A recent round of nerfs for assault rifles in Call of Duty: Warzone makes the M4 assault rifle much more effective than its counterparts in Season 6. These AR nerfs were made as Activision and its developers prepare for the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in a few weeks, and Call of Duty: Warzone is expected to receive even more balance updates.

On October 17, the Call of Duty developers released the Season 6 mid-season update featuring The Haunting event. Patch notes for the October 17 update revealed that weapon balancing updates were on the way, and the first balance update was released less than a week later on October 23. The October 23 update is notable for its range of buffs and nerfs across nearly every primary weapon category, including ARs and SMGs, in Warzone. Warzone’s TR-76 Geist and Kastov 762 were among some of the ARs that were targeted with close damage nerfs and damage multiplier decreases. However, these nerfs have increased the viability of the M4 weapon due to some of its strengths in the updated Warzone meta.

A new YouTube video by Warzone player and content creator Metaphor highlights a “double buff” that the M4 received with the October 23 update since all other top weapons in the AR category were nerfed. The recent update increased the M4’s close-mid damage range, and Metaphor notes that the weapon is excellent for mouse and keyboard players due to its predictable recoil and damage profiles. Specifically, Metaphor states that the M4 has the same limb damage for all body parts, making the weapon very forgiving while in use. As a result, M4 loadouts should be comparable with Warzone’s best Kastov 762 loadout in terms of consistency and damage.

The combination of Cronen OP44 muzzle, Hightower 20′ barrel, FTAC Ripper 56 under barrel, Aim OP-V4 optic, and 45-round magazine attachments make the M4 a very competitive weapon in Warzone. This particular M4 loadout increases damage, range, accuracy, and recoil control while decreasing mobility and handling. As Metaphor shows in the gameplay video, these mobility and handling decreases are mitigated by the M4 buff and the stat-boosting attachments. Those wanting a weapon with more mobility than the M4 may want to consider using an SMG like the Lachmann Sub in Warzone.

The iconic M4 appears to be at the top of the Warzone meta, so the weapon may prove to be useful for those wanting to quickly secure kills and collect souls in Call of Duty’s The Haunting event. A similar close damage range buff was also given to the M4 in Modern Warfare 2, but it remains to be seen if it will continue to be a competitive weapon in Modern Warfare 3 and a newly updated Warzone this November. At the very least, Warzone balance updates continue to keep the meta interesting by elevating certain weapons that players may have overlooked in the past.

Call of Duty: Warzone is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

Source: Dexerto