Warzone May 4 update patch notes: Armored Truck & Cold War AR nerfs, Vanguard weapon buffs

Luca Di Marzo
Warzone Season 3 Operator

Warzone’s May 4 update has nerfed the Armored Truck vehicle as well as fixed broken weapon XP & Buy Station bugs. More importantly, it also issued buffs and nerfs to several popular weapons. Here are the full Warzone May 4 update patch notes.

Following the major Warzone Season 3 update, the devs have issued yet another update on May 4 that has addressed several ongoing problems including bugs and glitches in the game. In addition, several popular Warzone weapons are receiving buffs and nerfs.

The major weapon balancing changes to take note of are nerfs to certain Cold War ARs, as well as buffs to several Vanguard weapons in an attempt to make them more competitive throughout Warzone Season 3.

Warzone Armored Trucks nerfed

Warzone player fighting Armored Truck

Following the update, Warzone players declared that Armored Trucks were ruining Solos. As a result of the new Sabotage contract, Armored Trucks were running rampant in Warzone.

These massive vehicles were deemed overpowered thanks to the turret and impossible to destroy due to their bulk. This update has not only nerfed the vehicle’s health but also decreased the damage dealt by the turret.

Cold War AR nerfs & Vanguard weapon buffs in Warzone

Warzone Pacific Cold War AK-47 loadout

The Vanguard devs explained their reasoning behind the decision to buff Vanguard weapons and nerf certain Cold War weapons, “Vanguard Weapons have been struggling to perform on par with their peers since they dropped into the Warzone.”

They explain that due to the frequent long-range engagements in Caldera, weapons with low max damage range became ineffective, “Unfortunately for Vanguard Weapons, this was often the case.”

The Cold War AK-47, which many believe to be one of the best weapons in the game, received a nerf to damage range. Alongside the AK-47, the EM2, and XM4 were also nerfed, which could have implications on the Assault Rifle meta.

Vanguard weapons were the big winners of this weapon balancing update. Several Assault Rifles and Submachine Guns like the Automaton, MP40, and Cooper Carbine had their damage range increased, which is sure to make them more powerful weapons.

Warzone May 4 update patch notes

GAMEPLAY

  • Armored Truck
    • Health
      • Health and Resistances decreased to be in-line but still greater than the Cargo Truck.
    • Turret
      • Damage decreased by 40%.

It’s become clear since its return to the Warzone, that the Armored truck has become a great asset to any team. However, its overwhelming presence has felt oppressive to engage against. We’re bringing it in line with other Vehicles, while still retaining its role as a power-house. 

BUG FIXES

  • Fixed an issue preventing Players using an Xbox Live Silver Account from accessing Warzone.
  • Fixed an issue causing Players using a controller to encounter issues while navigating the Buy Station interface.
  • Fixed an issue causing the AMP63 (BOCW) Unlock Challenge to not track.
  • Fixed an issue causing the cape elements on the following skins to obscure Player vision:
    • “Ancestral Spirit” Daniel Skin (Battle Pass Tier 100)
    • “Astrakhan” Padmavati Skin
  • Fixed an issue causing the following Weapons to not gain Weapon XP:
    • KG M40 (VG)
    • Volkssturmgewehr (VG)
    • AS44 (VG)
    • NZ-41 (VG)
    • Gorenko Anti-Tank Rifle (VG)

WEAPONS

Vanguard Weapons have been struggling to perform on par with their peers since they dropped into the Warzone. This update is laying the groundwork to resolve that. Engagement distances have only increased since the transition to Caldera. More skirmishes are taking place within minimum damage ranges. As a result of this, Weapons that have low maximum damage ranges or low minimum damage have become largely inviable. Unfortunately for Vanguard Weapons, this was often the case. Below you will find a myriad of changes aimed at injecting some budding competition into the upper echelon of Warzone Weaponry.
 

» Assault Rifles «
 

  • AK-47 (BOCW)
    • Maximum Damage decreased to 34, down from 36
    • Minimum Damage decreased to 30, down from 32 
       
  • AS44 (VG) 
    • Initial Recoil decreased
    • Maximum Damage Range increased to 29.8 meters, up from 28.4 meters
    • Kovalevskaya 615mm 
      • Maximum Damage Range increased by 20%, up from 15%
         
  • Assault Rifle Alpha (VG)
    • Headshot Damage Multiplier increased to 1.58, up from 1.5
    • Neck Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.19, down from 1.5
    • Maximum Damage increased to 33, up from 30
    • Minimum Damage increased to 30, up from 26
    • 7.62 Gorenko 50 Round Mags
      • Fire Rate Multiplier decreased to 6%, down from 6.54%
         
    • Krausnick 220mm Rapid
      • Sprint to Fire Speed increased by 6%, up from -15%
      • Movement Speed now increased by 1.3%
      • Initial Recoil penalty now begins at bullet 3, up from 2
      • Horizontal Recoil Control penalty decreased to 40%, down from 50%
      • Fire Rate Multiplier decreased to 15%, down from 20%
      • Maximum Damage Range now decreased by 8.6%
      • Damage now decreased by 10%
         
    • Recoil Booster
      • Fire Rate Multiplier decreased to 1.5%, down from 5%
         
  • Assault Rifle Bravo (VG)
    • Maximum Damage increased to 31, up from 29
    • Minimum Damage increased to 26, up from 22
       
  • Assault Rifle Charlie (VG)
    • Maximum Damage increased to 41, up from 40
    • Minimum Damage increased to 36, up from 30
    • CGC 27″ 2B Barrel
      • Maximum Damage Range increased by 20%, up from 15% 
         
    • Chariot 18″ Rapid Barrel 
      • Damage now decreased by 10% 
         
  • Assault Rifle Hotel (VG)
    • Minimum Damage increased to 20, up from 19
       
  • Cooper Carbine (VG)
    • Maximum Damage Range increased to 29.2 meters, up from 27.9 meters
    • 22″ Cooper Custom 
    • Damage Range now increased by 20%
    • Minimum Damage increased to 20, up from 19
       
  • EM2 (BOCW)
    • Headshot Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.3, down from 1.5 
    • Maximum Damage decreased to 40, down from 41
    • Minimum Damage decreased to 35, down from 37
       
  • KG M40 (VG)
    • Maximum Damage Range increased to 33 meters, up from 31.1 meters
    • Krausnick 700mm 01V 
    • Damage Range now increased by 20%
    • Minimum Damage increased to 24, up from 22
       
  • Nikita AVT (VG)
    • Magazine Capacity increased to 40, up from 35
    • Minimum Damage increased to 21, up from 19
    • .30-06 40 Round Fast Mags
      • Magazine Capacity increased to 40, up from 35
         
    • 6.5 Sakura 60 Round Drums
      • Magazine Capacity increased to 60, up from 55
         
    • 7.62x54mmR 50 Round Mags
      • Magazine Capacity increased to 50, up from 45
         
    • 7.62x54mmR 40 Round Fast Mags
      • Magazine Capacity increased to 40, up from 35

While the Nikita AVT (VG) has been performing moderately well, we felt that its Magazine Capacity and Minimum Damage was holding it back from becoming the sniper support allstar it was destined to become. These changes will undoubtedly instill the Nikita AVT (VG) as one of the most formidable Ground Loot Weapons.

  • NZ-41 (VG)
    • Maximum Damage Range increased to 35.5 meters, up from 30.9 meters
    • Minimum Damage increased to 32, up from 30
    • 6.5mm Sakura 50 Round Mags
      • Damage penalty decreased to 15%, down from 30%
         
    • Orbweaver Custom Barrel
      • Damage Range penalty removed
      • Horizontal Recoil Control penalty decreased to 30%, down from 50%
         
  • Volkssturmgewehr (VG) 
    • Minimum Damage increased to 22, up from 20
       
  • XM4 (BOCW)
    • Headshot Damage Multiplier increased to 1.54, up from 1.5
    • Maximum Damage decreased to 29, down from 30

» Submachine Guns «
 

  • Armaguerra 43 (VG) 
    • Headshot Damage Multiplier increased to 1.58, up from 1.3
    • Minimum Damage increased to 19, up from 15
    • Neck Damage Multiplier increased to 1.32, up from 1.01
    • Botti 315mm CII
      • Bullet Velocity now increased by 20%
         
    • Botti 570mm Precisione
      • Bullet Velocity now increased by 40%
         
    • Imerito 550mm 03P 
      • Bullet Velocity now increased by 30%
         
  • M1912 (VG)
    • Mid Damage increased to 22, up from 20
    • Minimum Damage increased to 20, up from 18
    • CGC 12″ Cooling Barrel
      • Bullet Velocity increased to 30%, up from 20%
         
    • Chariot 5.5″ Barrel
      • Bullet Velocity now increased by 30%
         
  • Owen Gun (VG)
    • Min Damage increased to to 24, up from 22 
       
  • PPSh-41 (VG) 
    • Minimum Damage increased to 19, up from 17
    • Empress 140mm 
      • Bullet Velocity now increased by 20%
    • ZAC 300mm
      • Bullet Velocity increased to 30%, up from 10%
         
  • Sten (VG)
    • Mid Damage increased to 24, up from 22
    • Min Damage increased to 21, up from 18
    • Gawain 140mm Short 
      • Bullet Velocity increased to 25%, up from 11%
    • Hockenson 174mm B11S 
      • Bullet Velocity now increased by 20%
         
  • Submachine Gun Charlie (VG)
    • Minimum Damage increased to 22, up from 21 
    • Krausnick 317mm 04B 
      • Bullet Velocity increased to 30%, up from 20%
         
    • VDD 189mm Short 
      • Bullet Velocity now increased by 20%
         
  • Type 100 (VG)
    • Minimum Damage increased to 20, up from 18 
    • Sakura 196mm Light
      • Bullet Velocity penalty decreased to 10%, up from 12%
         
    • Shiraishi Precision 
      • Bullet Velocity increased to 40%, up from 20%
         
    • Warubachi 134mm Rapid 
      • Bullet Velocity now increased by 10%
         
  • Welgun (VG)
    • Min Damage increased to 24, up from 23
       
    • 120mm Gawain Short
      • Bullet Velocity penalty removed
         
    • 240mm Hockenson 43
      • Now increases Bullet Velocity by 40%

ATTACHMENTS

» Perks «
 

  • Vital
    • Upper Torso Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.046, down from 1.05
    • Vital
    • Upper Torso Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.046, down from 1.05

For more Warzone, check out how players are baffled that Warzone’s worst Sniper Rifle was nerfed in Season 3.

Source: Raven blog

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.