Slept-on Warzone 2 rifle “fries” faster than meta SMGs with deadly TTK

Nathan Warby
Warzone 2 Operator holding Assault Rifle

The close-range meta is more competitive than ever in Warzone 2 Season 3 Reloaded, and CoD guru WhosImmortal has revealed the underrated Assault Rifle that can go toe-to-toe with the game’s best SMGs.

The Warzone 2 Season 3 Reloaded update shook up the meta in a number of interesting ways, bringing a pair of new Handguns to run as secondaries as well as plenty of buffs and nerfs.

Following the mid-season update, the close-range meta is one of the most competitive in the whole game, with the FTAC Siege already making a name for itself and the buffed BAS-P becoming a contender for the first time. This has left many players wondering which SMG to run in their next match.

Luckily, Warzone 2 expert WhosImmortal has revealed the underrated Assault Rifle that can outgun them all in Season 3 Reloaded.

In his May 22 video, the YouTuber revealed that the Kastov-74u is an “absolute meta” option at close-range in Warzone 2, with a time-to-kill that can melt enemy players in no time at all.

“This thing, for a rifle, is so good between zero and 25 to 30 meters, it just fries,” said WhosImmortal. “The TTK is so much better because you’re bringing the power of a rifle to close-range gunfights. This thing’s absolutely insane.”

Despite its impressive attributes, the Assault Rifle still only has a pick rate of 0.6% according to WZ Ranked, making it one of the least-used guns in its category. The creator then shared his best Kastov-74u loadout for Warzone 2, so check it out below.

WhosImmortal’s best Kastov-74u loadout in Warzone 2

  • Barrel: BR209 Barrel
  • Laser: FSS OLE-V Laser
  • Stock: Markeev R7 Stock
  • Rear Grip: Demo-X2 Grip
  • Magazine: 45 Round Mag

WhosImmortal explained that his best Warzone 2 Kastov-74u build was designed to match the speed of an SMG while maintaining the Assault Rifle’s impressive TTK. He began with the BR209 Barrel and FSS OLE-V Laser, both of which buff the AR’s movement and ADS speed.

Next, he added the Markeev R7 Stock for extra sprint and crouch movement speed, to allow players to rush around the map and get in the face of enemies. He also went for the Demo-X2 Grip for extra recoil control, keeping the Kastov on target at mid-range.

Finally, the YouTuber chose the 45 Round Mag to make sure that you always have plenty of ammo to deal with multiple enemies – ideal for Squads matches.

With this Kastov-74u loadout, Warzone 2 players will have all the power of an Assault Rifle with the mobility and close-range TTK of an SMG, making it the perfect Sniper support weapon.

For more on Warzone 2, be sure to check out our other guides:

Best guns in Warzone 2 | Best Warzone 2 controller settings | Best Warzone 2 PC settings | How to ping enemies in Warzone 2 | How to use Proximity Chat in Warzone 2 | How to get a nuke in Warzone 2 | When is the next Double XP event?

About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].