The new modern warfare update brings with it a gargantuan amount of new content in the way of skins, operators, a new map, a freight train, and — possibly the most exciting — two new guns: The ISO SMG and the AN-94. So there’s a lot to be excited for, and a lot to unpack.
But first things first. Let’s go and take a look at the new firepower, and assess how well they stack up to the existing arsenal of weapons, their unique features, and examine the play styles each one is best suited to.
AN-94
- ADS: 254 ms
- Bullet Velocity: 720 m/s
- Hip Fire Spread: 16.50 kPixel^2
- Movement Speed: 4.66 m/s
The AN-94 Actually not really a new gun, at least not for longtime fans of the franchise who would’ve seen it multiple times in previous installments of CoD. Over the years. In fact, this marks the eighth appearance of the AN-94 in the series This is however the first time the gun is coming to Modern Warfare.
While many players will be of course screaming from the rooftops, “OP! OP! This weapon is broken!” The AN-94 appears to be a pretty balanced assault rifle that bears a striking similarity to both the M4 and AMAX. It sports nearly identical base stats to the M4, and on GPS meters and Time to Kill Charts the weapon seems to sit right in the middle between the two.
It’s most distinct characteristic is the unique Hyper-Burst feature. The first two opening shots have a burst fire at a staggering 1400+ RPM that then quickly tapers off to around 500 RPM. What makes this feature especially notable is the fact that the weapon’s single fire mode actually uses this burst mechanic… allowing players to potentially increase the DPS beyond that of full auto? How viable this tactic will eventually prove in Multiplayer and Warzone remains to be seen.
What’s interesting is that the developers claim to have balanced out this “Hyper-burst” feature with supposedly “massive recoil” when, in reality, the recoil pattern is incredibly easy to manage— especially for players with many hours of using the M4 for under their belt to which it is almost identical.
ISO SMG
- ADS: 196 ms
- Bullet Velocity: 520 m/s
- Hip Fire Spread: 5.40 kPixel^2
- Movement Speed: 4.86 m/s
The ISO is a surprisingly versatile SMG with a high rate of fire at 900 RPM and impressive mid-range damage. While the ADS Somewhat lags behind the others, it’s high ammo count and aforementioned range more than make up for this singular drawback. The weapon shares a similar relationship to that of the AN-94 and the M4, with an almost identical side-to-side recoil pattern that is relatively easy to manage.
The ISO actually outperformed the MP7 in the 10 to 35 m range for DPS across the body but took a massive nosedive in the post 35 m range. This however shouldn’t be too much of a problem considering that if you’re engaging enemies with an SMG beyond 35 meters, somethings not right.
With its movement speed, high rate of fire, and forgiving magazine size, the ISO is excellent for fans of a more up close and personal, run-and-gun playstyle.
How to unlock the new guns
To unlock both of the new weapons, players need only grind their way up through the battle pass — or just, you know, pull out that wallet. The ISO is unlockable at tier 15, while the AN-94 will have you grinding up to 31 before you can use it to start collecting skulls. Both guns are of course available on the free track.
Stay tuned for more updates, commentary, and analysis on the new Season 5 update as we continue to unpack the rest of this buffet-sized menu of new content, and let us know what you think of the new weapons down below.
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