With each new Call of Duty instalment comes the inevitable discussion over which weapons are the best and most viable to use in multiplayer. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is no different, as you have a vast array to choose and build loadouts from.

From submachine guns to shotguns and assault rifles, you need to know which is best suited for you and your playstyle if you want to make the very best builds. Here are the best guns in Cold War multiplayer, as well as some attachment recommendations to make the most of these powerful weapons.

Updated September 28, 2022, by Daniel Furn: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has now finished receiving major content updates as attention moves to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. With no new weapons set to be added to the game, we now have a settled meta and an updated list of the best guns in Cold War.

13 Stoner 63 - Best LMG In Cold War

  • Weapon Class:
  • LMG
  • How To Unlock:
  • Player Level 4
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • 100 Round Magazine, Speed Tape, Tactical Stock & Field Agent Grip

The Stoner 63 stands out as the best LMG in Cold War’s multiplayer, especially in the objective modes, due to its ability to hold down areas of the map with its large magazine and high fire rate. It’s accurate too, meaning that the bullets you are firing won’t be missing as long as you can control its recoil.

It’s also lighter than most of the other LMGs, allowing you to move around the map much quicker and react dynamically as the situation within a match changes. Attachment-wise, you should focus on reducing recoil and increasing the Stoner’s magazine.

12 FARA 83

  • Weapon Class:
  • Assault Rifle
  • How To Unlock:
  • FARA 83 Unlock Challenge
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • GRU Elastic Wrap & KGB Skeletal Stock

Initially overlooked, the FARA 83 has re-emerged in both Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops Cold War as one of the best assault rifles in the game, and one that can give even the XM4 a run for its money.

A fast-firing assault rifle, the FARA 83 can decimate several opponents with a single magazine, if used correctly with the best FARA 83 attachments — just make sure your aim is on point or you’ll be spraying away a lot of ammo.

11 Swiss K31 - Best Sniper Rifle In Cold War

  • Weapon Class:
  • Sniper Rifle
  • How To Unlock:
  • Swiss K31 Unlock Challenge
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • Tiger Team Barrel, Airborne Wrap & Raider Stock

The Swiss K31 is the best sniper rifle in Cold War, combining excellence at both short and long-range into one powerful weapon. It has the quickest ADS speed in its class, making it the de facto choice for those looking to quick scope, but maintains enough power and range to be effective at longer distances too.

Using the Tiger Team barrel increases the K31’s damage to the point where nearly every shot will be a one-hit kill, as long as you hit the chest upwards. We’d also recommend using the spotlight in order to increase reveal distance if you’re looking to use the Swiss K31 as a long-range weapon.

10 AMP 63 - Best Pistol In Cold War

  • Weapon Class:
  • Pistol
  • How To Unlock:
  • AMP 63 Unlock Challenge
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • Dual Wield, Salvo Fast Mag & Laser Sight

Any Call of Duty fan will be familiar with the idea that it’s faster to switch to your sidearm than reloading, so ensuring you have a weapon like the AMP 63 is important to winning any gunfight. The AMP was buffed to improve its damage, so combining this increased damage rate with the dual-wield attachment is a winning combo, as long as you can keep your shots on target.

It is often outclassed by primary weapons, but it is still a fantastic choice for a secondary, and in smaller maps is a powerful weapon to dash around with. Using the laser sight will increase accuracy, and the Salvo fast mags increase both magazine size and reload speed.

9 KSP 45

  • Weapon Class:
  • SMG
  • How To Unlock:
  • Player Level 37
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • Infantry Compensator & Field Agent Grip

A burst-fire SMG, the KSP 45 can be difficult to use due to some high recoil, and therefore was hardly touched at launch. Thankfully, a buff means the KSP 45 is not only now a viable option, but one of the best burst guns in Cold War multiplayer — though it is still one of the worst guns in Cold War Zombies.

As long as you’re able to get used to this tricky weapon, the KSP 45’s high damage means you’re capable of cutting down enemies with a single burst. Just use your attachments to improve aim and recoil.

8 Gallo SA12 - Best Shotgun In Cold War

  • Weapon Class:
  • Shotgun
  • How To Unlock:
  • Player Level 34
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • Duckbill Choke, Wire Stock & 9 Round Tube

The series struggles with shotgun balance, as is evident from the overpowered, effective-at-range shotguns of 2019’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Black Ops Cold War attempted to rectify this by only including two shotguns at the game’s launch. Even as a secondary weapon, though, the Gallo stands clear as one of the best close-quarter weapons in Cold War.

On that note, the Gallo SA12 beats out the Hauer 77, as its devastating power, full-auto fire rate, and superb range outperforms the other shotgun by a considerable margin. While its range is nowhere near that of the shotguns of its predecessor, it’ll still help players in a mid-range fight and wipe out any enemy in close quarters.

7 AUG - Best Tactical Rifle In Cold War

  • Weapon Class:
  • Tactical Rifle
  • How To Unlock:
  • Player Level 28
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • SAS Combat Stock, Serpent Wrap & Field Agent Grip

The AUG was one of the best guns in the game at launch, and even after a few nerfs, it still remains one of the most dangerous weapons in the right hands. A player could be taken down in just two bursts, before they even have a chance to react to the DMR’s pure speed.

It has incredible accuracy, and at long range is able to go up against almost every other gun in the game and come out on top. The biggest issue with the AUG is its recoil, but with the right attachments, a decent player can easily deal with this problem and have great success with it.

6 AK-74u

  • Weapon Class:
  • SMG
  • How To Unlock:
  • Player Level 19
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • Spetsnaz Grip, VDV 50 Round Fast Mag & Elastic Wrap

The third-best submachine gun in Black Ops Cold War is the AK-74u. It can pack quite the punch considering its low starting ammo, and its mobile nature makes it good for navigating around the map. It’s a great choice for game modes where you’ll constantly be on the move, and acts like a cross between an SMG and Assault Rifle.

As with other submachine guns in the game, it’ll perform best during close-range skirmishes, with its excellent hip-fire accuracy demolishing the competition. Black Ops Cold War maps tend to be more varied and better suited for close-quarter combat (a step up from those of Modern Warfare), so a gun like the 74u is beneficial for most players. The recoil is difficult to pin down at first, but once you get the hang of it you’ll unlock the true potential of the AK-74u.

5 TEC-9

  • Weapon Class:
  • SMG
  • How Uo Unlock:
  • TEC-9 Unlock Challenge
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • Burst Fire Repeater & Field Agent Grip

Often in contention for the best gun in Cold War, the TEC-9 was a unique addition in season five as a semi-automatic SMG that can change completely based on its attachments. While the fully automatic form is powerful and easy to use, it has been nerfed somewhat — however, the burst-fire version is still an absolute tank, and a one-burst kill.

If you can master the burst fire mechanic, the TEC-9 becomes the second-best SMG in Cold War.

4 LC10 - Best SMG In Cold War

  • Weapon Class:
  • SMG
  • How To Unlock:
  • LC10 Unlock Challenge
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • Elastic Wrap, Field Agent Grip & Rifled Barrel

Season Four made SMGs a more viable weapon choice, and the LC10 stands out as the best in its class by far. It manages to combine high damage and fire rate with good accuracy at medium ranges, creating one of the strongest all-round weapons in Cold War.

Reducing recoil is critical to getting the most out of the LC10. You should pick attachments that reduce both vertical and horizontal recoil, such as the Field Agent Grip. Optics may be an issue too, with the iron sights being fairly divisive, but it has enough optic options that this should be a minor issue.

3 ​​​​AK-47

  • Weapon Class:
  • Assault Rifle
  • How To Unlock:
  • Player Level 7
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • 40 Round Magazine, GRU Elastic Wrap & Spetsnaz Grip

The AK-47 is another fan-favorite weapon among the Call Of Duty community, but some games in the series have sometimes failed to make it feel as satisfying as it could be. Black Ops Cold War does the weapon justice, with the classic gun offering a high damage output as well as an easy-to-negate recoil pattern.

It received a small buff in the Season Four update, making it even more powerful than it was at release. In the hands of a skilled player, you can’t go wrong with this Call of Duty staple — especially because of the wealth of attachment options you can put on it to deal with its downsides.

2 XM4

  • Weapon Class:
  • Assault Rifle
  • How To Unlock:
  • Player Level 4
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • LED Optic, Field Agent Grip & Takedown Barrel

There is a burden that comes with being a default assault rifle, as players are bound to unlock more ARs as they progress and consider them better. The XM4 is a very reliable starting weapon, though. It’s consistently great to use in closer-ranged combat, and it excels at medium and longer ranges.

While its damage and speed aren’t the best in its base form, the weapon starts to shine as more attachments are unlocked. Equipping it with a barrel that boosts damage range, a magazine that holds more rounds, or a handle that’ll increase aim-down-sight speed will make it a top-notch assault rifle that will get the job done.

1 Krig 6 - Best Gun In Cold War

  • Weapon Class:
  • Assault Rifle
  • How To Unlock:
  • Player Level 16
  • Recommended Attachments:
  • LED Optic, Ranger Barrel & Infantry Compensator.

The Krig 6 has no real flaws, with the only real issue being its recoil — although that is easily fixed by attaching the Field Agent Grip and Infantry Compensator. It dominates at all ranges despite its lower damage rate, making up for this with high accuracy in longer-range encounters.

It is one of the earliest assault rifles in Cold War, unlocking at just level 16. This means you can quickly level it up, unlocking the numerous attachments that make it a nearly unstoppable firearm. It’s the best gun in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and should be an essential part of every player’s arsenal for the foreseeable future.

NEXT: Call of Duty Zombies: The Hardest And Easiest Maps In The Series