As one of the most popular battle royale experiences, Call of Duty: Warzone is under constant observation for nerfs and buffs. Call of Duty: Warzone fans build their loadouts around the developer updates, which is what makes this nerf such a surprise. It seems that a popular and powerful weapon may have received a Season 1 nerf without anyone being told.
Call of Duty: Warzone's community has long discussed the power of the R9 shotgun when combined with "Dragon's Breath" rounds. Powerful R9 Call of Duty: Warzone loadouts tend to take advantage of the range and fire damage from the ammo, making it a meta standard in many player circles.
In a tweet from Raven Software's creative director Amos Hodge, he claims that R9's max damage has been reduced alongside the tick damage of Dragon's Breath. Although this fact is absent from the patch notes, he seemed fairly certain of this change. Shortly after this tweet was posted, the creative director deleted it, making the community wonder if the R9 has been nerfed at all. Thankfully, ModernWarzone managed to screenshot the tweet, documenting it for the overall Call of Duty: Warzone community.
Since the actual tweet is absent, the game's community is meeting the news with hesitation. There is no information as to why it was deleted, but many are considering it most likely true considering the source. Call of Duty: Warzone fans have long requested an R9 nerf, and Season 1 provided a perfect opportunity to fix the ongoing shotgun issue.
The Call of Duty: Warzone R9 has been nerfed, the community has not noticed. Players continue to ask for a nerf to reduce the damage and power of both the shotgun and the Dragon's Breath rounds. As this tweet continues to circulate, players are taking a closer look at the shotgun, hoping that the news is true.
Until more information is provided in the next patch, it is unknown if the R9 has officially been adjusted. Call of Duty: Warzone's community continues to debate the nerf's standings, meanwhile other guns are slowly floating to the top of the meta-list. Call of Duty: Warzone players seem content in running the R9 despite rumors of the nerf.
Call of Duty: Warzone continues to watch a fluctuating meta as the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War integration adds over 30 new weapons. Players are taking to the battlefield with new and old favorites ready to win a seasonal battle royale.
Call of Duty: Warzone is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.