Best Warzone loadouts in Season 4: the meta

The Warzone meta is the set of most effective weapons at any given time. It shifts with every patch: a buffed gun climbs, a nerfed gun drops. Here is where things stand in Season 4 (Reloaded), and how to build a loadout that holds up.

Want the full ranking, filterable by role and mode, with each weapon's exact build? Head to our Warzone meta loadouts tool.

The absolute meta right now

Five weapons dominate, across all categories (updated June 9, 2026):

• MXR-17 (AR, long range) — the most-used gun in the game (22% pick). See our MXR-17 loadout guide.
• DS20 Mirage (AR) — almost no recoil, the easiest (EaseScore 9.5). DS20 Mirage guide.
• Dravec 45 (SMG) — the king of close range, 526 ms TTK. Dravec 45 guide.
• Carbon 57 (SMG) — insane fire rate, easy run-and-gun. Carbon 57 guide.
• Strider 300 (sniper) — the best one-shot. Strider 300 guide.

The backbone of any serious BR loadout: a long-range AR + an aggressive SMG, rounded out with a sniper.

The best SMGs (close range)

The Dravec 45 and Carbon 57 (absolute meta) lead, backed up in the meta by the MPC-25 and Kogot-7. The full Dravec build is in our Dravec 45 loadout guide.

Snipers and long range

The three meta bolt-action snipers got their headshot damage increased by 33 %:

• Strider 300, Hawker HX and VS Recon secure the one-shot in the right conditions.

Carry-forward guns worth using

Warzone runs on carry-forward: weapons from Black Ops 6, Modern Warfare 3 and Modern Warfare 2 stay playable, even if they aren't in the current top meta (ranked by stats). The XM4 or Kilo 141 (BO6), for example, remain easy and viable as a fallback.

Looking for a specific gun, even off-meta? Our complete weapon directory covers the entire active arsenal (BO7 + carry-forward): every gun has its card (build + code), and those outside the ranking suggest a meta alternative.

How to pick based on your role

• Carrying the team from afar? Long-range AR (MXR-17 / DS20) + sniper.
• Playing aggressive? Close-range SMG (Dravec 45 / Carbon 57) + a versatile AR as backup.
• New to the game? Go for ease: DS20 Mirage (EaseScore 9.5) or X9 Maverick, low recoil, instant results.

To compare two guns side by side (TTK, range, handling), use our weapon comparator.

The right habit: check the patch

The meta is never frozen. Before each session, a glance at the Warzone patch notes tells you what got buffed or nerfed, so you don't cling to a gun that just dropped.

FAQ

What is the best weapon in Warzone Season 4?

For long range, the MXR-17, DS20 Mirage and AK-27 dominate after their buffs. Up close, the Dravec 45 and Carbon 57 are the go-to SMGs.

Is the XM4 still usable in Warzone?

Yes. Thanks to carry-forward, the Black Ops 6 XM4 is still usable. It's a very easy AR (low recoil) and perfectly viable.

How often does the meta change?

Every patch. Our weapon cards show a buff/nerf tag as soon as a gun is affected by the update.