As an experienced Warzone 2 player with over 25 days of Warzone playtime, I eat, sleep and breathe loadouts, guns stats and analyzing the ever-evolving meta. The Season 3 patch came with sweeping weapon balancing changes that have shaken up the meta into arguably the most balanced its ever been.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll be breaking down the top meta picks with a laser focus on what truly makes each gun shine based on their stats, handling characteristics and tuning potential.
My Credentials
Before we dive in, let me quickly outline my background and credentials when it comes to understanding Warzone 2 gunplay on an expert level:
- 300+ Warzone 2 wins across solos, duos and quads
- 25+ days of total Warzone playtime
- Ability to consistently drop 20+ kill games
- Meticulously analyze every weapon stat change in patches and hotfixes
- Spend hours tuning weapons in the Gunsmith and testing ranges to perfect loadouts
I don‘t just casually follow the meta, I critically analyze the data myself and optimize builds for competitive edge. This guide reflects my extensive expertise. Now let‘s get into it!
Warzone 2 Weapons Comparison Table
To start our deep dive into the Warzone 2 meta, let‘s directly compare some key stats across top weapons:
| Weapon | Base Damage | Rounds/Min | Body TTK | Headshot TTK | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO Hemlock | 42 | 600 | 584ms | 493ms | 85/100 |
| Fennec 45 | 40 | 1111 | 312ms | 248ms | 97/100 |
| Lachmann Sub | 47 | 824 | 352ms | 246ms | 93/100 |
| BAS-P | 49 | 257 | 1563ms | 312ms | 78/100 |
There‘s a lot more to weapon performance than stats of course, but this table provides some objective starting points for comparison. You can clearly see the blistering TTK potential of guns like the Fennec or ISO Hemlock‘s excellent damage and balance of stats.
Throughout each weapon breakdown, I‘ll reference how certain attachments and tuning impacts these core stats to really optimize for Warzone success.
The Top Meta Weapons in Warzone 2 Season 3
Let‘s now get into the current cream of the crop guns that I‘m seeing the most success with in Season 3 matches and why they are so effective. I‘ve spent countless hours experimenting with builds so everything recommended here reflects the optimal setup and tuning configuration in my experience.
ISO Hemlock
The ISO Hemlock medium-long range prowess has made it a mainstay top AR since launch. While Season 3 brought small damage and range nerfs across some attachments, the right build makes it as deadly as ever.
The Hemlock‘s key strengths:
- Excellent stability from low initial recoil and predictable bounce
- Strong damage per shot and range with the right build
- Relatively fast ADS speed for an AR class
Attachments:
| Attachments | Tuning Focus |
|---|---|
|
|
This build enhances stability through recoil control and weapon sway tuning while retaining mobility. In plain language – it makes it extremely easy to stay on target at long distances.
The Hemlock does see a mobility decrease compared to top SMGs however, so an MP5 or Fennec secondary fills that niche nicely.
Fennec 45
Storming around the map deleting enemies in milliseconds with its 1111 RPM fire rate, the Fennec 45 retains its meta power in Season 3. Get caught out in the open against it and you will get melted.
The Fennec‘s key strengths:
- Extreme rate of fire for nearly instant TTK up close
- Excellent handling, ADS & sprint out speeds
- Large 40 round magazines for an SMG
Attachments:
| Attachments | Tuning Focus |
|---|---|
|
|
I‘ve tuned the Fennec for enhanced recoil control and stability to make its blistering fire rate more manageable at mid-range while retaining its CQB dominance.
While deadly up close, the Fennec is still limited by damage dropoff at range compared to ARs. As such, long range weapons like the Victus XMR complement it perfectly.
RPK
If pouring a constant stream of high damage rounds downrange is your thing, the RPK excels at just that with its minimal recoil and huge 75 round magazines.
The RPK‘s key strengths:
- Highest LMG magazine capacity with fast reload
- Easy to control recoil even in long bursts
- Excellent bullet velocity and damage range
Attachments:
| Attachments | Tuning Focus |
|---|---|
|
|
The tuning here gives you an extremely stable platform, reducing bounce dramatically even during long sprays at distant enemies. This allows you to beam with ease!
As expected with a bulky LMG, movement speed is the main sacrifice. A shotgun or fast SMG balances nicely.
Lachmann Sub
In many players‘ eyes, the MP5 aka Lachmann-762 is still the quintessential SMG pick in Warzone 2 that balances versatility, handling and consistency.
The Lachmann Sub‘s key strengths:
- Quick handling and ADS suitable for aggressive play
- Easy to control recoil properties
- Respectable damage range for an SMG
Attachments:
| Attachments | Tuning Focus |
|---|---|
|
|
Careful tuning refinement gives the Sub a more consistent and competitive recoil pattern for mid-range while speed remains a focus.
Up close spray and pray SMGs like the Fennec still hold the edge in CQB however. My preferred pairing is the lethal Signal 50 sniper.
BAS-P
I couldn‘t leave out my guilty pleasure sniper that slaps so hard when you land your shots. The BAS-P lever action packs a heavy punch with the capacity for lightning quick follow ups.
The BAS-P‘s key strengths:
- Satisfying one shot headshot kills
- Excellent mobility for a sniper
- Lever action allows rapid follow up shots
Attachments:
| Attachments | Tuning Focus |
|---|---|
|
|
This setup allows for extremely quick scoping while retaining enough stability to reliably land follow up body shots or finish downs. Feel like a quickscoping god with this bolt-action beast!
I do favor pairing with an AR or SMG as getting only hitmarkers with your shots leaves you vulnerable up close.
Kastov-74U
With a deceptive smooth looking recoil plot, the Kastov-74U kicks violently in actual game use until you master controlling its strong horizontal bounce. Once you do however, it‘s a lethal option with AR power and great handling.
The Kastov‘s key strengths:
- Impressive close-medium range damage
- SMG-like handling and ADS speed
- Large ammo capacity for an AR
Attachments:
| Attachments | Tuning Focus |
|---|---|
|
|
This build tames it‘s difficult horizontal kick on the first few shots while retaining the mobility that lets it shine up close. Once the recoil is mastered, it‘s lethal across mid-range.
Snipers like the Victus XMR pair great to cover long range while the Kastov dominates medium.
SP-R 208
Aggressive snipers can‘t go wrong with the SP-R 208 as their bold quick scoping companion. Its generous one shot kill area and ADS speed support ultra aggressive play.
The SP-R‘s key strengths:
- Quick ADS for easy drag scopes
- Improved hipfire makes panic shots viable
- One shot kills from upper chest up
Attachments:
| Attachments | Tuning Focus |
|---|---|
|
|
Fast handling tuning tailors perfectly for dragging quick shots on nearby enemies while still allowing reliable follow ups. Pair with an AR or SMG to taste for complete coverage.
Other weapons certainly compete, but for me these are the strongest current meta picks to consistently drop high kill games and secure dubs during Season 3. I‘ll continually refine my builds and impressions as new balance changes shift the weapon viability landscape!
Let me know what your go-to loadouts this season are looking like on Twitter @passionategamer and make sure to subscribe for future meta analysis updates. Thanks for reading!
