Warzone Meta Snapshot — March 2026
The current Warzone meta is in a surprisingly healthy spot. With 5 weapons holding Meta status and a deep pool of 33 Very Good options, there's genuine variety in what you can run without handicapping yourself. That said, assault rifles are clearly the backbone of the meta right now, with LMGs carving out a meaningful secondary role for players who prefer sustained firepower.
Let's break down what's working, what the numbers say, and which builds you should be using. For the complete rankings across every weapon class, check the full tier list.
The Meta King: Peacekeeper Mk1
The Peacekeeper Mk1 is currently the only assault rifle sitting in the Meta tier among our top tracked weapons, and the numbers back it up. It kills in 276ms at close range — fast enough to compete with SMGs in a pinch while maintaining the range profile you expect from an AR.
ADS
225ms
RPM
857
Bullet Vel.
630 m/s
TTK (close)
420ms
Best Build
Recommended Long Range Build
- Optic: Fang HoverPoint Elo
- Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
- Barrel: 25" EAM Heavy Barrel
- Magazine: Barrage Extended Mag
- Stock: MFS Counterforce-C1 Stock
The 25" EAM Heavy Barrel is doing the heavy lifting here, pushing the Peacekeeper's effective range well beyond what most ARs can achieve. Paired with the Monolithic Suppressor for sound suppression and bullet velocity, this build is tailored for mid-to-long-range engagements where the Peacekeeper thrives.
The Fastest Killers: AK-27 & Maddox RFB
Two weapons currently tie for the fastest close-range TTK among our top performers at just 261ms: the AK-27 and the Maddox RFB.
That's 15ms faster than the Meta-tier Peacekeeper Mk1, which raises the question — why are these in Very Good rather than Meta? TTK alone doesn't tell the full story. Factors like recoil consistency, bullet velocity, and damage drop-off at range all influence overall viability. Still, if you're looking for raw killing speed up close, these two are hard to beat.
AK-27
Very GoodMaddox RFB
Very Good
AK-27 Long Range Build
- Optic: Fang HoverPoint Elo
- Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
- Barrel: 17.6" Vandal Heavy Barrel
- Magazine: Saber Pack Heavy Drum
- Stock: Pugil Heavy Stock
Maddox RFB Long Range Build
- Optic: Fang HoverPoint Elo
- Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
- Barrel: 19" Virtuous-Op Barrel
- Magazine: Billing Extended Mag
- Stock: Furrow Control Stock
Both run the Monolithic Suppressor and Fang HoverPoint Elo — a pattern you'll see across nearly every top-tier long range build in the current meta.
The Mid-Tier Contenders
Several assault rifles cluster together in the 296–320ms TTK range, offering reliable performance without the raw speed of the top picks:
| Weapon | Type | Tier | Close TTK | |---|---|---|---| | EGRT-17 | Assault Rifle | Very Good | 296ms | | DS20 Mirage | Assault Rifle | Very Good | 297ms | | M15 MOD 0 | Assault Rifle | Very Good | 312ms | | AMES 85 | Assault Rifle | Very Good | 320ms |
The EGRT-17 and DS20 Mirage are essentially neck-and-neck at 296ms and 297ms respectively. If you're choosing between them, the difference likely comes down to how each weapon handles and your attachment preferences. The DS20 Mirage build opts for a Rear Grip (AI-C Control Grip) in its fifth slot, while the EGRT-17 uses a Stock (Frigate Control Stock) — suggesting slightly different recoil and stability profiles.
The AMES 85 is worth calling out for its unique build path. It's the only weapon in our top list running a Compensator instead of the Monolithic Suppressor, paired with a Vertical Foregrip. This tells you the AMES has recoil that needs managing, but with the right attachments it still earns its Very Good placement.
LMGs: Mk. 78 and Sokol 545
Two LMGs make the cut in our top tracked weapons, and the Mk. 78 is the standout. It matches the Peacekeeper Mk1's 276ms close-range TTK while bringing the magazine depth and sustained fire capability that LMGs are known for.
The Sokol 545 is slower at 338ms but runs a Buffer Spring in its Fire Mods slot — an unusual choice that suggests it's tuned more for fire-rate optimization and long-range consistency than raw speed.
For players who like to hold power positions and lock down sightlines, the Mk. 78 in particular is well-suited to that playstyle without sacrificing much TTK compared to the top ARs.
The Outlier: X9 Maverick
At 376ms, the X9 Maverick has the slowest close-range TTK among our top weapons by a significant margin — 100ms slower than the Peacekeeper and 115ms behind the AK-27. Despite this, it still holds a Very Good tier rating. Its build uses a unique combination of a Rear Grip (Pillory Grip) and Fire Mods (4.73 Caseless Overpressured), indicating it likely excels in areas our close-range TTK number doesn't capture — potentially damage range, bullet velocity, or overall consistency at distance.
Build Trends in the Current Meta
A few clear patterns emerge across every top weapon build:
- Monolithic Suppressor appears on 9 out of 10 builds. Sound suppression plus bullet velocity remains the default.
- Fang HoverPoint Elo is the optic of choice on 9 out of 10 builds. Clean sight picture with minimal visual clutter.
- Long Range variant is universal. Every single top build is optimized for range, which tells you exactly what the meta values right now.
If you're building any AR or LMG for Warzone, start with the Monolithic Suppressor and Fang HoverPoint Elo and work from there.
Bottom Line
The Warzone meta currently rewards range-optimized ARs above all else. The Peacekeeper Mk1 sits at the top with its Meta-tier rating and strong 276ms TTK, but the AK-27 and Maddox RFB are the fastest killers at 261ms for players willing to trade some long-range consistency. The EGRT-17 and DS20 Mirage offer the best balance of speed and usability in the Very Good tier.
For the complete weapon rankings, visit our full tier list. You can also browse our best loadouts for ready-made builds across every weapon class, or check out our meta guides for deeper analysis.
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