The best Black Ops 6 weapons to use in the launch meta
If you’re curious about what the best weapons inside BlackOps6 then you have come to the right place. At the game’s launch (perhaps better thought of as the period leading up to Season 1), we tested which weapons to shred and which to keep in the armory to provide a list of the eight best at the moment.
Luckily, some of these are available very early, so you won’t have to do a lot of grinding to start using some of the best weapons in the world. BlackOps6.
From assault rifles and SMGs to sniper rifles and shotguns, we’ve included at least one weapon from each primary weapon category. If you have a Call of duty game earlier, some of these will feel very familiar – and that’s because, as usual, many of these weapons are almost identical to previous inclusions, albeit with a different name.
What follows is our ranking of the eight best weapons inside BlackOps6‘s meta at launch.
Black Ops 6 best weapons in the launch meta
The best weapons in BlackOps6 are now:
- Jackal PDW (SMG)
- AMEN 85 (assault rifle)
- XM4 (assault rifle)
- AEK-973 (sniper rifle)
- Tanto .22 (SMG)
- LW3A1 Frost line (sniper rifle)
- Marine SP (shotgun)
- XMG (LMG)
If you played the beta, this list won’t look all that unfamiliar, since for the most part the weapons that dominated there – the Jackal PDW, AMEN 85And XM4 – are still the three best weapons in BlackOps6.
However, further down the list we have the AEK-973 burst marksman rifle – which can drop enemies in just one burst and has manageable recoil – and the Tanto .22 SMG -which has a much lower rate of fire than you would expect from an SMG, but it makes up for this with the damage it does.
The beta’s favorite LR 7.62 sniper rifle has made way for the LW3A1 Frost linebecause even though they are both automatic and the LR 7.62 does more damage, the LW3A1 has more mobility and lends itself to the fast nature of BlackOps6 better, meaning it’s more suited to sniping on the move rather than setting up shop.
The Marine SP shotgun is better than the ASG-89 – pump actions with one-shot kill potential will always be at the top of the rankings – and the XMG LMG may not have the best mobility, but it makes up for it with its suppressive fire ability, lack of recoil, and high damage.
Below you will find more information about each selection:
While the Jackal PDW has been generated slightly since its dominance during the first weekend of the beta, it is still the strongest SMG and the best weapon in the game overall.
Our best Jackal PDW gear is the build you’ll want to use with this rapid-fire SMG, as it will tear your enemies apart at close range, and if you use the attachments we recommend, you’ll be running and gunning without aiming downrange. sights anyway. However, it is not unlocked until level 43 so you will have to wait a while before equipping it.
For the most part, you’ll want to use a laser (the Steady Aim Laser or Fast Motion Laser will do the job) in addition to the CQB Grip and No Stock. This makes the Jackal PDW an absolute machine up close. For the last two attachments, we recommend one of the two Fast Mags, the Ranger Foregrip, the Short Barrel if you’ve leveled the weapon high enough, or the Suppressor.
2. AMES 85 (assault rifle)
If you want to compete remotely, there’s no better shout than the AMEN 85 assault rifle, unlocked at level 19. It has very little knockback and can pack a huge punch, meaning you can easily pick off enemies from afar, although it doesn’t do a very good job at close range, so we recommend using Overkill with it in addition to the Jackal PDW.
When it comes to attachments, use attachments that improve damage range, knockback, and aiming speed. Either the compensator or ported compensator, the reinforced or long barrel, the vertical or precision grip, the Quickdraw or the Commando Grip, and the heavy or combat stock should do the job. Consider using an optical sight instead of one of these if you’re not a fan of the iron sight!
When it comes to all-rounders, you can’t look further than the XM4. We’ve covered the best XM4 gear in a separate guide, but what you get with this weapon is a basic assault rifle that can do it all. Fighting through corridors and tight corners? Placed behind cover? Run and gun? The XM4 is your weapon, especially if you keep that in mind unlocks at level four.
It doesn’t really excel at anything, but what that means is that you want to equip it to handle any situation. A decent optical sight is a necessity, then we recommend going for attachments that improve damage, range and recoil control. A foregrip is essential, as is the long or reinforced barrel when you unlock them.
4. AEK-973 (sniper rifle)
The first new addition to our list of the best guns in BlackOps6 above our picks for the beta is the AEK-973. Unlocked at level 34if you’re lucky it can break through enemies with one burst, and reliably with two.
You need to be able to land your shots, so focus on controlling the recoil, but once you do that, the AEK-973 is perfect for playing slowly and tactically, methodically finding your way around the map.
We recommend the Ported Compensator and Reinforced Barrel attachments to help take out enemies from a distance, along with the Vertical Foregrip to control horizontal recoil. The Commando Grip, on the other hand, amplifies the aim down and sprints to fire rate, giving you a bit more mobility.
An optical sight is necessary due to the poor iron sights on the pistol, but the one you choose is personal preference – we like the Accu-Spot Ultra Holo for its 3x zoom and unobstructed view.
The Tanto .22 is an interesting choice because even though it’s an SMG, it fires incredibly slowly compared to most. However, it makes up for this shortcoming with the amount of damage it does, so while it isn’t great up close and personal and will outperform any SMG with a faster fire rate, at slightly further range this thing is a monster.
You want to respond to that by controlling recoil with the Ported Compensator, and then try to use the rest of your attachments to improve both recoil and mobility. The Ranger Foregrip is a strong choice, as are the Commando Grip and Balanced Stock. Finally, we opted for an optical sight, but any red dot or holographic image will do the job.
6. LW3A1 Frostline (sniper rifle)
Replacing our sniper rifle from the beta (the LR 7.62) is the LW3A1 Frost lineanother bolt-action sniper rifle that has slightly less firepower, but more mobility and handling. While you can equip this sniper to play slowly and pick off enemies from afar, it’s better suited to the fast-paced playstyle, especially since BlackOps6 is a fast shooter.
You’ll want gear that will further improve mobility, so go for a medium-heavy scope – our recommendation is the Dobrych 4x – and the Muzzle Brake to help manage recoil and reset your aim.
The Short Barrel, Commando Riser and Light Stock attachments all help to further increase mobility, allowing you to aim down faster, move faster and raise your weapon as you sprint faster.
The Marine SP shotgun is all the rage on the smaller maps available in the game, such as those in the Face Off Moshpit playlist, due to the massive damage it can deal per shot. Make sure you keep moving so you can kill enemy after enemy one shot at a time, as there is no room for ranged fighting on these maps.
You’ll need the Combat or Quick Load Barrel, Ranger Foregrip, Balanced Stock, Steady Aim Laser, and the Rapid Fire attachment to make it the best it can be. If you decide to use this weapon on other maps, be sure to use Overkill to equip another primary that can handle longer range combat.
Finally, we have the XMG. This is by far the best LMG in the game, meaning that while it’s not suitable for a run-and-gun style of play, if you’re happy with slower play and lying down a lot of of suppressive fire, the XMG is a beast.
It has the highest firepower and magazine size in its category, so when it comes to attachments you’ll want to make it a little more mobile to ensure you can compete in as many situations as possible while maintaining recoil control.
An important thing to note with the XMG is that we do not recommend an optical sight, as through our testing the recoil is most manageable with the iron sights. However, we recommend going for the Reinforced Barrel to improve damage range, and the Ranger Foregrip to control horizontal knockback and slightly improve your movement speed.
The Commando Grip and Balanced Stock improve mobility, after which the Recoil Springs help you keep everything under control.
Finally, an honorable mention for our best C9 gear. The MP5-inspired SMG isn’t worthy of inclusion on this list, but is still very strong with the right attachments and deserves your time once you exhaust the Jackal PDW.