RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Polygon — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 3 sources
on Google Preferred Source Google News Link copied to clipboard By Ford James Published Aug 24, 2026, 9:48 AM EDT Guides Assault rifles and SMGs are running the meta
Knowing what the best guns in the Modern Warfare 4 beta are will be imperative if you want to stomp all over your enemies in public matches. Since this is a beta window, there aren't quite as many guns available as there will be in the full game when its Oct. 23 release date rolls around, but there are a few decent options to choose from.
We spent a lot of time getting to grips with the Modern Warfare 4 beta during the first weekend, so here's everything you need to know about the four best weapons you can use, along with advice about play styles for each and the best maps to use them on.
At a quick glance, here are the four best guns in the Modern Warfare 4 beta. Note that these aren't in any particular order; all four are great options depending on your play style.
The first of two assault rifles on this list is the M4, which is, of course , one of the best guns in Modern Warfare 4 . It's the most jack-of-all-trades gun there is and a mainstay throughout the entire Modern Warfare series. In the Modern Warfare 4 beta, you'll unlock it at level 9, the second of five assault rifles available in total.
The M4 is a known quantity: depending on how you kit it out, it can serve as a high-powered close-quarters combat gun with the capability of longer-range engagements if necessary, or it can do the opposite, where you minimize its recoil and improve its accuracy, while still being able to compete up close. As a result, it's effective for pretty much any map and mode. If you want to use a kitted out version before you level it up fully, select the "Assault" default loadout.
Next up, we have the Kastov 762, which is essentially an AK-47, and unlocked at level 21. Often considered the Soviet counterpart to the US-made M4, it fills a similar role, but has higher damage in exchange for less accuracy. This makes it better suited to slightly closer engagements, but in reality, the two are so similar, it's largely down to personal preference.
One aspect that may sway your choice is that the Kastov 762 has much less intrusive iron sights, freeing up room for another attachment instead of using an optical sight. If you've pre-ordered the Vault Edition, you'll also have access to the Voltspine blueprint for the gun, which improves its accuracy and equips one of its Apex attachments, granting it rounds with EMP-like effects.
There were only two SMGs in the first Modern Warfare 4 beta weekend, and while both were strong, the ISO Nightshade pipped the PPSh-41 to the post. As you'd expect with an SMG, it's best suited to close-quarters combat, especially on maps such as Transit 213 and Silkworm. It's also unlocked by default as soon as you get access to create-a-class.
Much like the Kastov 762, if you've pre-ordered the Vault Edition of Modern Warfare 4 , you'll have access to the La Sombra Venenosa blueprint which kits it out to be capable of longer-range engagements too, along with adorning it with some stunning sword-themed cosmetics. Alternatively, you can use the Stalker default loadout to use some more attachments before you level the gun up.
Finally, we have the KG-7 Vulcan sniper rifle. While this was the only sniper rifle available in the first weekend of the Modern Warfare 4 beta, it's also a force to be reckoned with. It's a bolt-action that can deliver a one-hit kill practically anywhere on the body, and yet again, Modern Warfare 4 is a Call of Duty game that offers quickscoping as a viable play style.
We'd recommend equipping Overkill as your first perk when using the KG-7 Vulcan though, because swapping to an automatic secondary weapon will be essential sometimes. Fast Hands is also a useful perk, because it allows you to swap weapons quicker.
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.