MW2 and Warzone 2.0 Season 3 weapon changes: Vaznev 9k nerf, explained

Changes are brewing for the competitive Call of Duty meta

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0 Season 3 brought so much more than new game modes and maps. There are many weapon changes in this new season, including some rather controversial ones, such as a nerf for the Vaznev 9k and a buff for the TAQ-56 that could dramatically change the meta.

All MW2 and Warzone 2.0 Season 3 weapon changes, explained

There are quite a few MW2 and Warzone 2.0 Season 3 weapon changes, starting with the overall weapon buffs and nerfs across the board. You can find all of the major changes below:

Assault Rifles

• ISO Hemlock
  • All Damage Ranges reduced
  • Lower Torso Damage reduced

• M13B
  • Headshot Damage slightly reduced
  • Lower Torso Damage increased
  • Mid-range Damage distance increased
  • Upper Torso Damage slightly reduced

• STB 556
  • Headshot Damage increased
  • Leg Damage increased
  • Lower Torso Damage increased
  • Mid-range Damage distance increased
  • Mid-range Damage reduced

• TAQ-56
  • Headshot Damage Increased

Battle Rifles

• FTAC Recon
  • Movement Speed increased
  • Semi-auto Leg Damage increased
  • Semi-auto Minimum Armor Damage increased  | Warzone 2.0 Only
  • Upper Torso Damage increased for semi-auto firing mode

• Lachmann 762
  • Movement Speed increased

• SO-14
  • Movement Speed increased
  • Semi-Auto Minimum Armor Damage increased  | Warzone 2.0 Only

• TAQ-V
  • Minimum Armor Damage increased  | Warzone 2.0 Only
  • Movement Speed increased
  • Semi-Auto Lower Leg Damage increased

Handguns

• Basilisk
  • Minimum Armor Damage reduced  | Warzone 2.0 Only

Light Machine Guns

• RAAL MG
  • Headshot Damage reduced
  • Minimum Armor Damage added to semi-auto firing mode  | Warzone 2.0 Only
  • Headshot Damage increased for the semi-auto firing mode
  • Semi-auto Upper Torso Damage increased
  • Semi-auto Lower Torso Damage increased

• RPK
  • Close-mid Damage slightly reduced

Marksman Rifles

• Tempus Torrent
  • All Damage Ranges reduced slightly
  • Close-mid Damage reduced slightly
  • Headshot Damage reduced

Submachine Guns

• Overall SMG Hip Spread accuracy increased
• BAS-P
  • ADS Move Speed increased
  • All Damage Ranges increased
  • Minimum Armor Damage added to Semi-Auto Firing Mode  | Warzone 2.0 Only

• Lachmann Sub
  • Headshot Damage decreased
  • Burst-Fire Leg Damage increased
  • Burst-Fire time between shots decreased
  • Burt-Fire Torso Damage increased

• MX9
  • Sprint to Fire Speed increased

• Vaznev-9K
  • Headshot Damage decreased
• VEL 46
• • • Headshot Damage decreased

How the Vaznev 9k nerf and TAQ-56 buff could change the meta

They buffed the Scar???? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

— FaZe ZooMaa (@ZooMaa) April 12, 2023

The MW2 and Warzone 2.0 Season 3 weapon changes radically affect many of the guns and entire weapon categories at once. The most important sticking point for players are the changes to the highly popular Vaznev 9k and TAQ-56 Scar.

The Vaznev is, by and large, the go-to SMG for most players in MW2. It is the dominant SMG for competitive play, including Ranked Play, and it is a great asset in battle royale, too. It’s a similar situation for the TAQ-56, which is the best AR in MW2 for Ranked Play and one of the better options in Warzone 2.0.

Nerfing the Vaznev while buffing the TAQ-56 Scar could change the meta considerably. While the hip fire is better now with the Vaznev, the core nerf means that it will likely be more effective at close-range, rather than having the more versatile nature it has.

On the other hand, the buff for the TAQ-56 makes it potentially a better weapon. This could result in an AR-dominant meta in both MW2 and Warzone 2.0. Alternatively, this could lead to other previously unused SMGs and weapons becoming much more popular.

Responses from members of the Call of Duty community have mostly been negative in regards to these changes, so it remains to be seen if these largely unwarranted adjustments are reversed.

Related: Warzone 2 set to restore removed controversial mechanic after player complaints on Dot Esports