Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warmay have officially passed its life cycle, with a few newer games from the franchise now available. That said, with mixed fan reception to the latest releases, many fans are finding comfort in the latest offering still led by Treyarch, especially asModern Warfare 3starts to draw to a close, andBlack Ops 6on the horizon.
The multiplayer mode ofCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Waris beloved by long-time fans, as a mode that feels refreshing but faithful to previous installments in the series. As balance changes are no longer being issued to the game, the best guns in the game will now remain the same. Here is a list of the best weapons on offer, including some even veteran players might not expect.
Updated on Septermber 11th, 2024, by Nathan Halsey:Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was the last Tryarch project before the creation of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The title is a bit older now, but with nothing quite like it at the moment. Defined by its higher time-to-kill and simpler maps, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a good alternative for those who liked the pacing of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, but were put off by the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 maps. On top of this, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is still the most recent iteration of the classic wave-based Zombies, with full progression with Multiplayer. This means players wanting to go back and experience the Zombies mode before Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 can also progress their weapons by playing multiplayer.
10AMP 63
Best Pistol
Having a secondary weapon that packs a punch can be crucial in any fight, as anyCall of Dutyfan will be well aware that swapping to a secondary is faster than reloading, and will often make the difference in a close engagement.
TheAMP 63does this perfectly, and can contend with a decent portion of primary weapons when dual-wielded, but does lack some damage and accuracy that would place it further up the list. That being said, it’s the best choice of secondary in the game and a great choice for a run-and-gun playstyle.
9Gallo SA 12
Best Shotgun
Black Ops Cold Warattempted to make amends for overpowered shotguns in previous games, only including two at launch and scaling back their power considerably. TheGallo SA 12, however, remains of the best close-range weapons in the game.
Despite its short range, the full-auto fire rate and massive damage can wipe out enemies in the blink of an eye if they’re close enough, all without the burden of accuracy required by SMGs. The shotgun has remained a great pick since the game’s launch and is well worth consideration for a custom class.
8AUG
Fan Favorite Tactical Rifle
TheAUGwas a true powerhouse at launch, and despite a fair few nerfs it remains a great pick, particularly in skilled hands. Its burst fire can take down enemies incredibly quickly, up to a very long range, and the only real drawback is that it can be hard to handle and maintain good aim.
With the right attachments though, it becomes far easier to use, and the fact that it’s one of the highest damage weapons becomes much easier to make good use of. It sits well above other tactical rifles and can rival almost any other weapon up to mid to long ranges.
7AK-47
Accurate At Range
TheAK-47might be one of the best-known weapons of all time across the board andCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Waris one of its best showings. The tricky recoil usually associated with the weapon is nowhere to be found, so its high damage output can be used very effectively.
The assault rifle has only been buffed since release, meaning that with the right attachments to negate some of the drawbacks it’s a great choice for new and veteran players alike. Its only drawback is that it can be tricky to navigate at longer ranges, but in multiplayer this rarely comes up as a major issue.
6LC-10
Slow Firing Consistent SMG
After some heavy buffs in Season 4, SMGs became a much more viable choice inmultiplayer matches, and theLC-10is certainly one of the biggest beneficiaries. When used in close quarters, it has impressive damage coupled with a very high fire rate, which can burst out an enemy in the blink of an eye.
Attachments to reduce the recoil will be crucial to getting the best out of the LC-10, as it functions like theModern Warfareseries' UMP-45; an SMG that pushes into AR ranges.
5EM 2
Assault Rifle And Tactical Rifle In One
Added in Season 5 ofBlack Ops Cold War,theEM 2arrived just in time for some huge AR buffs, bringing it straight into contention. It’s one of the most underrated weapons in the game, with high damage and excellent range to pick off targets from a distance, while still having good maneuverability.
With some recoil-dampening attachments the EM 2 is laser-accurate over a very long distance, making it a great alternative to faster-firing assault rifles, for players looking to play it slower. The EM 2 slipped under the radar for much of the life cycle ofBlack Ops Cold War,so will still surprise enemies with how much damage it can do at range.
4AK 74U
SMG, Almost An AR Hybrid
TheAK 74Uis the perfect choice for players who are keen for a mobile playstyle, but still want a gun that packs a punch. It can hip fire very effectively at close-range, and deal solid damage closer to an AR even up to the mid-ranges, although it will be at its best in close quarters.
The recoil makes it tricky to use at longer ranges, but with the right attachments and having got used to it, it’s an excellent choice for players who are looking for a little bit of everything from their primary weapon, with very little downside.
3Krig-6
Most Stable Gun In The Game
TheKrig-6is one of the most consistent Assault Rifles in the game, and, as a result, is easy to play around. This comes from the gun’s slow fire-rate, high damage, and consistent recoil. There is no guessing with the Krig; it either hits its shots to secure the kill, or it doesn’t.
This weapon is as stable as it gets, and with such a high range, it’s easy to avoid damage fall-off. The weapon was astaple among prosas a result, and is an easy pick for those who want to improve atCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warand online shooters in general.
2Vargo-52
The Ultimate Mid-Range Assault Rifle
TheVargo 52assault rifle is one of the strongest Assault Rifles in the game, right next to the Krig-6. The weapon is very similar to the Krig in terms of its range and usage.
However, a faster fire rate makes it a far less punishing weapon when used in close range, competing well with SMGs in terms of ease of use. This puts it in a position where it only struggles at point-blank and Marksman Rifle ranges, but dominates everything in between.
1Tec-9
Best Overall Gun In The Game
TheTec-9is the most powerful and versatile weapon in the game. It starts off in its weakest iteration as a semi-automatic, but unlocks burst-fire and fully automatic settings soon after. These two firing modes absolutely transform this weapon, with burst-fire turning it into the most mobile Marksman Rifle in the game, and fully automatic turning the weapon into a consistent three-shot kill within its respective kill range.
To put it bluntly, it’s bad balancing, but the damage is done with there being no more planned updates toCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. The Tec-9’s time-to-kill is straight out of aModern Warfareentry, and few guns can compete. The only downside is that the gun cannot be fitted with a suppressor.
