Battlefield 6 has been out for long enough now that a weapon meta is starting to develop. Things have been slow in that area, though, just because of how long it takes to level up and unlock weapons, not to mention the even longer grind to unlock attachments for those weapons.
Nevertheless, the no-lifers among us have settled on a number of favourite guns that you’ve likely been running into the more you spend time in multiplayer. In this guide, we’ll go over the best weapons for each category based on the current community consensus.
Because it’s still early days for Battlefield 6, many of the weapons we’re going to include in this guide are early unlocks. Players are still on their level up and unlock journey, which is why some of the more powerful, late unlocks haven’t yet seen a lot of use.
It also goes without saying that just because a gun is deemed meta, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily going to work for you. Some of the weapons you enjoy using might not be popular with other players, which is totally fine.
The meta is ever-evolving, of course, so we’re going to update this guide when new options replace the current crop. Now, let’s dig into the best guns and meta weapons in Battlefield 6.
Battlefield 6 Best Guns and Meta Weapons
Best Assault Rifle
Though it’s available from the off, the M433 remains a top-tier Assault Rifle, even as you start unlocking other options. The M433 deals consistent damage at range. When you first start using it, however, you might notice that it has a bit more recoil than you might expect for a starting option.
In Battlefield 6, Assault Rifles are the speciality of the Assault class. All classes are free to use them in Open Weapons Playlists, but the Assault class gets certain benefits no other class has access to.
We have put together three loadouts / weapon builds for the M433 that cater to different playstyles, and take into account how high your Weapon Mastery level is. Definitely check out those recommendations before you build your own.
Once you’ve spent a little longer playing the game, you’ll find that there are more interesting options in the Assault Rifle category. For an alternate pick, we recommend the B36A4. This is one of the most accurate weapons in the game, and will certainly feel like an upgrade if you tend to pick fights beyond the 100M range.
The B36A4 unlocks at level 14, and even in its most basic form, is a solid option. It lets you challenge players at range without losing out on close-quarter damage too much, though its rate of fire leaves a bit to be desired. Here’s a good loadout you can go with:
- Optic: Any 2.00X Sight of your choice
- Top Accessory: 5 MW Red Laser (10P)
- Barrel: Extended 510MM Fluted (15P)
- Muzzle: Convertor Linear Comp (10P)
- Underbarrel: Alloy Vertical Grip (20P)
- Magazine: 36RND Magazine (15P)
- Ammunition: Lightweight Polymer Case (10P)
Best Carbine
Carbines are among three weapon categories in Battlefield 6 that are available to all classes – the other two being DMRs and Shotguns. As a result, they do not benefit from any particular class proficiency. The first available Carbine is the M4A1, and it remains one of the most popular options at this stage in the meta.
The M4A1 is consistent at almost every range, and can basically do it all – though without excelling in any one area. As you’ll have noticed, firing the weapon in full-auto at anything beyond 50 meters is asking for trouble, so tap fire it instead.
We have put together three M4A1 weapon builds to fit different play styles, and how far into the weapon’s unlock tree you happen to be. Click the link to see the full list of loadouts.
For your upgrade option, the M277 is a killer choice. It’s easily one of the coolest weapons (by looks) in the game, but it’s also amongst the Carbines with the highest damage. It’s available fairly early in your career (level 11), too, which makes it an excellent option.
The M277 is incredibly accurate to start, but its 21RND default magazine is its only disadvantage. It is a menace at close range due to its high damage output, and will outpace more accurate Carbines/ARs at range thanks to its incredible accuracy and RoF combo. Here’s our favourite loadout for it:
- Optic: Any 3.00X Sight of your choice
- Top Accessory: 5 MW Red Laser (10P)
- Barrel: Extended 16” Rifle (15P)
- Muzzle: Lightened Suppressor (30P)
- Underbarrel: Folding Stubby (20P)
- Magazine: 20RND Fast Magazine (10P)
- Ammunition: Standard FMJ (5P)
Best LMG
LMGs shine when used by a Support class player, thanks to the buffs they receive. As mentioned, all classes can equip an LMG if you’re playing in an Open Weapons Playlist, but perhaps more than any other weapon category, you really should stick with the LMGs’ intended class.
The DRS-IAR is the weapon of choice here because it’s essentially an Assault Rifle masquerading as an LMG. What this means is that Support players get the benefit of treating it like an AR, as well as all the benefits that come with using an LMG. For all other classes, the DRS-IAR is essentially an M416 with a bit more ammo.
In essence, it offers many of the typical benefits of Assault Rifles without a lot of the downsides of LMGs, and because it’s an early unlock (level 9), it’s an easy recommendation. For your loadout, we’re going to spec the DRS-IAR as an Assault Rifle. Here’s what we’re going with:
- Optic: Any 2.00X Sight of your choice
- Top Accessory: 5 MW Red Laser (10P)
- Barrel: Heavy Extended 20” SDM-R (10P)
- Muzzle: Flash Hider (10)
- Underbarrel: Alloy Vertical Grip (20P)
- Magazine: 36RND Magazine (15P)
- Ammunition: Penetration Tungsten Core (5P)
If you’re after a more traditional, big-mag LMG, the starting L110 remains a very strong option, even this deep into the game. It’s accurate, comes with more than enough ammo to start, and its rate-of-fire straddles the line between too-fast-to-control and too-slow-to-be-relevant.
For an idea of how to build your own, check out these three L110 loadouts, which take advantage of the best parts of the L110.
Best SMG
Our first recommendation will go to the excellent all-rounder SGX, which all players start with.
The SGX doesn’t do a lot of damage, but what it lacks in damage-per-bullet it makes up for with its excellent rate-of-fire, which remains controllable even beyond 100M. The SGX’s range can be extended with heavier barrels, but you should stick to engagements below 100M.
We have two great loadouts for the SGX that you should check out for an idea on the types of characteristics you should focus on with your own build.
The Engineer class’ weapon of choice in Battlefield 6 is the SMG. They’re often easy to use, offer a decent rate-of-fire (mostly), and don’t come with too many ADS penalties. They excel in close ranges, which makes them an attractive option in smaller maps.
This is why you’re very likely to come up against players of all classes playing with an SMG (in Open Weapons Playlists), even if only Engineers can extract the most out of them.
Without question, the other meta SMG in Battlefield 6 at the moment is one that does the opposite of our first pick. We’re talking, of course, about the PW5A3, itself an early unlock, available at level 6.
The PW5A3 delivers great accuracy due, in part, to its slow rate-of-fire, but as you’re about to see, you shouldn’t count it out because of that. This SMG remains a viable option at closer ranges, too, thanks to a tight hipfire cone – effectively satisfying everyone. Our favourite loadout is below:
- Optic: Basic Iron Sights (5P)
- Barrel: Extended 245MM Custom (15P)
- Muzzle: CQB Suppressor (30P)
- Underbarrel: Alloy Vertical Grip (20P)
- Magazine: 40RND Magazine (25P)
- Ammunition: Standard FMJ (5P)
Best Sniper Rifle
Depending on the map and mode, Sniper Rifles can be a menace in Battlefield 6. Don’t be surprised to see half of your team switch to sniping whenever Mirak Valley or New Sobek City come up in the rotation.
As a result, the M2010 remains a great option regardless of how high your career level is. If you’re not sure where to start, check out these M2010 weapon loadouts that deliver two distinct builds for the Sniper Rifle.
The Recon class is the one that gets the most number of perks out of using a Sniper Rifle, but anyone in an Open Weapons Playlist is free to use them, provided they’re aware of the downsides. Unfortunately, all three Sniper Rifles currently in the game are nearly identical.
On the subject of loadouts, catch up on our best vehicle loadouts for all vehicles in BF6 at the link. For even more killer Battlefield 6 content, our ever-popular gameplay tips remain helpful to new players and veterans alike. And, if you haven’t already, you should absolutely adjust these settings now to greatly improve your experience with BF6.