Best Weapons in COD Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer (Meta Weapon Tier List)

S-Tier

HAN 86, Kastov 762, VEL 46, M4

A-Tier

ISO Nightshade, Axion, Oris 6.8, X-58 NYX, KG-7 Vulcan, Hyeon Burst

B-Tier

PPSh-41, Cronen Squall, Patriot XMR, Mosin-Nagant, Signal 50, Type 73, Krait P68, .50 GS, Mojave .357

C-Tier

WZ.55 Striga, Oden, APOC-338, FINN LMG, SANG 9mm, Rezi 12, PILA, JOKR

D-Tier

Astaroth .57, MAR-9, Warlord, RPG-8

F-Tier

PM-40 Anvil

Weapon Category

Assault Rifle

Best Range

All Ranges

TTK

279ms (10 meters) — 371ms (40 meters)

Strengths

All-purpose AR with low recoil, fast TTK, and excellent versatility for all ranges.

Weaknesses

N/A

Recommended Build

Head to this loadout guide here

Weapon Category

Assault Rifle

Best Range

Medium Range

TTK

308ms (10 meters) — 457ms (40 meters)

Strengths

Higher on average damage per shot and good versatility for most ranges.

Weaknesses

Horizontal recoil that pulls to the right

Recommended Build

Head to this loadout guide here

Weapon Category

SMG

Best Range

Close Range

TTK

258ms (5 meters) — 401ms (10 meters)

Strengths

Relatively low recoil, quick ADS, a fast TTK, and a larger than average magazine.

Weaknesses

Low range and muzzle velocity

Recommended Build

Head to this loadout guide here

Weapon Category

Assault Rifle

Best Range

Close to Medium Range

TTK

337ms (10 meters) — 422ms (40 meters)

Strengths

Boasts a fast TTK, high RPM, and is relatively versatile for most gunfights.

Weaknesses

High vertical recoil with some horizontal shake

Recommended Build

Head to this loadout guide here

Weapon Category

SMG

Best Range

Close to Medium Range

TTK

260ms (5 meters) — 400ms (10 meters)

Strengths

Relatively no horizontal recoil, better on average level of damage range, and clean iron sights.

Weaknesses

Low range and muzzle velocity, along with a moderate level vertical recoil

Recommended Build

Head to this loadout guide here

Weapon Category

Assault Rifle

Best Range

Close to Medium Range

TTK

327ms (10 meters) — 440ms (40 meters)

Strengths

It is relatively lightweight and fast-handling, serving as a good run and gun rifle.

Weaknesses

The damage range is not exactly the best, making it more suited for shorter ranges of engagements.

Weapon Category

Marksman Rifle

Best Range

Medium to Long Range

Average Shots to Kill

1

Strengths

High damage, quick handling, and a superfast fire rate compared to other Marksman Rifle options

Weaknesses

Heavily reliant on skill and accuracy

Weapon Category

SMG

Best Range

Close to Medium

TTK

300ms (5 meters) — 462ms (10 meters)

Strengths

Almost zero low recoil, quick ADS, a larger than average magazine, and excellent range for an SMG.

Weaknesses

Outclassed by two notable SMGs in the immediate 10-meter range

Weapon Category

Sniper Rifle

Best Range

Long Range

Average Shots to Kill

1

Strengths

High damage, reliable one-shot, and sports the best ADS and sprint to fire speeds of all Snipers

Weaknesses

Requires skill and accuracy to use effectively

Recommended Build

Head to this loadout guide here

Weapon Category

Assault Rifle

Best Range

Close to Medium Range

TTK

260ms (10 meters) — 390ms (40 meters)

Strengths

Becomes one of the most dominant Assault Rifles once its Apex Attachment is equipped.

Weaknesses

It’s a burst of fire by default, boasting a fairly inconsistent TTK if all shots do not find their mark.

Recommended Build

Head to this loadout guide here

Weapon Category

SMG

Best Range

Close to Medium

TTK

307ms (5 meters) — 407ms (10 meters)

Strengths

Ranks as the fastest killing SMG at 10 meters and boasts a large magazine by default.

Weaknesses

Exceedingly high recoil.

Weapon Category

Assault Rifle

Best Range

Close to Medium Range

TTK

312ms (10 meters) — 421ms (40 meters)

Strengths

Boasts middle of the pack accuracy and is fairly easy to control recoil-wise.

Weaknesses

It is outclassed by almost every Assault Rifle and comes with only a 20-round magazine by default.

Weapon Category

Assault Rifle

Best Range

Close to Medium Range

TTK

320ms (10 meters) — 419ms (40 meters)

Strengths

Boasts relatively high damage and decent range.

Weaknesses

Vertical recoil level is pretty high by default, and it only comes with a 25-round magazine by default.

Weapon Category

Marksman Rifle

Best Range

Medium to Long Range

Average Shots to Kill

1

Strengths

High damage, quick handling, and boasts a decent fire rate.

Weaknesses

Heavily reliant on skill and accuracy.

Weapon Category

Sniper Rifle

Best Range

Long Range

Average Shots to Kill

1-2

Strengths

Boasts the fastest fire rate in the Sniper category, is semi-auto, and recenters fairly quickly for quick follow-up shots.

Weaknesses

Boasts the lowest damage-per-shot of all Snipers, often resulting in requiring an extra shot to kill.

Weapon Category

LMG

Best Range

Medium to Long Range

TTK

327ms (10 meters) — 386ms (40 meters)

Strengths

While boasting a fast fire rate, its recoil is easy to control, and its level of TTK is fairly competitive.

Weaknesses

Fairly low mobility and handling attributes.

Weapon Category

Pistol

Best Range

Close Range

TTK

195ms (5 meters) — 403ms (10 meters)

Strengths

Ranks as one of the fastest kills Pistols of the category, and comes with a neat Apex Attachment that eliminates the need for the Lethal Reach Perk.

Weaknesses

While one of the best Pistols, as a standalone weapon, it is relatively poor.

Weapon Category

Pistol

Best Range

Close Range to Medium Range

Average Shots to Kill

2-3

Strengths

Boasts the best damage of all the Pistols and grants a consistent one-shot kill up to 10 meters.

Weaknesses

It is heavily reliant on accuracy.

Weapon Category

Pistol

Best Range

Close Range to Medium Range

Average Shots to Kill

2-3

Strengths

Just like the .50 GS, it grants a consistent one-shot headshot kill up to 10 metes and a consistent two-shot kill for most ranges.

Weaknesses

Boasts slightly less range and muzzle velocity than its closest competitor.

Weapon Category

SMG

Best Range

Close Range

TTK

340ms (5 meters) — 473ms (10 meters)

Strengths

Incredibly lightweight and fast handling, clean iron sights.

Weaknesses

It has one of the poorest levels of range in the SMG category.

Weapon Category

Assault Rifle

Best Range

Medium to Long Range

TTK

291ms (10 meters) — 327ms (40 meters)

Strengths

Sports high damage and one of the best levels of TTK of all the ARs at the 40+ meter range.

Weaknesses

It’s a little on the slow side, tailored more towards long-range combat as opposed to close range.

Weapon Category

LMG

Best Range

Medium Range

TTK

292ms (10 meters) — 323ms (40 meters)

Strengths

Kills incredibly quickly with a full-auto weapon.

Weaknesses

Boasts a decent amount of weapon kick and is the slowest of the LMGs, handling-wise.

Weapon Category

LMG

Best Range

Medium Range

TTK

357ms (10 meters) — 391ms (40 meters)

Strengths

Boasts the best level of handling and mobility of all the LMGs.

Weaknesses

While the fastest, it still handles relatively slowly when compared to other weapons.

Weapon Category

Pistol

Best Range

Close Range

TTK

364ms (5 meters) — 424ms (10 meters)

Strengths

Boasts the fastest fire rate of the Pistol category, resulting in rapid consecutive follow-up shots.

Weaknesses

It has one of the poorest levels of range of the category.

Weapon Category

Shotgun

Best Range

Close Range

Average Shots to Kill

1-2 (at close-range)

Strengths

Boasts the best level of range of the Shotgun category and recenters fairly quickly after each shot.

Weaknesses

Requires you to be up close to use effectively.

Weapon Category

Launcher

Best Range

Medium Range

Primary Use

Destroying Killstreaks

Strengths

Boasts both lock-on and free-fire capabilities, making it the most versatile launcher.

Weaknesses

Rockets that are free-fired are incredibly inaccurate.

Weapon Category

Launcher

Best Range

Long Range

Primary Use

Destroying Killstreaks

Strengths

By far the best and most accurate Launcher for taking down aerial Scorestreaks.

Weaknesses

Since it requires a certain distance in order to lock onto its targets, it’s relatively useless for ground targets.

Weapon Category

Sniper Rifle

Best Range

Long Range

Average Shots to Kill

1

Strengths

Boasts the highest damage and best bullet penetration of the Sniper category.

Weaknesses

It is the slowest handling Sniper rifle and has the smallest magazine in comparison. More suitable for DMZ and potentially Warzone.

Weapon Category

Marksman Rifle

Best Range

Medium Range to Long Range

TTK

297ms (10 meters) — 411ms (40 meters)

Strengths

Boasts a fairly high level of damage per shot and kills, on average, in as little as two shots.

Weaknesses

As a semi-automatic weapon, it relies on accuracy and a fast trigger finger to use effectively.

Weapon Category

Shotgun

Best Range

Close Range

Average Shots to Kill

1-2 (at close-range)

Strengths

Boasts the fastest fire-rate of the Shotgun category and the largest shell capacity.

Weaknesses

With the widest pellet spread of both Shotguns, it boasts the poorest level of range.

Weapon Category

Launcher

Best Range

Medium Range

Primary Use

Infantry Combat

Strengths

Dishes out decent damage for direct hits and is remarkably accurate.

Weaknesses

While capable of taking down Killstreaks, it features no lock-on capabilities.

Weapon Category

Launcher

Best Range

Medium Range

Primary Use

Infantry Combat

Strengths

Dishes out decent damage for direct hits.

Weaknesses

It is wildly inaccurate and boasts a small blast radius.