Best weapons in Warzone Season 5: The strongest and most broken guns

Warzone Season 5 is finally here, and it comes with an abundance of new content.

From new POIs to brand-new weapons (Tec-9 SMG and the EM2 AR), a shiny new battle pass, and much more.

There's so much to do and explore at the start of the season, but many players still price winning above everything else. And there's no shame in that; we all love to show our skills and dominate the battlefield.

But aside from your skills, arguably the most important thing you need to do is to choose the right weapon for the right situation. And by "the right weapon", we mean the best, of course.

Even in the healthiest of the metas, there will always be that one gun that simply performs better than anything else in its class, and it stands out as a clear winner of the latest balance changes.

Interestingly enough, the Season 5 update has been released without any weapon balance changes, which is rather unusual, but Raven has stated that "a balance pass to weapons will release in the near future."  

We will update our list of the best guns in Warzone Season 5 once the balance changes are being released, but until then, if your goal is to wreak havoc every time you jump into Verdansk, then these are the guns you want to be running with, and we have poured over the stats and considered the best loadouts to produce a list of the best gun, in each class, at the start of Warzone Season 5.

Let's jump right into it.

The best weapon in every class for Warzone Season 5

Best assault rifle: Krig 6

A lot has changed in the assault rifle class over the last few seasons. The CR-56 AMAX remained dominant in Warzone even after countless nerfs for several seasons and was one of the best weapons for most of the year.

• Read more: Warzone AR tier list - Every assault rifle ranked from best to worst for Season 5

But, after countless nerfs, the weapon is simply not that good anymore, and the Krig 6 now stands out as the best assault rifle in Season 5. It basically has no recoil, is extremely accurate, and does decent damage from various ranges. 

Best SMG: Tec-9 SMG

The new Tec-9 is an easy choice for us in the SMG class, the weapon offers unparalleled flexibility, better accuracy at range than any other weapon in its class, and it has a solid damage output.

• Read more: Warzone SMG tier list - Every sub-machine gun ranked from best to worst for Season 5

On top of all of that, the weapon is ridiculously easy to control due to low recoil (even in the full auto mode), and you will have a field day while rushing your targets at full speed. And the best thing? The weapon actually feels balanced - it's not broken; it's simply good!

Best light-machine gun: PKM

A new season and a new LMG on the top. PKM has everything you want from a light machine gun. It’s accurate and deals a lot of damage while being relatively easy to control compared to other LMGs.

• Read more: Warzone LMG tier list - Every light-machine gun ranked from best to worst for Season 5

If you want, you can even adjust it to perform relatively good at close-range with a few attachments, but the weapon is at its best for mid to long-range combat.

Best sniper/marksman rifle: Kar98k

The absurd ADS, firing rate and mobility of the Kar98k make it an easy choice as a deadly long-range weapon. One of the main disadvantages of good sniper/marksman rifles is that they hinder mobility, but that's not the case here.

• Read more: Warzone sniper tier list - Every sniper and marksman rifle ranked from best to worst for Season 5

Be as light as a feather as you quickly change positions while blowing the heads of your unsuspecting enemies. Asides from being powerful, the Kar98k is rather easy to use, and that's why it still remains one of the most popular choices among players.

Best shotgun: Gallo SA12

Due to the weapon's high fire rate and incredible damage output, the Gallo SA12 is now the undisputed king of shotguns, especially considering all the nerfs the Streetsweeper got in earlier seasons.

• Read more: Warzone shotgun tier list - Every shotgun ranked from best to worst for Season 5

The Gallo SA12 is unbelievably strong in close-range combat, with a great time-to-kill, allowing you to disintegrate the enemy into dust in a split second. If you like to get up close and personal, this semi-automatic shotgun will be your best friend.

Best tactical rifle: 

If being "tactical" is your way of killing enemies in Warzone, the M16 is what you will want to pick. This tactical rifle comes with a combination of burst fire and high accuracy, and with the right attachments, it can take down enemies in just a burst or two, provided your aiming is good and reflexes quick.

• Read more: Warzone tactical rifle tier list - Every tac. rifle ranked from best to worst for Season 5

The weapon performs best in long-range combat, but don't be afraid to come closer if the situation requires it, it will serve you just as well at medium range encounters.

Best pistol: .50 GS Desert Eagle

The pistol category is arguably the most arbitrary one, and that's why we are still sticking with the good old Deagle. Why? Because we love it. Is it the best? Maybe, but it sure is the best feeling when you turn someone's head into a mash after you one-shot kill them with the Deagle.

And there you have it, the best weapons in each class for the start of Warzone Season 5.

As always, keep in mind that the meta constantly shifts, and it is especially volatile in these early days of a new season, as players are still adapting to the changes and experimenting with new loadouts. This list is by no means set in stone, and it is based on our extensive testing, new changes, and experience from previous seasons.

• Read more: Warzone Season 5: Prestige levels, rewards and season level reset

Want to know more about Warzone Season 5? Then check out our dedicated Call of Duty section, featuring guides, best loadouts, weapon tier lists and much more.

For more Call of Duty news, be sure to check out our dedicated section or some of our MW2 Guides & Tutorials below:

Modern Warfare 2 Guides - Jack Links Skin | Unlock All Operators | Check Server Status | Get Twitch Drops | Post-Credit Scene Explained | Unlock Gold Camo | Get Burger Town Operator | MGB Nuke | Unlock Every Weapon | All Killstreaks| Safe Code Locations | Check KD Ratio | XP Farm Trick | Chopper Gun Glitch | Weapon Tuning | Change Name Color | Hardcore Tier 1 Mode | Turn Off Crossplay | Steam Deck | Raid: Atomgrad | How To Play "Support A Team" | Unlock Orion Camo | Aim Assist Settings | 

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Best Modern Warfare 2 Loadouts -  Best Weapon Tier List | M4 Loadout |  PDSW 528 Loadout | TAQ-V Loadout | M4 Loadout | Fennec 45 | No Recoil M4 Loadout | SA-B 50 Loadout | Kastov-74U Loadout |