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The marksman rifle category in Black Ops 6 is the weapon category everyone forgets about when you’re creating the very best loadout for all of the maps and game modes on offer. Although they’re never the most popular, the AEK-973 packs a lethal punch on the battlefield thanks to its excellent damage output. Its burst fire mechanism allows you to maintain control meaning recoil is also consistently low. Having tested numerous builds, we’ve got all the intel on the best one to use.
- Easy to control
- Lethal damage output
- Long time between bursts
- Struggles in close-quarters
Best Black Ops 6 AEK-973 attachments
Faster fire rate, better TTK / Captured by VideoGamer
Keep control / /Captured by VideoGamer
Faster movement is key / Captured by VideoGamer
More bullets, more kills / Captured by VideoGamer
Extra precision is always good / Captured by VideoGamer
Reinforce your barrel / Captured by VideoGamer
Compensate the recoil / Captured by VideoGamer
A clear view / Captured by VideoGamer
Having struggled to achieve success with a five-attachment build, we’ve added three extra to ensure high levels of performance are maintained in mid-range and long-distance fights.
| Weapon Part | Attachment | Unlock Level |
|---|---|---|
| Optic | Kepler Red Dot | DM-10 Level 10 |
| Muzzle | Compensator | Level 28 |
| Barrel | Reinforced Barrel | Level 37 |
| Underbarrel | Precision Foregrip | Level 19 |
| Magazine | Extended Mag I | Level 25 |
| Rear Grip | Ergonomic Grip | Level 36 |
| Stock | Heavy Stock | Level 8 |
| Fire Mod | Rapid Fire | Level 42 |
If you’re after even more mobility, take off the Heavy Stock and replace it with the Light Stock for additional movement speed boosts.
The choice of optic is a personal preference but we’ve gone with the Kepler Red Dot to keep track of the targets while using this particular marksman rifle. To keep recoil in check, the combination of Compensator and Precision Foregrip keeps the kick down to minimal levels for each burst of gunfire, making sure your shots always land where you want them to. To minimise damage drop-off, the Reinforced Barrel is an ideal choice thanks to improvements in damage range and bullet velocity. The star of the show is the Rapid Fire mod which drastically improves the rifle’s fire rate, ensuring you can follow up with another burst quickly if the first one misses.
Best Black Ops 6 AEK-973 perks and equipment
After equipping the strongest attachments, picking a Perk package and equipment combination is key for dealing extra damage and earning benefits that will enhance your style of play even further. Here’s what we recommend.
Perks
- Perk 1: Ninja
- Perk 2: Tracker
- Perk 3: Cold-Blooded
Ninja drastically reduces your footstep audio making it much easier to navigate the maps undetected while Tracker highlights nearby footsteps on the ground so you can see where the next opponent could be. The third and final Perk is Cold-Blooded to conceal your location from AI targeting and any thermal optics scoping out the battleground.
This trio of Perks activates the Recon Combat Specialty which enables you to see enemies through walls for a few seconds after respawning. This is great if you want an instant view of what’s taking place on the map.
Equipment
- Lethal: Frag
- Tactical: Stim Shot
- Field Upgrade: Trophy System
A frag grenade is always worth selecting if you’re planning to score plenty of additional kills during a match. Cook it to perfection and throw it into an enemy-controlled Hardpoint hill for maximum impact. To stay alive for longer, the Stim Shot is a must-have. When used, it immediately regenerates health, giving you the best chance of scoring the high-value streaks. The Trophy System is extremely useful too. Place it on an objective to block any incoming projectiles the enemy will throw in a bid to regain control.
Best alternatives to AEK-973
The AEK-873 isn’t everyone’s preferred choice in Black Ops 6. Thankfully, there are plenty of other viable options to suit your style. The Jackal PDW is an excellent SMG perfect for dominating the action while the XM4 is the most versatile assault rifle out there thanks to its fast fire rate and minimal kick. Both rank among the best weapons currently in the game.
That’s all the intel on the best Black Ops 6 AEK-973 loadout. For more, take a look at when the next double XP event takes place along with the best controller settings to ensure your shots always hit.
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