What are the best BO6 weapons? Not all guns are made equal, especially in the frantic environment of a Black Ops 6 lobby, and it can be tough to choose exactly what you’re going to run with. We’ve put together a BO6 weapon tier list so you can see what’s especially effective at the moment, and plan your attack accordingly.
Before you step foot in the gunsmith to throw one of our best Black Ops 6 loadouts together, you’ll need to know which weapons are strong right now, and which to avoid. There is a little bit of personal preference involved here, of course, and certain Black Ops 6 weapons are more suited to specific BO6 maps than others, but if you find something is S-class, it’s worth a try regardless of the situation.
Weapons can find themselves in a high tier if they’ve recently been buffed, or because they have a certain set of attachments that make them effective. We have put together a tier list so you can see at a glance which guns are worth using, and which are best left in the armory.
Here are the best weapons for the current Black Ops 6 meta:
S-Tier
These Black Ops 6 weapons are the best of the best. Any weapon that finds itself in the S-tier is the most powerful, and it’s down to personal preference which one you prefer – SMGs favor a more aggressive playstyle, while the marksman inclusions lean towards a methodical approach to combat.
Weapon | Type | Unlock |
AK-74 | Assault Rifle | Lvl. 10 |
AS Val | Assault Rifle | Lvl. 55 |
C9 | Submachine Gun | Lvl. 1 |
Jackal PDW | Submachine Gun | Lvl. 43 |
KSV | Submachine Gun | Lvl. 7 |
Model L | Assault Rifle | Lvl. 40 |
PP-919 | Submachine Gun | Lvl. 37 |
Tanto .22 | Submachine Gun | Lvl. 16 |
XM4 | Assault Rifle | Lvl. 1 |
AK-74
The AK-74 is a classic assault rifle that has popped up in Call of Duty games for years. Hard-hitting but a little difficult to control, our best AK-74 loadout sands down those rough edges to create a deadly mid-range monster.
AS Val
One of the later unlocks, the AS Val is an assault rifle with an extremely fast rate of fire and an integrated suppressor. Our best AS Val loadout ups the lethality of this AR and pushes its range even further.
C9
While the C9 is the first submachine gun you unlock in BO6, it’s still up there as one of the best. Within 10 feet there isn’t much better, and with our best C9 loadout, you can be as aggressive as you like.
Jackal PDW
If you’re after a submachine gun that can comfortably operate in mid-range fights as it does up close, the Jackal PDW has your back, especially when you use our best Jackal PDW loadout to reign in that recoil.
KSV
The KSV is another utilitarian SMG that thrives in close-quarters fights. With our best KSV loadout, we increased the rate of fire to improve this shredder’s lethality.
Model L
What looks like a no-frills assault rifle is one of the most devastating pieces of kit at your disposal. Our best Model L loadout reduces recoil and extends the range so you can take on any fight.
PP-919
The PP-919 is an SMG with the largest default magazine size available, and our best PP-919 loadout puts that extra attachment slot to use to make this a stable, but deadly, killing machine.
Tanto .22
The Tanto .22 has the slowest rate of fire out of the SMGs, but this doesn’t hold it back. Our best Tanto .22 loadout pushes the damage range so you can utilize this hard-hitting gun in a multitude of combat situations.
XM4
The XM4 is a highly controllable assault rifle with a rapid rate of fire and a highly customizable chassis. Our best XM4 loadout locks down the recoil even further so you can eliminate opponents across the map with no problem.
A-Tier
A-tier weapons are nearly as good as their S compatriots but tend to lean a little more on the situational side of combat. Shotguns, for instance, must be used in a specific way so as not to be completely useless. Some of these, like the AMES 85, were once S-tier, but due to recent nerfs, have found their way down the pecking order.
Weapon | Type | Unlock |
AEK-973 | Marksman Rifle | Lvl. 34 |
AMES 85 | Assault Rifle | Lvl. 19 |
ASG-89 | Shotgun | Lvl. 31 |
DM-10 | Marksman Rifle | Lvl. 43 |
Goblin Mk.2 | Assault Rifle | Lvl. 46 |
GPR 91 | Assault Rifle | Lvl. 28 |
Kompact 92 | Submachine Gun | Lvl. 49 |
Krig C | Assault Rifle | Season 1 |
LR 7.62 | Sniper Rifle | Lvl. 49 |
Marine SP | Shotgun | Lvl. 1 |
PU-21 | Light Machine Gun | Lvl. 1 |
Sirin 9mm | Special Sidearm | Event |
Saug | Submachine Gun | Season 1 |
SVD | Sniper Rifle | Lvl. 25 |
Tsarkov 7.62 | Marksman Rifle | Lvl. 22 |
XMG | Light Machine Gun | Lvl. 13 |
AEK-973
A burst weapon that can take opponents out before they’ve had a chance to react, our best AEK-973 loadout calms down the recoil so you can land all three shots without issue.
AMES 85
Excelling in the BO6 beta, the AMES 85 was nerfed slightly to the point where the Model L is the better option all around. Our best AMES 85 loadout is still the go-to for those who want reliability and damage at range.
DM-10
The DM-10 can two-shot people with the right setup, and with our best DM-10 loadout, you’ll be picking enemies off before they know what’s happening.
Krig C
The Krig C was introduced in Season 1 and can be considered an extremely competitive assault rifle; it has immense accuracy in short bursts but can struggle under sustained fire – our best Krig C loadout has the ideal build if you want to take this to the next level.
LR 7.62
Another one for the headhunters among you, the LR 7.62 is a sniper rifle with extreme range and extreme damage. Utilize our best LR 7.62 loadout to keep yourself mobile on the battlefield.
Marine SP
A pump shotgun with immense damage up close, the Marine SP is a gun to be used when you want to get aggressive. Our best Marine SP loadout should be your go-to if you’re planning on running and gunning.
Saug
Another Season 1 debutant, the Saug is a close-range menace, with extreme fire rates and reasonable controllability. Our best Saug loadout has the build for those who want to play aggressively and take the fight to their opponents.
Sirin 9mm
The Sirin finds itself in a very respectable spot despite being a sidearm. A fully automatic pistol/SMG hybrid, our best Sirin 9mm loadout adds range, reduces loadout, and gives you a few additional rounds to work with. This special sidearm is the perfect secondary for those who don’t run Overkill and can operate as an aggressive primary for those who like to push the pace.
B-Tier
B-tier weapons can still be deadly in the right hands, but most people using them will find these guns lacking in some respect. Whether that’s due to the highly circumstantial use case, or simply because the core stats aren’t up to scratch. We would suggest only using these weapons for novelty’s sake.
Weapon | Type | Unlock |
GPMG-7 | Light Machine Gun | Lvl. 52 |
LW3A1 Frostline | Sniper Rifle | Lvl. 1 |
SWAT 5.56 | Marksman Rifle | Lvl. 1 |
That’s everything you need to know about the best Black Ops 6 weapons. Be sure to read up on the Black Ops 6 modes so you know which of these devastating guns is best to bring with you into the fight. Nothing is stopping you from bringing these weapons to the Black Ops 6 Zombies maps to complete all the Zombies easter eggs on offer.