10 best guns in Black Ops Cold War: Ranked List

There are some truly incredible Call of Duty guns to master in Black Ops Cold War. To make things easier we’ve decided to pick out the 10 best guns in Black Ops Cold War and rank them from best to worst.

Black Ops Cold War has a pretty extensive catalog of guns for players to test out and see what works best for them. The game launched with a wide array of weapons and the following seasons delivered fan favorites like the MAC-10, LAPA, and C58 to name a few.

As well as worrying about the best FPS settings to use and best aim assist settings to use, there’s also the doubt that the gun you’re using is a top-tier option for your style of play.

Black Ops Cold War finally hit Steam for the first time in March 2023, and the game is currently 50% off, making it the perfect time to explore the array of Assault Rifles, SMGs, Tactical Rifles, Shotguns, LMGs, and Pistols to pick from.

Here are the top 10 weapons in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

Best guns in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War ranked list

Before we dive into a deep look at the elite guns that Treyarch has to offer, we’re first going to provide a rundown of every weapon in the game and rank them. Some of Cold War’s weapons are impossible to ignore, while others are simply not worth your time.

Here’s every main weapon in Black Ops Cold War ranked:

1. Krig 6
2. LC10
3. TEC-9
4. EM2
5. AK-47
6. KSP 45
7. XM4
8. AMP 63
9. Swiss K31
10. FARA 83
11. Milano 821
12. Streetsweeper
13. Stoner 63
14. AK-74u
15. QBZ-83
16. OTs 9
17. PPSH-41
18. Marshal
19. Diamatti
20. Bullfrog
21. Groza
22. C58
23. Grav
24. Gallo SA12
25. MP5
26. .410 Ironside
27. CARV.2
28. LAPA
29. MG 82
30. FFAR 1
31. ZRG 20mm
32. DMR 14
33. Hauer 77
34. MAC-10
35. M16
36. AUG
37. RPD
38. LW3 Tundra
39. Nail Gun
40. M1911
41. Type 63
42. Pelington 703
43. M82
44. M60
45. Magnum
46. RPG-7
47. Cigma 2

CoD: Black Ops Cold War best guns

10. FARA 83

When the FARA arrived in Season 2, it emerged in Warzone as a viable contender for the game’s best AR. It’s no surprise to see that the weapon is just as effective in Cold War multiplayer.

Its fast fire rate helps it perform very well in Treyarch’s shooter, and it can still barrel its way through a couple of players in no time at all. Whilst there are most certainly better AR options in the game, the FARA is always worth trying out.

9. Swiss K31 – Best Sniper Rifle in Black Ops Cold War

At first, it was the LW3 Tundra, then it was dethroned by the ZRG 20mm, until the Swiss K31 came along to rule all Sniper Rifles.

It possesses the usual damage and range that comes with a dominant Sniper Rifle, but with the added bonus that its ADS time is very short in comparison to other Sniper Rifles. Not only is it perfect for a quickscoping loadout in Cold War, but it’s effective for any sniping opportunity. The Swiss is simply phenomenal.

Here’s a quick guide on how to unlock the Swiss K31.

8. AMP63 – Best Pistol in Black Ops Cold War

Although probably the least-used weapon on this list due to its unlock parameters, the AMP63 is a great little weapon to use.

Its automatic fire nature allows it to barrel its way through ammo and give you a big advantage if you’re accurate. Its only minor setback is that its range suffers in comparison to ARs and SMGs, but if you’re in a small-to-medium-sized map, then equip the AMP63 and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

7. XM4

The XM4 not only had a big improvement to its Iron Sight back in Season 4, but the Cold War weapon received a major buff in Season 5, increasing its overall performance even more.

It’s always been a calm, cool, and consistent killer, and it took people a while to start realizing how good it actually is. Also, don’t forget to check out its exclusive, secret attachment that Treyarch provided with the Season 5 update.

6. KSP 45

Practically reborn in Season 2 of Cold War, the KSP 45 went from being an afterthought to the most powerful burst weapon in the game.

Realizing that it wasn’t being used, Treyarch did the right thing and buffed all aspects of the KSP 45. With nerfs to the M16 and AUG, the quick, powerful barrages from the KSP 45 make it far more deadly than it was at launch. If you enjoy the feeling of successive bursts of bullets with accuracy, then the KSP 45 might just be for you.

5. AK-47

No one has ever questioned the AK-47’s overwhelming power as each bullet can rip a hole through space and time itself. For all its power, it can be a handful to control thanks to its haphazard recoil.

Nevertheless, it still retains its aura of destruction and skilled players can effortlessly make it look like one of the best weapons in all of Black Ops Cold War. If that wasn’t enough, the AK-47 received yet another buff in Cold War Season 5.

4. EM2

The race for the top meta weapon in Black Ops Cold War is a close one. The EM2 just falls short of the top three, but you could easily roll with the EM2 in your main loadout and drop consistent high-kill games.

It’s another relentless, pinpoint-accurate weapon that if you fire first with then you’ll have a great chance of prevailing, at any range too.

Here is how to unlock the EM2 in Black Ops Cold War.

3. TEC-9

One of the most interesting, if not the most interesting, guns in our top 10 list. The TEC-9 is classified as an SMG, yet it’s completely semi-auto.

However, with some different attachments, the firing nature of the weapon can actually change, even becoming a burst-fire SMG like the KSP 45. Even in its semi-auto form, the TEC-9 is ridiculously effective and efficient. Couple that with a decent-sized mag, and the TEC-9 was a terrific addition to Cold War post-launch.

Here is how to unlock the TEC-9 in Black Ops Cold War.

2. LC10 – Best SMG in Black Ops Cold War

The LC10 has usurped many guns to become one of the most-used weapons in the game and dominate in Black Ops Cold War.

After repeated calls for it to be nerfed, the LC10 was finally brought down a notch at the beginning of Season 5. But it remains a fearsome weapon that can outperform virtually every other gun in the game – that’s how insane it is.

Its piercing shots are matched by relatively high accuracy, and it’s a gun with few drawbacks.

Here is how to unlock the LC10 in Black Ops Cold War.

1. Krig 6 – Best Assault Rifle in Black Ops Cold War

If you played any amount of CoD: Black Ops Cold War, then you probably knew what was coming. That’s right, the Krig 6 takes the top spot because it’s a weapon without any flaws. It’s one of those rare firearms that feels absolutely unbeatable.

Once you’ve progressed the weapon’s level and reduced its vertical and horizontal recoil, then you have your own ridiculous laser. It’s insanely efficient, very strong, incredibly accurate, and is quite simply the best weapon in Black Ops Cold War.

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Image Credit: Activision / Treyarch