If you’ve been playing Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War’s multiplayer since its launch, you’ll have no doubt noticed you’re getting killed by the same handful of weapons over and over again. One of those is the AK74u sub-machine gun, a fully-automatic weapon with improved damage, range, and reliable weapon control. From our experience, it’s easily the best SMG in Cold War’s multiplayer right now, but you can make it even better with the right loadout of attachments. Of course, the best AK74u loadout depends on what you’re looking to improve, so we’ve provided a few different options for you below.
Best AK74u Loadouts for Black Ops Cold War Multiplayer
Depending on what aspects of the AK74u you’re looking to improve, you can try and combination of different weapon attachments. Down below, we’ve listed one of the best for stability, mobility and bullet velocity, as used by OpTic Scump, and one of our own preferred builds we’ve had a lot of success with.
OpTic Scump’s Best AK74u Loadout for Speed and Recoil
- Muzzle: Spetsnaz Compensator
- Barrel: 9.3″ Extended
- Underbarrel: Spetsnaz Speedgrip
- Handle: GRU Elastic Wrap
- Stock: KGB Skeletal Stock
In a stream towards the end of last year, OpTic Scump shared his loadout for the Ak74u (his own preferred weapon in the game), which looks to use a variety of attachments to increase bullet velocity, improve overall mobility when using the weapon, and further increasing the weapon’s stability.
To accomplish this, Scump uses the Spetsnaz Compensator to improve vertical recoil by 12% at the expense of an 8% drop in horizontal recoil. This is counteracted by the Spetsnaz Speedgrip which offers a (15%) improvement to horizontal recoil, and a (10%) to sprinting movement speed.
The extended barrel ups bullet velocity by 40% and the GRU Elastic Wrap allows you to dropshot with the weapon, while offering an increase in flinch resistance and a reduction in ADS. It does cause a reduction in shooting movement speed and sprint to fire time (10% and 15% respectively), but these are balanced out by the choice of stock, which improved sprint to fire time by 30% and aim walking movement speed by 40%.
Best AK74u Loadout for TTK & Recoil
- Optic: Millstop Reflex
- Barrel: 9.3″ VDV Reinforced
- Underbarrel: Foregrip
- Magazine: 40 Rnd Speed Mag
- Muzzle: Spetsnaz Compensator
Our preferred loadout is listed above. The Millstop Reflex offers you a better sight, but you’re free to choose your preferred option here. Something like a Kobra Red Dot or Microflex LED could also work.
The 9.3” VDV Reinforced barrel offers a massive 80% increase in bullet velocity and an 18% increase in effective damage range, making the AK74u even more reliable from afar. Though it reduces sprinting move speed by 4% and aim walking movement speed by 20%.
The Spetsnaz Compensator once again offers a 12% reduction in Vertical Recoil Control at the expense of an 8% reduction in Horizontal Recoil Control. That reduction is countered by our choice of the Foregrip Underbarrel, which improves Horizontal Recoil Control by 15%. This combination makes the AK74u incredibly steady in your hand, regardless of whether your firing at a target up-close or at range.
Our loadout is rounded out by a 40 Rnd Speed Mag, offering 33% improvements in magazine ammo capacity, max starting ammo, and ammo capacity, and a 25% increase in reload quickness. This does come at the expense, however, of a 20% reduction in ADS time.
This loadout is better for those looking for a quick TTK and a steady gun. It’s less fine-tuned for true competitive play, where Scump’s shines with its focus on movement speed and the dropshot ability.
For more tips, tricks and guides on the game, head on over to our guide wiki, or check out more of our coverage below.
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