Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Season 3 Reloaded introduces new weapons, buffs to weaker guns, and nerfs to overpowered classes. These balance changes might shuffle the meta, but don’t let updates to the most powerful guns stop you from using your favorite loadout.
Any weapon can be effective with the right attachments. However, some are not worth the effort. The same level of skill with top tier guns typically means a better Kill-Death Ratio (KD), higher score per minute (SPM), and ultimately more wins compared to bottom tier weapons. We analyzed every gun's stats and received input from the community to determine which are viable and what’s best left in the locker.
Whether hopping into League Play, slaying in random matchmaking lobbies, or aiming for a spot on PlayStation’s Twitch channel in the Cold War Open Series, these tier lists will help you find the best weapons for every class.
*Weapons marked with an asterisk are restricted in the Cold War Open Series.
Black Ops Cold War gun tier lists
Assault Rifle
Top Tier ARs
The AK-47 and Krig 6 are the best assault rifles. At the top of S-tier, the AK is a powerhouse assault rifle that continues to dominate every iteration of Call of Duty. The Krig 6 is a consistent beast with great control and range.
The XM4 is some Cold War professionals’ favorite. Its speed and pinpoint accuracy work wonders in objective based modes. However, this A-tier AR lacks the versatility or power to match up with the AK-47 and Krig 6.
The remaining assault rifles are average. The only one that you should completely stay away from is the Groza. It has good mobility, but laughable damage and range.
Submachine Gun
Best SMG
Another AK stands in the S-Tier. The AK-74u is the best submachine in Black Ops Cold War. It can pack quite the punch and is perfect for aggressive players thanks to stellar damage output and mobility.
The submachine gun category rules over Cold War multiplayer. Any of the A-Tier SMGs will do the job. Different attachments make the LC10, MAC-10*, PPSH, and MP5 adaptable to almost any situation. They shoot fast, do serious damage, and are incredibly mobile.
The SMGs in the C, D, and F-Tiers simply don’t match up. They aren't nearly as powerful, lacking the damage and precision of their superior alternatives. The Milano and Bullfrog are extremely niche weapons. The former is a fast-firing close quarters SMG and the latter is a slow-firing long-range gun. Meanwhile, the KSP belongs in a garbage bin.
Tactical Rifle*
Best Tactical Rifles
Every tactical rifle is restricted in the Cold War Open Series. They’re all fair game in Black Ops Cold War multiplayer. Unfortunately, most of them took a dip with nerfs. The DMR and M16 overwhelm players in Warzone, but not in Cold War pubs.
The AUG is still useful. This burst fire tactical rifle already comes with good magnification and leaves room for another attachment instead of an optic.
The CARV.2 has proven to carve through the competition. It could quickly become an A or S-Tier weapon with more time in the meta.
The once powerful Type 63 has fallen quite a bit, making it the lone F-Tier tactical rifle. Over time, nerfs and buffs saw the others leapfrog it with ease.
Light Machine Gun*
Best LMG
All three Black Ops Cold War light machine guns are also restricted in the Open Series. They all received huge mobility and ADS time nerfs in Season 3. Fortunately, these weapons weren’t rendered useless.
The Stoner 63 remains the top LMG with a respectable B-Tier rating. This is a weapon that can mow down an entire team in the blink of an eye. It is definitely a camper’s gun at this point due to the nerf.
The RPD isn’t terrible, but just falls behind the Stoner in every category. The M60 can also take out a conga line of opponents. Bulkiness keeps it from being competitive.
Sniper Rifle
Best Sniper Rifles
Sniper rifles are dangerous tools. The LW3 - Tundra is the best in its class. Add a magazine attachment that quickens the reload speed and this S-Tier sniper rifle is arguably the deadliest weapon in all of Black Ops Cold War courtesy of a one shot kill from the chest up at any distance.
The Swiss K31 was introduced at the start of season 3. This B-Tier gun is similar to the Kar98k from Modern Warfare. It is a quick sniper rifle with great ammo capacity and aim speeds. Precision is key for a kill, though. The always effective Pelington 703 falls into the same spot.
The other two snipers, the ZRG and M82, are decent but painfully slow. The power doesn’t match up to the higher tiered snipers, making them tough to recommend over the rest.
Shotgun
Best Shotguns
Shotguns wreak havoc in close range fights, although they aren’t ideal in ranged fights. If you must frustrate the other team with a shotty, the Gallo SA12* is the A-Tier choice. Flank enemies with a high fire rate for quick kills.
The Streetsweeper sits in the B-Tier with the highest rate of fire among the shotgun category. This weapon can still overwhelm foes with rapid shots despite a damage nerf.
The Hauer 77* is best relegated to Zombies modes. It received some balance changes, but the fast-paced nature of Black Ops Cold War makes this slower shotgun a risky play in the C-Tier.
Pistol
Best Pistols
The Season 3 weapon tuning update slowed down some SMGs, giving pistols the fastest sprint speed. With that class buff and the Dual Wield attachment, the S-Tier Diamatti can comfortably function as a primary weapon.
The 1911 falls just under the Diamatti in the A-Tier. It does high damage as a last resort in the middle of a firefight, providing an effective alternative to reloading. The 1911 is about as reliable as sidearms get.
In the D-Tier, you will find the Magnum. This handgun deals massive damage, but stumbles with massive recoil. Kills are satisfying, albeit less consistent than the other secondary options.
Let us know how your tier lists compare to ours and which weapon you will use to search and destroy the competition.