Best Assault Rifles in Black Ops 6 – Meta AR loadouts

Even in Black Ops 6, Assault Rifles remain a staple of the Call of Duty meta, ranking high among the game’s most versatile and powerful weapons.

Not all ARs are created equal, however, with some being second-rate choices that you should stay away from in multiplayer. Furthermore, the Season 1 Reloaded update introduced a bunch of balancing changes that shook up the meta and reduced the effectiveness of certain weapons.

So, here are the top Assault Rifle loadouts in Black Ops 6 to help you dominate lobbies.

Best Black Ops 6 Assault Rifle loadouts

1. XM4

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Compensator
• Barrel: Long Barrel
• Underbarrel: Ranger Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip

CharlieIntel

When it comes to Assault Rifles, the XM4 is the gold standard since it’s a true jack-of-all-trades weapon. With excellent damage range, moderate recoil, and superb accuracy, it’s a top choice for medium and long-range shooting. That’s not all though, as its top-of-the-line 800 RPM firing rate makes it a lethal close-quarters weapon in Black Ops 6.

This loadout gets the most out of the AR by ensuring maximum recoil control. Beaming enemies from across the map will be a breeze with this build thanks to attachments like the Compensator and the Long Barrel.

2. Krig C

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Suppressor
• Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Commando Grip

Charlie Intel

Introduced in Season 1, the Krig C is a dependable assault rifle that strikes a fine balance between accuracy and range. It boasts impressive hipfire accuracy and a straightforward vertical recoil pattern, making it an accessible choice for players seeking a versatile weapon. However, its slower rate of fire makes it less forgiving than the XM4, and its time-to-kill (TTK) of 297 ms is fairly average, just barely surpassing the more precise Model L.

3. Model L

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Suppressor
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Quickdraw Grip
• Fire Mods: Recoil Springs

CharlieIntel

If pinpoint accuracy is your top priority, then it’s worth considering the Model L. It’s virtually identical to the XM4, and with our loadout, it’s also slightly easier to use. The weapon is not quite as versatile as the XM4 but you’ll still have no problem landing your shots.

The attachments listed above ensure that the Model L has minimal vertical recoil, making it a joy to use. You won’t have to worry about missing shots at long range either thanks to the Vertical Foregrip and Recoil Springs mod.

4. AK-74

• Optic: Merlin Reflex
• Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Magazine: Extended Mag I
• Rear Grip: Quickdraw Grip

CharlieIntel

The AK-74 is the perfect gun for you if you enjoy hard-hitting ARs with slower fire rates. If you can control its kick, almost nothing will outgun this weapon as it provides a shockingly rapid TTK at the cost of increased recoil.

However, if you want to use an AK-74 build that enhances recoil control, look no further than our recommended loadout. In particular, the Vertical Foregrip helps a lot as it lowers the horizontal recoil by 40%.

Much like the Model L, the Krig C’s vertical recoil is easy to manage with a bit of practice. This makes it viable to run with a suppressor, unlike many other ARs that require a compensator for accuracy. This flexibility gives it a niche role as a close-to-medium-range weapon, particularly for players who prefer an AR over an SMG for flanking.

5. Goblin Mk2

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Ported Compensator
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Commando Grip
• Fire Mods: Rapid Fire

CharlieIntel

Semi-automatic assault rifles have often been staples in Call of Duty, with iconic weapons like the FAL, G3, and SKS serving as meta-defining guns in previous titles. In Black Ops 6, the Goblin Mk2 takes the spotlight as a solid semi-auto option, delivering an impressive time-to-kill (TTK) of just 233 ms when paired with the Rapid Fire attachment.

This TTK surpasses not only every other assault rifle in the game but also outshines most SMGs by a significant margin. However, this impressive performance comes with the inherent challenge of being a semi-automatic weapon, which means it won’t suit every playstyle. Additionally, while this loadout reduces the Goblin Mk2’s recoil, it doesn’t eliminate it. The weapon is a high-skill, high-reward choice, perfect for players with precise aim.

All Black Ops 6 Assault Rifles ranked

RANK	WEAPON	TTK (MS)	MAX DAMAGE RANGE
1	XM4	300	41 meters
2	Krig C	297	42 meters
3	AK-74	276	38 meters
4	Model L	300	44 meters
5	Goblin Mk2	260	39 meters
6	AMES 85	320	51 meters
7	AS VAL	268	21 meters
8	GPR 91	336	46 meters

Meta analysis

The best all-around Assault Rifle in Black Ops 6 is the XM4. Its ease of use, accuracy, damage, and range make it a great choice for small and large-sized maps. The Krig C is a close second offering excellent balance in all departments but falling short of the XM4’s incredible precision.

On the other hand, the Model L and AK-74 are two options for those seeking guns that pack more power while the Goblin is the optimal choice for semi-automatic enthusiasts.

Moving towards the tail end of the list, the AMES 85 is a fairly solid weapon that fares better in Warzone but is outperformed by the XM4 and Model L in BO6. At the bottom sits the GPR 91, the game’s worst AR. We advise against using this weapon for anything other than weapon levels and the camo mastery grind since it does very little damage.

For more on Black Ops 6, you can check out the best controller and PC settings to get the edge over the competition.