10 best guns in Black Ops Cold War: Ranked List

Andrew Highton
black ops cold war best weapons

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War features a stacked lineup of powerful weapons to master, but picking the perfect gun to dominate multiplayer is no easy task. With this in mind, here are our picks for the top 10 best weapons in Black Ops Cold War, and every gun ranked from best to worst.

Black Ops Cold War has a pretty extensive catalog of guns for players to test out and see what works best for them. The game launched with a wide array of weapons, and the following seasons delivered fan favorites like the MAC-10, LAPA, and C58, to name a few.

While worrying about the best FPS settings and best aim assist settings to use is important, running the best weapons can be the difference between victory and defeat. But with Black Ops Cold War hitting PlayStation Plus, newcomers will be wondering which of the Assault Rifles, SMGs, Tactical Rifles, Shotguns, LMGs, and Pistols to pick from.

Luckily, we’ve ranked every weapon in the game and broken down the top 10 best guns in Black Ops Cold War.

Best guns in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War ranked list

cod black ops cold war wraith firing a gun

Before we dive into a deep look at the elite guns that Treyarch has to offer, we’re first going to provide a rundown of every weapon in the game and rank them. Some of Cold War’s weapons are impossible to ignore, while others are simply not worth your time.

Here’s every main weapon in Black Ops Cold War ranked:

  1. Krig 6
  2. LC10
  3. TEC-9
  4. EM2
  5. AK-47
  6. KSP 45
  7. XM4
  8. AMP 63
  9. Swiss K31
  10. FARA 83
  11. Milano 821
  12. Streetsweeper
  13. Stoner 63
  14. AK-74u
  15. QBZ-83
  16. OTs 9
  17. PPSH-41
  18. Marshal
  19. Diamatti
  20. Bullfrog
  21. Groza
  22. C58
  23. Grav
  24. Gallo SA12
  25. MP5
  26. .410 Ironside
  27. CARV.2
  28. LAPA
  29. MG 82
  30. FFAR 1
  31. ZRG 20mm
  32. DMR 14
  33. Hauer 77
  34. MAC-10
  35. M16
  36. AUG
  37. RPD
  38. LW3 Tundra
  39. Nail Gun
  40. M1911
  41. Type 63
  42. Pelington 703
  43. M82
  44. M60
  45. Magnum
  46. RPG-7
  47. Cigma 2

CoD: Black Ops Cold War best guns

10. FARA 83

fara 83 in black ops cold war
The FARA is a versatile AR that’s great at all ranges.

When the FARA arrived in Season 2, it emerged in Warzone as a viable contender for the game’s best AR. It’s no surprise to see that the weapon is just as effective in Cold War multiplayer.

Its fast fire rate helps it perform very well in Treyarch’s shooter, and it can still barrel its way through a couple of players in no time at all. Whilst there are most certainly better AR options in the game, the FARA is always worth trying out.

9. Swiss K31 – Best Sniper Rifle in Black Ops Cold War

cod black ops cold war swiss k31
Fans of bolt-action Snipers will love the Swiss K31.

At first, it was the LW3 Tundra, then it was dethroned by the ZRG 20mm until the Swiss K31 came along to rule all Sniper Rifles.

It possesses the usual damage and range that comes with a dominant Sniper Rifle, but with the added bonus that its ADS time is very short in comparison to other Sniper Rifles. Not only is it perfect for a quickscoping loadout in Cold War, but it’s effective for any sniping opportunity. The Swiss is simply phenomenal.

Here’s a quick guide on how to unlock the Swiss K31.

8. AMP63 – Best Pistol in Black Ops Cold War

amp63 pistol in cold war

Although probably the least-used weapon on this list due to its unlock parameters, the AMP63 is a great little weapon to use.

Its automatic fire nature allows it to barrel its way through ammo and give you a big advantage if you’re accurate. Its only minor setback is that its range suffers in comparison to ARs and SMGs, but if you’re in a small-to-medium-sized map, then equip the AMP63 and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

7. XM4

cod black ops cold war xm4 assault rifle
The XM4 is one of the easiest weapons to use in Cold War.

The XM4 not only had a big improvement to its Iron Sight back in Season 4, but the Cold War weapon later received a major buff to make it a top performer in virtually any scenario.

It’s always been a calm, cool, and consistent killer, even though it took people a while to start realizing just how good it actually is. If you’re looking for a reliable Assault Rifle, the XM4 is the gun for you.

6. KSP 45

KSP 45 in black ops cold war

Practically reborn in Season 2 of Cold War, the KSP 45 went from being an afterthought to the most powerful burst weapon in the game.

Realizing that it wasn’t being used, Treyarch did the right thing and buffed all aspects of the KSP 45. With nerfs to the M16 and AUG, the quick, powerful barrages from the KSP 45 make it far more deadly these days than it was at launch. If you enjoy the feeling of successive bursts of bullets with accuracy, then the KSP 45 might just be for you.

5. AK-47

cod cold war ak-74
While the AK-47 may prove difficult to wield, its power is second to none.

No one has ever questioned the AK-47’s overwhelming power as each bullet can rip a hole through space and time itself. For all its power, it can be a handful to control thanks to its haphazard recoil.

Nevertheless, it still retains its aura of destruction, and skilled players can effortlessly make it look like one of the best weapons in all of Black Ops Cold War.

4. EM2

em2 in black ops cold war

The race for the top meta weapon in Black Ops Cold War is a close one. The EM2 just falls short of the top three, but you could easily roll with the EM2 in your main loadout and drop consistent high-kill games.

It’s another relentless, pinpoint-accurate weapon that, if you fire first with, then you’ll have a great chance of prevailing at any range too.

Here is how to unlock the EM2 in Black Ops Cold War.

3. TEC-9

tec-9 smg in black ops cold war

One of the most interesting, if not the most interesting, guns in our top 10 list. The TEC-9 is classified as an SMG, yet it’s completely semi-auto.

However, with some different attachments, the firing nature of the weapon can actually change, even becoming a burst-fire SMG like the KSP 45. Even in its semi-auto form, the TEC-9 is ridiculously effective and efficient. Couple that with a decent-sized mag, and the TEC-9 was a terrific addition to Cold War post-launch.

Here is how to unlock the TEC-9 in Black Ops Cold War.

2. LC10 – Best SMG in Black Ops Cold War

cod black ops cold war lc10

The LC10 has usurped many guns to become one of the most-used weapons in the game and dominate in Black Ops Cold War.

After repeated calls for it to be nerfed, the LC10 was finally brought down a notch at the beginning of Season 5. But it remains a fearsome weapon that can outperform virtually every other gun in the game – that’s how insane it is.

Its piercing shots are matched by relatively high accuracy, and it’s a gun with few drawbacks.

Here is how to unlock the LC10 in Black Ops Cold War.

1. Krig 6 – Best Assault Rifle in Black Ops Cold War

Krig 6 in Black Ops Cold War
The Krig 6 is king in Black Ops Cold War.

If you played any amount of CoD: Black Ops Cold War, then you probably knew what was coming. That’s right, the Krig 6 takes the top spot because it’s a weapon without any flaws. It’s one of those rare firearms that feels absolutely unbeatable.

Once you’ve progressed the weapon’s level and reduced its vertical and horizontal recoil, then you have your own ridiculous laser. It’s insanely efficient, very strong, incredibly accurate, and is quite simply the best weapon in Black Ops Cold War.


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A content creator for Charlie INTEL / Dexerto that earned a degree, wrote for PlusXP, Twinfinite, and Keengamer, before finally securing his dream job of being a professional video game writer. When not writing about games, he's very busy playing every game in existence and adding to his 11,000+ PlayStation Trophies and 150+ Platinums. You can contact him at [email protected].