I’ve spent the past few days grinding in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, maxing out every weapon and just unlocking the coveted Singularity Mastery Camo in multiplayer. After all that time in the trenches, I wanted to take a deep dive and break down every single weapon in the game—everything from rifles to SMGs, LMGs, shotguns, pistols, snipers, and launchers—based on their current place in the meta.

This guide is designed to help you decide which weapons to focus on when leveling up, which ones are competitive in the current multiplayer meta, and which ones might be best avoided. As the game evolves, especially with Warzone integration, these rankings will update to reflect balance changes and meta shifts.

Assault Rifles

The assault rifle category in Black Ops 7 feels more versatile than ever, with most rifles having unique playstyles. The exception is the AK and Mirage, which share similar stats and handling.

· MXR7 – Absolute Meta: My personal favorite rifle. Easy to use, especially with compensators and recoil attachments. One well-placed headshot can dominate a gunfight. Slower fire rate, but extremely effective.

· Peacekeeper – Meta Contender: Best in mid-range fights. Aggressive with slightly higher recoil, but overall a solid choice for most maps.

· AK-27 – Meta Contender: A well-rounded rifle with good damage potential and manageable recoil. Strong for early long-range engagements.

· MOD – Contender: Previously absolute meta, now slightly nerfed. Still aggressive, especially in core modes, but struggles in hardcore due to multiple hit markers.

· Maverick – Meta Contender: Burst-focused rifle with minimal recoil between bursts. Requires skill but excels when mastered.

· Mirage – Viable: Clunky and awkward. Functions similarly to the AK-27 but lacks a unique appeal.

Submachine Guns (SMGs)

SMGs are in a slightly awkward spot this year. Some are incredibly strong, but others feel underwhelming.

· RK9 – Absolute Meta: Burst SMG with insane TTK. Extremely effective if you’re comfortable with burst weapons.

· Dravik – Meta Contender: Versatile and easy to control, effective in mid-range engagements.

· Carbon – Contender: Fun and easy to use, but slightly weaker TTK than the top SMGs.

· MPC / Eileen / Ryden 45K / Razer – Meta Contender / Contender: Decent performance but requires recoil management. Not absolute meta material yet.

Light Machine Guns (LMGs)

LMGs are simple to rank: they’re all solid contenders.

· XM 325 – Contender: High fire rate, good TTK, but heavy recoil. Great for holding lines of sight or choke points.

· Other LMGs – Contender: Mobility is slow, but manageable if you adopt a slower, defensive playstyle.

Shotguns

Shotguns are aggressive but map-dependent this year.

· Breacher – Strong Contender: Paired with Gung-Ho, can charge and hip-fire at high speed. Very effective in close-range maps.

· Echo 12 – Strong Contender: One-shot potential with proper setup.

· Akita – Viable: Requires close-range encounters to shine, not suited for wide maps.

Marksman Rifles

Marksman rifles offer strong precision but demand skill.

· M8 – Meta Contender: Low recoil and easy to use in bursts. Strong mid-range option.

· Warden / Novaline – Meta Contender: Powerful, with one-shot potential. Skill-intensive but consistent when mastered.

Pistols

Most pistols are standard and situational.

· V-Locks – Contender: Strong burst secondary for close-range engagements.

· Koden 9 – Viable: Pocket SMG style, easy to pull out in a pinch.

· Jagger – Viable: Semi-auto secondary, mostly for utility and overkill setups.

Launchers and Melee

· Launchers – Trash / Niche: Only useful for streaks or camo challenges. Not competitive in multiplayer.

· Melee – Flatline > Knife: The Flatline is superior, offering better lunges and feel. Knife can feel awkward and clunky.

Snipers

Snipers are still being fully evaluated, but here’s the current insight:

· Recon – Absolute Meta: Fast ADS, excellent precision, great for aggressive or defensive play.

· Shadow – Meta Contender: Semi-auto, requires skill, but high damage potential.

· Ion – Trash: Awkward burst, slow ADS, poor mobility. Not recommended.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the weapon balancing in Black Ops 7 feels excellent. Most guns have viable niches, and there’s genuine parity among contenders. It doesn’t feel like you must use a single “crutch” weapon to succeed. Instead, there’s flexibility to adapt to your playstyle, map, and game mode.

If you’re grinding for camos or ranking up, focusing on the absolute meta weapons is smart, but meta contenders are equally viable once mastered. Trash or niche weapons are fun for challenges but won’t give you a competitive edge.