In Battlefield 6 Season 1, mastering the battlefield starts with choosing the right weapon. Discover the best guns that will give you a deadly edge and dominate every firefight with our ultimate guide. Ready to upgrade your arsenal?
M4A1 (carbine)
The M4A1 carbine stands out in Battlefield 6 Season 1 for its exceptional balance of accuracy, fire rate, and versatility. Ideal for both close-quarters combat and mid-range engagements, this weapon offers steady recoil control and solid damage output. Its adaptability makes it a reliable choice for players who want a dependable all-rounder to dominate various battle scenarios.
Classed as a carbine instead of an assault rifle, the M4A1 is by far the best gun you can equip from the get-go in Battlefield 6. The only downside is that because it’s in the carbine category, it isn’t classed as a signature weapon for any of the four classes. As the default assault rifle, M433, has so much recoil, switching to the M4A1 is a no-brainer.
Once you’ve used it for a while and leveled it up a few times, you can turn this fully-auto carbine into a true laser beam. We recommend a 1-1.5x optical sight, depending on your preference; our favorite so far has been the 2Pro 1.25x. Any of the vertical underbarrel grips are also a smart choice to manage the recoil, with the 6H64 Vertical being the best but also requiring M4A1 Mastery 18, so the Ribbed or Classic Vertical grips will do until then.
The Double-Port or Compensated Brake, when you unlock them, are also mandatory for recoil management. Finally, any of the increased magazine sizes are a huge help, as the M4A1 does have a fast fire rate and you’ll be reloading often.
USG-90 (SMG)
The USG-90 (SMG) stands out in Battlefield 6 Season 1 as a versatile submachine gun, perfect for close to mid-range combat. It combines a high rate of fire with solid accuracy, allowing players to quickly take down enemies in tight situations. Its balanced recoil and mobility make it a favorite for aggressive playstyles, providing reliable performance whether pushing objectives or engaging squads in fast-paced firefights.
The USG-90, unlocked at rank 36, will look familiar to anyone who’s played a lot of FPS games as it’s very similar to a P90, and it behaves similarly too. With a fire rate of 900, it’s not quite the fastest firing SMG in the game, but compared to the KV9 and PW7A2, it sports a much bigger magazine, meaning it’s capable of shredding for much longer.
Of course, a fire rate that quick means you’ll need to manage the recoil, so we’d recommend the 407mm CIV-S barrel, unlocked at mastery 15, with the 264mm Prototype doing the job until then. The CQB Suppressor at mastery 32 is also handy as it doesn’t impact the hipfire accuracy like the other suppressor options do. Finally, a laser attachment will assist with that too, but the choice is yours depending on whether its visibility to enemies is important to you.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you want to get your hands on the USG-90 before you reach rank 36, you can get the Brush Stalker version of the gun with the Season 1 Advanced Pack, which is currently in the store for $14.99. Alternatively, if you make it to the sixth tier of the battle pass prestige section, you’ll unlock the Ectoplasm variant.
M2010 ESR (sniper rifle)
The M2010 ESR is a top-tier sniper rifle in Battlefield 6 Season 1, known for its exceptional long-range precision and high damage output. It excels in taking down enemies with a single well-placed shot, making it a favorite for players who prefer stealthy, calculated engagements. Its balanced recoil and fast bullet velocity allow for accurate hits at extreme distances, giving snipers the edge to dominate the battlefield from afar.
If playing slower and picking enemies off from afar is more your style, the M2010 ESR is a perfectly suitable sniper rifle to begin your multiplayer journey with. It doesn’t quite have the range and power offered by the PSR, but, since it’ll take a fair few hours of gameplay to get your hands on, you’ll get plenty of one-hit kills with the M2010.
With a 6x scope attached from the get-go, you should equip either the Full Angled or Bipod underbarrel attachment as soon as possible, depending on your playstyle. Use it with the Recon class and you’ll receive reduced weapon sway, quicker bullet rechambering, and better breath control. Aiming at enemies down the scope will also spot them for your teammates with the classic sniper training path equipped.
If you’ve got the Phantom Edition of Battlefield 6, you’ll have access to the Drop Shadow version of the weapon, which comes with a few fancy attachments already equipped, including a suppressor, extended barrel, and long-range ammunition.
DRS-IAR (LMG)
The DRS-IAR (LMG) stands out in Battlefield 6 Season 1 for its impressive balance of firepower and mobility. This light machine gun offers high damage and a large magazine, making it ideal for sustained combat and holding strategic positions. Its manageable recoil and solid accuracy allow players to engage targets effectively at medium to long ranges, providing a reliable tool for both offensive pushes and defensive playstyles.
If completing the campaign for the RPKM doesn’t tickle your fancy, the DRS-IAR is unlocked at rank 9, so you won’t have to wait long. This gun has one major problem though, and it’s that it is dreadful with the default attachments. It doesn’t know whether it wants to be an LMG or an assault rifle, so turning it into a beast requires using it for a while to level it up.
When building the DRS-IAR, you have one main goal: manage the recoil. The 20″ LE barrel is essential for this while also maintaining the gun’s versatility, as it improves the aim down sight speed. The Linear Comp muzzle helps with this, as does an underbarrel grip of some kind. I’m fond of the Full Angled grip, but any stubby or vertical grip of your choice will also work.
Finally, get rid of that 3.5x scope, and go for something with a 1.5x zoom, perhaps 2x zoom at most. If you want to treat this gun like the adaptable hybrid it is, being limited to a 3.5x zoom will only hinder you.
PW5A3 (SMG)
The PW5A3 (SMG) in Battlefield 6 Season 1 stands out for its exceptional balance of mobility and firepower. With a high rate of fire and manageable recoil, it excels in close to mid-range combat, making it a top choice for aggressive players who thrive in fast-paced encounters. Its versatility allows for effective use in various map scenarios, giving players the edge needed to dominate in both urban and confined spaces.
The PW5A3 isn’t immediately available, but you won’t have to wait very long to get your hands on it as it’s unlocked at rank 6. When you do, you’ve got Battlefield 6’s version of an MP5. The classic SMG has much better handling than the SGX, which you have access to at the start, and it’s also capable of dealing with foes at a longer range.
While Battlefield 6 has plenty of huge maps for all-out warfare, it’s also leaning into smaller maps, which the PW5A3 is ideal for. That said, it’s more than capable of mid-range combat with the right attachments, as long as you kit it out to improve the recoil. As long as you do adopt a slightly slower playstyle than the SMG class might usually require, our recommended attachments include a vertical underbarrel grip – ideally the Classic when you unlock it – and the 245mm Custom extended barrel, and eventually, either the Frangible or Synthetic Tip ammunition, although that only unlocks when you’ve almost maxed out the gun.
Make sure you use it with the Engineer class and you’ll get improved hipfire control, along with reduced explosive damage when near friendly vehicles.
Kord 6P67 (assault rifle)
The Kord 6P67 stands out in Battlefield 6 Season 1 as one of the most reliable assault rifles for both close and mid-range combat. Its balanced recoil, high rate of fire, and strong damage output make it ideal for aggressive players who prefer sustained firefights. With the right attachments, it can dominate in nearly any environment, offering excellent control and consistency even during extended engagements.
It’s probably about time we include an assault rifle in this list, and the best in the game by our standards is the Kord 6P67. To unlock it though, you must complete the first stage of the Rapid Fire weapon assignment, which requires 300 kills and 10,000 damage inflicted with assault rifles. This isn’t a particularly difficult challenge, it just requires a lot of playtime.
While Battlefield 6 does have close-range combat, the majority of your engagements will be at mid-range with this weapon, so we need to improve the accuracy somewhat. The 415mm Prototype barrel is essential, as is either the Long or Lightened Suppressor. Much like the DRS-IAR, the specific underbarrel grip you choose isn’t as important as simply having one, because they all have slightly different benefits. Just don’t choose a bipod or grip pod.
Finally, you’ll need an optical sight; anything 2.00x or shorter will do the job. You can opt for longer if you also choose either the Canted Iron Sights or Reflex though, but they’re not available until mastery 23 or 31 respectively. Of course,
SCW-10 (SMG)
The SCW-10 is a top-tier submachine gun in Battlefield 6 Season 1, known for its exceptional mobility and controllable recoil. It excels in close-quarters combat, allowing players to dominate tight spaces and flank enemies with ease. While its damage output drops off at longer ranges, its high rate of fire and quick handling make it one of the most reliable choices for aggressive playstyles and fast-paced objectives.
Another highly recommended SMG is the SCW-10, which requires completion of the Close Quarters 1 assignment to unlock. This assignment is only available once you reach rank 23, and to complete it, you need to inflict 10,000 damage while aiming down the sights and get 200 close quarter kills, both while using SMGs.
When you do unlock it, you’ve got an absolute machine on your hands, albeit with a couple of drawbacks. The SCW-10’s biggest strength is that it has the highest damage out of every SMG in the game, with 33. Outside of DMRs, sniper rifles, and shotguns – all weapon classes that are capable of one or two-shot kills – it matches the highest damage total in any other category.
So what’s the drawback? Well, the SCW-10 only has 15 bullets per mag, and it tears through them at an astounding rate, resulting in needing to reload between pretty much every kill, or two if you’re lucky. You can increase this reload speed with attachments such as the Mag Catch, and when you’ve mastered the weapon further, either the 20 or 25 round mags will give you a little more to work with. It’s also not great at range, so it is best suited to very close-quarters combat.
Which loadouts maximize TTK for assault and SMG classes
For maximizing time-to-kill (TTK) in Battlefield 6 Season 1 for assault rifles and SMGs, these loadout recommendations emerge from the latest guides and analyses:
Assault Rifles:
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Use attachments that increase fire rate, reduce recoil, and improve accuracy to maintain fast and consistent TTK.
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For example, a common fast TTK build includes rapid fire or heavy barrel to enhance damage per shot and stability.
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Stocks like the Infiltrator or Commando stock help with sprint-to-fire speed and aim walking speed.
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Extended mags are recommended for more sustained firefights.
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Focus on balanced recoil control attachments such as compensators or vertical grips.
SMGs:
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The Heavy Barrel attachment is highly recommended as it upgrades damage and lowers TTK by one shot on weapons like the Vector and MP7.
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Precision stocks help reduce recoil instead of movement speed stocks to maintain hit consistency.
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Extended mags or extended mag 2 provide larger ammo pools for continuous firing.
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Use laser attachments like the Target laser to reduce idle sway and improve aiming steadiness especially when running more than 5 attachments.
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Avoid rapid fire barrel on SMGs like the Vector as it adds recoil and actually worsens TTK.
Summary of Top Fast TTK Loadouts for Both Classes:
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Assault Rifle: Rapid fire or heavy barrel, compensator, vertical grip, Infiltrator or Commando stock, extended mag.
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SMG: Heavy barrel, precision stock, compensator, vertical grip, extended mag 2, target laser for stability.
These builds optimize fire rate, recoil control, and magazine size to get the fastest kills at close to medium ranges, the primary combat range for these classes. Adjustments can be made based on map and personal playstyle but these recommendations reflect current meta trends for fastest TTK in Battlefield 6 Season 1.youtube+3
Best attachments to minimize TTK on top assault rifles
The best attachments to minimize time-to-kill (TTK) on top assault rifles in Battlefield 6 Season 1 focus on reducing recoil, improving aim-down-sight (ADS) speed, and maintaining accuracy for fast follow-up shots. Based on current meta guides, the recommended attachment setup typically includes:
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Compensator (Muzzle): Greatly reduces vertical recoil, making it easier to keep shots on target. Essential for controllable recoil on high-damage assault rifles.
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Commando Foregrip (Underbarrel): Reduces horizontal recoil and stabilizes the weapon, complementary to the compensator for near-complete recoil control.
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Stippled Grip Tape (Rear Grip): Decreases ADS time and sprint-to-fire speed, enabling faster target acquisition and effective response in mid-range fights.
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Precision or Commando Stock: Improves recoil control without heavily sacrificing ADS speed, helping maintain tight shot grouping under sustained fire.
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Extended Magazines or Fast Mags: Extend ammo capacity or reload speed to maintain consistent firing without downtime, important for high-paced engagements.
This combination reduces the recoil pattern, allowing you to burst or spray accurately to maximize damage per second and minimize TTK. It also improves handling by shaving crucial milliseconds off ADS times to win close-to-midrange duels quickly.
Tailoring specific attachments may depend on the particular assault rifle’s base recoil and handling stats, but this setup represents the current best practice for maximizing TTK with assault rifles in Battlefield 6 Season 1.youtube
