All weapon buffs and nerfs in Nov 13 Black Ops 4 update

Albert Petrosyan

The latest major update in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 has introduced some massive changes to the balancing of certain weapons and weapon classes.

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In update v1.05, which went live on November 13, Treyarch have adjusted the effectiveness of some weapons based on the feedback received from players about the weapons’ performance in-game.

Unlike previous updates, some of the changes have been implemented across both the Multiplayer and Blackout battle royale modes.

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As expected, several of the lesser-used Submachine Guns and Assault Rifles have received boosts in order to make them more viable options for players. 

More specifically, the MX9, GKS, Cordite, and Spitfire have all received a slightly increase in their ADS move speed, while their minimum kill hit range has been expanded. 

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The MX9 is one of four SMGs in Black Ops 4 to get a buff in this latest update.

As for ARs, the KN-57 and Rampart 17 have both received reduced idle sway and an increase in their 4-hit kill range. However the Maddox RFB, one of the strongest weapons in the game, has received an increased recoil between the first and second shots. 

As one of the most powerful ARs in Black Ops 4, the Maddox RFB has been toned down so that it doesn’t become too overpowered.
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The Swordfish is the only Tactical Rifle to receive any major changes, as the delay between its burst has been reduced and so has the idle sway. 

From the LMG category, the Titan has received some balancing adjustments as well, as it now has a reduced ADS speed but also an increased sprint-out time.

The Outlaw is the one Sniper Rifle that has received the most changes, with several notable aspects of it having been improved, such as the fire rate, idle sway, recoil reliability, and more. 

The Outlaw Sniper Rifle received the most adjustments out of any of the weapons mentioned in this update.

From the Shotguns, the SG12’s Strobe Light Operator Mod, which has been the topic of many complaints from players, has been greatly reduced in terms of both visual effect and rang at which it affects aim assist. 

As for attachments, the controversial Grip II has received yet another nerf, as its ability to mitigate flinch has been reduced yet again. 


All of the weapon changes introduced in the v1.05 update in Black Ops 4 can be seen below in full detail. All changes apply to both Multiplayer and Blackout unless otherwise noted.

An in-depth look at the entire patch notes for this update is available HERE.

  • Submachine Guns
    • MX9
      • Adjusted 5-hit kill range up to 6m (MP only).
      • Slightly increased ADS move speed.
    • GKS
      • Adjusted 5-hit kill range up to 3m (MP only).
      • Slightly increased ADS move speed.
    • Cordite
      • Adjusted 5-hit kill range up to 3m (MP only).
      • Slightly increased ADS move speed.
    • Spitfire
      • Increased 6-hit kill range by 3m (MP only).
      • Slightly increased ADS move speed.
  • Assault Rifles
    • Maddox RFB
      • Slightly increased recoil of 1st and 2nd shots.
      • Echo Fire Operator Mod: Removed recoil penalty when equipped.
    • KN-57
      • Reduced idle sway.
      • Slightly increased 4-hit kill range by 1.5m (MP only).
    • Rampart 17
      • Reduced idle sway.
      • Slightly reduced recoil of 1st and 3rd shots.
      • Increased 4-hit kill range by 3m (MP only).
  • Tactical Rifles
    • Swordfish
      • Slightly reduced delay between bursts.
      • Reduced idle sway.
      • Penta Burst Operator Mod: Now implements standard burst delay.
  • Light Machine Guns
    • Titan
      • Reduced ADS speed.
      • Increased sprint-out time.
      • Slightly increased hip-fire spread (MP only).
      • Stock: Slightly reduced movement benefits when equipped (MP only).
  • Sniper Rifles
    • Outlaw
      • Slightly increased fire rate.
      • Greatly reduced idle sway.
      • Slightly increased ADS speed.
      • Updated ADS rechamber animation to make it easier to stay on target.
      • Recoil now centers more reliably.
      • Increased base damage increased by 10, only affecting shots to kill an already-damaged target (MP only).
    • SDM
      • Added aim-assist while hip-firing.
    • Koshka
      • Recoil now centers more reliably after the first shot.
  • Shotguns
    • SG12
      • Reduced visual effect of Strobe Light Operator Mod.
      • Reduced range at which Strobe Light affects aim-assist by 50%.
  • Attachments
    • Grip II
      • Reduced flinch mitigation.

About The Author

Albert is a former esports and gaming writer, focused particularly on Call of Duty and content creators. Spending over three years at Dexerto, Albert eventually now works with streamer NICKMERCS and the MFAM group. You can find Albert @AlbertoRavioli on Twitter.