The Warzone meta is constantly evolving, whether that’s due to seasonal updates, balancing changes, or the introduction of new weapons. The biggest shake-up to the meta in recent months came as part of the reintroduction of Verdansk. Coupled with the adjustments made in Season 3 Reloaded, the game’s weapon meta has undergone some significant shifts. Naturally, players have to adjust according to the meta in order to remain competitive. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best guns in Warzone Season 3, as per the current meta.
Best Guns in Warzone
Our list of the best guns in Warzone includes weapons from all three primary classes. Besides ranking the weapons, we’ve also mentioned the best loadouts to equip to fine-tune their performance for the battle royale mode.
1. CR-56 AMAX
- Optic: Volzhskiy Reflex
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Gain-Twist Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
The CR-56 AMAX is easily the best gun in Warzone at the moment. The weapon’s highly desirable blend of strong firepower and impressive accuracy means that no Assault Rifle comes close to beating its dominance. The AMAX also offers blistering TTK, provided you land your shots consistently, across all ranges. While its recoil can take some getting used to, it’s not nearly as poor as the AK-74.
2. HDR
- Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
- Barrel: Gain-Twist Barrel
- Underbarrel: Lightweight Bipod
- Stock: Combat Stock
- Fire Mod: 108mm Overpressured
A fan-favorite back during Verdansk’s heyday, the best HDR loadout enjoyed a dominant return to Warzone as it immediately climbed to the top of the meta. The bolt-action rifle is currently the best Sniper in the game, thanks to its one-shot capabilities, bullet velocity, and precision. Barring a slight nerf to its ADS speeds, the Season 3 Reloaded update left the HDR unscathed. And as such, it remains one of the best guns in Warzone.
3. Kilo 141
- Optic: Willix 3x
- Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
Another classic Verdansk weapon, the Kilo 141, returned to Warzone alongside the Season 3 update, and in terms of performance, the gun picked up right where it left off. A jack-of-all-trades AR, the Kilo offers laser-like accuracy across all ranges, respectable damage output, and exceptionally low recoil. The weapon has effectively dethroned Black Ops 6’s XM4 in this category, and is currently the most accessible Assault Rifle in the game.
4. SWAT 5.56 (Grau Conversion Mod)
- Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Full-Auto Extended Mag
- Stock: Balanced Stock
- Fire Mods: SWAT 5.56 Grau Conversion
The Grau 5.56 wasn’t just a menace during the days of OG Warzone, it was an absolute must-have. Using any other AR in a gunfight against the Grau automatically placed players at a disadvantage. And while the weapon’s modern iteration doesn’t hit as hard, it’s still one of the best guns available in the game.
To access it, you must grind using the SWAT 5.56 and unlock the Grau Conversion mod. This transforms the Marksman Rifle into a beast of an AR that boasts clean iron sights, top-tier accuracy, and close to zero recoil. Safe to say, the grind is worth it.
5. Kar98k
- Optic: Range Caller v3.4 Optic
- Muzzle: Sonic Suppressor L
- Barrel: Prazisionsgewehr 762 Long Barrel
- Rear Grip: Recon Sling
- Ammunition: 7.92 High Grain Rounds
The Kar98 has been a consistent performer throughout the Call of Duty franchise, and Warzone is no exception. The BR title has seen multiple iterations of the iconic bolt-action rifle, and the Kar98k, which was introduced as part of Modern Warfare 3, might be the best one yet.
Built for medium-range sniping, the weapon can eliminate enemies with a single shot at this range, while offering better mobility than any Sniper. Its damage does falloff at long ranges, but if you want to hit hard and fast, the Kar98k is a reliable option.
6. KSV
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag I
- Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
The KSV is arguably the best SMG in Warzone, thanks to its TTK figures and all-around balance. It can dish out a ton of damage across close and medium ranges with a rapid fire rate, all while being relatively stable. The SMG isn’t devoid of recoil by any means, nor is it as stable as the C9 or PP-919. But if you don’t want to compromise on the damage output, the KSV is worth trying out and easily one of the best games in Warzone.
7. AK-74
- Optic: Volzhskiy Reflex
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Gain-Twist Barrel
- Underbarrel: Ranger Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
The close-range beast saw its stocks tank due to some hefty nerfs in the Season 3 Reloaded update. That said, the AK-74 is still one of the fastest killing guns at close-range encounters, overpowering every other weapon in its class. You already know the drill when it comes to the AK, its clunkier than other ARs, its lacks stability, and its recoil pattern is also all over the place.
Yet, it remains one of the go-to picks for aggressive players who enjoy hunting their enemies down. If you fall in this category, the AK-74 packs the firepower required.
8. Ladra
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
- Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
The Ladra is the latest SMG on the block, and it’s already vying for the top spot in the meta. With a lethal combination of low recoil, fast fire, and supreme accuracy, the weapon certainly makes a strong case.
Its TTK figures are also impressive, so you’ll have no trouble sending entire squads to the Gulag. As the meta settles, the Ladra could easily climb to the top of this list. But until then, make sure to try it out yourself. Don’t have it yet? Learn how to unlock Ladra SMG right here.
9. C9
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
- Grip: Commando Grip
Being the spiritual successor to the MP5, the C9 is the most accessible SMG in the game. It’s extremely stable, easy to control, and competitive in close-range engagements. However, its damage potential pales compared to rapid SMGs such as the Ladra and KSV, making landing shots around the upper torso region crucial. Despite this, the C9 makes for an excellent secondary weapon for a long-range AR or the Kar98k.
10. Cypher 091
- Optic: Willis 3x
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Gain-Twist Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
The Cypher 091 arrived with plenty of acclaim during Season 2 and remained the meta AR for several weeks. Unfortunately, its status declined rapidly due to nerfs and the introduction of new weapons, causing it to land at the very bottom of this list.
While it’s no longer as dominant, the Cypher 091 is certainly reliable due to its stable fire rate and rapid TTK. The AR really shines in long-range encounters since its low recoil is always a breeze to control. To surmise, the Cypher 091 is still one of the best guns in Warzone.
That wraps up our guide on the best guns in Warzone and the game’s current meta. Which is your favorite weapon on the list? Be sure to let us know in the comments down below.
