Black Ops Cold War ARs Nerfed, Vanguard Weapons Buffed in May 4 Warzone Update

2023-04-10 15:38

Here's a breakdown of the May 4 patch notes for Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific Season 3.

Black Ops Cold War ARs Nerfed, Vanguard Weapons Buffed in May 4 Warzone Update

Raven Software has released its latest update forÂ Call of Duty: Warzone PacificÂ in Season 3: Classified Arms, nerfing a trio of Black Ops Cold War assault rifles, buffing the majority of Vanguard options and seemingly stealth nerfing the Owen Gun.

Just when you thought the weapon meta was settling down, this latest patch might've just drastically changed things in Caldera and Rebirth Island once again. Here's a breakdown of the May 4 patch notes for Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific Season 3.

Warzone Season 3 May 4 Weapon Balancing Patch Notes

Here are the official weapon adjustments Raven have made in this patch:

Assault Rifles

AK-47 (BOCW)

Maximum Damage decreased to 34, down from 36
Minimum Damage decreased to 30, down from 32Â

AS44 (VG)

Initial Recoil decreased
Maximum Damage Range increased to 29.8 meters, up from 28.4 meters
Kovalevskaya 615mm: Maximum Damage Range increased by 20%, up from 15%

STG44 (Assault Rifle Alpha (VG))

Headshot Damage Multiplier increased to 1.58, up from 1.5
Neck Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.19, down from 1.5
Maximum Damage increased to 33, up from 30
Minimum Damage increased to 30, up from 26
7.62 Gorenko 50 Round Mags: Fire Rate Multiplier decreased to 6%, down from 6.54%
Krausnick 220mm Rapid:Â Sprint to Fire Speed increased by 6%, up from -15% /Â Movement Speed now increased by 1.3% /Â Initial Recoil penalty now begins at bullet 3, up from 2 /Â Horizontal Recoil Control penalty decreased to 40%, down from 50% /Â Fire Rate Multiplier decreased to 15%, down from 20% /Â Maximum Damage Range now decreased by 8.6% /Â Damage now decreased by 10%
Recoil Booster: Fire Rate Multiplier decreased to 1.5%, down from 5%

Itra Burst (Assault Rifle Bravo (VG))

Maximum Damage increased to 31, up from 29
Minimum Damage increased to 26, up from 22

BAR (Assault Rifle Charlie (VG))

Maximum Damage increased to 41, up from 40
Minimum Damage increased to 36, up from 30
CGC 27" 2B Barrel: Maximum Damage Range increased by 20%, up from 15%
Chariot 18" Rapid Barrel: Damage now decreased by 10%

Automaton (Assault Rifle Hotel (VG))

Minimum Damage increased to 20, up from 19

Cooper Carbine (VG)

Maximum Damage Range increased to 29.2 meters, up from 27.9 meters
22" Cooper Custom: Damage Range now increased by 20%
/ Minimum Damage increased to 20, up from 19

EM2 (BOCW)

Headshot Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.3, down from 1.5Â
Maximum Damage decreased to 40, down from 41
Minimum Damage decreased to 35, down from 37

KG M40 (VG)

Maximum Damage Range increased to 33 meters, up from 31.1 meters
Krausnick 700mm 01V: Damage Range now increased by 20% / Minimum Damage increased to 24, up from 22

Nikita AVT (VG)

Magazine Capacity increased to 40, up from 35
Minimum Damage increased to 21, up from 19
.30-06 40 Round Fast Mags: Magazine Capacity increased to 40, up from 35
6.5 Sakura 60 Round Drums: Magazine Capacity increased to 60, up from 55
7.62x54mmR 50 Round Mags: Magazine Capacity increased to 50, up from 45
7.62x54mmR 40 Round Fast Mags: Magazine Capacity increased to 40, up from 35

NZ-41 (VG)

Maximum Damage Range increased to 35.5 meters, up from 30.9 meters
Minimum Damage increased to 32, up from 30
6.5mm Sakura 50 Round Mags: Damage penalty decreased to 15%, down from 30%
Orbweaver Custom Barrel: Damage Range penalty removed / Horizontal Recoil Control penalty decreased to 30%, down from 50%

Volkssturmgewehr (VG)

Minimum Damage increased to 22, up from 20

XM4 (BOCW)

Headshot Damage Multiplier increased to 1.54, up from 1.5
Maximum Damage decreased to 29, down from 30

SMGs

Armaguerra 43 (VG)

Headshot Damage Multiplier increased to 1.58, up from 1.3
Minimum Damage increased to 19, up from 15
Neck Damage Multiplier increased to 1.32, up from 1.01
Botti 315mm CII: Bullet Velocity now increased by 20%
Botti 570mm Precisione: Bullet Velocity now increased by 40%
Imerito 550mm 03P: Bullet Velocity now increased by 30%

M1912 (VG)

Mid Damage increased to 22, up from 20
Minimum Damage increased to 20, up from 18
CGC 12" Cooling Barrel: Bullet Velocity increased to 30%, up from 20%
Chariot 5.5" Barrel: Bullet Velocity now increased by 30%

Owen Gun (VG)

Min Damage increased to to 24, up from 22
Hockenson 142mm Rapid: Fire Rate decreased to 10%, down from 16%

PPSh-41 (VG)

Minimum Damage increased to 19, up from 17
Empress 140mm: Bullet Velocity now increased by 20%
ZAC 300mm: Bullet Velocity increased to 30%, up from 10%

Sten (VG)

Mid Damage increased to 24, up from 22
Min Damage increased to 21, up from 18
Gawain 140mm Short: Bullet Velocity increased to 25%, up from 11%
Hockenson 174mm B11S: Bullet Velocity now increased by 20%

MP-40 (Submachine Gun Charlie (VG))

Minimum Damage increased to 22, up from 21
Krausnick 317mm 04B: Bullet Velocity increased to 30%, up from 20%
VDD 189mm Short: Bullet Velocity now increased by 20%

Type 100 (VG)

Minimum Damage increased to 20, up from 18
Sakura 196mm Light: Bullet Velocity penalty decreased to 10%, up from 12%
Shiraishi Precision: Bullet Velocity increased to 40%, up from 20%
Warubachi 134mm Rapid: Bullet Velocity now increased by 10%

Welgun (VG)

Min Damage increased to 24, up from 23
120mm Gawain Short: Bullet Velocity penalty removed
240mm Hockenson 43: Now increases Bullet Velocity by 40%

First and foremost, what stands out is that the Black Ops Cold War AK-47 and XM4 have been hit with nerfs, opening up the path for the even-further-buffed STG44, Automaton, Cooper Carbine and KG M40 to rise up in assault rifle popularity.

Secondly, just about all of the Vanguard SMGs have been buffed with their damage and bullet velocity values, making them even stronger picks over their Black Ops Cold War and Modern Warfare counterparts.

Lastly, as initially spotted by content creator @Speros_OG and confirmed by Warzone weapon mastermind True Game Data, the Owen Gun's default magazine-Hockensen 142mm Rapid barrel combo has been stealth nerfed with its damage values as well, making the gun's no barrel-8mm Kurz 60 Round Drums setup even more of the go-to option.

For more on Call of Duty, be sure to check out our top five lists:

Additionally, feel free toÂ check out ourÂ timeline on the history of the Call of Duty franchise!