Summary
A recent round of nerfs for assault rifles inCall of Duty: Warzonemakes the M4 assault rifle much more effective than its counterparts in Season 6. These AR nerfs were made as Activision and its developers prepare for the launch ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3in a few weeks, andCall of Duty: Warzoneis expected to receive even more balance updates.
On October 17, theCall of Dutydevelopers released theSeason 6 mid-season update featuring The Haunting event. Patch notes for the October 17 update revealed that weapon balancing updates were on the way, and the first balance update was released less than a week later on October 23. The October 23 update is notable for its range of buffs and nerfs across nearly every primary weapon category, including ARs and SMGs, inWarzone.Warzone’sTR-76 Geist and Kastov 762 were among some of the ARs that were targeted with close damage nerfs and damage multiplier decreases. However, these nerfs have increased the viability of the M4 weapon due to some of its strengths in the updatedWarzonemeta.
A new YouTube video byWarzoneplayer and content creator Metaphor highlights a “double buff” that the M4 received with the October 23 update since all other top weapons in the AR category were nerfed. The recent update increased the M4’s close-mid damage range, and Metaphor notes that the weapon is excellent for mouse and keyboard players due to its predictable recoil and damage profiles. Specifically, Metaphor states that the M4 has the same limb damage for all body parts, making the weapon very forgiving while in use. As a result, M4 loadouts should be comparable withWarzone’sbest Kastov 762 loadoutin terms of consistency and damage.
The combination of Cronen OP44 muzzle, Hightower 20' barrel, FTAC Ripper 56 under barrel, Aim OP-V4 optic, and 45-round magazine attachments make the M4 a very competitive weapon inWarzone. This particular M4 loadout increases damage, range, accuracy, and recoil control while decreasing mobility and handling. As Metaphor shows in the gameplay video, these mobility and handling decreases are mitigated by the M4 buff and the stat-boosting attachments. Those wanting a weapon with more mobility than the M4 may want to consider using an SMG like theLachmann Sub inWarzone.
The iconic M4 appears to be at the top of theWarzonemeta, so the weapon may prove to be useful for those wanting to quickly secure kills and collect souls inCall of Duty’sThe Haunting event. A similar close damage range buff was also given to the M4 inModern Warfare 2, but it remains to be seen if it will continue to be a competitive weapon inModern Warfare 3and a newly updatedWarzonethis November. At the very least,Warzonebalance updates continue to keep the meta interesting by elevating certain weapons that players may have overlooked in the past.
Call of Duty: Warzoneis available now for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
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