Warzone guru claims buffed Rifle can bring burst meta back

Luca Di Marzo
Warzone M16

Following the Season 4 Reloaded update, Warzone expert Metaphor believes that a buffed Tactical Rifle is powerful enough to revive the notorious burst meta.

The long-range Warzone meta has refused to settle in recent weeks leaving players wondering which weapons to utilize. For starters, the Season 4 Reloaded update delivered plenty of buffs and nerfs that saw Modern Warfare and Cold War weapons rise up the ranks.

Furthermore, an August 3 update nerfed the NZ-41 and KG M40, which were considered the two best long-range weapons in the game. While recent nerfs are certainly going to impact the best long-range weapon rankings, one forgotten Rifle is set to benefit from the shake-up that could bring the burst meta back to Warzone.

Cold War M16 Warzone AR

Black Ops Cold War’s M16 had its max damage increased from 40 to 42 and its neck damage multiplier increased from 1.1 to 1.21. Thanks to these significant changes, Warzone expert Metaphor has tipped the weapon to dominate Season 4 Reloaded.

Metaphor explains how the buffs impact the weapon’s ability to secure kills as the update, “basically just adds to the potential for a two burst and just more consistent three to four burst.”

Completely killing enemy players in three bursts is a fantastic average, but with the weapon also capable of killing in two bursts, it’s no surprise that Metaphor claims: “I do think the M16 is definitely worth using.”

If you’re wondering which weapon to use following the NZ-41 and KG M40 nerfs, you should give the M16 a shot.

Metaphor’s buffed Warzone M16 loadout

  • Muzzle: Agency Silencer
  • Barrel: 16.3″ Titanium
  • Optic: Axial Arms 3x
  • Underbarrel: Field Agent Grip
  • Rear Grip: Airborne Elastic Wrap

Given that the M16 is going to excel during long-range gunfights, you’re going to want to equip attachments that boost recoil control like the Field Agent Grip. Meanwhile, the Agency Silencer is a valuable inclusion as it boosts recoil control, bullet velocity, and damage range.

You may have noticed that this M16 loadout is devoid of a magazine attachment. Thanks to its burst-fire nature, you don’t necessarily need a large magazine size unless you’re playing trios or quads.

In the case that you’re planning to run into several players simultaneously during trios and quads, Metaphor suggests swapping the Airborne Elastic Wrap with the 45 Rnd magazine.


For more, check out when to expect the next Vanguard & Warzone Pacific Double XP event, as well as the best PC settings to dominate Warzone Pacific Season 4 Reloaded.

Image Credit: Activision

About The Author

Luca is an Associate Editor at CharlieIntel. An accomplished, writer with interests in sports and gaming alike, Luca is focused on Call of Duty and FIFA as a content creator. After earning his BA in English Literature at Concordia University, he began writing for Gamelevate, OddsShark, and H4X. Luca joined CharlieIntel in 2021. You can reach Luca at [email protected], or via X @TheLucaDiMarzo.