PSA: Black Ops Multiplayer Meta on PS5—The Most OP Guns Are Already Known

What’s still murky about the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops PS4/PS5 releases is the business end of things—rumors point to a $40 asking price, talk of whether you’d need to repurchase BO1 DLC, and even the precise July launch day is yet to be confirmed. Still, one part of the game’s appeal isn’t in question: the multiplayer meta. Since balancing changes aren’t expected for the PlayStation re-release, some of the weapons that dominate the original experience are likely to stay that way.

In the era of older CoD games, balance often took a back seat to chaos. Titles like MW2 shipped with loadouts that could feel outright unfair—think akimbo Model 1887s, Commando Pro, or One Man Army. Black Ops isn’t quite as extreme, but it does have a handful of standout guns that can still put you ahead of the lobby. Whether you’re trying to run over the map or you want to avoid “broken” gear to prove you can still win, it helps to know what to expect.

Call of Duty may also be preparing even more legacy ports soon, with the possibility of bringing a couple of classic entries to PS4 and PS5.

The FAMAS: Black Ops 1’s Most OP Assault Rifle

Call of Duty usually leans toward either Assault Rifles or SMGs as the home of the best-performing weapons, and the original Black Ops is a clear example. The Commando—especially when used with a suppressor—is a fan favorite thanks to its distinctive appearance and satisfying reload sequence. The Galil is another beloved option because of its excellent accuracy, while the AUG offers a strong three-round burst style for players who like to fight at a distance. But if there’s one rifle that stands above the rest, it’s the FAMAS, and the reason is straightforward: its rate of fire.

For all intents and purposes, the FAMAS shouldn’t be this lethal. With an outrageously fast 900 rounds per minute, you’d expect either slowdowns elsewhere or some meaningful downside in control or damage. Instead, its time-to-kill is surprisingly quick—only three bullets are needed to drop an opponent. Recoil also isn’t the problem people associate with guns that shoot this fast, and what recoil exists is manageable. Because the FAMAS’s default iron sights are already strong, PS5 players can use their attachment slot on a fast or extended magazine. Either way, the magazine choice is smart because you’ll be draining it quickly.

Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.

The AK74u (With Rapid Fire) Will Be a Menace

Most Black Ops SMGs aren’t known for being particularly impressive, but the AK74u breaks that pattern. Even before attachments, the gun holds up, yet the rapid fire setup takes it from “good” to “problem.” With rapid fire equipped, it can shred anyone in front of you, quickly turning encounters into instant melts. Unlike many SMGs, it also keeps enough reach to compete with Assault Rifles from the original Black Ops, making it useful in virtually any situation you’re likely to run into.

It’s worth noting that the AK74u has appeared again in Black Ops Cold War in 2020, though that later version isn’t remotely the same as the original gun. The early Black Ops AK74u is the one that should surprise players when they start using it for the first time.

If you’re jumping into the original Black Ops for the first time, it’s important to remember how attachments worked about sixteen years ago. Call of Duty’s Gunsmith system didn’t exist yet, and customization was limited to a single attachment per weapon—except when you used the Warlord perk, which allowed two attachments. That means anyone trying to squeeze out the strongest possible AK74u needs to think carefully about which slot they’re spending.

For the second-best AK74u attachment choice, you don’t have to overthink it: a grip is the move.

Scrapping together strong builds is also easier when you pick up weapons on the ground in Black Ops 1. Dropped guns can come with two attachments, letting you benefit from that setup without burning a perk slot on Warlord.

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Viable Alternatives to the AK74u and FAMAS in Black Ops 1

As mentioned earlier, there are other great weapons in the game that started the Black Ops franchise, such as:

• Galil — Super accurate AR
• AUG — 3-round burst AR for long range combat
• Commando — Mid-range powerhouse AR with fast reloads
• Stoner 63 — Fast for an LMG with a good rate of fire
• L96A1 — One of the most iconic bolt-action snipers in CoD history and a one-shot kill from the waist up
• Python — A deadly revolver, best-in-class for the secondary slot

Even if some players are grabbing Black Ops on PS5 to revisit classic Zombies maps like Call of the Dead, or to relive the nostalgic campaign experience, multiplayer remains the biggest draw. Whether you’re having fun in wager-style matches or running through a standard 6v6 lobby with one of the weapons above, fans of old-school CoD should find plenty to enjoy when the re-release lands in July 2026.