Warzone’s meta has shifted once again following the launch of the Season 5 Reloaded update, so to make sure your classes are the strongest they can be, you’ll need to update your loadouts.
With every new season of Warzone, the meta changes. The arrival of new weapons, various buffs & nerfs, and even the addition of new maps forces players to once again figure out the best loadouts to use in Call of Duty’s battle royale.
In Warzone, a few weapons stand above the rest, with these going on to dominate lobbies. These guns typically have a fast TTK, great damage range, and low recoil, allowing them to outperform their peers.
Not using these top-tier guns will leave you outgunned, making winning games more difficult than it needs to be. Equally, you need to use the best loadouts, builds, and attachments to make each weapon as effective as possible.
Best Absolute meta loadouts in Season 5 Reloaded
If you’re looking to use the best guns in the game, you are going to want to use these weapons. They outperform everything else right now and have very few downsides.
Best Long-range weapons (ARs, LMGs, Battle Rifles & Snipers)
Kar98k
- Muzzle: Sonic Suppressor L
- Barrel: Prazisionsgewehr 762 Long Barrel
- Optic: Range Caller v3.4 Optic
- Ammunition 7.92 High Grain Rounds
- Sling: Recon Sling
The Kar98k returned to Warzone back in Season 4, immediately becoming the best weapon in the meta. This led to inevitable nerfs targeted at controller players, but the Kar98k is still an exceptional weapon even after the changes. You’ll just need to be a little more skilled now to land those crucial headshots.
This dominant marksman rifle is a sniper with an effective one-shot range of 76 meters, while also possessing far superior handling to any of its competitors. It has effectively replaced the XRK Stalker as the best sniper for aggressive playstyles. It’s not that the XRK Stalker is bad, but rather that the Kar98k is so absurdly good that it’s hard to justify using anything else.
Pulemyot 762
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: ST Pyro Heavy Barrel
- Optic; Corio Eagleseye 2.5x
- Stock: Ivanov Wood Stock
- Underbarrel: Kimura Ryn-03 Vertical Grip
The Pulemyot 762 makes its first return to the meta since the JAK Annihilator Bullpup Kit was nerfed back in Season 2. This follows a huge buff in the Season 5 Reloaded that improved its damage, handling, and fire rate. These have made it a much stronger option, with this now being the best LMG in Warzone.
It offers fantastic accuracy thanks to its low recoil and great range. Furthermore, the Pulemyot 762 has a colossal 100 round magazine, dwarfing all of its competitors. This means you don’t have to reload as often and are far less likely to be caught out doing so. The only downside to this gun is that its handling is slower than other absolute meta options, so it’s not suitable for run and gun playstyles.
STG44
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Bruen Acrux Heavy Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
- Magazine: 50 Round Drum
To literally nobody’s surprise, the STG44 was incredibly strong at the start of the season. In fact, it was the best all-around weapon in the game, offering low recoil and a comically fast TTK. This led to an inevitable nerf in Season 5 Reloaded, with its maximum damage being reduced.
Following the nerf, the STG44 is no longer so utterly dominant there’s no point using anything else, but it is still the best assault rifle in Warzone. Its freakishly low recoil remains untouched, and even its post-nerf time to kill is still competitive. However, the WWII assault rifle is noticeably worse up close after the changes, with SMGs comfortably beating it.
SVA 545
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: STV Precision Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Magazine: 60 Round Mag
- Rear Grip: Citadel Grip
Since MW3’s integration, there has yet to be a meta where the SVA 545 wasn’t at least viable. Now in Season 5 Reloaded, it has once again emerged as an absolute meta assault rifle, largely thanks to its incredible performance at long range.
What makes the SVA 545 so unique is its hyperburst. The AR’s first two shots fire together in a burst, so if you tap fire, it turns into a two-round burst weapon. The main advantage of this is that it becomes incredibly accurate, even at extreme distances. If you don’t fancy using the STG44, this is the next best option.
Best Close-range weapons (SMGs, Shotguns, Pistols)
BP50 (JAK Revenger Kit)
- Conversion Kit: JAK Revenger Kit
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Laser: Kimura RYL33 Laser Light
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Rear Grip: TRST-IV Grip Tape
At least on paper, the JAK Revenger Kit looks to beat out every other option. It offers great mobility, has a competitive TTK, and is easy enough to use regardless of skill level. In many ways, it feels like the successor to the WSP Swarm, which hasn’t been top-tier for a while now.
If guns were solely judged on how dominant they are in a one-versus-one scenario, this would be the only close-range weapon worth using. However, Warzone is a team game, so this conversion kit’s painfully slow reload speed keeps it in check. If you can look past this flaw, it’s a fantastic weapon, but in Trios and Quads, it can be a deal breaker.
Static-HV
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Garrote-8 Long Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Stock: Spry 24 Light Stock
- Underbarrel: XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop
The STG44 wasn’t the only newcomer to make an immediate impact at the start of the season. Warzone players also took to the Static-HV, which is no surprise given its many strengths. The most notable of these was its absurd damage. After the nerfs in Season 5 Reloaded, it doesn’t hit as hard anymore, but it’s still a really good SMG.
It can still do everything it did pre-patch, but it’s just slightly worse across the board now. Before it was untouchable up close and at midrange, while now it’s good at both but not unmatched. The good news is it retained its excellent mobility and handling, which was a big reason why so many players loved using it in the first place.
Superi 46
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Lux 30 Heavy Barrel
- Stock: Rescue-9 Stock
- Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
- Magazine: 40 Round Mag
Throughout Season 4, the Superi 46 took over Warzone, and it continues to see success in Season 5 Reloaded. Its mobility stats alone – which beat every other gun on this list – are enough to make it meta, but it also has a fairly fast TTK and even great recoil control.
It’s rare to see an SMG that is this well-rounded. It’s reminiscent of some of the battle royale’s greatest SMGs ever, such as the MP5 and MAC 10. While the Superi 46 is unlikely to have the same legacy as those legends, Warzone players shouldn’t overlook how good this is. When the community looks back, only then will they truly appreciate it.
Striker
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Striker Recon Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Paracord Grip
- Ammunition: .45 Auto High Grain Rounds
- Magazine: 48 Round Mag
The Striker has been in and around the meta for some time but was never quite good enough to justify using over other SMGs. That changed in Season 5 Reloaded after Raven buffed its damage ranges, allowing it to finally take advantage of its main strength, its unrivaled versatility.
This gun has low recoil and great range, letting it compete from further away than other SMGs. Despite this, it’s also strong up close, having a TTK comparable to the Static-HV, in addition to good mobility and handling stats. It’s a true jack-of-all-trades weapon that works great as both a sniper support and a highly versatile submachine gun.
Best Meta loadouts in Season 5 Reloaded
These guns certainly pack a punch but won’t quite compete with the Absolute Meta. Even so, they offer some variety and are still great weapons in their own right.
Meta long-range weapons (ARs, LMGs, Battle Rifles, Snipers)
BAL-27
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Crown-H3 Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Stock: Ardent Tac Stock
- Magazine: 60 Round Mag
A massive recoil buff at the start of the season saw the BAL-27 emerge as a serious meta contender. This was followed by a range buff in Season 5 Reloaded, which has pushed into firmly into the meta. This futuristic assault rifle is now one of the best long-range options in Warzone.
It’s not overly surprising that this reimagined gun is so good after these buffs, as it already excelled in most other areas. From its relatively fast TTK to its large magazine and snappy handling, there are a lot of reasons to use the BAL-27. This only feels fitting given how dominant it was back in Advanced Warfare, with its pre-buff state simply not doing this era-defining weapon justice.
Holger 556
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Chrios-6 Match
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Stock: RB Addle Assault Stock
- Magazine: 40 Round Mag
For the longest time, the Holger 556 was really good but held back by its smaller magazine capacity. This limitation still exists, but a big range buff in Season 5 Reloaded has proven enough to push this gun firmly into the meta.
It now offers comparable range to the SVA 545 and STG44, both of which are among the best long-range guns in Warzone. This means that, at least in Solos and Duos, this gun is arguably the best assault rifle in the game. In larger team modes like Trios in Quads, it isn’t quite as dominant due to that smaller magazine, but that’s no longer enough of a reason to ignore it.
MTZ-556
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: MTZ Clinch Pro Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Stock: MTZ Marauder Stock
- Magazine: 50 Round Drum
The MTZ-556 has been hovering around the meta for some time now, even having a run back in Season 4, where it was the most used long-range gun. In Season 5 Reloaded, it’s been surpassed by the STG44, but if you were having success with this gun beforehand, there’s no reason why it won’t continue to be a great choice now.
One of the best aspects of the MTZ-556 is its great damage, especially at close range. The MTZ-556 is an AR-SMG hybrid, which means it deals more damage up close than its competitors. This unique trait of the meta AR also means it has fast handling and mobility, which is fantastic for Warzone players who want to make big plays for their squad.
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KATT-AMR
- Muzzle: Sonic Suppressor XL
- Barrel: Zang-34 Barrel
- Laser: SL Razorhawk Laser Light
- Ammunition: .50 Cal High Velocity
- Bolt: Ephemeral Quickbolt
With how dominant sniping is in Season 5, it’s not a surprise that so many players are looking for the best one-shot build possible. Though the Kar98k is excellent for fast-paced sniping, the KATT-AMR is the superior marksman weapon on larger battle royale maps like Urzikstan.
Despite its slower fire rate and handling, the KATT-AMR’s ability to one-shot at any range – in addition to its incredibly fast bullet velocity – makes it a clear meta option. The MORS is a great alternative too, but the KATT-AMR beats out the railgun thanks to its faster bullet velocity.
TAQ Eradicator
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Conquer-70 Long Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Stock: Tactique Brute Stock
- Underbarrel: Bruen Heavy Support Grip
The TAQ Eradicator received a big buff at the start of the season, with its damage profile and range both being improved. That directly affected its TTK, which now competes with the best long-range weapons in the game. However, competitors like the Pulemyot 762 were buffed in the mid-season update, causing this gun to slip down the rankings.
Regardless, if there’s one thing Warzone players love, it’s a forgiving gun that anyone can dominate with, and that’s a perfect description of the TAQ Eradicator. It’s easy to use, hits hard, and has a big magazine, and as long as that remains true, it will remain a great option.
Meta close-range weapons (SMGs, Shotguns, Pistols)
FJX Horus
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Syn9 Long Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Stock: Ripper Light Stock
- Magazine: 60 Round Drum
The FJX Horus was already strong when it was limited to just 48 rounds and had much more recoil. Buffs back in Season 4 and the introduction of a 60 Round Drum elevated this to absolute meta, with the FJX Horus establishing itself as one of the best close-range weapons. However, it received a sizable nerf to damage range at the start of Season 5, making its TTK only competitive out to around 10 meters.
If you can keep gunfights up close, this often overlooked SMG still dominates. It isn’t versatile, nor does it partner well with a sniper, but if you want a proper, old-school submachine gun that melts up close and has great mobility stats, the FJX Horus remains a great option.
MCW (JAK Raven Kit)
- Conversion Kit: JAK Raven KIt
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Underbarrel: Paracord Grip
- Magazine: 40 Round Mag
While the base MCW is a low-damage, long-range weapon, equipping the JAK Raven Kit flips that entirely. With the conversion kit, it becomes an AR-SMG hybrid with a sensational time to kill out to 20 meters. Incredibly, it will usually beat SMGs in this range despite being an assault rifle, making this gun rather special.
Despite its high damage, the JAK Raven isn’t perfect. It has more recoil than most of its competitors and inferior mobility. With that said, this is still the best sniper support weapon in Season 5 Reloaded and one of the best close-range guns that Warzone has to offer.
Reclaimer 18
- Muzzle: Bryson Choke
- Barrel: Ironbrand Long Barrel
- Stock: No Stock
- Underbarrel: Bruen Bastion Angled Grip
- Rear Grip: Haste XV Grip Tape
This shotgun can down enemies in just two shots, giving it a freakish TTK that simply shouldn’t be possible. Its absurd damage was largely assumed to be a bug at the start of the season, but that no longer appears to be the case since it wasn’t changed in the mid-season update.
To be honest, using this will make everyone else in your lobby furious. They will send you angry messages, and you’ll have a great time winning more games. If that sounds like something you want, it’s time to use this rendition of the SPAS-12 and bring it back to its former glory. Just be sure to utilize Tac-Stance as its iron sights are not pretty.
WSP-9
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: WSP Reckless-90 Long Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
- Magazine: 50 Round Mag
When it comes to theoretical TTK and damage, the WSP-9 performs very well, even after being nerfed in Season 5. This phenomenal rendition of the iconic Uzi hits hard, has great mobility, and is even competitive at medium range. This is because its slower fire rate makes it easier to control and more accurate from further away.
However, that slower fire rate is a double-edged sword, as it also makes the WSP-9 less forgiving. If you miss a couple of shots, its TTK becomes significantly worse. This is a high-skill weapon that rewards aim above all else, so while it won’t be for everyone, those who can use it are sure to dominate.
WSP Stinger
- Muzzle: Sonic Suppressor S
- Barrel: Hiss Short Light Barrel
- Laser: XTEN Sidearm-L400
- Magazine: 32 Round Mag
- Rear Grip: Akimbo WSP Stinger
With a theoretical TTK of 560 ms, the WSP Stinger is outstanding when used with the akimbo grip. The combination of its raw damage and high mobility makes it perfect for Resurgence, where running around the map and taking constant gunfights is the aim of the game.
Naturally, this comes with some trade-offs. Most notable is the WSP Stinger’s low range and intense recoil. It can be tricky to control the vertical kick of this gun at times, especially on controller. Mouse and keyboard players will have an easier time, but there are still many other guns that are much more forgiving. Even so, it’s a really good option as long as you keep gunfights up close and personal.
Best off-meta loadouts in Season 5 Reloaded
These weapons aren’t necessarily meta right now, but they can hold their own and are a lot of fun to use. Consider trying these loadouts out if you want a competitive option that most other players aren’t using.
BP50
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Lore-9 Heavy Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Stock: Moat-40 Stock
- Magazine: 45 Round Mag
The BP50 received a range of mobility nerfs back in Season 4, slowing it down quite a bit. Even so, it was so freakishly mobile beforehand that this nerf hasn’t stopped it from having great mobility for an assault rifle. Given its many other strengths, this gun remains a great option, albeit not a top-tier one anymore.
From its great iron sights to its incredible recoil control and effectiveness at just about any range, there are a lot of reasons to use this in Season 5 Reloaded. It says a lot that despite being nerfed several times, the BP50 is still good. Although it may not be meta anymore, it’s not that far off, and a return to the top isn’t out of the question.
COR-45 (XRK IP-V2 Conversion Kit)
- Conversion Kit: XRK IP-V2 Conversion Kit
- Muzzle: Zehmn35 Compensated Flash Hider
- Optic: Mk.3 Reflector
- Stock: XRK Dynamic Precision Stock
- Magazine: 40 Round Drum
The COR-45 has always been solid in Warzone, but it was hard to maintain the fire rate required to make this pistol competitive. However, the XRK IP-V2 Conversion Kit changed that by introducing a binary trigger. This makes it much easier to utilize the COR-45’s true potential and reach its maximum fire rate all at once.
It does take some getting used to, as you don’t want to simply spam fire the trigger but rather find a rhythm where the gun fires fastest. However, once you have figured this out, the COR-45 becomes a monster at short range, offering quite literally the best TTK in Warzone.
Lockwood Mk2 (JAK Wardens)
- Conversion Kit: JAK Wardens
- Muzzle: Bryson Choke
- Laser: Verdant Hook Cylindrical Laser
As much as the community loves to complain about shotguns, they aren’t meta and haven’t been in a long time. They are too inconsistent, have next to no effective range, and are almost always outgunned by SMGs. Furthermore, missing shots is extremely costly, and unless you have the nastiest flicks in the West, they will get you killed more often than not.
Despite all those flaws, it’s impossible to ignore how fun these reimagined Model 1887s can be. Running around and three-tapping enemies as you spin them around is a blast. The JAK Wardens are especially fun on Resurgence, where it’s much easier to get up close and personal.
RAAL MG (JAK Protean)
- Conversion Kit: JAK Protean
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Optic: Corio Eagleseye 2.5x
- Stock: Demo H-40
- Magazine: 50 Round Belt Mag
Any marksman rifle that can kill in two shots is going to be competitive. From the infamous DMR to the more recent MTZ Interceptor, these kinds of guns always perform well. The JAK Protean variant of the RAAL MG is no exception, delivering a deadly two-shot blow to the head.
While this might have you shaking at the thought of another DMR taking over Warzone, you probably don’t need to worry. Just like the base gun, the JAK Protean has terrible handling and mobility. As such, this heavy-duty marksman rifle won’t be for everyone, but those who do enjoy it will find themselves using a powerful gun that’s capable of great things.
SOA Subverter
- Muzzle: Quartermaster Suppressor
- Barrel: Dozer-90 Long Barrel
- Optic: JAK Glassless Optic
- Underbarrel: Paracord Grip
- Magazine: 50 Round Drum
Battle rifles have had a tough time in Warzone as of late, with the versatility of assault rifles and the effective range of LMGs winning out. However, the SOA Subverter stands out as the best battle rifle by far due to its hard-hitting shots and impressive damage profile, which is especially impressive after the buffs in Season 5 Reloaded.
So, what’s the catch? Ever since it was nerfed back in Season 3, there has been no way to build the SOA Subverter to have both fast handling and good recoil control. Since recoil control is a must to make this weapon competitive, its handling has to take a hit. This loadout has a sluggish ADS Speed and sprint-to-fire time, neither of which is suitable for playing fast.
All Warzone guns
Below you’ll find a list of every gun that’s currently available, split up by type, with links to guides on the best loadouts for each of them:
Assault Rifles
| Weapon (MW2) | Guide | Weapon (MW3) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4 | Loadout/Class | SVA 545 | Loadout/Class |
| TAQ-56 | Loadout/Class | MTZ-556 | Loadout/Class |
| Kastov 762 | Loadout/Class | Holger 556 | Loadout/Class |
| Lachmann-556 | Loadout/Class | MCW | Loadout/Class |
| STB 556 | Loadout/Class | DG-56 | Loadout/Class |
| M16 | Loadout/Class | FR 5.56 | Loadout/Class |
| Kastov-74u | Loadout/Class | RAM-7 | Loadout/Class |
| Kastov 545 | Loadout/Class | BP50 | Loadout/Class |
| M13B | Loadout/Class | BAL-27 | Loadout/Class |
| Chimera | Loadout/Class | STG44 | Loadout/Class |
| ISO Hemlock | Loadout/Class | ||
| Tempus Razorback | Loadout/Class | ||
| FR Avancer | Loadout/Class | ||
| M13C | Loadout/Class | ||
| TR-76 Geist | Loadout/Class |
SMGs
| Weapon (MW2) | Guide | Weapon (MW3) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| VEL 46 | Loadout/Class | Striker | Loadout/Class |
| MX9 | Loadout/Class | WSP Swarm | Loadout/Class |
| Lachmann Sub | Loadout/Class | AMR9 | Loadout/Class |
| Vaznev-9k | Loadout/Class | WSP-9 | Loadout/Class |
| FSS Hurricane | Loadout/Class | Rival-9 | Loadout/Class |
| Minibak | Loadout/Class | Striker 9 | Loadout/Class |
| PDSW 528 | Loadout/Class | RAM-9 | Loadout/Class |
| Fennec 45 | Loadout/Class | HRM-9 | Loadout/Class |
| ISO 45 | Loadout/Class | FJX Horus | Loadout/Class |
| Lachmann Shroud | Loadout/Class | Superi 46 | Loadout/Class |
| ISO 9mm | Loadout/Class | Static-HV | Loadout/Class |
Battle Rifles
| Weapon (MW2) | Guide | Weapon (MW3) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lachmann 762 | Loadout/Class | BAS-B | Loadout/Class |
| SO-14 | Loadout/Class | Sidewinder | Loadout/Class |
| TAQ-V | Loadout/Class | MTZ-762 | Loadout/Class |
| FTAC Recon | Loadout/Class | SOA Subverter | Loadout/Class |
| Cronen Squall | Loadout/Class |
LMGs
| Weapon (MW2) | Guide | Weapon (MW3) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakin MG38 | Loadout/Class | Pulemyot 762 | Loadout/Class |
| HCR 56 | Loadout/Class | DG-58 LSW | Loadout/Class |
| 556 Icarus | Loadout/Class | Bruen Mk9 | Loadout/Class |
| Raal MG | Loadout/Class | Holger 26 | Loadout/Class |
| RPK | Loadout/Class | TAQ Eradicator | Loadout/Class |
| Rapp H | Loadout/Class | TAQ Evolvere | Loadout/Class |
Sniper Rifles
| Weapon (MW2) | Guide | Weapon (MW3) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCPR-300 | Loadout/Class | KATT-AMR | Loadout/Class |
| Signal 50 | Loadout/Class | Longbow | Loadout/Class |
| LA-B 330 | Loadout/Class | KV Inhibitor | Loadout/Class |
| SP-X 80 | Loadout/Class | XRK Stalker | Loadout/Class |
| Victus XMR | Loadout/Class | MORS | Loadout/Class |
| FJX Imperium | Loadout/Class | ||
| Carrack .300 | Loadout/Class |
Shotguns
| Weapon (MW2) | Guide | Weapon (MW3) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockwood 300 | Loadout/Class | Lockwood 680 | Loadout/Class |
| Expedite 12 | Loadout/Class | Haymaker | Loadout/Class |
| Bryson 800 | Loadout/Class | Riveter | Loadout/Class |
| Bryson 890 | Loadout/Class | Reclaimer 18 | Loadout/Class |
| KV Broadside | Loadout/Class | ||
| MX Guardian | Loadout/Class |
Marksman Rifles
| Weapon (MW2) | Guide | Weapon (MW3) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| EBR-14 | Loadout/Class | KVD Enforcer | Loadout/Class |
| SP-R 208 | Loadout/Class | MCW 6.8 | Loadout/Class |
| Lockwood MK2 | Loadout/Class | DM56 | Loadout/Class |
| LM-S | Loadout/Class | MTZ Interceptor | Loadout/Class |
| SA-B 50 | Loadout/Class | Kar98k | Loadout/Class |
| Taq-M | Loadout/Class | ||
| Tempus Torrent | Loadout/Class |
Pistols
| Weapon (MW2) | Guide | Weapon (MW3) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| X13 Auto | Loadout/Class | COR-45 | Loadout/Class |
| Basilisk Akimbo | Loadout/Class | Renetti | Loadout/Class |
| FTAC Siege | Loadout/Class | TYR | Loadout/Class |
| 9mm Daemon | Loadout/Class | WSP Stinger | Loadout/Class |
That’s all for the best meta loadouts in Warzone, but you’ll also want to check out the best assault rifles, submachine guns, sniper rifles, and most popular guns. Alternatively, these best MW3 loadouts will help you dominate in multiplayer too.
