After playing over 300 hours of Warzone 2, I have tested and ranked all the weapons in the game into different tiers ranging from S (the best) to D (the worst).
In this ultimate Warzone 2 weapons tier list guide, I will be breaking down the top weapons in each tier and explaining why they stand out among the rest.
How I Evaluated And Ranked The Weapons
I evaluated and ranked weapons across a few key criteria:
- Time-to-kill (TTK): How fast the weapon can down an enemy. Lower TTK is better.
- Damage per second (DPS): Total damage output over time. Higher is better.
- Recoil: How much the weapon kicks when firing. Lower recoil is easier to control.
- Handling: Factors like ADS speed, movement speed while ADS, reload speed etc.
- Magazine size: Higher mag size means less reloading.
- Viability: How effective the weapon is in most combat situations.
I also considered stats provided officially, community feedback from Reddit and other forums, as well as my own experience using each weapon extensively in matches.
With all that in mind, let‘s get into it!
S Tier Weapons
S tier weapons are the absolute best guns in Warzone 2. They have very fast TTK, high DPS, easy to control recoil, great handling and are viable in nearly every combat situation.
ISO Hemlock
Type: Assault Rifle
TTK: 258ms
DPS: 380
Recoil: Vertical
The ISO Hemlock is the best assault rifle in Warzone 2 right now. It has an extremely fast TTK up close and is very forgiving with its high fire rate and large magazine size. Recoil is mostly vertical making it easy to control.
This rifle absolutely melts enemies in close to mid range fights. The only downside is slightly slower handling but it‘s a small tradeoff for raw TTK and damage potential.
RPK
Type: LMG
TTK: 198ms
DPS: 384
Recoil: Low
The RPK has remained top tier since Warzone 2‘s launch. It brings excellent firepower with high damage, rate of fire, and large 75 round magazine size. Recoil is very easy to control even during longer sprays.
Mobility is lower than ARs but that‘s expected for an LMG. Still, the RPK is on the lighter end and its powerful damage output more than makes up for it.
KV Broadside
Type: Shotgun
TTK: Instakill
Recoil: N/A
The KV Broadside semi-auto shotgun is extremely powerful up close. It can one shot enemies out to 8 meters, beyond that it will down in 2 shots.
The Broadside has the fastest pump animation in its class allowing quick follow up shots. Mobility and handling are also top tier. This shotgun dominates in interiors and close quarters.
A Tier Weapons
A tier weapons are not the absolute best but are still highly viable and convenient options. These guns perform well across most combat scenarios but may be slightly weaker in one regard or another compared to S tier weapons.
Fennec 45
Type: SMG
TTK: 160ms
DPS: 507
Recoil: Difficult
With an insanely high rate of fire at 1126 RPM, the Fennec 45 kills extremely quick in close range. It does have some difficult to control recoil during longer sprays though.
This SMG is an absolute shredder under 12 meters. Beyond that range, recoil may make getting shots on target challenging. Still, the Fennec is a powerhouse SMG that lives up to its reputation.
SP-R 208
Type: Marksman Rifle
TTK: Instant (1 shot headshot)
Handling: Quick
There are few guns that compete with the SP-R 208‘s raw power and precision across medium to long ranges. It‘s bolt action nature limits rate of fire but one clean headshot will instantly down any enemy.
Handling and mobility make aggressive quick-scoping possible as well. For snipers who value power and precision over fire rate, the SP-R is top choice.
Kastov 762
Type: Assault Rifle
TTK: 194ms
DPS: 432
The Kastov 762 brings the hardest hitting round in assault rifles paired with a high rate of fire. This means enemies get melted quickly, usually in 5-6 shots at most ranges.
Recoil is mostly vertical allowing tight shot groups. The only real drawbacks are less control during longer sprays as well as slower mobility compared to SMGs or lighter rifles. Still, the Kastov 762s raw damage output earns it‘s A tier spot.
B Tier Weapons
B tier weapons are viable under the right conditions but may lack performance in one aspect or another compared to A/S tier guns. These weapons work very well when playing to their strengths.
TAQ-V
Type: Assault Rifle
TTK: 143ms
Recoil: Hard left
The TAQ-V stands out with very competitive TTK up close and amazing handling – fast ADS, quick fire rate, great mobility. This makes it extremely good at rushing objectives and fast flanking.
It does veer hard to the left though which can make hitting shots past 50 meters quite challenging. But for an aggressive, on-the-move playstyle, the TAQ-V excels.
Sakin MG38
Type: LMG
The Sakin MG38 LMG brings impressive power in terms of sheer damage output. It provides a whopping 65 round magazine allowing sustained fire across medium to long sight lines.
Handling is on the slower side but mounting or proning helps stabilize this LMG allowing it to excel at locking down lanes and objectives.
Lachmann Sub
Type: SMG
TTK: 178ms
Handling: Great
While the Lachmann Sub leans towards the middle of the pack stat-wise, extremely quick and responsive handling make it highly viable and fun to use. Great ADS, mobility, strafe speeds and reload times facilitate an aggressive playstyle very well.
The Lachmann Sub earns a solid B tier spot for those who prioritize quick handling movements over raw TTK numbers.
C Tier Weapons
C tier weapons are viable in narrow circumstances but generally outperformed significantly by other weapons. These guns work very well within their niche but may lack versatility or performance across varied scenarios.
Bryson 800
Type: Shotgun
TTK: Instant (close range)
The Bryson 800 pump action shotgun fills the role of a traditional shotgun quite well – utterly decimating anything within 8 meters near instantly but quickly losing effectiveness beyond that.
It lacks versatility which keeps it in C tier but does bring that classic, brutal close quarters damage we expect in a video game shotgun. Fun to use in the right circumstances despite its limitations.
HCR 56
Type: Assault Rifle
TTK: 267ms
The HCR 56 provides a solid three shot kill potential up close. It brings relatively standard performance across the board with no major weaknesses.
However, there are also no exceptional strengths to make this rifle stand out resulting in a middle of the road C tier placement. It gets the job done and functions fine as primary weapon but gets outclassed by guns above it.
Signal 50
Type: Sniper Rifle
Damage: Instant kill (headshot)
The Signal 50 brings that heavy punch expected from a traditional sniper rifle with the ability to one shot kill to the head, neck and upper torso at any range.
Its very slow fire rate caps versatility relegating it to long range usage only. But for those who thrive at extremely long distances picking apart enemies, the Signal 50 will serve you well.
D Tier Weapons
D tier weapons significantly underperform top tier weapons. They may work in very niche scenarios but you are generally handicapping yourself by using them. I don‘t recommend choosing these as your primary weapons.
LM-S
Type: Rifle
TTK: 320ms
There is almost no reason to ever use the LM-S. With body multipliers resulting in 5+ shots to kill along with unstable handling, each engagement puts you at a disadvantage right from the start.
It can maybe surprise an enemy around a corner with a burst at close range but expect to lose most straight up gunfights.
X12
Type: Handgun
As a handgun, the X12 unsurprisingly loses almost every fight against primary weapons. Very low damage per shot means getting 6-7 hit markers is common before a kill which gives enemies ample time to return fire and take you out.
It can work against injured players or as a backup when you run out of ammo. But choosing to primarily run the X12 puts you at an extreme disadvantage.
Expedite 12
Type: Shotgun
With only 2 rounds loaded at a time, awkward handling, and extremely short one hit kill range, the Expedite 12 shotgun has little going for it. Enemies have to basically be touching barrels with you to secure that one shot kill.
Nearly every other shotgun significantly outclasses the Expedite 12 making it extremely niche at best.
Closing Thoughts
And there you have it – the ultimate Warzone 2 weapons tier list and breakdown for every top gun in the game after Season 1 Reloaded!
Of course weapon preferences and new balance changes will impact these rankings over time. But this tier list represents the current state of weapons from my experience playing hundreds of Warzone 2 matches.
I hope this guide gives you ideas and insights on the best guns to use as you battle for victory! Let me know in the comments which weapon has been your favorite and performing the best for you so far!
