Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone season 4 has been a mixed bag ever since its delayed start, but the most recent "reloaded" update brought in a great new map, a new anti-material rifle, a huge number of balancing changes, and the return of the long-awaited 24/7 Shoot House and Shipment playlists. Season 4 also had the addition of the Fennec SMG and the CR-56 AMAX, more commonly known as the Galil. While the Fennec is a beast, especially in hardcore, it didn't receive any balancing changes, but many other weapons did, shifting the meta once again.
An across-the-board buff to shotguns and snipers, a significant nerf to the Warzone-favorite Grau-5.56, small nerfs to the MP5, AK-47, CR-56, FAL, and buffs to the Dragunov, MK2 carbine, and KAR98K have completely changed the rankings of a large portion of weapons in the game. Many players have ditched their GRAUs out for the tried and true M4A1, but the long-lasting effects of all of these changes haven't been fully discovered. For those now wondering which weapons are the best after their favorites have been nerfed, this article will take a deep dive into the implications of all of these changes.
ARs: The M13 is a Replacement for the GRAU
The GRAU 5.56 was a favorite in Warzone because of its minimal recoil and great ranged damage with the correct attachments. Now, its ranged damage has been decreased, its recoil has been increased, and the benefits of its long barrels have been reduced. Many players have turned back to the ever-reliable M4A1, but there are a few good ARs that can take the place of the GRAU. These changes affect Warzone far more than Modern Warfare, but SMG changes discussed later on are very prevalent to standard multiplayer modes.
The M13 is the closest thing anyone can get to the former glory of the GRAU. With a good setup, the M13 can achieve almost no recoil, and its rate of fire allows players to take advantage of its stellar headshot damage multiplier. Now that all headshots automatically apply Stopping Power as well, headshot-focused weapons are even more deadly. The M4A1 will always be a favorite for very good reason—it is reliable, predictable, and works as a perfect all-rounder. A good M4 loadout can be essential to victory in battle royale.
The CR-56 AMAX is also a phenomenal option for Warzone, although it is very different to the GRAU. Its 7.62 caliber ammunition does incredible DPS against armored players, while its recoil and handling are extremely manageable. The CR-56 was also nerfed in the most recent update, but it was a slight tweak to its ranged damage, rather than a total change. It is still an extremely usable weapon, and can offer a serious edge when most players use lower damage 5.56 caliber weapons.
SMGs: The MP5 Is Still King
The MP5 has long been the best SMG in Modern Warfare and Warzone, rivaled only recently by the Fennec's insane rate of fire and low recoil. With the recent balancing changes, the MP5 had its damage range reduced, while its 10mm ammunition received a wave of nerfs that makes it a far less viable option. Even with a bit less damage range, the MP5 is still a phenomenal weapon. It has smooth, easy recoil and great damage, but it will now struggle quite a bit more to compete at mid- to long- range with ARs.
Up close, the Fennec wins out over the MP5. Its blistering fire rate and minimal recoil make it a force to be reckoned with, especially in hardcore playlists where its DPS is through the roof. While the Fennecs damage dropoff at range is pretty steep, its lack of recoil and pinpoint accuracy still make it viable out at pretty long ranges. It's strange that the Fennec wasn't nerfed in this update, but this balancing patch seemed more aimed at Warzone than anything else.
DMRs, Snipers, and Shotguns, Oh My!
Shotguns have needed a significant buff for some time now. While a shotgun can reign supreme on small maps like Shipment, their damage beyond point blank range is truly abysmal. This update applied a large number of buffs to shotgun slugs, but not to the normal shells that most shotgun users have equipped. Sadly, that doesn't do much to change how useful they are, but some players may find quite a bit of fun in the satisfying punch of a well-aimed slug. In DMRs, the SKS is still the best for Warzone, despite buffs to the MK2 and some changes to the Kar98k.
Snipers received an across-the-board buff. While they were always important to Warzone, Ground War, and even some of the large standard multiplayer maps, snipers are now truly experiencing their time in the sun. The AX-50 received increased damage range, the HDR now has a guaranteed 1-hit kill to the torso at any range, the Dragunov has a faster rate of fire and better recoil, and the new Rytec AMR is an explosive-lobbing beast that can practically replace a launcher. The HDR is now likely the best sniper for taking out players, while the Rytec AMR is essential to Warzone for taking out vehicles and killstreaks.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone are out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.