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Black Ops & Warzone S2: Weapon Buffs & Nerfs

Posted on by clementon
Black Ops & Warzone S2: Weapon Buffs & Nerfs

The crosshairs settled, heartbeat thrumming against my ears, and then—nothing. The shots I’d counted on to secure the win landed like wet paper bags. After the match, the killcam confirmed my worst fear: another stealth rebalance. Season Two has landed in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone, and the meta just got a whole lot more interesting thanks to Treyarch’s volume-centric approach. If you’re keen to keep your K/D ratio respectable, let’s get into the weapon buffs and nerfs that could make or break your next drop.

Decoding the Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 2 Weapon Tweaks

Ever notice how some days, you absolutely shred with a weapon, and other days, it feels like you’re shooting marshmallows? That’s often the subtle hand of game balancing at play. These changes shape the entire battlefield, dictating which strategies dominate and which fade into obscurity.

The weapon adjustments detailed below focus exclusively on Warzone guns. Balancing updates for Black Ops 7 Season 2 weapons are planned for a future patch, giving the team time to assess how the latest firearms perform in live matches.

Assault Rifles

There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of lasering someone from across the map with an AR, but too often, the bullet-hose SMG’s win out. The goal of these adjustments is to enhance the effectiveness of Assault Rifles at longer ranges, plus incentivize players to actually use the FMJ attachment.

Weapon Name Changes
AK-27 Buff: Minimum Damage Range increased from 29 to 30
Saber Pack Heavy Drum (Buff): Reload Time improved by 20%
17″ Bystro Speed Barrel (Buff): Horizontal Recoil benefit improved from 20% to 25%
EMT3 Compensator (Buff): Vertical Recoil benefit improved from 15% to 20%
Kronos Heavy Grip (Buff):
– Aim Down Sight Speed penalty decreased from 6% to 3%
– Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 18% to 25%
7.62 Soviet FMJ (Buff):
– 14% Damage Range
– 14% Bullet Velocity
– 10% Inflicted Flinch
– Penetration Damage remains the same
DS20 Mirage Griffon Reserve Extended II (Buff): Reload speed improved by 15%
8.9″ Westerlies Barrel (Buff):
– Bullet Velocity penalty reduced from 10% to 5%
– Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 10% to 15%
– Aim Down Sight Move Speed benefit improved from 7% to 10%
Sapper Guard Handstop (Buff):
– Movement Speed benefit improved from 7% to 10%
– Sprint Speed benefit improved from 2% to 8%
Stratagem Tight Stock (Buff):
– Aim Down Sight Speed benefit improved from 6% to 10%
– Sprint to Fire Speed benefit improved from 10% to 15%
5.56 NATO FMJ (Buff):
– 14% Damage Range
– 14% Bullet Velocity
– 10% Inflicted Flinch
M15 Mod 0 Maximum Damage Range reduced from 33 to 32 (Nerf)
Medium Damage Range 1 reduced from 26 to 25 (Nerf)
Minimum Damage Range reduced from >60m to >52m (Nerf)
Bowen Bulwark Mag (Buff): Reload Time improved by 10%
Maddox RFB Adjustments:
– Recoil Deviation reduced by 10% (Nerf)
– Vertical Recoil reduced by 5% (Nerf)
– Horizontal Recoil reduced by 5% (Nerf)
– Bullet Velocity increased from 870m/s to 905m/s (Buff)

Attachment Adjustments:
Mandible Extended Mag (Buff): Reload speed improved 15%
21″ Turbine Booster Barrel (Buff): Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 15% to 20%
Redwell 5.56 Compensator (Buff): Vertical Recoil Control benefit improved from 16% to 20%
RL-5.56 Brake (Buff): Vertical Recoil Control benefit improved from 8% to 15%
Horus Accuracy Grip (Buff):
– Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 12% to 18%
– Aim Down Sight Speed penalty reduced from 6% to 3%
5.56 NATO FMJ (Buff):
– 14% Damage Range
– 14% Bullet Velocity
– 10% Inflicted Flinch
MXR-17 Damage at Minimum Damage Range increased from 34 to 35 (Buff)

Bullet Velocity increased from 870m/s to 900m/s (Buff)

Rhodes Drum Mag (Buff): Reload Time improved by 23%

18″ Rapid Sterling Barrel (Buff):
– Bullet Velocity penalty reduced from 10% to 4% (Buff)
– Medium Damage Range 1 benefit improved from 25% to 35% (Buff)
– Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 10% to 15% (Buff)

17″ Greaves Scourge Barrel (Buff): Bullet Velocity benefit improved from 15% to 18%

Redwell-90 Compensator (Buff): Vertical Recoil Control benefit improved from 8% to 15%
Recoil Sync Unit (Buff): Recoil Control benefit improved from 5% to 10%

7.62 NATO FMJ (Buff):
– 14% Damage Range
– 14% Bullet Velocity
– 10% Inflicted Flinch
Peacekeeper MK1 Damage at Minimum Damage Range increased from 21 to 22 (Buff)

Adjustments:
– Horizontal Recoil reduced by 10% (Buff)
– Vertical Recoil reduced by 8% (Buff)

Barrage Extended Mag(Nerf): Reload Time Improved by 12%
Vagrant-93 Stock (Buff): Aim Down Sight Speed benefit improved from 9% to 15%
Pathfinder-Skel Stock (Buff):
– Aim Down Sight Speed benefit improved from 7% to 18%
– Sprint to Fire Speed increased from 10% to 20%
EAM Steady-90 Grip (Buff):
– Movement Speed benefit improved from 9% to 12%
– Sprint Speed benefit improved from 3% to 8%

Sentry Pro Handstop (Buff): Horizontal Recoil Control improved from 10% to 15%
19.4″ Stimulus Barrel (Buff): Aim Down Sight Move Speed benefit improved from 6% to 10%

5.7x28mm FMJ (Buff):
– 14% Damage Range
– 14% Bullet Velocity
– 10% Inflicted Flinch
X9 Maverick 16″ OS-Density Barrel (Buff):
– Reload speed improved by 15%
– Bullet Velocity increased from 15% to 20%
Hawker-472 Compensator (Buff): Vertical Recoil Control benefit improved from 8% to 20%
Novaburst Brake (Buff): Vertical Recoil Control benefit improved from 5% to 15%

4.73 Caseless FMJ (Buff):
– 14% Damage Range
– 14% Bullet Velocity
– 10% Inflicted Flinch

SMGs

Close-quarters combat in Warzone is a chaotic ballet of bullets. With Season 2, fine-tuning these pocket-sized powerhouses could shift the CQB meta. It’s a delicate equation: too much power, and they dominate everything; too little, and they become pea-shooters.

Weapon Name Change
Carbon 57 Medium Damage Range improved from 13.8 – 22m to 13.8 – 23m (Buff)
Upper Torso and Arms multipliers increased from 0.9x to 0.95x (Buff)

8.5″ VAS Radiant Barrel (Buff):
– Aim Down Sight Move Speed penalty reduced from 6% to 3%
– Aim Down Sight Speed benefit improved from 9% to 14%

Dulcet Control Grip (Buff):
– Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 15% to 20%
– Aim Down Sight Speed penalty reduced from 9% to 4%

Bowen Resolute Pad (Buff):
Aim Down Sight Speed penalty reduced from 11% to 7%

Heavy Bound Pad (Buff):
– Aim Down Sight Speed penalty reduced from 17% to 9%
– Aim Down Sight Movement Speed penalty reduced from 13% to 4%
Dravec 45 Maximum Damage Range improved from 0 – 12.5m to 0 – 13.5m (Buff)
Damage at Medium Damage Range improved from 40 to 41 (Buff)
Minimum Damage Range improved from >22m to >23m (Buff)

Upper Torso and Arms multipliers increased from 0.9x to 0.95x (Buff)

16.5″ Predator Barrel (Buff)
– Bullet Velocity benefit improved from 12% to 20%
– Medium Damage Range 1 benefit improved from 35% to 45%

Delta Axis Grip (Buff):
– Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 13% to 18%
– Aim Down Sight Speed penalty reduced from 8% to 4%

Hawker Stabilized MK.II (Buff):
Vertical Recoil Control benefit improved from 5% to 12%
Kogot-7 Damage at Maximum Damage Range increased from 32 to 33 (Buff)

Hawker-9 Brake (Buff): Vertical Recoil Control benefit improved from 6% to 10%

EMT3 Vulpine Grip (Buff):
– Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 15% to 20%
– Aim Down Sight Speed penalty reduced from 9% to 4%
Ryden 45K – Aim Down Sight Speed improved from 170ms to 160ms (Buff)
– Rate of Fire improved from 909rpm to 923rpm (Buff)

11″ Raugh GL-R Barrel (Buff)
– Aim Down Sight Speed benefit improved from 9% to 15%
– Aim Down Sight Move Speed penalty reduced from 6% to 3%

Skeletonized Grip (Buff):
– Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 16% to 22%
– Aim Down Sight Speed penalty reduced from 9% to 4%

VAS Interlock Stock (Buff)
– Aim Down Sight Move Speed penalty reduced from 12% to 4%
– Aim Down Sight Speed penalty reduced from 18% to 9%
– Recoil Control benefit improved from 20% to 25%
Strumwolf 45 Maximum Damage Range decreased from 0 – 13.2m to 0 – 12.2m (Nerf)
Medium Damage Range I decreased from 13.2 – 21.5m to 12.2 – 20m (Nerf)
Minimum Damage Range decreased from >21.5m to >20m (Nerf)

– Headshot multiplier decreased from 1.15x to 1.12x (Nerf)
– Arms multipliers decreased from 1x to 0.85x (Nerf)
– Lower Torso and Legs multipliers decreased from 0.9x to 0.85x (Nerf)

Shotguns

I’ll admit it: I love a good shotgun rush. There’s something primal about getting up close and personal. But in a landscape dominated by rapid-firing automatics, shotguns need a little love to stay competitive.

Weapon Name Changes
Echo 12 Echo Modified Choke (Buff): Aim Down Sight Pellet Spread benefit improved from 10% to 15%
M10 Breacher – Sprint to Fire Speed improved from 168ms to 155ms (Buff)
– Aim Down Sight Speed improved from 300ms to 280ms (Buff)
17″ Overload Barrel (Buff): Aim Down Sight Pellet Spread benefit improved from 25% to 30%
Breacher Precision Choke (Buff): Aim Down Sight Pellet Spread benefit improved from 15% to 20%

LMGs

LMGs are interesting: they’re bullet hoses that, in the right hands, can lock down entire lanes and objectives. They’re not as mobile as SMGs nor as precise as some ARs, but they bring a different kind of hurt.

Weapon Name Changes
MK.78 Medium Damage Range 1 improved from 52 – 70m to 52 – 75m (Buff)
Minimum Damage Range improved from >70m to >75m (Buff)

Adjustments:
– Flinch Resistance improved by 15% (Buff)
– Aim Down Sight Speed improved from 290ms to 270ms (Buff)
– Sprint to Fire Speed improved from 250ms to 230ms (Buff)
– Movement speed increased from 4.4m/s to 4.6m/s (Nerf)
– Aim Down Sight Movement Speed increased from 2.4m/s to 2.6m/s (Nerf)

RL-7.62 Compensator (Buff):
Vertical Recoil Control benefit improved from 12% to 20%

20″ Mach-78 Barrel (Buff):
– Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 10% to 15%
– Bullet Velocity penalty reduced from 10% to 5%
Bowern Sentry Foregrip (Buff):
Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 20% to 25%

LTI Precision Grip (Buff):
Horizontal Recoil Control benefit improved from 15% to 22%
XM325 Damage at Maximum Damage Range increased from 25 to 26 (Buff)

Adjustments:
Vertical and Horizontal Recoil reduced by 12% (Buff)
Recoil deviation reduced by 10% (Buff)
Lower Torso and Leg multipliers increased from 0.9x to 0.96x (Buff)
Bullet Velocity increased from 880m/s to 900m/s (Buff)
Aim Down Sight Speed improved from 265ms to 245ms (Buff)

Marksman Rifle

The skill ceiling with a Marksman Rifle is astronomically high. These weapons demand precision and control, rewarding players who can consistently land headshots. The risk is immense, but the payoff—one-shot eliminations—is incredibly satisfying.

Weapon Name Changes
M8A1 M8A1 AutoStrike-X8 Conversion (Buff)
– Minimum Damage increased from 19 to 21
– Reload Speed improved by 15%
– Recoil Deviation reduced by 10%
– Horizontal and Vertical Recoil reduced by 12%
– Bullet Velocity increased from 5% to 10%

That’s the skinny on the Call of Duty Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 2 weapon adjustments. Will these changes shift your go-to loadout, or are you sticking with your tried-and-true favorites?