Best Guns Tier List (Season 1)

This is a tier list that ranks all the best guns for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (BO6). Learn about the best guns and their tier rank, as well the gun tier list criteria.

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Best Guns Tier List

Guns Tier List Ranking

Tier				Guns
S Tier				AK-74				XM4				KSV
				AS VAL				PP-919				AEK-973
				XMG				Saug				Tanto .22
				Model L				-				-
A Tier				DM-10				C9				Kompakt 92
				GPMG-7				Jackal PDW				SVD
				Marine SP				SWAT 5.56				LR 7.62
				Ames 85				ASG-89				Krig C
B Tier				Goblin Mk2				GPR 91				LW3A1 Frostline
				Tsarkov 7.62				PU-21				-
C Tier				GS45				Grekhova				Stryder .22
				9mm PM				-				-

List of All Guns and Weapons

Best Guns Tier List Criteria

Gun Tier List Criteria

Category	Evaluation
Firepower	Determined solely by the Damage Ouput stat of a weapon.
Time-to-Kill	Refers to the amount of time required to kill enemy players and is based on the Fire Rate and Mobility statistics of a weapon.
Accuracy and Handling	Determined by the aim-related stats Accuracy and Handling, as well as ease of use.

The guns are ranked according to firepower, accuracy and handling, and time-to-kill (TTK) in the BO6 multiplayer. Guns and the criteria itself may be re-evaluated as more weapons become available on release.

Tier List Overview

Best Guns to Equip
1	AK-47 (Assault Rifle)
2	XM4 (Assault Rifle)
3	KSV (SMG)
4	AS VAL (SMG)
5	PP-919 (SMG)
6	AEK-973 (Marksman Rifle)
7	XMG (LMG)
8	Saug (SMG)
9	Tanto .22 (SMG)
10	Model L (Assault Rifle)

1. AK-74

How to Unlock	Reach account level 10.
Weapon Type	Assault Rifle

The AK-74 is one of the best Assault Rifles you can have. Though it has a slow rate of fire compared to most other guns in its class, it makes up for it with consistent high damage and recoil control at mid-range. It is also one of the easier guns to unlock, being available as early as level 10.

AK-74 Best Build and Loadout

2. XM4

How to Unlock	Unlocked by default.
Weapon Type	Assault Rifle

The XM4 is a great and accessible all-around weapon for anyone that wants to get the job done close and far thanks to its exceptional accuracy and a high fire rate second only to the AS VAL. Whether you are working on the clock for kills and XP, or have not decided on a preferred gun, the XM4 will be your greatest workhorse.

XM4 Best Build and Loadout

3. KSV

How to Unlock	Reach account level 7.
Weapon Type	SMG

On first impression, the KSV is not your usual standout. But it's great for its stats and is accessible as early as level 7. With the right attachments focused on recoil control, this SMG performs excellently at close-range and in most situations involving omnimovement.

KSV Best Build and Loadout

4. AS VAL

How to Unlock	Reach account level 55.
Weapon Type	Assault Rifle

The AS VAL is one of the last guns you unlock in the progression tree and for a good reason; it performs amazingly well in both the handling and mobility categories.

Every barrel attachment for it is also integrally suppressed, such as the Suppressed Reinforced Barrel, which means you get benefits on top of hiding your gunfire on the minimap.

AS VAL Best Build and Loadout

5. PP-919

How to Unlock	Reach account level 37.
Weapon Type	SMG

Though the PP-919 has one of the slower fire rates next to the Tanto .22, the PP-919 shines in two things: magazine capacity and exceptional recoil control. Both qualities are the best to have when you are going for a run-and-gun playstyle.

PP-919 Best Build and Loadout

6. AEK-973

How to Unlock	Reach account level 34.
Weapon Type	Marksman Rifle

The AEK-973 is a strong burst fire Marksman Rifle with exceptional recoil control and high fire rate. Despite it not being full-auto, it is extremely accurate, and rewards discplined shooters who can get in its full 3-shot kill at close-mid range.

Best AEK-973 Build and Loadout

7. XMG

How to Unlock	Reach account level 13.
Weapon Type	LMG

The XMG is a great LMG and all-around suppressive fire weapon that can mow down clusters of targets, performing great at mid-long ranges. Though it has a long reload time and can slow you down due to its weight, it delivers results for having great damage, accuracy, and recoil control.

XMG Best Build and Loadout

8. Saug

How to Unlock	Complete Page 3 of the Season 1 Battle Pass.
Weapon Type	SMG

The Saug is an SMG that serves as a close-quarters beast when equipped with Akimbo. With Rapid Fire, it comes close to the fire rate of the Kompakt 92.

Though the Akimbo configuration will limit the gun's mid-long range potential, the firepower provided easily clears groups in tight spaces, making it a great challenge to other hipfire options such as Shotguns.

Saug Best Build and Loadout

9. Tanto .22

How to Unlock	Reach account level 16.
Weapon Type	SMG

The Tanto .22, while slow-firing, is the hardest-hitting of all of the SMGs in BO6. It excels in close-mid range encounters dealing more than 34 damage per torso shot at 10m and 28 damage at 25m. This gives you an average of 3-4 torso shots to kill at close range.

Tanto .22 Best Build and Loadout

10. Model L

How to Unlock	Reach account level 40.
Weapon Type	Assault Rifle

The Model L is a great workhorse Assault Rifle after the XM4 and AK-47, able to deliver exceptional results even with a run-and-gun playstyle at mid-range. It's a good middle ground pick between the two other Assault Rifles, being more mobile and accurate in exchange for having a slower rate of fire.

Model L Best Build and Loadout

What is Your Favorite Gun?

Black Ops 6 introduces X New Weapons to the COD franchise, so let us know your favorite gun of the BO6 launch! You can also drop a comment and tell us why this weapon is your favorite.

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Black Ops 6 (BO6) Related Guides

Best Builds and Loadouts

Best Guns and Weapons Guides

All Guns and Weapons Guides
Best Guns Tier List
Best Assault Rifles	Best SMGs
Best Marksman Rifles	Best Snipers
Best LMGs	Best Shotguns
Best Pistols	Best Special Guns
Best Melee Weapons	Best Launchers

All Gun and Weapon Loadouts

Assault Rifle Loadouts
XM4	AK-74	Ames 85
GPR 91	Model L	Goblin Mk2
AS VAL	Krig C	-
LMG Loadouts
XMG	PU-21	GPMG-7
SMG Loadouts
C9	Jackal PDW	Tanto .22
KSV	PP-919	Kompakt 92
Saug	-	-
Shotgun Loadouts
Marine SP	ASG-89	Maelstrom
Marksman Rifle Loadouts
Swat 5.56	DM-10	Tsarkov 7.62
AEK-973	-	-
Sniper Loadouts
SVD	LR 7.62	LW3A1 Frostline
AMR Mod 4	-	-
Pistol Loadouts
GS45	9mm PM	Grekhova
Stryder .22	-	-
Special Guns
Sirin 9mm	-	-
Melee Weapon Loadouts
Knife	Baseball Bat	Cleaver
Power Drill	-	-
Launcher Loadouts
CIGMA 2B	HE-1	-