Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War may 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 as Modern Warfare 2 starts to draw to a close.
The multiplayer mode of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is 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.
10 AMP 63 - Best Pistol
Having a secondary weapon that packs a punch can be crucial in any fight, as any Call of Duty fan will be well aware that swapping to a secondary is faster than reloading, and will often make the difference in a close engagement.
The AMP 63 does 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.
9 Gallo SA 12 - Best Shotgun
Black Ops Cold War attempted to make amends for overpowered shotguns in previous games, only including two at launch and scaling back their power considerably. The Gallo 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.
8 AUG - Fan Favorite Tactical Rifle
The AUG was 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.
7 AK 74U - SMG, Almost An AR Hybrid
The AK 74U is 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.
6 XM4 - Assault Rifle
Very similar to other M4 variants found in most Call of Duty titles, the XM4 is a great all-round choice for newer players, and stands out as one of the easiest-to-use guns in the game, while being one of the most effective. The right attachments can turn this gun into a force to be reckoned with.
It lacks some damage and maneuverability that pull it down the list slightly, but its adaptability helps it stick out as one of the best weapons in the game, for newer and veteran players alike. Adding attachments to boost damage range and mag size will be an inevitability, as with many weapons, but once they're unlocked it's well worth the grind.
5 AK-47 - Assault Rifle
The AK-47 might be one of the best-known weapons of all time across the board and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is 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.
4 LC-10 - SMG
After some heavy buffs in Season 4, SMGs became a much more viable choice in multiplayer matches, and the LC-10 is certainly one of the best 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, but at close range, it will be a powerhouse either way. With the aforementioned attachments, it can compete very well up to the mid-ranges and is perfect for players looking to run straight into the action.
3 EM 2 - Assault Rifle
Added for Season 5 of Black Ops Cold War, the EM 2 arrived 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 of Black Ops Cold War, so will still surprise enemies with how much damage it can do.
2 Tec-9 - Best SMG
An SMG that any fan of Archer will be familiar with, the Tec-9 is a compact, fast-firing weapon that is purpose-built for a run-and-gun style of play. The fully automatic version has taken some nerfs since its release, but the burst fire variant is still incredibly powerful and makes this the best SMG available right now in the game.
This variant can be a little thicker to use, but once players have some attachments unlocked and a good grasp of how the weapon behaves, it can do some serious damage. Unfortunately, dual wield is not available for the Tec-9, but with the amount of damage a single weapon can do, it's no surprise.
1 Krig-6 - Best Weapon in the Game
The undisputed best weapon available in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is the Krig-6, an easy-to-unlock assault rifle that outclasses any other weapon in its class and besides. Despite its lower damage, its almost perfect accuracy even at long range means that it can win any even gunfight.
The only real drawback of the Krig-6 is its recoil, which is easily managed with a couple of attachments, at which point it becomes essentially unstoppable. This should be a mainstay of any player's arsenal heading into a multiplayer game.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.