The M8A1 marksman rifle is arguably the strongest weapon in the Black Ops 7 Beta. It’s four-round bursts come off at an insane rate, and the gun also packs a ton of firepower. These traits give the marksman rifle one-burst kill potential, but these pros are mitigated by how unwieldy the weapon feels in close-range scenarios. Nevertheless, it’s a delight to use in the beta, especially when you pair it with all the meta attachments. And in case you’re looking for those, here is the best M8A1 loadout in the Black Ops 7 Beta.
Best Black Ops 7 Beta M8A1 Loadout
- Optic: Lethal Tools ELO
- Muzzle: VAS 5.56 Suppressor
- Barrel: 21” Frontline Barrel
- Underbarrel: Envoy Foregrip
- Fire Mods: Buffer Spring
Our recommended attachments for the best M8AI loadout in the Black Ops 7 Beta bolster everything that the weapon has going for it. These picks improve the marksman rifle’s range and neutralize its recoil, resulting in a fast-killing gun that dominates across all ranges.
In the Optic slot, we’ve opted for the Lethal Tools ELO – a clean sight that offers ample magnification. You can instead choose to run the iron sights, and in that case, consider using the unused attachment slot towards an Extended Magazine. For the Muzzle, the VAS 5.56 Suppressor is a great pick since it’ll hide your location on the enemy mini-map while firing. This attachment is especially handy as you’ll likely spend a decent amount of time perched up on an overlook, picking off enemies one by one.
To boost the MBA1’s damage potential and effective range, be sure to pick the 21” Frontline Barrel. The recoil gains from the barrel are mitigated by the Envoy Foregrip and the Buffer Spring Fire Mod.
Best M8A1 Class Setup in Black Ops 7
With these attachments equipped, the M8A1 turns into a dominant force on the battlefield. Headshots within 20 meters turn into instant kills, and two four-round bursts to the body are enough to floor enemies across mid and long ranges. As such, you don’t really need another primary weapon in this class, so it’s best to pick the Perk Greed Wildcard instead.
As for the secondary weapon, it boils down to a choice between an automatic pistol or a semi-automatic pistol, so personal preference prevails.
Perks & Equipment
- Perk 1: Ghost
- Perk 2: Hunter’s Instinct
- Perk 3: Dexterity
- Additional Perk: Tracker
- Wildcard: Perk Greed
- Lethal: Semtex
- Tactical: Stim Shot
- Field Upgrade: Drone Pod/Echo Unit
The M8A1 is not suited for CQB. Sure, you can get away with the occasional hipfire headshot, but the weapon feels almost clunky in close-range engagements. As such, it’s best to prioritize Perks that help you stay vigilant as you move around the map or set up shop in a power position.
In the first slot, Ghost is a solid pick as it renders you invisible to enemy equipment. Next, we’ve gone with Hunter’s Instinct, which marks the location of the closest enemy after a kill, allowing you to sort your position accordingly. Rounding out the trio is Dexterity, which reduces weapon motion, letting you ADS while sliding and diving. For the Perk Greed slot, Tracker is excellent as it lays out enemy footsteps during gameplay and pings their rough locations on the minimap.
The classic Semtex and Stim Shot combination is our pick for the throwables, but feel free to pick the Combat Axe if you want something more fun. As for the Field Upgrade, the Drone Pod has emerged as a nuisance across all maps and modes, while the Echo Unit is far more effective than what you’d first assume. Give both a spin and see which one you like the most.
And that wraps up our guide on the best M8A1 loadout in the Black Ops 7 Beta. Is the marksman rifle your favorite weapon so far? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
