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There are plenty of weapons in Call of Duty Black Ops 6 to wet anyone’s appetite. Getting to know all the weapons on the list is a surefire way of understanding the possible weaponry you can get your hands on during a match. Ranging from mobile submachine guns (SMG) armed with a blistering rate of fire to snipers that excel in long-distance duels, there’s something to suit your style of play perfectly. With that, let’s go over all of the weapons appearing in Black Ops 6.
Full list of weapons in Black Ops 6
There are a total of 39 different weapons in Black Ops 6, divided across nine categories including six new weapons added in Season 1. We can expect even more weapons to arrive with the future seasonal content that will be added over time. Some old favourites have returned, some had a bit of a name change, and there are also a few newcomers on the list. They range in usefulness, with some of the best weapons in the game appearing in every gun type. We’ll go through all weapons by category and how to unlock them.
Assault Rifles
Assault Rifles are often regarded as “jack of all trades” guns. They usually boast decent mobility, rapid fire rate and work best at mid-range engagements. Some of the outstanding picks in this category include the XM4, AK-74, and the AMES 85.
The starter XM4 is an impressive all-around assault rifle. Captured by VideoGamer
AK-74 packs a punch, especially at longer ranges. Captured by VideoGamer
AMES 85 has decent fire rate for a gun with its accuracy. Captured by VideoGamer
GPR has great handling despite lower damage. Captured by VideoGamer
Model L is a slow-firing mid-range killing machine. Captured by VideoGamer
The Goblin has a great fire rate for an AR, compensated by shorter range. Captured by VideoGamer
AS VAL is the only AR that starts with a silencer. Captured by VideoGamer
| Weapon | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| XM4 | Unlocked by default |
| AK-74 | Level 10 |
| AMES 85 | Level 19 |
| GPR 91 | Level 28 |
| Model L | Level 40 |
| Goblin Mk2 | Level 46 |
| AS VAL | Level 55 |
| Krig C | Page 6 of Season 1 Battle Pass or Krig C Blueprint |
Submachine Guns
Submachine guns, or SMGs, have always been a popular category. They favour a run-and-gun playstyle and are notable for extremely high firerate and working best when you’re close to the enemy. Notably, you’ll recognize the starter C9 as the evolution of the MP5. Meanwhile, other interesting picks include the Tanto .22 and Jackal PDW.
The starter C9 is a decent SMG, overshadowed by stronger options. Captured by VideoGamer
KSV is a great all-rounder SMG with great handling. Captured by VideoGamer
The Tanto can battle at mid-ranges, thanks to its higher damage. Captured by VideoGamer
While it has lower fire rate, the PP-919 has the most ammo out of any SMG. Captured by VideoGamer
Jackal PDW has the best mobility in its class. Captured by VideoGamer
Kompakt 92 can dish out a lot of damage at an impressive rate. Captured by VideoGamer
| Weapon | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| C9 | Unlocked by default |
| KSV | Level 7 |
| Tanto .22 | Level 16 |
| PP-919 | Level 37 |
| Jackal PDW | Level 43 |
| Kompakt 92 | Level 49 |
| Saug | Page 3 of Season 1 Battle Pass |
Shotguns
A shotgun is a weapon you want with you when you like to play up close and personal. Both shotguns are great for taking advantage of the new Omnimovement system in Black Ops 6, continuing the legacy of everyone who likes to slide and shoot with them.
Marine SP is the old-fashioned pump-action shotty. Captured by VideoGamer
The ASG-89 is a semi-automatic shotgun that can fire fairly quickly. Captured by VideoGamer
| Weapon | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| Marine SP | Unlocked by default |
| ASG-89 | Level 31 |
| Maelstrom | Merry Mayhem Season 1 Reloaded event |
Light Machine Guns
Light machine guns (or LMGs) are popular among players who like to spew tons of ammo in a certain direction. Comparable to their smaller cousins, the SMGs, when it comes to the rate of fire, these big guns can easily lock down an angle and punish anyone who appears in your crosshairs. For example, though unlocked late, the GPMG-7 is a bullet-spitting monster.
The starter PU-21 has a lot of kick, but is the lightest LMG around. Captured by VideoGamer
The XMG may be the slowest firing LMG, but it boasts the highest mag size. Captured by VideoGamer
This LMG has an outstanding rate of fire, though a small magazine size. Captured by VideoGamer
Marksman Rifles
Marksman rifles occupy a murky spot between an AR and a sniper rifle. Simplistically said, they are a hybrid of the two, while unable to excel over either in their respective categories. However, don’t write them off so easily – these guns are a nightmare in the hands of a seasoned player, rewarding the accuracy of a sniper with the versatility to take engagements at nearly any range.
The SWAT fires in quick three-round bursts. Captured by VideoGamer
The Tsarkov rewards accuracy and provides great mobility for its class. Captured by VideoGamer
AEK-973 has a fast three-round fire rate over long ranges. Captured by VideoGamer
| Weapon | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| SWAT 5.56 | Unlocked by default |
| Tsarkov 7.62 | Level 22 |
| AEK-973 | Level 34 |
| DM-10 | Level 43 |
Sniper Rifles
Snipers are a hotly debated category among FPS fans. Their ability to deal massive damage an often one-shot kill from a vast distance is unsurpassed. It takes skill to use, though can be a detriment when the enemy is too close. In Black Ops 6, the LR 7.62 is able to one-shot by hitting nearly any body part of the enemy, making it the deadliest weapon in the game.
The starter LW3A1 is a strong gun, but has a nasty recoil after each shot. Captured by VideoGamer
The SVD is a semi-automatic sniper, giving you highest fire rate in its category. Captured by VideoGamer
The LR 7.62 is the deadliest weapon in the game, capable with one-shots to head, torso, and even arms. Captured by VideoGamer
| Weapon | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| LW3A1 Frostline | Unlocked by default |
| SVD | Level 25 |
| LR 7.62 | Level 49 |
| AMR Mod 4 | Archie’s Festival Frenzy Season 1 Reloaded event |
Pistols
Pistols fall under the secondary weapon category in the game. They are something you resort to when you need more mobility, run out of ammo from your primary, or when you’re too close to use a long-range gun. That said, they can still pack a punch and get you out of a tight spot.
The starter pistol is a good, reliable gun to pull out when you need it. Captured by VideoGamer
The Grekhova is a full-auto pistol with decent accuracy, but low damage. Captured by VideoGamer
GS45 can shoot in semi-auto bursts. Captured by VideoGamer
The Stryder is a semi-auto pistol with the best handling of the bunch. Captured by VideoGamer
| Weapon | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| 9mm PM | Unlocked by default |
| Grekhova | Level 13 |
| GS45 | Level 28 |
| Stryder .22 | Level 40 |
Launchers
Besides the many guns you can use, launchers are a separate special category. These highly destructive weapons are something you whip out when a map position demands utter destruction. Usually considered a secondary weapon option, both launchers can delete groups of enemies with ease.
The CIGMA 2B requires a lock-on before firing a 110mm warhead. Captured by VideoGamer
The HE-1 allows you to freely fire a high-explosive missile. Captured by VideoGamer
| Weapon | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| CIGMA 2B | Unlocked by default |
| HE-1 | Level 19 |
Melee
Last but not least, melee weapons are your final solution when you can’t use anything else. Or, in the case of the knife, when you need to stealthily take down someone from behind. As such, they offer the highest mobility, so it’s not uncommon to see players running with a knife in hand to leverage as much speed as possible.
The knife lets you perform stealthy one-shot kills under right circumstances. Captured by VideoGamer
The bat can be swung fairly quickly, dealing decent damage at close quarters. Captured by VideoGamer
| Weapon | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| Knife | Unlocked by default |
| Baseball Bat | Level 52 |
| Power Drill | Season 1 event |
| Cleaver | Season 1 Reloaded event |
Unobtainable weapons
These weapons appear in the game, but can’t be picked up or used. Some have made appearances in previous versions of Call of Duty games, but as they currently stand, they are just set dressing or fun easter eggs that you can encounter.
| Weapon | Where is it? |
|---|---|
| AK-47 | Only seen in multiplayer training courses. |
| Model 680 | Used by Woods during the campaign intro cutscene for the Checkmate mission. |
| PKM | Only seen inside the bunker during the campaign mission The Cradle. |
| M1911 | Only holstered by Caine. |
| RPG-7 | Only seen in the footage shown during the campaign intro cutscene for The Cradle mission. |
| Wunderwaffe DG-2 | Used by Richtofen during the Liberty Falls Black Ops 6 Zombies intro. |
| Karambit | Only seen during the Terminus Black Ops 6 Zombies intro. |
Black Ops 6 weapon categories
There are nine weapon categories in Black Ops 6, though not all of them have associated masteries or attachments. Below, we’ll go through what roughly differentiates each of them:
- Assault rifles – Best at mid-range engagements, mostly fully automatic, and average mobility.
- SMGs – Excel in close-quarters combat, the majority are fully automatic and possess high mobility.
- Shotguns – Dominant at extreme close-range combat, variety of firing mechanisms, and strong mobility levels.
- LMGs – Ideal for mid and long-range battles, huge magazines, high fire rate, and poor mobility.
- Marksman rifles – Strong in mid and long-range gunfights, a variety of semi-auto and bolt-action mechanisms, and aggressive playstyles.
- Sniper rifles – Perfect for extremely long-range fights, semi-auto and bolt-action, and reward passive play.
- Pistols – Great at close ranges, variety of firing mechanisms, and are the fastest weapons to swap to.
- Launchers – Huge explosive damage, low mobility, and capable of destroying enemy scorestreaks.
- Melee – Used within touching distance of the enemy, with the fastest mobility of the entire arsenal.
The most notable omission is the battle rifle category which made its debut in 2022’s Modern Warfare 2 acting as a hybrid between an assault and marksman rifle. Although there are fewer categories to select, the chances of Treyarch adding even more weapons to each category through seasonal content are high, meaning variety is guaranteed.
After reading up on all the weapons in the game, check out our lists of all missions and all maps. Also, take advantage of any currently active Black Ops 6 promos.
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