Best Loadouts

0:01 The best loadouts in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 at launch are built on five guns, the M4, Han 86 and Kastov 762 assault rifles and the ISO Nightshade and VEL 46 SMGs, which GameSpot, Game Rant, Dexerto and Insider Gaming all build around. A Multiplayer build takes five attachments plus the weapon's Apex attachment, and most of the builds below spend those five on a muzzle or suppressor, a laser, an underbarrel grip, a stock or rear grip, and an optic or magazine. Each build is credited to the outlet that published it, as it was printed between Oct 21 and Oct 25, 2026, before any post-launch weapon tuning. Why these guns lead is on Best Weapons; how attachments unlock is on Gunsmith and Attachments. The clip is LunchTime introducing his top five meta weapons.

Quick facts

Sources: GameSpot, Game Rant, Dexerto, Call of Duty, Oct 19, 2026.

Before you build

Create-a-Class opens at Player Level 4, per Activision's Oct 19, 2026 blog. The Han 86 and ISO Nightshade are available then, the VEL 46 at Level 5, the M4 at 14 and the Kastov 762 at 34 (Weapons). The attachments below unlock by leveling each gun, and because attachments are shared across weapons, some will already be open on a gun you have not used. Until you have them, Gunny, the built-in attachment optimizer, suggests Short Range, Balanced and Long Range builds from what you own.

Each loadout also carries its own Operator and its own killstreaks, a first for a Modern Warfare game, per Infinity Ward's launch patch notes. That makes it worth keeping one class for objective modes, with cheap streaks, and one for slayer modes (Killstreaks).

Assault rifle loadouts

M4

6:04 GameSpot and Game Rant both build the M4, and both use the M4 Hurricane Apex, a high-capacity 5.7x28mm conversion with a higher fire rate that Game Rant calls a must-use. The clip is LunchTime's fast M4 build, with the FSS Tac90 grip and the Demo Dozer stock.

Sources: GameSpot, Game Rant.

Han 86

2:16 The Han 86 is the rifle you can build from Level 4. GameSpot sets it up for mid to long range; Game Rant pairs its build with the Fast Hands Perk. The clip is LunchTime's Han 86 build with the SA H86 465MM barrel, the FSS Tac90 grip and the XRK Justice II grip.

Sources: GameSpot, Game Rant.

Kastov 762

The Kastov 762 unlocks at Level 34. Game Rant and Insider Gaming agree on the USENKO 308-1L muzzle.

Sources: Game Rant, Insider Gaming.

Hyeon Burst and Patriot XMR

Game Rant's Hyeon Burst build (Oct 24) uses the TZL-110 V1 or XRK Mil-Tac muzzle, FSS Tac90 Grip, HYN-Meipuel rear grip, Hyeon Stockpad Tac stock and IOTA-D optic, with Fast Hands. Game Rant rates the Hyeon Burst the top assault rifle for damage per shot.

For players still leveling, Dexerto's early Patriot XMR loadout (Oct 21) runs the Astaroth .57 11.2X Scope, EXP Undertow Gen. 2 muzzle, FSS Fireline Grip, 35 Round Mag and Schlager Attack-7 Grip.

SMG loadouts

ISO Nightshade

0:12 The ISO Nightshade is the SMG all four outlets build. Three versions:

Sources: GameSpot, Dexerto, Insider Gaming.

The ISO Trace Apex fires tracking rounds whose targets show as a red dot in the optic, but it blocks the Optic and Ammunition slots (Activision).

VEL 46

3:33 The VEL 46 unlocks at Level 5. Both builds use the VB-46 Series 11 barrel and the VEL 46 Snap Apex, a sling for very fast weapon swaps; GameSpot pairs it with Overkill, which lets the Snap's Quick Draw work with a second primary. The clip is LunchTime's VEL 46 build with the VB-46 Series 11 barrel and the LM Combat Grip.

Sources: GameSpot, Game Rant.

LMG and sniper loadouts

GameSpot is the only outlet above with LMG and sniper classes.

Source: GameSpot, Oct 23, 2026.

Secondary

GameSpot's secondary is the SANG 9mm with the Expedite drill L4 muzzle, TT CP-9MM Barrel, Cronen Zero-K optic, 17-Round Mag and Sang Highmatch trigger action, and optionally the SANG Breach Apex, a one-shell 12-gauge underbarrel (GameSpot). With Overkill you drop the secondary for a second primary instead, such as an assault rifle with the VEL 46.

Perks, equipment and streaks

2:48 Most of these builds give no Perks, equipment or killstreaks. Where they do, Game Rant names Fast Hands (Perk 2) and GameSpot names Overkill (Perk 1) for the VEL 46. For the rest, Dexerto's perk tier list (Oct 24) ranks Ghost, Ninja and Bomb Squad highest and Battle Hardened, Birdseye, Fast Hands and Quick Fix next. One Perk per slot, read from that list, gives:

Sources: Dexerto, Call of Duty, Oct 19, 2026.

Remember that Tactical Sprint comes only with Blood Rush, which shares Perk 2 with Ninja and Bomb Squad. Every Perk is on Perks, and every lethal, tactical and Field Upgrade on Equipment and Field Upgrades; none of the outlets above has named a best equipment setup as of Oct 25, 2026.

A note on DMZ

These are Multiplayer builds. Infinity Ward tunes weapons separately ("bespoke") for Multiplayer and DMZ, per the launch patch notes, so a build that wins 6v6 fights may not be the best on Hajin. Weapon levels, attachments and camos are shared between the modes, and DMZ has its own Gunsmith with Gunny and a Firing Range at the Forward Operating Base, Activision's Oct 19 blog says. As of Oct 25, 2026 none of the outlets above has published DMZ-specific builds; see DMZ Progression and Forward Operating Base and DMZ Beginner's Guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best loadout in MW4? In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 at launch, the meta loadouts are built on the M4, Han 86, Kastov 762, ISO Nightshade and VEL 46, as GameSpot, Game Rant, Dexerto and Insider Gaming build them.

What is the best M4 loadout in MW4? GameSpot's MW4 M4 build is the XRK Mil-Tac Suppressor, 18" LE Crosswind barrel, SA LAZ-500 laser, Mini Reflex and Demo Dozer Stock, with the M4 Hurricane Apex as an option.

What is the best ISO Nightshade loadout in MW4? GameSpot runs the XRK Herder 40, EXP G2-44 Stock, Demo STP-1 rear grip, 40 Round Mag and FSS Fireline on MW4's ISO Nightshade, with the ISO Trace Apex optional.

What is the best early loadout in MW4? At Level 4 in MW4 you can build the Han 86 or the ISO Nightshade, both S tier for Dexerto, and Dexerto also suggests a Patriot XMR build for early levels.

How many attachments can you put on a gun in MW4? Five, plus the weapon's Apex attachment, which in MW4 does not use a slot.

What perks should I use in MW4? Dexerto rates Ghost, Ninja and Bomb Squad as MW4's best Perks, and Game Rant pairs its Han 86 and Hyeon Burst builds with Fast Hands.

Sources

• Best Loadouts In Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer, GameSpot, Oct 23, 2026
• Best Meta M4 Loadout in COD Modern Warfare 4, Game Rant, Oct 23, 2026
• Best Meta Han 86 Loadout in COD Modern Warfare 4, Game Rant, Oct 23, 2026
• Best Meta Kastov 762 Loadout in COD Modern Warfare 4, Game Rant, Oct 25, 2026
• Best Meta Hyeon Burst Loadout in COD Modern Warfare 4, Game Rant, Oct 24, 2026
• Best Meta VEL 46 Loadout in COD Modern Warfare 4, Game Rant, Oct 24, 2026
• 5 ways to master Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer from day one, Dexerto, Oct 21, 2026
• Best guns in Modern Warfare 4: Meta weapon tier list, Dexerto, Oct 23, 2026
• Best Perks in Modern Warfare 4: Tier list, Dexerto, Oct 24, 2026
• Best ISO Loadout in Modern Warfare 4: Fast SMG Build, Insider Gaming, Oct 23, 2026
• Best Kastov Loadout in Modern Warfare 4: Powerful AR Build, Insider Gaming, Oct 23, 2026
• Ready for Launch: All Modern Warfare 4 Operators, Weapons, Equipment, and Multiplayer Create-a-Class Features, Call of Duty, Oct 19, 2026
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Launch Patch Notes, Infinity Ward, Oct 24, 2026
• Top 5 Meta Weapons to Use for Modern Warfare 4, LunchTime, Oct 23, 2026 (video)
• Modern Warfare 4: TOP 5 BEST CLASS SETUPS To Use! (MW4 META Weapons), WhosImmortal, Oct 24, 2026 (video)