Call of Duty

The Top 5 Best Assault Rifles in Warzone 2 Season 3, Ranked

Breaking down which ARs to pick and how to use them.

MW2 character in gold skin with AR next to Warzone 2 logo Image Source: Activision

Assault rifles remain the go-to weapon for most players in Warzone as we head towards Season 4. They thrive at medium ranges while offering a versatility other weapon classes simply don’t. With that being said, here are the five best Assault Rifles in Warzone 2 Season 3.

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The Season 3 Reloaded update dropped on May 10, making a number of changes to assault rifles. The ISO Hemlock received more nerfs and drops off this list altogether. Elsewhere, the M16 and Lachmann 556 were buffed. There’s not yet a spot for the former, but the latter makes the list as it’s stronger than it’s ever been.

More changes are promised with Season 4 on June 14, so be sure to check back to this list after that date.

5) Chimera

Chimera in Warzone 2 and MW2 Gunsmith
Image Credit: Activision via Twinfinite

Especially now they’re able to one-hit, we’d recommend confident players use the Chimera as a sniper support weapon because of its handling, mobility and impressive damage.

It can keep players in close-range gunfights with a strong fire-rate but can also thrive at medium ranges. It still struggles at longer ranges but, with balance is the key to a SMG-AR hybrid, we’ve selected attachments that consolidate the Chimera’s strengths and mitigate its weaknesses (range and recoil):

  • Barrel: 10″ SA Phoenix
  • Stock: Ravage-10
  • Rear Grip: D37 Grip
  • Magazine: 45 Round Mag
  • Underbarrel: Lockgrip Precision-40

4) Lachmann 556

Lachmann 556 AR in Warzone and MW2 Gunsmith
Image Credit: Activision via Twinfinite

The Lachmann 556 has soared in popularity across Season 3, with nerfs to rivals and buffs to its damage and range making it a monster at medium ranges. It boasts strong iron sights and negligible recoil, meaning it can compete at longer ranges – even if damage is slightly lower than we’d like.

We’d recommend attachments to boost its handling, recoil and mobility, ensuring users can outpace other AR users in terms of getting ADS. See below:

  • Muzzle: Harbinger D20
  • Barrel: 15.9″ Lachmann Rapp Barrel
  • Underbarrel: Phase-3 Grip
  • Optic: VLK 4.0 Optic
  • Magazine: 60 Round Mag

3) Kastov 545

Kastov 545 in MW2 and Warzone Gunsmith
Image Credit: Activision via Twinfinite

The Kastov 545 has already found a place in MW2’s meta, specifically in Ranked Play. However, much like the above Lachmann 556, it has flown up the rankings and exploded in popularity across Season 3.

It’s slightly less accurate than the Lachmann but it deals higher damage and excels at medium ranges. You’ll need a sight, extended mags and attachments to improve its handling to ensure you can compensate for missed shots:

  • Rear Grip: Ivanov ST-70 Grip
  • Muzzle: Echoless-80
  • Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper 56
  • Magazine: 60 Round Mag
  • Optic: Aim OP-V4

2) M13B

M13B in Warzone 2 and MW2 Gunsmith
Image Credit: Activision via Twinfinite

The M13B has improved gradually since it was added back in Season One, now among the best weapons in the entire game by virtue of buffed damage and range, which combine with its fire-rate and handling to make a seriously powerful assault rifle.

Only held off top-spot by the behemoth that is the STB 556, we’re targeting its recoil and range as areas to improve with attachments:

  • Optic: Aim OP-V4
  • Underbarrel: Lockgrip Precision-40
  • Rear Grip: D37 Grip
  • Magazine: 60 Round Mag
  • Stock: Bruen R90 Factory

1) STB 556

STB 556 in MW2 and Warzone 2 Gunsmith
Image Credit: Activision via Twinfinite

The STB 556 was buffed in the Season 3 update, standing relatively still in the S3R patch. It continues to excel thanks to its fire-rate and damage, with its accuracy and iron sights its only real weaknesses. Both are easily fixed with a sensible optic and recoil-reducing attachments.

Learning its recoil pattern and spending time with the weapon will have you firing accurately in no time – and winning matches as you go. Right now, there’s no better assault rifle in all of Warzone 2, even if its competitors are closing in ahead of Season 4:

  • Optic: Aim OP-V4
  • Comb: FTAC C11 Riser
  • Rear Grip: Bruen Q900 Grip
  • Magazine: 42 Round Mag
  • Underbarrel: Lockgrip Precision-40

That’s all you need to know about the best assault rifles in Warzone 2 Season 3 Reloaded. Check out our related Call of Duty content, such as the best SMGs or our overall Warzone 2 weapon tier list.

About the author

Alex Gibson

Alex was a Senior Editor at Twinfinite and worked on the site between January 2017 and March 2023. He covered the ins and outs of Valorant extensively, and frequently provided expert insight into the esports scene and wider video games industry. He was a self-proclaimed history & meteorological expert, and knew about games too. Playing Games Since: 1991, Favorite Genres: RPG, Action

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