The best assault rifles in Black Ops 6

Assault rifle players are just built different in Call of Duty. They are the field generals, the commanders of the battlefield, and those who lock down entire areas of the map with their long-range precision.

In Black Ops 6, assault rifles have a tougher job than usual thanks to omnimovement. SMG players are feasting on the new movement abilities, sliding and diving around AR gunners like never before. But that doesn’t mean it’s over for ARs. Quite the contrary.

Here’s our picks for the best ARs in BO6 so far.

Best assault rifles in BO6

The best AR in BO6 right now is the XM4. The weapon returns from its appearance in Black Ops Cold War, this time as one of the best overall options in the game.

XM4

Proficient in mobility, accuracy, and ranged damage, the XM4 is a jack of all trades thus far in BO6. It can hold its own at range or up close, which is what sets it apart from other ARs on this list. Other ARs may lose out to SMG users in close quarters, but the XM4 has the ability to out-gun them, too.

This weapon is a massive improvement on the version in Black Ops Cold War, and it’s one that should be on every player’s radar for leveling up and using online.

Ames 85

The Ames 85 is not far behind the XM4 when it comes to best ARs. In fact, I think they are interchangeable often, as I find myself able to get kills in similar situations with both guns. I don’t think either weapon has a huge glaring weakness, which makes it a toss-up dependent on personal preference which weapon you think you want to use in a given scenario.

Stats-wise, the Ames 85 only lags slightly behind the XM4 in accuracy and mobility, but it’s not much. And since the Gunsmith can be used to rectify inequities with the weapons, the faults are pretty negligible.

AK-74

The AK-74 is a formidable weapon on its own because it’s a powerhouse of firepower, but it falters when it comes to ranged damage thanks to its recoil. If you can rein it in, however, it’s a beast and a problem to be dealt with for sure.

This article will be updated as weapons are added, nerfed, or buffed over time.