Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 brings 18 weapon balance changes to multiplayer, and almost all of them are buffs. Only the APOC-338 LMG takes a straight nerf, while the HYEON BURST and VEL 46 get a mix of ups and downs. The rest gain damage, range or both.
The pattern is clear once you read the numbers. Infinity Ward is pulling weaker guns up rather than knocking the strongest ones down, so expect your loadout options to widen rather than shrink this season.
Assault rifles get the biggest share of buffs
Six assault rifles change in Season 1, more than any other class. Most of the gains are in range and headshot damage, which rewards players who can hold their aim at mid distance.
| Weapon | Change | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| AXION | Buff | Medium damage range 1 up from 34.8m to 38.61m, muzzle velocity up from 415 to 470 m/s |
| HAN 86 | Buff | Head multiplier up from 1.25 to 1.3 |
| HYEON BURST | Mixed | Medium damage 1 up from 24 to 25, max damage range up from 24.64m to 30.99m, max damage listed as 30 to 23, min damage down from 25 to 20 |
| KASTOV 762 | Buff | Medium damage 1 up from 24 to 25, range 1 up from 40.13m to 42.16m, head up from 1.33 to 1.35, neck and upper torso up from 1.08 to 1.1 |
| M4 | Buff | Max damage range up from 25.91m to 27.94m, head up from 1.25 to 1.3 |
| PATRIOT XMR | Buff | Max damage range up from 31.24m to 33.53m, ADS move speed up from 2.22 to 2.26 m/s |
The AXION change is the one to try first. A jump from 415 to 470 m/s muzzle velocity means bullets reach long-range targets noticeably faster, and it comes with almost four extra metres of medium-damage range.
SMG players gain at the edges of their range
| Weapon | Change | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| ISO NIGHTSHADE | Buff | Max damage range up from 10.54m to 11.68m, min damage up from 13 to 14 |
| PPSH-41 | Buff | Medium damage 1 up from 15 to 16, medium damage 2 up from 13 to 14, min damage up from 12 to 13 |
| VEL 46 | Mixed | Every damage range shortened by about 0.5m to 1m, min damage up from 13 to 14 |
| WZ.55 STRIGA | Buff | Max damage up from 26 to 27, min damage up from 17 to 19, head up from 1.3 to 1.4 |
| X-58 NYX | Buff | Medium damage 2 up from 15 to 16, min damage up from 13 to 14 |
The WZ.55 STRIGA comes out of this as the big winner among SMGs. A head multiplier of 1.4 is the highest on this list, and the two-point bump to minimum damage helps it in fights it used to lose at range. The VEL 46 goes the other way. Its damage drops off sooner, though a higher damage floor softens the blow.
The APOC-338 is the only gun Infinity Ward nerfed
| Weapon | Change | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| APOC-338 | Nerf | Min damage down from 33 to 32, head down from 1.35 to 1.3 |
| TYPE 73 | Buff | Max damage range up from 24.89m to 25.53m, head up from 1.25 to 1.3. Apex attachment gets more range and medium damage |
The APOC-338 has been one of the most popular LMGs since launch, so a small trim was expected. It is still a strong option. The TYPE 73 is now a more serious alternative, especially with its Apex attachment.
Shotgun, marksman and pistol changes
| Weapon | Change | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| REZI 12 | Buff | All three medium damage ranges extended, longest from 8.76m to 10.29m, min damage up from 14 to 16. Apex attachment also improved |
| MOSIN-NAGANT | Buff | Max damage range up from 36.83m to 40.13m |
| ORIS 8.6 | Buff | Max damage range up from 19.05m to 22.61m, min damage up from 58 to 63 |
| KRAIT P68 | Buff | Max damage range up from 8.89m to 9.4m, medium range 1 up from 20.32m to 21.08m, lower torso up from 1 to 1.1 |
The REZI 12 gains more than 1.5m on its longest medium range, which makes it more forgiving outside point-blank fights. The ORIS 8.6 could also be a sleeper pick, with a five-point rise in minimum damage.
Does any of this affect Warzone?
Not yet, as far as the published notes go. The changes listed so far apply to Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer. No separate Warzone weapon tuning has been detailed. That could change with a mid-season update, and we will add any Warzone changes here.
Which guns to try first in Season 1
If you only test three, make it the AXION, the WZ.55 STRIGA and the KASTOV 762. Each gets several improvements at once, rather than one small tweak. For more on the game itself, see our Modern Warfare 4 review roundup.
