Best Sniper Rifles in Warzone: Meta loadouts for Season 1

Joseph Pascoulis
Warzone Ghost holding Sniper Rifle

Sniper rifles have seen their ups and downs in the Warzone meta, but the strongest options consistently rank among the best weapons in this Call of Duty battle royale.

Snipers excel in long-range engagements, offering unmatched power to suppress and eliminate enemy teams from a distance, often without allowing opponents to fight back. Their ability to control the battlefield makes them a critical tool for skilled players.

To ensure they’re balanced, the devs have adjusted snipers with various buffs and nerfs, and Season 1 is no exception. The latest update brought significant buffs to the overall effectiveness of sniper rifles, solidifying their place in the current meta.

Staying informed and optimizing your sniper loadouts is crucial to remain competitive. Even small adjustments to a weapon can have a major impact, and no one wants to lose a fight because they relied on a build that’s no longer viable.

Best Sniper Rifles

Here are the five best Sniper Rifles to use in Warzone Season 1.

1. LR 7.62

LR 7.62 in Warzone
  • Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
  • Underbarrel: Lightweight Handguard
  • Rear Grip: Quickdraw Grip
  • Laser: Target Laser
  • Fire Mods: Rapid Fire

Warzone’s meta constantly evolves, but the LR 7.62 currently stands out as the best sniper rifle in the battle royale. With its exceptional performance at extremely long ranges and notably high bullet velocity, the LR 7.62 minimizes the need for shot prediction, making it a top-tier choice for Urzikstan.

However, while it excels in traditional battle royale settings, it may face challenges in Resurgence game modes where lighter, more mobile snipers are often preferred. Careful attachment customization can help address these shortcomings and make the LR 7.62 more competitive in faster-paced scenarios.

2. LW3A1 Frostline

LW3A1 Frostline in Warzone
  • Muzzle: Suppressor
  • Barrel: CHF Barrel
  • Stock Pad: Lightweight Pad
  • Fire Mods: 7.62 Nato Overpressured
  • Comb: Quickdraw Riser

The LW3A1 Frostline is a formidable new addition to Warzone’s meta with the launch of Season 1, excelling in medium to long-range combat.

Equipping the CHF Barrel allows this sniper to down opponents with a single shot from the knees up, making it a devastating option in the right hands. However, the barrel’s slower ADS time requires pairing it with the Quickdraw Riser Comb to balance its handling. This sniper is perfectly suited for players who prefer to establish a vantage point and pick off enemies with precision.

3. SVD

SVD in Warzone
  • Muzzle: Ported Compensator
  • Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
  • Laser: Target Laser
  • Underbarrel: Precision Handguard
  • Fire Mods: Recoil Springs

With its high fire rate and lightweight design, the SVD is a top-tier sniper rifle for aggressive playstyles, making it particularly effective in Resurgence game modes. It even edges out the historically dominant Kar98k in close-quarters engagements. However, this comes at the cost of reduced range and higher recoil than other snipers, though it remains a viable option on larger maps like Urzikstan.

While it may not rival the Frostline or 7.62 for extreme long-range engagements, the SVD can hold its own in more built-up areas. Equipping it with recoil-reducing attachments like the Ported Compensator and Recoil Springs helps enhance its performance in these tighter environments.

4. Kar98k

Kar98k in Warzone
  • Muzzle: Sonic Suppressor L
  • Barrel: Prazisionsgewehr 762 Long Barrel
  • Optic: Range Caller v3.4 Optic
  • Ammunition: 7.92x57mm High Grain Rounds
  • Slings: Recon Sling

The Kar98k continues to hold its place as a top-tier weapon in Warzone, and it’s easy to see why. With the ability to secure one-shot downs up to 76 meters, it combines exceptional stopping power with incredibly fast handling, setting it apart from other snipers. This makes it particularly effective in Resurgence, where it stands out as one of the best weapons in the game.

5. KATT-AMR

KATT-AMR in Warzone
  • Muzzle: Sonic Suppressor XL
  • Barrel: Zang-34 Barrel
  • Laser: SL Razorhawk Laser Light
  • Ammunition: .50 Cal High Velocity
  • Bolt: Ephemeral Quickbolt

Unlike other meta snipers, the KATT-AMR is slow and heavy, but it remains an exceptional choice due to its ability to down enemies with a single shot at any range. Even better, it doesn’t rely on special ammunition, allowing you to focus your attachments on optimizing other crucial stats. For those aiming to secure kills from hundreds of meters away, the KATT-AMR is the ultimate sniper rifle.

Every Warzone Sniper ranked

The BO6 integration added the LR 7.62, LW3A1 Frostline, and SVD, bringing the total up to 17 sniper rifles. Alongside these new weapons, balance changes in the update have shifted the meta and impacted the rankings.

Here’s a complete ranking of all Warzone sniper rifles, from strongest to weakest, based on their performance in Season 1:

  1. LR 7.62
  2. LW3A1 Frostline
  3. SVD
  4. Kar98k
  5. KATT-AMR
  6. FJX Imperium
  7. MORS
  8. XRK Stalker
  9. MCPR-300
  10. Victus XMR
  11. Longbow
  12. Signal 50
  13. KV Inhibitor
  14. Carrack .300
  15. SP-X 80
  16. LA-B 330

To dominate the battle royale, be sure to use the best settings, including controller, audio, and FOV, for an edge in your matches.