Warzone Season 5 Reloaded buffs and nerfs: All weapon balancing changes

Image showing Warzone player holding gun
Credit: Activision

Image showing Warzone player holding gun
Credit: Activision

The selection of Warzone Season 5 Reloaded buffs and nerfs has got the community talking. The final dose of weapon balancing of the Pacific era will go live as part of the mid-season update as Raven Software looks to shake up the meta one last time before attention turns toward the launch of Warzone 2.

The update also sees the arrival of the Lienna 57 and the BP50 to the arsenal and there's a high chance they could feature in several loadouts depending on how other weapons are affected by the weapon balancing.

Before we reveal more about the Warzone Season 5 Reloaded buffs and nerfs, check out our other guides showcasing the best Warzone guns and intel on the next Warzone double XP event before dropping back into the action.

Warzone Season 5 Reloaded buffs and nerfs

As expected, the mid-season update includes a much-needed dose of weapon balancing. Featuring heavy nerfs to the Vanguard PPSH and the UGM-8, there's a high chance the meta will change in the coming days and weeks.

Here's a full breakdown of the changes for each weapon category.

Assault rifles

CR-56 AMAX (MW)

  • Max Damage Range increased to 28.62 meters up from 24.1 meters
  • Upper Torso Damage Multiplier increased to 1.1, up from 1.0

Cooper Carbine (VG)

  • Neck Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.3, down from 1.5
  • Lower Torso Damage multiplier decreased to 1.0, down from 1.1

M4A1 (MW)

  • Neck Damage Multiplier increased to 1.1, up from 1.01

QBZ-83 (BOCW)

  • Headshot Damage Multiplier increased to 1.6, up from 1.5
  • Neck Damage Multiplier increased to 1.25, up from 1.2

Oden (MW)

  • Muzzle Velocity increased by 3.5%
  • Upper Arm Damage Multiplier increased to 1.2, up from 1.0

EX1 (VG)

  • Min Damage increased to 11, up from 10
  • ADS Spread decreased to 0.01, down from 0.2
  • PWN Beam Condenser
    • Min Damage increased to 30, up from 28
  • Burst AC1-4
    • Damage increased to 24, up from 20
  • Low Temp Laser
    • Recoil Control now increased by 1%
    • Hip Fire Accuracy now increased by 1%
  • Charge Amp PV
    • Movement Speed Penalty now decreased by -1%
    • ADS Movement Speed Penalty now decreased by -5%

ITRA Burst (VG)

  • Auto Burst-Fire Now Enabled
  • Rate of Fire Time decreased to 0.068, up from 0.065
  • Perfetto 140mm Rapida
    • Rate of Fire Bonus decreased to 14%, down from 20%
    • Vertical Recoil now increased by 18%
    • Horizontal Recoil Control Penalty increased to -50%, down from -40%
  • .303 British 36 Round Mags
    • Burst Fire Cooldown Bonus decreased to 6%, down from 10%
  • Hardscope
    • Initial Recoil Control decreased when using Hardscope on the Itra Burst

EM2 (BOCW)

  • Headshot Multiplier increased to 1.5, up from 1.3
  • Min Damage increased to 36, up from 35

FFAR 1 (BOCW)

  • Muzzle Velocity increased by 4.25%
  • ADS Movement Speed Scale increased to 1.4, up from 1.25
  • ADS Transition In Time decreased to 300ms, down from 310ms
  • 17.9” Ultralight
    • ADS Movement Speed while firing now increased by 3.5%

Volkssturmgewehr (VG)

  • ADS Movement Speed Scalar decreased to 1.42, down from 1.55
Image showing Warzone player holding Lienna 57
expand image
Credit: Activision

Shotguns

.410 Ironhide (BOCW)

  • Mid 1 Pellet Damage increased to 35, up from 30
  • Mid 2 Pellet Damage increased to 24, up from 23
  • Min Pellet Damage increased to 20, up from 18
  • Buck and Slug Rounds
    • Headshot Damage has been increased

Combat Shotgun (VG)

  • Rechamber Time decreased by 10%
  • Slug Rounds
    • Max Damage increased to 120, up from 100
    • Mid Damage increased to 80, up from 75
    • Min Damage increased to 70, up from 60
    • Lower Extremity Damage Multiplier increased to 0.8, up from 0.7

Gallo SA12 (BOCW)

  • Mid 1 Pellet Damage increased to 20, up from 18
  • Mid 2 Pellet Damage increased to 18, up from 14
  • Min Pellet Damage increased to 15, up from 12
  • ADS Transition In Time decreased to 305ms, down from 320ms
  • ADS Transition Out Time decreased to 295ms, down from 320ms
  • Movement Speed Scaler increased to 0.89, up from 0.87
  • 21.4” Reinforced Heavy Barrel
    • Damage Range increased to 18%, up from 11%

Streetsweeper (BOCW)

  • Mid 2 Pellet Damage increased to 14, up from 12
  • Min Pellet Damage increased to 13, up from 10

SMGs

Armaguerra 43 (VG)

  • Headshot Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.5 down from 1.58
  • Neck Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.30, down from 1.3
  • ADS Movement Speed Scalar decreased to 1.29, down from 1.32
  • Imerito TA Skeletal
    • ADS Movement Speed Bonus decreased to 28%, down from 35%
  • 9mm 60 Round Mags
    • Magazine Capacity decreased to 55, down from 60
  • 8mm 72 Round Mags
    • Magazine Capacity decreased to 64, down from 60

Bullfrog (BOCW)

  • Lower Arm Damage Multiplier increased to 1.0, up from 0.9
  • Hand Damage Multiplier increased to 1.0, up from 0.9

RA 225 (VG)

  • Neck Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.1, down from 1.7
  • Urban Rapid 11”
    • Rate of Fire Bonus decreased to 10%, down from 15%
    • Vertical Recoil Control Penalty increased to -10%
    • Horizontal Recoil Control Penalty increased to -45%, down from -40%
  • 7.62 Gorenko 38 Round Mags
    • Magazine Capacity increased to 42, up from 38
  • .45 ACP 38 Round Mags
    • Magazine Capacity increased to 42, up from 38

H4 Blixen (VG)

  • Lower Torso Damage multiplier decreased to 1.01, down from 1.1

ISO (MW)

  • Neck Damage Multiplier increased to 1.15, up from 1.01
  • Sprint to Fire Speed increased by 5%

CX-9 (MW)

  • Headshot Damage Multiplier increased to 1.5, up from 1.45
  • Neck Damage Multiplier increased to 1.2, up from 1.01
  • Sprint to Fire Speed increased by 5%

KSP 45 (BOCW)

  • Auto Burst-Fire Now Enabled
  • Lower Extremities Damage Multiplier decreased to 0.9, down from 1.0

MP40 (VG)

  • 7.62 Gorenko 45 Round Mags
    • Muzzle Velocity Penalty decreased to -10%, up from -20%
    • Damage Range Penalty decreased to -15%, up from -20%

PPSh-41 (VG)

  • Min Damage decreased to 18, down from 19
  • Upper Leg Damage Multiplier decreased to 0.9, down from 1.0
  • Kovalevskaya 230mm B03P
    • Hipfire accuracy decreased to 45%, down from 50%
  • 8mm Nambu 71 Round Mags
    • Magazine Capacity decreased to 64, down from 71
    • Damage Range Penalty decreased to -20%, up from -25%
    • Rate of Fire Bonus decreased to 5.5%, down from 6.6%
    • Vertical Recoil Control decreased to 10%, down from 15%
    • Horizontal Recoil Control decreased to 20%, down from 25%
    • Hipfire accuracy decreased to 3%, down from 4%
  • Empress 140mm Rapid
    • Rate of Fire Bonus decreased to 8.5%, down from 10%
    • Vertical Recoil Control now decreased by 10%
  • Tight Grip
    • The benefit that Tight Grip provides has been decreased

LMGs

The UGM-8 is the only LMG to receive a nerf in the Season 5 Reloaded update. Minimum damage is decreased in addition to a number of nerfs to popular attachments.

  • Min Damage decreased to 22, down from 23
  • Headshot Damage multiplier decreased to 1.5, down from 1.6
  • Neck Damage multiplier decreased to 1.1, down from 1.3
  • Recoil Intensity increased
  • Bernard XL214 736mm
    • Muzzle Velocity bonus decreased to 30%, down from 35%
  • Romuald 560mm
    • Muzzle Velocity bonus increased to 15%, up from 10%
  • 6.5mm Sakura 125 Round Box
    • Box Capacity decreased to 100, down from 125
    • Recoil Control decreased to 12.5% down from 15%

Marksman rifles

Crossbow (MW)

  • Upper Extremities Damage Multiplier increased to 1.8, up from 1.5
  • Lower Torso Damage Multiplier increased to 1.9, up from 1.5

M1 Garand (VG)

  • Min Damage decreased to 47, down from 48
  • Hardscope
    • Initial Recoil Control decreased
Image showing crossbow on table in Warzone
expand image
Credit: Activision

Sniper rifles

AX-50 (MW)

  • Bullet Dropoff decreased
  • Muzzle Velocity increased by 2.7%

Dragunov (MW)

  • Max Damage Range increased to 57.2 meters, up from 54.9 meters
  • Max Damage increased to 90up from 80
  • Min Damage increased to 75, up from 60
  • Upper Torso Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.9, down from 1.95

Rytec AMR (MW)

  • Can now one-shot down to the head at all ranges.
  • Min Damage increased to 112, up from 96
  • Headshot Damage Multiplier increased to 2.7, up from 2.4
  • 25x59mm Explosive 5-R Mag
    • Direct Hit Damage increased to 206, up from 176

Pellington 703 (BOCW)

  • ADS Transition In Time decreased to 399ms , down from 421ms
  • ADS Transition Out Time decreased to 410ms, down from 433ms
  • Neck Damage Multiplier increased to 1.2, up from 1.1
  • Upper Torso Damage Multiplier increased to 1.2, up from 1.1
  • Lower Torso Damage Multiplier increased to 1.1, up from 1.0

Gorenko Anti-Tank Rifle (VG)

  • Bullet Dropoff increased
  • Fire Rate decreased to 111 RPM, down from 120 RPM
  • 420mm Empress
    • Muzzle Velocity decreased to 43%, down from 50%
    • Visual Recoil increased
  • 400mm Kovalevskaya Wrap
    • ADS Time Penalty decreased to -2%, up from -5%
  • 440mm Anastasia Custom
    • Muzzle Velocity increased to 25%, up from 20%
    • Rate of Fire Penalty decreased to -50%, up from -100%
    • Crouch Recoil Control decreased to 25%, down from 40%
    • Prone Recoil Control decreased to 35%, down from 67%
  • 13mm AM 7 Round Mags
    • ADS Time Penalty increased to -5%, down from -4%
  • 13mm AM 10 Round Mags
    • ADS Time Penalty increased to -6%, down from -4.5%

Tactical rifles

Klauser (VG)

  • Wyvern 170mm 29L
    • Damage Range increased to 40%, up from 20%
    • Horizontal Recoil Control Penalty decreased to -15%, up from -25%
    • Vertical Recoil Control Penalty decreased to -5%, up from -10%
    • Movement Speed Penalty decreased to -2.5, up from -4%
  • Fitzherbert 200mm BL
    • Muzzle Velocity increased to 50%, up from 40%
    • ADS Time Penalty decreased to- 6%, up from -12
    • Movement Speed penalty decreased to -1%, down from -1.5%
    • ADS Movement Speed penalty decreased to -1%, down from -2%
  • .45 ACP 12 Round Mags
    • Magazine Capacity increased to 16, up from 12
    • Rate of Fire Penalty decreased to -4%, down from -10%

Launchers

JOKR (MW)

  • Mid Damage increased to 200, up from 175

Cigma 2 (BOCW)

  • Mid Damage increased to 170, up from 155
  • Mid Damage Radius increased to 4.4 meters, up from 4 meters

That's the full list of Warzone Season 5 Reloaded buffs and nerfs. There's a lot to take in but it's safe to say the meta will look very different in the next few weeks.

While we figure out the Warzone Season 5 meta once again, check out our guide showcasing the best Warzone sniper rifle to use.