Best Loadouts in Black Ops 7 for the Early Multiplayer Meta

The early Black Ops 7 multiplayer meta is already defined by a small group of standout guns and very specific attachment packages. Assault rifles like the M15 Mod 0 and X9 Maverick handle most engagements, SMGs such as the Dravec 45 and Ryden 45K own close and mid‑range fights, while the Warden 308 and VS Recon cover long sightlines. Around them, perks and Combat Specialties like Enforcer and Scout quietly decide how often you actually win those gunfights.

Best Black Ops 7 meta overview (launch window)

Across stat trackers and live pick‑rate data, Black Ops 7’s meta is heavily concentrated:

The picture that emerges is simple: one rifle (M15 Mod 0) dominates, flanked by a small roster of versatile picks that cover every lane on typical 6v6 maps and the larger Skirmish mode.

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M15 Mod 0 Gameplay

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Balanced starter loadout (all‑round play)

This is the safest place to start if you are new to Black Ops 7 multiplayer and want a class that holds up in most situations.

The logic is straightforward: a forgiving primary, a backup pistol, and perks that keep you mobile and supplied. Enforcer then adds bonus movement and health regeneration after kills, a subtle but significant boost in any mode built around fast trades.

Best Assault Rifle loadouts (M15 Mod 0, AK‑27, Peacekeeper, DS20)

Assault rifles are the core of the meta. The M15 Mod 0 is by far the most used gun in the game at launch, but the AK‑27, Peacekeeper Mk1, DS20 Mirage, and X9 Maverick offer clear alternatives when you unlock them.

M15 Mod 0 meta build (versatile rifle)

This build leans into consistency: low recoil, enough ammo, and good aim speed. It works in standard 6v6 as well as larger Skirmish matches, where staying alive through several engagements per magazine matters more than raw time‑to‑kill.

Alternative AR options

Once you want something spicier than the M15, there are three standouts:

Perk packages for AR builds mirror the starter setup: Lightweight or Flak Jacket, Scavenger, and Dexterity/Bankroll, with Enforcer as the default Combat Specialty. If you lean into Flak Jacket for explosive resistance, swapping to Tactician makes sense to turn assists into extra score for streaks.

Best SMG loadouts (Dravec 45, Ryden 45K, Carbon 57)

SMGs dominate close and short mid‑range, especially on tighter maps. Two guns lead here: the Dravec 45 and Ryden 45K, with Carbon 57, MPC‑25, Razor 9mm, and RK‑9 sitting just behind.

Dravec 45 meta build

The Dravec 45 blurs the line between SMG and AR. With this package, it comfortably handles short‑mid gunfights where most rifles would win against a stock SMG.

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Black Ops 7 - Dravec 45 Gameplay

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Ryden 45K & Carbon 57 patterns

SMG perk stacks benefit from more movement and streak cycling:

• Perk 1: Lightweight, Tac Sprinter, or Flak Jacket
• Perk 2: Scavenger
• Perk 3: Bankroll or Looper (Looper if you like chasing high Scorestreak chains)
• Combat Specialty: Enforcer by default, Tactician when using Flak Jacket
• Wildcard: Tac Expert, to spawn with two Stim Shots and reload them from Assault Packs

For tacticals, Stim Shot is the standout pick; it lets you regen mid‑push and strongly favors aggressive, multi‑kill lives.

Marksman and sniper loadouts (M8A1, Warden 308, VS Recon, Shadow SK)

Marksman rifles and snipers structure how teams hold power positions and long lanes. M8A1 and Warden 308 sit at the intersection of rifle and sniper play, while VS Recon and Shadow SK take over for true long‑range work.

Marksman‑focused build (M8A1 or Warden 308)

For perks, Marksman builds often split into two directions:

• M8A1 “pseudo‑AR”: Lightweight, Scavenger, any strong red perk, Enforcer specialty. This plays much like a slower but harder‑hitting rifle.
• Warden 308 “semi‑sniper”: Ghost, Engineer, Charge Link, Operative or Enforcer specialty. This leans into stealth and longer sightlines, with Charge Link feeding extra Field Upgrade charge from stealth kills.

Sniper‑focused builds (SK Shadow and VS Recon)

For pure sniping, two weapons stand out at launch: SK Shadow and VS Recon. Both lean on fast follow‑up shots rather than bolt‑action one‑and‑done pacing.

The typical sniper loadout leans into information denial and tracking:

• Perk 1: Ghost
• Perk 2: Assassin
• Perk 3: Tracker
• Combat Specialty: Scout, for long‑range and recon‑oriented play
• Wildcard: Overkill, pairing your sniper with an SMG or fast AR like Peacekeeper Mk1

Lethals and tacticals depend heavily on how you hold angles. Semtex and Combat Axes are flexible; Point Turret and Smoke together turn power positions into fortified nests that still allow quick repositioning.

LMG loadouts and the Belt Fed twist (MK.78, XM325)

Light machine guns are rarely the first choice in Call of Duty multiplayer, but Black Ops 7 gives them a unique hook: a Belt Fed magazine attachment that removes traditional reloads and replaces them with an overheat mechanic once you Prestige the weapon.

Perk layouts for LMGs shift toward survivability and ammo sustain:

• Perk 1: Lightweight or Gung Ho (for aggressive, firing‑while‑sprinting play)
• Perk 2: Scavenger
• Perk 3: Looper (to chase long streaks on heavy anchor roles)
• Combat Specialty: Enforcer
• Wildcard: Perk Greed with Flak Jacket, or Danger Close for explosive‑heavy setups

The key trade‑off with Belt Fed attachments is heat: you gain effectively bottomless sustained fire at the cost of having to manage overheat windows. For objective modes and cut‑off lanes on larger maps, that trade is often worth it.

MXR‑17 loadout for mid‑ to long‑range rifles

The MXR‑17 sits just outside the core meta but becomes a strong option if you prefer to play slightly back from the frontline. It suffers from strong vertical recoil and a small magazine in its base form, so the best builds either lean into control and range or into mobility to reposition quickly between fights.

MXR‑17 control‑and‑range setup

This build sacrifices some close‑range handling so you can reliably pick enemies off from power positions and cross‑map sightlines. You should avoid pushing tight corridors with it; instead, anchor long angles and farm Scorestreaks.

MXR‑17 mobility‑focused alternative

If you prefer to keep the MXR‑17 more mobile, a launch‑window build pattern looks like this:

This variant plays more like a heavy AR: you give up some long‑range consistency for better map presence and flanking options.

MXR‑17 perks, equipment, and Wildcard

Because the MXR‑17 shines when you stay alive and farm Scorestreaks from a distance, the rest of the loadout is built around survivability and score generation:

Used this way, the MXR‑17 becomes a support‑oriented rifle that quietly feeds high‑end Scorestreaks while staying just outside the thickest fighting.

Black Ops 7’s early meta is narrow but not shallow. A handful of weapons — especially the M15 Mod 0, Dravec 45, X9 Maverick, M8A1, AK‑27, and the key snipers — cover most viable playstyles, and each one has a clear, tested attachment pattern behind it. Start with the balanced M15/Enforcer setup, then branch into SMG, sniper, or LMG roles as you get comfortable, and you’ll stay aligned with the strongest loadouts in the game’s launch window.