Warzone can be a tricky business.

One minute, you’re all set. You have your favorite loadout, a handy gasmask, that nice little killstreak stashed away, and a trusty self-revive should the worst happen. The next minute, you’re either on your way to the gulag, or worse – dead, back to the menus – without the chance to even touch that self-revive.

So, what happened? Where did it all go wrong? No – it wasn’t lag (despite what you’d like to believe!), and yes – it may’ve been hackers – but nine times out of ten, it’s a poor choice of loadout.

Well, then, you may be asking yourself, what is the best loadout in Warzone? What’s the magic combination of weapons, attachments and perks that’ll spell certain victory for me and my team? Truthfully, there is no single loadout that’s going to ensure you win every time; however, picking the right loadout for the game you’re in will guarantee you the best chance of snatching the win.

A top tip: before picking your loadout, look at the circle (if you can get a couple of Recon missions done early, even better) try to guess where it’s going to end up – will it be an open space, or tight narrow corridors, for example – and plan accordingly. Try to imagine what set-up is going to give you the best opportunity to maximise your offense as the game creeps to an end.

Top 3 Loadouts:

Equipment

N.B., I run these two on every loadout.

Lethal: C4

C4 is easily the most powerful and versatile lethal available. It’s probably at its best when thrown at a moving vehicle, always downing or killing all inside (probably making them throw their pad across the room in the process), but it works well as a makeshift grenade to throw at nearby enemies or as a sub for proximity mines or claymores.

Tactical: Heartbeat Sensor

The Heartbeat Sensor is like a handheld UAV and is a fantastic way of pinpointing your bounty or outsmarting an opponent that’s pushing your location – for me, it’s an essential.

Loadout 1: Long-range

Primary: M4

• Barrel: Stock M16 Grenadier
• Optic: Thermal Hybrid
• Underbarrel: Commando Foregrip
• Ammunition: 50 Round Mags
• Rear Grip: Strippled Grip Tape

Secondary: AX-50 (Boomslang minus Bipod)

• Muzzle: Tactical Supressor
• Barrel: 32.0” Factory Barrel
• Optic: Thermal Sniper Scope
• Stock: Singuard Arms Marksman
• Rear Grip: Granulated Grip Tape

This long-range set-up is my go-to. With Verdansk being the huge sprawling map that it is, so much conflict takes place at a distance. The M4 works great at mid-range thanks to the combination of the powerful Grenadier barrel and the Thermal Hybrid scope (which also allows for a quick swap to a close-range favoring red-dot sight). On the underside of the gun, we have a magical combo that provides solid aiming stability and a large magazine (great when working against groups) without sacrificing too much aim-down sight speed (the Strippled Grip Tape compensates for it nicely). The Boomslang is an AX-50 sniper that’s unlocked through the Battlepass which, if, like me, you don’t run snipers in the standard multi-player, provides some fantastic attachments you’re unlikely to have unlocked otherwise. It goes without saying that this works excellently at long-range, and it complements the mid-range M4 well. I choose to remove the standard Bipod on the underbarrel in favor of Granulated Grip Tape as it provides better versatility for positioning.

Perks:

Slot 1: EOD – great for protecting yourself against those sweaty RPG spammers and the commonly used C4.

Slot 2: Overkill – it gives you the sniper. Simple.

Slot 3: Tracker – fantastic when stalking one or more players who’re dipping in and out of buildings and cover.

Loadout 2: Close quarters

Primary: MP7

• Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
• Barrel: FSS RECON
• Underbarrel: Commando Foregrip
• Ammunition: 60 Round Mags
• Rear Grip: Strippled Grip Tape

Secondary: Renetti

• Muzzle: Desperado Pro Compensator
• Barrel: Mk3 Burst Mod
• Laser: 5mW Laser
• Ammunition: 27 Round Mags
• Perk: Akimbo

Offering unparalleled stopping power and agility at close-range, this loadout is at its best when pursuing enemies through buildings and pushing them from their camping spot. This MP7 gives you range, accuracy and stability (needed when you inevitably find yourself in an open space) while maintaining its famous aim-down sight speed and fire rate. Couple that with the 60 round mags, and you’ll be sending them off to the gulag by the truck load. The real highlight here is the Akimbo Renetti’s. While they’ll take an evening of grinding in multiplayer to unlock, they’re the best option for a close-quarters sidearm – rivalling the pre-nerf Snakeshot Magnums. The fire rate is simply unparalleled which, alongside the 27 round mags, make these unbeatable in tight spaces. The 5mW Laser and Compensator give you that otherwise lacking control and accuracy. Get ready to leave a pile of bodies in your wake.

Perks:

Slot 1: EOD.

Slot 2: Restock – quickly refreshes your lethals to ensure you’re always ready with the difference maker.

Slot 3: Tune Up – playing aggressively with your squad is some serious fun. Tune Up gives you a 25% quicker revive time should your comrade get downed in action, making sure you don’t get caught short.

Loadout 3: Firepower

Primary: M91 (Chupacabra)

• Muzzle: Lightweight Suppressor
• Laser: Tac Laser
• Optic: PBX Holo 7 Sight
• Stock: XRK Striker
• Ammunition: 150 Round Belt

Secondary: Renetti

• Muzzle: Desperado Pro Compensator
• Barrel: Mk3 Burst Mod
• Laser: 5mW Laser
• Ammunition: 27 Round Mags
• Perk: Akimbo

For me, there’s nothing more frustrating than coming up against a team of three, eliminating two of them, running out of ammo, and then being killed by the last one. This loadout aims to ensure that never happens. The Chupacabra is an LMG based on the M91 unlocked through the Battlepass, and it works surprisingly well at mid-range. Offering boosted accuracy, surprising agility and a colossal 150 round belt, this gun will have your enemies running to the hills (or the gulag) with an unrelenting stream of bullets straight after them. Couple this with the Akimbo Renetti’s for the close quarters’ battles, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

Slot 1: EOD.

Slot 2: Ghost – be invisible to your enemies’ heartbeat sensors and UAV’s, a real luxury later in the game.

Slot 3: Tune Up.

And that’s it! My top 3 Warzone loadouts. If you disagree or have your own favorite, let us know in the comments.