Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's Season 4 was one of the most highly anticipated updates to Modern Warfare and Warzone yet, and for good reason. All the content added was worth being excited for, but the new weapons included in the battle pass are easily some of the best guns in the game. Over the course of Season 3 and with the advent of Season 4, various balancing changes and additions have also shifted the balance of weapons, meaning that some old standbys have been relegated to the bottom, while brand new guns have rocketed to the top.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone have very different playstyles, so weapons with more versatility tend to be the best all around. Even so, some guns that are great in one game are not as strong in the other, so that will be noted where necessary. Hardcore mode is also the preferred way to play for many, and it evens the playing field for many weapons. When everything does more damage, every gun becomes a lot more viable to use. There are still clear divisions in the quality of weapons though, so unless some serious balancing changes take place, the current hierarchy will be here to stay for at least this season.
D-Tier Modern Warfare Weapons
The very worst, bottom of the barrel weapons in Modern Warfare are essentially not worth using. Short of grinding to get platinum and damascus skins, almost no players would choose to use these weapons. Unfortunately, there are some very cool guns in this tier, so fans of those weapons just have to suffer with their favorites being under-powered. The VLK Rogue is a joke weapon that is the worst of the shotguns, an already underwhelming weapon class. The Uzi, on the other hand, is in a strong class of weapons, but its slow rate of fire and characteristic pause between pulling the trigger and firing makes it the worst one.
The SA87 is the worst LMG, and the Dragunov is a sniper that is almost painful to use. Now that the likes of the SKS Sniper exists, the EBR-14 is even more disappointing as a DMR, and the M19 pistol and Strela-P launcher are both underwhelming. Fortunately, weapon balancing patches have made the D-Tier weapons list shorter while expanding the A-Tier, so things will only improve from here. There is some fun to be had in using objectively bad weapons to style on opponents, but most of these D-Tier weapons aren't even enjoyable enough to be good for that.
C-Tier Modern Warfare Weapons
C-Tier weapons have their place, but usually they are not versatile enough or have too many downsides to be a decent standby. The Model 680 and Origin 12 end up in C-Tier just because shotguns aren't reliable in Modern Warfare. The 680 can get dragon's breath rounds, which are great, but otherwise shotguns could use a tactful buff to become more viable. The FAL does some serious damage, but with good DMRs and other accurate 7.62 caliber rifles now in the running, it comes up short. The KAR98K, PP19 Bizon, X16 and 1911 pistols, PILA launcher, and Kilo-141 all fail to make a strong impression compared to any other weapon in their respective classes. They aren't terrible, but don't stand out.
The P90 could do with a serious buff. Even in hardcore, its DPS is abysmal. It has a high ammo capacity and good customization options, but compared to other fast SMGs like the new Fennec or even the MP7, it just isn't enough. Meanwhile, the Oden puts some serious damage down range, but it is miserably slow and has terrible recoil. It isn't accurate enough to compete with other long-range weapons, and it doesn't do enough more damage to warrant using it over a 7.62 caliber rifle.
B-Tier Modern Warfare Weapons
B-Tier Modern Warfare weapons are worthy of being a main, but may rely on a specific setup to be viable. They usually aren't as versatile as other guns, and are easily beaten out by other weapons in their class. The HDR sniper is an interesting example because it is great in Warzone, but in standard multiplayer, it is just another sniper rifle. Likewise, the Striker 45 is a pretty bog-standard SMG despite how good its real-world counterpart, the UMP, may be. The FR 5.56, or FAMAS, is an extremely fun weapon to use, but the lack of fully automatic fire is a strong mark against it. With full auto, it could compete with the M13 or even M4A1.
The M91 and MG34 are good weapons and have their place as strong LMGs, even though other options are far better. The Holger-26 is a unique LMG with some AR characteristics, but its damage is too low to warrant using it over a light LMG setup or accuracy-focused AR. The AUG is a super versatile SMG that can double as an AR, but it can't excel in either class. The JOKR is a great launcher, capable of arcing shots and reaching enemies that are out of sight, but it takes a bit of practice to use well. The Riot Shield is strong, but needs to be fixed. It is too easy to exploit and doesn't offer particularly fun gameplay.
Dual-wielding .357 revolvers with snake shot was once one of the most powerful setups in the game, but it has fallen by the wayside after a nerf. The MP7 has essentially been replaced by the Fennec. Once the best close-range gun available, its damage was nerfed right before the Fennec stepped in as an overpowered short-range beast, stronger than the MP7 ever was. A slight buff to the MP7 and small nerf to the Fennec would be welcome, but seems unlikely for the time being.
A-Tier Modern Warfare Weapons
A-Tier weapons are the Goldilocks zone for weapon balancing. Fun to use but not quite overpowered, these are the bread and butter of the game. Strong in their own lane, versatile enough to use as a main but not too good at everything, this list of weapons has grown as the developers slowly but surely balance guns through consecutive Modern Warfare patches. The R9-O and 725 are the strongest shotguns and are very fun to use, but could still use a bit of a buff. Combat knives, throwing knives, and the Crossbow may not be strong at all, but they are all extremely satisfying to use. The Desert Eagle joins them as a powerful pistol with a satisfying punch.
The M13 may be the quintessential A-Tier weapon. It can achieve some of the best DPS and accuracy out of any AR, but requires the user to go for headshots, meaning it has just enough challenge to stay interesting. The BRUEN MK9 is likewise a very solid LMG with a lot of great options, including 60-round magazines that help it with mobility. The SKS is the best DMR, while the MK2 carbine is a fun challenge with great rewards for skilled play. The FN SCAR 17 and GRAU 5.56 are both very accurate and mobile guns, but suffer from a few minor drawbacks like magazine capacity that keep them from being overpowered.
The RPG-7 is the best launcher, useful against both players and killstreaks, even if it is currently one of the most broken weapons in the game. The ability to leap around corners, fire a shot, and effectively ignore the normal skill level required for a gunfight is reason enough for a nerf, but the weapon's power can't be denied. Meanwhile, the AX-50 is the best sniper rifle in the game, but can't quite reach S-Tier. Above A-Tier, the weapons are closing in on being overpowered, with some of them likely to be nerfed in the near future.
S-Tier Modern Warfare Weapons
The CR-56 AMAX was just added in Season 4 alongside the Fennec, and already they both look to be some of the very best guns in the game. The Fennec is clearly overpowered, combining fast handling, pinpoint accuracy, almost zero recoil, and unrivaled DPS. It is easily the best SMG in the game and will likely need to be brought back down to size. The CR-56 AMAX is a bit more balanced, but as an accurate 7.62 caliber AR with decent magazine sizes, it is better than both the AK-47 and the SCAR. The other new weapon with this season is the Kali sticks, which are a superior melee option to the knife and are incredibly fun to use.
The Renetti is the best pistol in the game, outdoing even some primary weapons with its burst fire and great accuracy. The PKM is also the best LMG, rivaled only by the BRUEN. Even then, the PKM's damage, range, and customization make it the go-to LMG. The MP5 now has some serious competition in the Fennec, but it is still a formidable weapon with solid range and some of the best customization options in the game. It is a standard of pro-player loadouts for good reason.
Lastly, the AK-47, M4A1, and RAM-7 are the old tried-and-true ARs that still sit comfortably in S-Tier. Although it is bested in many ways by the CR-56, the AK is still far more versatile, only losing out in accuracy at range. The RAM-7 has some of the highest DPS at close ranges, and is the perfect weapon to pull out when winning is paramount. The M4A1 still reigns supreme though. It doesn't have the best damage, the best range, or the best accuracy. However, it has easy, predictable recoil, is one of the most versatile weapons available, and does consistent, high damage that is easy to rely on. It reaches S-Tier simply because of its all-around consistency.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone are available on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
