Nerfing Multiple Popular Weapons in Call of Duty: Warzone Enhances the Dominance of a Single AR

Highlights

The M4 assault rifle has become exceptionally powerful in Season 6 of Call of Duty: Warzone, thanks to the recent adjustments in buffs and nerfs to assault rifles. With its remarkable capabilities aligning perfectly with the updated meta, the M4 has emerged as one of the most potent weapons in the game.

The October 23 update improved the M4 with a "double buff," making it a stronger choice among other top weapons in the AR category that were nerfed.

Equipping the M4 with specific attachments enhances damage, range, accuracy, and recoil control, albeit at the expense of mobility and handling. For players desiring greater mobility, the Lachmann Sub SMG can be a suitable alternative.

The recent nerfs to assault rifles in Call of Duty: Warzone have made the M4 assault rifle incredibly effective compared to its counterparts in Season 6. These nerfs were implemented by Activision and its developers in preparation for the upcoming release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and it is expected that Warzone will receive further balance updates.

On October 17, the Call of Duty developers released the mid-season update for Season 6, which included The Haunting event. The patch notes for this update mentioned that weapon balancing updates were on the horizon, and less than a week later, on October 23, the first balance update was released. This update included a variety of buffs and nerfs across almost every primary weapon category in Warzone, including assault rifles and submachine guns. The TR-76 Geist and Kastov 762 in Warzone were two of the assault rifles that were specifically targeted with nerfs to close damage and damage multiplier. However, these nerfs have inadvertently increased the effectiveness of the M4 weapon due to its unique strengths in the updated Warzone meta.

A recent YouTube video from Warzone player and content creator Metaphor focuses on the M4 receiving a "double buff" in the October 23 update, while other top weapons in the AR category were nerfed. With the update, the M4's close-mid damage range has been increased. Metaphor points out that this weapon is particularly advantageous for mouse and keyboard players, thanks to its predictable recoil and damage profiles. Notably, the M4 inflicts the same limb damage across all body parts, making it very forgiving during gameplay. Consequently, M4 loadouts should be on par with Warzone's best Kastov 762 loadouts in terms of consistency and damage.

The M4 in Warzone becomes a formidable weapon when equipped with the Cronen OP44 muzzle, Hightower 20' barrel, FTAC Ripper 56 under barrel, Aim OP-V4 optic, and 45-round magazine attachments. This loadout enhances damage, range, accuracy, and recoil control while sacrificing mobility and handling. In a gameplay video by Metaphor, it is demonstrated that the M4's decreased mobility and handling are compensated for by the M4 buff and the attachments that boost its stats. However, those seeking greater mobility may prefer using an SMG like the Lachmann Sub in Warzone.

The M4 is considered to be one of the most effective weapons in the Warzone meta, making it a valuable choice for players looking to secure kills and gather souls in Call of Duty's The Haunting event. A similar close damage range buff was also given to the M4 in Modern Warfare 2, but it remains to be seen whether it will continue to be competitive in Modern Warfare 3 and the newly updated Warzone in November. Regardless, Warzone's balance updates constantly introduce new dynamics by highlighting weapons that may have been overlooked in the past.

Call of Duty: Warzone is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

Source: Dexerto