Best Shotguns and Sniper Rifles to Use on Zombies in CoD: Black Ops 7

The Zombies mode in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is off to a solid start, giving us plenty of secrets to pursue as we level up our weapons, fit them with attachments and pack-a-punch them to make them even more deadly. While we know that Assault Rifles are always a sure bet to maximize your chances of survival, Shotguns and Sniper Rifles can be a bit harder to minimize, as they require you to be at specific ranges to get the most out of them.

Shotguns are generally a safer bet than Sniper Rifles in CoD Zombies, but getting up close and personal with the undead is a must, especially as things get more intense as you get to higher rounds. However, both have their strengths and weaknesses, and depending on your situation, can be the literal reason for your survival or death!

XR-3 ION

Ah, the XR-3 ION, a very unique weapon that does practically everything wrong that you need in Zombies mode. It has the worst maneuverability and handling of any sniper rifle in the game. It's also a three-round burst sniper rifle on top of that, meaning you have to hold still while firing, so all three bullets connect with your target for maximum damage.

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And if that wasn't enough, there will be a slight delay between your trigger pull and the weapon actually firing, which feels incredibly off-putting and makes the gun feel bulky. Having poor mobility is a tragedy in Zombies, but having built-in lag between shots is a big no-no. XR-3 ION has great damage potential, but it's not worth it when everyone else will actively plot your downfall!

VS Recon

After that is another sniper rifle, this time the VS Recon, a very solid bolt-action sniper with a relatively quick rechamber, all things considered. Still, bolting another bullet and pulling back the chamber after each shot isn't what we'd consider ideal for taking on endless hordes of Zombies, putting this otherwise excellent Sniper Rifle at the bottom of the list.

Running VS Recon won't cause instant destruction, but you'll definitely feel its weaknesses starting to get to you, as its damage doesn't scale well even with a pack-a-punch. While attachments and perks could make it better, it would still pale in comparison to the other weapons on this list, which is unfortunate to see!

Echo 12

Another devastating Echo is the 12, which can unleash two powerful and high-damaging shots back-to-back, turning zombies into fine smoke. However, while it has great damage potential, its maneuverability and handling are subpar at best, which significantly limits its potential. If raw damage is what you're looking for, pack-a-punching this thing can be fun to use, but we still don't like it for high rounds.

With laser-focusing attachments to improve its poor mobility, the Echo 12 probably ranks higher. Still, you may have to sacrifice its excellent accuracy or range to get those results, which make it so powerful in the first place. At the end of the day, there are better options out there, and the Echo 12 is still pretty solid, but you should swap out the moment you get that better option outside of the mystery box or wall!

Chaya SK

Starting with our top three is the Shadow SK, the only remaining sniper rifle on this list, which more than deserves this spot. Not only does it do significant damage, but it's a semi-automatic weapon, allowing you to fire multiple shots without having to rechamber between them like the VS Recon. While its rate of fire may still be a little slow, it's much better to deal with than other options.

This sniper rifle has very stable recoil, great maneuverability and handling, and can become a quickscope icon, which is very necessary if you want to use it on Zombies. And that's all before you pack-a-punch it, which makes it even more deadly, as it scales well and maintains its powerful damage even in high rounds!

Akita

Near the top of the list is the powerful and small Akita fully automatic shotgun, which has a strong focus on maneuverability and handling above all else, making it an interesting choice for Zombies. Although it's pretty useless at any range that isn't up close, the Akita will tear through large groups of Zombies if you're confident enough to take them on up close and personal.

Being able to freely navigate the map at high speed is a dream, and being able to destroy zombies that pop out at you in an instant never gets old. And, with attachments that further enhance its speed and maneuverability while still being pack-a-punch, the Akita will get you farther, allowing you to get in higher rounds without breaking a sweat. This is the rule!

M10 breacher

Finally, we have the M10 Breacher, which may seem like a safe choice, but it's pretty good without being top ranked. Its ability to dominate close and mid-range, while also rocking the highest base damage for shotguns, easily elevates it to the top. Did we also mention that it has excellent dynamics and handling, with solid accuracy? Well, it does, and it only gets better when you add attachments to it.

Furthermore, when you finally get to pack-a-punch on the M10 Breacher, its damage output will scale very well, allowing you to rely on it even at extremely high rounds. This shotgun delivers the goods and you'll want to make it into zombies mode. This allows you to stay nimble while dealing great damage, sending zombies' body parts hurtling through the air as you blast away hordes of them with ease!

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