We’re now in full swing to a new dawn of Call of Duty Warzone with the first season of Cold War. The integration of the new weapons hasn’t been seamless, to put it mildly, and yes, everybody had fun in the first two weeks with the calamitous DMR, but now that’s all done and dusted, the meta can finally assert itself.

The Kilo 141, AMAX, and even the Grau are regaining a foothold in the meta once again, with lots of players falling back on their old faithful Modern Warfare weapons, all max level and set up to their liking.

But with a new game comes new weapons, and it’s always good to embrace the future with open arms. So, for those starting out, here’s the best weapon in each category that’s part of the Cold War update.

Assault Rifle – FFAR

I myself have a real penchant for the Krig 6, but looking at all of the Cold War assault rifles objectively, it’s probably fair to say that the FFAR is the best of the bunch.

Even as a Common/Uncommon ground loot weapon the FFAR can sometimes outgun players with loadout thanks to the ferocious speed at which it empties its magazine. This intensity is both a gift and a curse; the FFAR burns through its bullets so quickly that it’s relatively small 25 round mag means you’ll spend just as much time reloading as you will firing.

That said, after leveling the gun up a bit you can fix the majority of the FFAR’s initial hindrances. A Salvo 50 Mag solves your small clip issue, the Bruiser Grip (until it’s patched) lessens your recoil, and if you’re not a fan of the gun’s rather unique iron sights, a Quickdot LED or Hawksmoor sight can sort that right out.

Submachine Gun – Mac-10

This probably doesn’t need to be said, but the Mac-10 is currently the dominating weapon and features in practically every player’s loadout in any given lobby. Formerly run with the DMR in an Overkill loadout before the nerf to the Tactical Rifle came along, this rapid-fire secondary is usually paired with a sniper to cover the majority of engagement ranges.

It’s pretty easy to see why and how the SMG has become such a popular choice; its beefy magazine size and the speed at which said the magazine is able to be emptied. You’re able to increase the clip size to over 50 bullets, an amount that can take down two players before needing to reload. The only issue is that if you do miss several shots, the gun shoots so fast that you can suddenly find yourself face-to-face with an enemy and have no bullets to fight them with.

I personally choose to not run the Mac-10 purely because it’s so strong but watch any of the top streamers right now and they’ll all have this baby in their back pocket.

Sniper Rifle – LW3 Tundra

It may not hit as hard as the HDR, it might not bear the hitscan properties of the SPR, but compared to the brethren that it’s come over with (namely the Pellington and the M82), the Tundra is by far the best sniper of the three.

The LW3 has fantastic bullet velocity, a paramount element in sniper rifles, and requires you to lead your shots far less than the M82 or the Pellington. The recoil is almost non-existent and the ADS time on it is super snappy.

The base stats for it aren’t amazing but kitted out properly with attachments like the 29.1” Combat Recon Barrel and the SASR Jungle Grip, the LW3 Tundra can be a force to be reckoned with.

Its two ground loot variants, Barrel Hunter and Cursed Bullion are also always worth picking up if you haven’t grabbed your loadout yet.

Light Machine Gun – Stoner 63

Light Machine Guns in general don’t get a lot of love in Call of Duty Warzone. While their large clips and unrelenting power are by far their strongest points, often they just aren’t suitable in a mode where mobility and reactions are some of the most victory defining attributes.

Taking that into account, if you’re playing in a squad of Trios or greater, having a player sporting an LMG like the monster that is the Stoner 63 to lay down some truly oppressive fire can be invaluable.

I do love the unapologetic rawness of the M60, but I think between the two, the Stoner is a more well-rounded armament. Not to mention the fact that Blue Lightning and Queen’s Guard are some of the best ground loot weapons available in the current season.

Equip the Stoner with a decent optic, the Field Agent Grip, and the Cavalry Lancer Barrel (which almost doubles its bullet velocity) and you have one powerful shredding machine.

Tactical Rifle – M16

Now, this is a deliberately controversial pick and something of a middle finger to all the times I’ve died to the DMR, and to a lesser extent the Type 63.

Now when it comes to gaming, I’m an old man seeing as I’m pushing 30 years of age with an old CoD account, but way back when, the M16 did some absolute work on Call of Duty 4. Even the default class with the ever-annoying “noob tube” was quite overpowered. Now it’s come back to Cold War/Warzone, this gun can decimate players now that the Type 63 and DMR have been balanced properly and it is a favorite among CoD boosters.

The rifle is rarely run by anyone at the present moment, which means countless players are missing out on its deadly potential. It’s certainly

not going to win many fights up close, but the range at which it can lay down the hurt is quite impressive, making it a great gun to use in Solos if you’re not a confident sniper.

Prep the M16 with an Axial Arms 3x sight, Titanium or Match Grade Barrel, and an Agency Silencer, and you will be pleasantly surprised how quickly and from what distances it’s able to take people out.