FiNN relies on its high fire rate barrel options to be as strong as it is.
The 725 might not be the best shotgun, but it has a mix of range, damage, and fun-factor that put it squarely in S-Tier. The .50 GS might not be as strong as the Renetti in all cases, but it packs a serious punch that overshadows even the .357 revolver. The new SP-R 208 is the latest addition to S-Tier, offering a perfect mix of sniper rifle and DMR characteristics that shine even brighter due to its extensive customization options. Any weapon in Modern Warfare and Warzone is worth trying at least once, but the key to victory is finding the one that works best for the player.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone are available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.