Looking for the best Warzone Season 1 loadouts? Discover 10 weapon builds from Testyment, Metaphor, DiazBiffle, and JGOD, featuring top ARs, SMGs, snipers, and LMGs to try on launch day.
Warzone Season 1 is officially live, bringing the full integration of Modern Warfare 4, a major weapon overhaul, and two new maps: Hajin for Battle Royale and Zodiac for Resurgence.
With more than 30 Modern Warfare 4 weapons entering Warzone and fresh balance adjustments affecting the arsenal, players have plenty of options to explore. However, the first day of a new season is rarely enough to establish a definitive weapon meta.
For anyone looking for a starting point, we've selected 10 Warzone Season 1 loadouts worth trying, including configurations credited to well-known Call of Duty creators such as Testyment, Metaphor, DiazBiffle, and JGOD.
The selection covers precision rifles, close-range SMGs, versatile assault rifles, and an LMG, giving players several different approaches to the new season.
Best Sniper and Marksman Loadouts for Warzone Season 1
Long-range precision remains an important part of Warzone, particularly on larger Battle Royale maps where controlling sightlines can influence an entire engagement.
Three Testyment configurations offer different approaches to precision shooting, from traditional marksman gameplay to heavier sniper options.
1. Mosin-Nagant — Testyment's One-Shot Loadout
The Mosin-Nagant returns as a marksman rifle in Modern Warfare 4, combining traditional bolt-action shooting with substantial long-range damage potential.
Testyment's one-shot-focused configuration is an option for players who prefer deliberate positioning and accurate shots over sustained automatic fire.
Unlike an assault rifle, the Mosin-Nagant requires careful target selection. It is better suited to players comfortable taking precision shots from advantageous positions rather than challenging multiple opponents with continuous gunfire.
The main consideration is consistency. A powerful single shot is valuable, but a missed opportunity can leave an opponent enough time to reposition or return fire.
The KG-7 Vulcan provides another approach to long-range combat.
This bolt-action sniper rifle features a high-capacity design and a relatively fast rate of fire for its weapon type, according to the official Modern Warfare 4 weapon description.
That distinction matters when choosing between precision rifles. Players who frequently need follow-up shots may find the KG-7 Vulcan a more appealing starting point than a weapon designed around extremely deliberate single-shot engagements.
Testyment's listed configuration focuses on the weapon's one-shot potential, although actual elimination performance depends on the applicable Warzone damage profile and engagement conditions.
The KG-7 Vulcan also has an accessibility advantage: it unlocks at Player Level 4, making it one of the earliest sniper options available.
3. Astaroth .57 — Testyment's Heavy Sniper Loadout
For players interested in maximum single-shot firepower, the Astaroth .57 takes a different approach.
This heavy sniper fires 14.5mm ammunition and is built around devastating individual shots. Its single-shot design places considerable emphasis on accuracy and positioning.
Testyment's one-shot-oriented setup offers an alternative to the Mosin-Nagant and KG-7 Vulcan, particularly for players who enjoy slower, more calculated sniper engagements.
The trade-off is clear: a weapon centered on individual high-impact shots provides less flexibility when an opponent suddenly closes the distance or multiple enemies challenge the same position.
Anyone considering this build should also distinguish the weapon's considerable stopping power from a guaranteed one-shot elimination under every possible Warzone condition.
Close-range combat deserves particular attention with the arrival of Zodiac, Warzone's new Resurgence map.
Its industrial interiors, underground passages, and interconnected combat spaces create numerous opportunities for short-distance engagements.
These three SMG configurations offer different ways to approach those fights.
4. X-58 Nyx — Metaphor's Season 1 Loadout
Metaphor's X-58 Nyx configuration is one of the creator-attributed SMG options available for the opening of Season 1.
The X-58 Nyx has an integrated suppressor and is designed for close-to-mid-range combat, giving it a distinctive identity compared with conventional SMGs.
That combination makes the weapon worth considering for players who prefer quieter engagements, flanking routes, and engagements that occasionally extend beyond immediate close quarters.
Its integrated suppression is an inherent weapon characteristic rather than something that needs to be assumed from Metaphor's particular attachment choices.
For players who want a close-range weapon without committing entirely to the shortest possible engagement distances, this is an interesting option to investigate.
The WZ.55 Striga offers a substantially different close-range experience.
Its Akimbo configuration takes advantage of the weapon's dual-wield capability, favoring aggressive combat at very short distances.
Modern Warfare 4's WZ.55 Striga Rampage conversion enables this playstyle, allowing players to carry two weapons while accepting restrictions on several attachment categories.
Those limitations are important. Akimbo setups are specialized tools rather than conventional all-purpose SMGs, and their effectiveness is closely tied to engagement distance.
The Striga is therefore an option for players who frequently fight inside buildings, around tight corners, or in other spaces where targets appear at close range.
Its major drawback is reduced flexibility when accurate aiming becomes more important than immediate close-range firepower.
The VEL 46 is another option for players who want a mobile, conventional SMG instead of the specialized Akimbo approach.
The weapon combines maneuverability with smooth, predictable recoil, making it an attractive choice for players who prioritize responsive handling.
Compared with the dual-wield Striga concept, a standard VEL 46 configuration allows for a more traditional aiming style, which can be valuable when engagements extend beyond point-blank distance.
It is also worth considering for players transitioning between indoor fights and slightly more open spaces without wanting an entirely different weapon category.
The VEL 46 unlocks at Player Level 13, making it relatively accessible during the early stages of Season 1 progression.
Best Assault Rifle and LMG Loadouts for Warzone Season 1
Assault rifles and light machine guns provide alternatives to the precision-focused sniper builds and mobility-oriented SMGs.
For Battle Royale on Hajin, where engagements can occur across very different distances, choosing a weapon that suits your preferred approach to sustained firefights is especially important.
These four configurations are worth examining on launch day.
7. M4 — Metaphor's Season 1 Loadout
The M4 remains one of Modern Warfare's most recognizable assault rifles, and Metaphor has a dedicated configuration for the opening of Warzone Season 1.
In Modern Warfare 4, the M4 is designed as a versatile fully automatic weapon capable of handling a broad range of combat situations.
That versatility makes it a natural starting point for players who have not yet decided which specialized weapon characteristics they prefer.
Rather than committing to the deliberate fire of a heavy-hitting rifle or the sustained output of an LMG, an M4-based approach offers a conventional assault-rifle experience.
Metaphor's Season 1 build is therefore particularly relevant for players looking for a familiar platform while exploring Warzone's new mechanics, maps, and weapon balance.
DiazBiffle's HAN 86 setup is another assault rifle configuration to consider.
The HAN 86 is a 5.56 rifle characterized by a high rate of fire and moderate damage, with a design intended to support engagements across multiple distances.
Its flexibility makes it relevant to players who frequently alternate between defending positions and moving through contested areas.
There is also a practical first-day advantage: the HAN 86 is unlocked immediately, meaning players do not need to reach a higher progression level before accessing the weapon.
That makes DiazBiffle's configuration particularly convenient to investigate during the early hours of Season 1.
It is an accessible alternative for players who want to explore an assault rifle other than the M4 without waiting for additional weapon unlocks.
The Axion offers a different proposition from the faster-firing HAN 86.
Chambered in .300 Blackout, the weapon combines substantial individual-shot damage with a slower rate of fire.
That distinction creates an important consideration for players: the Axion's weapon characteristics reward accurate, controlled shooting, while missed shots may be more consequential than with a faster-firing alternative.
Its subsonic ammunition also conceals enemy death skulls, providing a useful characteristic for players interested in a more discreet approach.
The Axion is worth considering for those who prefer meaningful damage per shot rather than relying primarily on a high volume of bullets.
It is a later progression option, unlocking at Player Level 52, so it will not be equally accessible to everyone on the first day.
The FiNN LMG completes our selection with a weapon designed around sustained automatic fire.
According to the official Modern Warfare 4 weapon description, the FiNN combines a high rate of fire with stability and effective recoil control, characteristics that help distinguish it within the LMG category.
JGOD's listed configuration is an option for players interested in an LMG rather than another conventional assault rifle.
The weapon's characteristics make it relevant to situations where maintaining pressure on an opponent or covering a contested area matters more than maximizing movement responsiveness.
However, claims about a particular FiNN build delivering the best time-to-kill should be assessed against current, reproducible Warzone damage and handling data rather than assumed from its high fire rate.
The FiNN unlocks at Player Level 4, so players can access the weapon early in their progression.
Which Warzone Season 1 Loadout Should You Try First?
There is no need to treat all ten configurations as interchangeable choices.
The more useful approach is to select a weapon based on where you expect to fight and which mechanical trade-offs fit your playstyle.
For players primarily interested in long-range precision, Testyment's Mosin-Nagant, KG-7 Vulcan, and Astaroth .57 setups provide three different starting points. The KG-7 Vulcan is particularly convenient for early progression, while the Astaroth .57 offers a more specialized single-shot approach.
For Resurgence and close-range combat, Metaphor's X-58 Nyx, the Akimbo WZ.55 Striga, and the VEL 46 offer contrasting options. The Nyx emphasizes its integrated suppression, the Striga specializes in dual-wield combat, and the VEL 46 provides a more conventional handling-focused SMG experience.
Players who prefer assault rifles can begin with Metaphor's M4 or DiazBiffle's HAN 86 before deciding whether the slower-firing Axion better matches their accuracy and engagement preferences.
Meanwhile, JGOD's FiNN LMG provides a starting point for anyone interested in sustained automatic fire rather than a conventional rifle.
Don't overlook the Season 1 gameplay changes
Weapon selection is only part of the equation.
Warzone Season 1 also introduces Weapon Augments, which allow players to enhance a weapon during a match. The initial options include Breacher for close-range handling, Sharpshooter for long-range consistency, and Gunslinger for general weapon-handling improvements.
These additions mean that the way a weapon performs throughout a match can depend on more than its initial Gunsmith configuration.
Players should also account for the significant differences between Hajin's large-scale Battle Royale environment and the more compact Zodiac Resurgence map.
With Season 1 only just underway, these ten configurations offer useful starting points rather than a definitive competitive ranking. The strongest choice for an individual player will depend on their preferred engagement distances, handling requirements, and how each build performs under the new Warzone balance.
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