CoD MW3 & Warzone: 10 Best Weapons For Season 5

Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone are constantly evolving, with each new season bringing all-new maps, game modes, additional weapons, and Aftermarket Parts into the game. While additional content provides a good change of pace, the meta for both Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone is also constantly shifting, leaving some players to wonder which weapons are the best.

Season 5 brings a string of nerfs and buffs to many weapons already in the game, along with the inclusion of additional weapons earned via the Battle Pass at launch. While which weapon players decide to run with may come down to personal preference, some options perform better than others. Here are the best weapons for Season 5 of Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone.

Updated on July 31, 2024, by Nathan Round: The Season 5 update for Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone sees the debut of the STG44 and the Static-HV, two top-tier weapons that have earned a high ranking in the meta. Season 5 also brings with it a long string of weapon buffs and nerfs that have allowed certain weapons to shine. As such, this article has been updated to reflect these changes and discuss the best weapons in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone.

10 KATT-AMR

A True One-Shot Sniper For Warzone

While options like the Longbow and the KV Inhibitor are generally preferred in Multiplayer for their higher level of handling, the KATT-AMR is single-handedly the best Sniper Rifle for Warzone Battle Royale. This is largely due to its immensely high damage per shot, which provides a reliable one-shot headshot kill to opponents beyond 78 meters — even without the use of Explosive Rounds.

While the KATT-AMR is rather sluggish, it dominates the long-range meta, outclassing weapons like the XRK Stalker in sheer damage. The bullet velocity may not necessarily be the greatest. However, having a reliable one-shot Sniper Rifle without the use of a particular ammo type permits players to maximize their potential bullet velocity through the Gunsmith, allowing it to rank much higher than other Sniper Rifle options.

9 Kar98K

The Only True One-Shot Marksman Rifle

Next up is the Kar98k, a returning weapon that made its debut in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone for Season 4. In Multiplayer, bolt-action Marksman Rifles are a niche choice due to their one-shot capabilities from short to medium range, partnered with their high handling attributes. They essentially act as a fast Sniper alternative. This remains the case for the Kar98k, but when it comes to Warzone, there is one other particular attribute that makes it stand out.

In Warzone specifically, the Kar98k retains its Multiplayer ability to one-shot fully plated opponents from up to about the 50-meter mark, but only if players land a headshot. Plus, the Kar98k sports a higher ADS and sprint-to-fire speed than most other Sniper Rifles, along with a fairly high level of bullet velocity. It’s a solid option for quickly gaining kills from across range, making it a standout ranged weapon for both games.

8 Superi 46

A Submachine Gun With Excellent Medium-Range Potential

The Superi 46 is yet another weapon that arrived at launch for Season 4, and it is arguably one of the more versatile Submachine Guns in the game. Though SMGs are primarily built exclusively for short-range gunfights, the Superi 46 boasts the ability to carry great damage to medium range. The bullet velocity of this weapon is also on the high end of the SMG category, firmly putting it on par with some low-end Assault Rifles.

The Superi 46 may come at a disadvantage when pitted against the likes of the FJX Horus or the Striker 9 at close range in regular Multiplayer. However, it has the advantage of outgunning opponents at range. This versatility also makes it a superb weapon to pair with weapons from the Sniper Rifle category in Warzone, as it can cover almost all gunfight scenarios except for long-range encounters. The Superi 46 also boasts exceptional mobility, and while this particular attribute has been nerfed slightly for Season 5, it does little to harm its versatility.

7 FJX Horus

A Nifty Submachine Gun With A High TTK

The FJX Horus first arrived in Season 3 and has quickly become one of the go-to Submachine Guns for both Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. Far exceeding the WSP Swarm, the FJX Horus has surged in popularity thanks to its remarkably high fire rate, granting it a DPS capable of shredding through armor plates in Warzone.

The handling attributes of the FJX Horus are also impressive. It sports one of the fastest ADS and sprint-to-fire speeds in its weapon category, making it both a solid main weapon for Multiplayer and an excellent close-range support weapon in Warzone. The only caveats of the FJX Horus are its high amount of vertical recoil and weapon kick, along with its inability to deal meaningful damage at medium range. However, with the right loadout, these flaws can be mitigated.

6 Static-HV

A Great Contender In The Close-Range Meta

The Static-HV is one of the newer additions to Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone, marking its debut for Season 5. This compact Submachine Gun resembles the FJX Horus and the WSP Swarm in design, but it excels in several key areas. Although its fire rate is slightly slower than the FJX Horus, the Static-HV boasts a faster TTK on average due to its higher damage-per-shot. It also has better bullet velocity and damage range, making it more versatile at a distance.

Another advantage of the Static-HV is its large 50-round magazine. While this does come at the expense of being unable to upgrade the magazine further via the Gunsmith, the base magazine synergizes well with the weapon’s fire rate, along with freeing up an attachment slot to boost other attributes. The primary drawback of the Static-HV is its high weapon kick and visual recoil. However, with the right loadout, this can be mitigated, making it a perfect SMG for Multiplayer and a solid close-range support weapon for Warzone.

5 TAQ Eradicator

Best Light Machine Gun In The Long Range Meta

The Light Machine Gun category is arguably one of the least utilized in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. Though both the Pulemyot 762 and the Holger 26 were solid options in the long-range meta, the Holger 26 received a nerf in its overall damage output for the launch of Season 5. While the Pulemyot 762 is still a solid choice, one recent buff to the TAQ Eradicator makes it a far better option in the long-range meta.

The TAQ Eradicator has received a neat minimal damage increase with the Season 5 update, along with a buff to its overall max damage range. This has somewhat brought the TAQ Eradicator closer to becoming one of the more dominant weapons for long-range, making it great for Warzone specifically. While the weapon is slightly on the slower side for Multiplayer, building the weapon to improve handling can still make it viable. The only major caveat of the TAQ Eradicator is its high vertical and visual recoil. However, this can be controlled fairly easily, along with being toned down with the right attachments.

4 MTZ-556

Fast Handling Assault Rifle With A High Fire Rate

The MTZ-556 has not exactly been a standout weapon for a while now, but it has slowly crept up the meta for a few particular reasons. Firstly, the MTZ-556 has quite a high fire rate compared to other weapons in the AR category, along with a damage profile on par with other options. This grants it a fairly high TTK for Modern Warfare 3 Multiplayer, which also translates nicely to Warzone Battle Royale.

Other attributes that make the MTZ-556 great include its fast sprint-to-fire speed, which is favorable among Multiplayer players for quickly engaging opponents on the battlefield. While not boasting the best levels of mobility and handling in the Assault Rifle category, it balances this out with better range than other, more lightweight options. Put all this together, and players have a great weapon for close-to-medium-range gunfights. For Warzone specifically, its range can be extended even further with the right attachments.

3 Holger 556

Great Assault Rifle With Decent Long Range Potential

Following the recent nerf to the Holger 26, its sibling, the Holger 556, has surged to become one of the top meta weapons for Season 5. Though remaining fairly unchanged from previous seasons, the Holger 556 is a heavy-hitting Assault Rifle, one that has some decent long-range potential. While the weapon’s bullet velocity is pretty standard for the Assault Rifle category, the weapon is pretty strong from the 35-meter range and levels out with the likes of the MCW at about 60 meters.

The Holger 556 is also fairly controllable, boasting a recoil pattern that has a small amount of vertical and horizontal kick. This makes it a laser beam at a distance, especially if the weapon kick and recoil control are improved with the right attachments. The only major caveat of the Holger 556 is that it has a slower ADS and sprint-to-fire speed than other Assault Rifle options, which might be enough to turn some Multiplayer-only players away.

2 STG44

Heavy-Hitting Assault Rifle With Great Long Range Potential

The STG44 is another weapon to make its debut for Season 5, arriving alongside the Static-HV at the season’s launch. Right off the bat, the STG44 is one of the top weapons in the long-range meta for Warzone, boasting exceptional bullet velocity paired with high damage. Though the weapon is on the slower side for the Assault Rifle category in terms of ADS and sprint-to-fire speed, it’s fairly manageable for Warzone.

For Multiplayer specifically, the STG44 retains its high damage per shot and long-range potential, which both synergize well with its decent fire rate for a high TTK. As mentioned earlier, the weapon is slightly on the slower side in terms of ADS speed, which might turn away some Multiplayer-only players. However, its attachment options are fairly versatile, making it rather viable for both modes with the right attachments. The weapon also boasts one of the clearest iron sights in the game, thus freeing up an attachment slot for enhancing other attributes.

1 BP50

Versatile Close-To-Medium Range Assault Rifle

Finally, there is the BP50, an Assault Rifle that made its debut with the release of Season 2. While this nifty Assault Rifle is not exactly the best weapon in terms of range and damage, it does boast excellent mobility and handling. With a sprint-to-fire speed of just 168 milliseconds, the BP50 far exceeds most Assault Rifles in terms of speed, making it a favorable choice for players who like to run and gun.

While the lightweight nature of the BP50 makes it a great main weapon for Multiplayer, Warzone players will also be happy to know that it functions as a great weapon for close to medium-range gunfights. This is thanks to its fairly high fire rate, which grants it a good TTK. It also boasts minimal horizontal recoil and fairly controllable vertical recoil, making it pretty accurate for most situations.

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