All Buffs and Nerfs in the Warzone Season 3 Update

After weeks of teasers, Season 3 of Warzone is officially underway. As with most seasonal updates for the battle royale, Raven Software shares details on a wealth of new content arriving to the game in addition to several buffs and nerfs arriving to ensure a somewhat level playing field is maintained.

Throughout Season 2, the likes of the Bren light machine gun and the MP40 dominated the ever-changing metagame and with the start of a brand-new season, a new dose of weapon balancing has come into effect.

In addition to major adjustments to sniper rifles, other weapons have received changes which could spark a significant change in finding the meta weapons for Season 3. With that said, find a complete list of buffs and nerfs included in the Warzone Season 3 update in this guide!

Warzone Season 3 Buffs and Nerfs

Sniper Rifles

Arguably the largest change to all of the Warzone arsenal are the sniper rifles, Raven Software has applied widespread changes meaning only a handful of rifles have the ability to take down an opponent with a single bullet.

The following Weapons will one-shot to the head only while inside of their Max Damage Range:

• Marksman Rifle Charlie (MW)
• SP-R 208 (MW)
• Pelington 703 (BOCW)
• Swiss K31 (BOCW)
• Type 99 (VG)
• Kar98k (VG)

The following Weapons will one-shot to the head at any Range:

• HDR (MW)
• Sniper Rifle Charlie (MW)
• ZRG 20mm (BOCW)
• 3-Line Rifle (VG)
• Gorenko Anti-Tank Rifle (VG)
  

The following Weapons do not have one-shot potential to the head:

• Rytec AMR (MW)
• Sniper Rifle Alpha (MW)
• Sniper Rifle Charlie (BOCW)

Credit: Activision

• Sniper Rifle Charlie (MW)
  • Can one-shot to the head at any range
  • Max Damage Range increased to 3400, up from 3072
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 3.2
• Sniper Rifle Alpha (MW)
  • Cannot one shot
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 1375, down from 2500
  • Min Damage increased to 60, up from 50
  • Max Damage increased to 80, up from 70
• HDR (MW)
  • Can one-shot to the head at any range
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 3400, down from 4000
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 3.2
• Marksman Rifle Charlie (MW)
  • Can one-shot to the head within max damage range
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 1425, down from 2400
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 3.2
  • Min Damage increased to 75, up from 50
  • Max Damage increased to 95, up from 86
• SP-R 208 (MW)
  • Can one-shot to the head within max damage range
  • Max Damage Range increased to 1300, up from 900
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 3.2
  • Max Damage increased to 94, up from 93
• Swiss K31 (BOCW)
  • Can one-shot to the head within max damage range
  • Max Damage Range increased to 1650, up from 900
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 2.31
  • Max Damage increased to 130, up from 95
• ZRG 20mm (BOCW)
  • Can one-shot to the head at any range
  • Max Damage Range increased to 4000, up from 3072
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 3.2
• Sniper Rifle Charlie (BOCW)
  • Cannot one shot
  • Max Damage Range increased to 2675, up from 2600
  • Min Damage decreased to 96, down from 99
• Pelington 703 (BOCW)
  • Can one-shot to the head within max damage range
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 1900, down from 2000
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 2.4
  • Min Damage decreased to 95, up from 99
  • Max Damage increased to 125, up from 102
• LW3 - Tundra (BOCW)
  • Can one-shot to the head within max damage range
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 1675, down from 4000
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 2.5
  • Max Damage increased to 120, up from 102
• Rytec AMR (MW)
  • Cannot one shot
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 2650, down from 2800
  • Min Damage decreased to 96, down from 99
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 2.1
• Type 99 (VG)
  • Can one-shot to the head within max damage range
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 1350, down from 4092
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 2.4
  • ADS Transition In Speed decreased to 0.45, down from 0.48
  • ADS Transition Out Speed decreased to 0.42, down from 0.5
• Kar98k (VG)
  • Can one-shot to the head within max damage range
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 1850, down from 3800
  • Max Damage increased to 100, up from 92
  • ADS Transition In Speed decreased to 0.43, down from 0.455
  • ADS Transition Out Speed decreased to 0.4, down from 0.476
• 3-Line Rifle (VG)
  • Can one-shot to the head at any range
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 3225, down from 4092
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 3.15
  • Max Damage increased to 115, up from 95
  • Min Damage increased to 96, up from 79
  • ADS Transition In Speed increased to 0.532, up from 0.517
  • ADS Transition Out Speed increased to 0.54, up from 0.52
  • Movement speed scaler decreased to 0.80, down from 0.83
• Gorenko Anti-Tank Rifle (VG)
  • Can one-shot to the head at any range
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 3700, down from 4092
  • Head Damage Multiplier increased to 3.0
  • Upper Torso Multiplier increased to 1.2
  • Upper Torso Multiplier increased to 1.1
  • ADS Transition Out Speed decreased to 0.5, down from 0.66
  • Now Has Access to Lengthened, Armor Piercing, Subsonic, Frangible and Hollow Point Ammunition.

Credit: Activision

Assault Rifles

The STG 44 assault rifle started to gain traction in the latter stages of Season 2 and in order to maintain its balance, many of its attachments have received changes.

In addition, the Volk has received plenty of buffs while a significant recoil nerf to the Vargo 52 impacts performance.

• STG44 (VG)
  
  • .30 Russian Short 45 Round Mags
    • Damage Range decreased to 10%, down from 20%
    • Horizontal Recoil Control penalty decreased to -23%, down from -25%
    • Vertical Recoil Control penalty decreased to -18%, down from 20%
    • Visual Recoil decreased
      
  • 7.62 Gorenko 50 Round Mags
    • Damage Range penalty removed
    • Bullet Velocity penalty removed
      
  • Krausnick 620mm Precision
    • Bullet Velocity increased to 40%, up from 30%
    • Now increases Damage Range by 20%
      
  • VDD 320mm 02B
    • Bullet Velocity increased to 30%, up from -12%
    • Damage Range increased to 10%, up from -10%
    • Horizontal Recoil Control penalty decreased to -18%, down from -25%
    • Initial Firing Recoil penalty decreased to -10%, down from -20%
      
  • VDD 760mm 05B
    • Damage Range increased to 35%, up from 15%
    • Bullet Velocity increased to 50%, up from 40%
      
• ITRA Burst (VG)
  
  • .303 British Round Mags
    • Capacity increased to 36, up from 32
      
  • 6.5 Sakura Round Mags
    • Capacity increased to 28, up from 24
      
  • 8mm Klauser Round Fast Mags
    • Capacity increased to 24, up from 20
      
  • 8mm Klauser 38 Round Drum Mags
    • Capacity increased to 42, up from 38
      • Attachment name will be corrected in a future update
• Volkssturmgewehr (VG)
  
  • 7.62 Gorenko 30 Round Mags
    • Bullet Velocity penalty removed
    • Damage Range penalty removed
      
  • 7.62 Gorenko 40 Round Mags
    • Bullet Velocity penalty removed
    • Damage Range penalty removed
      
  • Krausnick 428mm 05V
    • Bullet Velocity increased to 50%, up from 40%
      
  • Reisdorf 407mm Custom
    • Now increases Bullet Velocity by 30%
    • Now increases Damage Range by 26%
      
  • VDD 287mm
    • Bullet Velocity increased to -10%, up from -12%
    • Horizontal Recoil Control penalty decreased to -21%, down from -25%
    • Vertical Recoil Control penalty decreased to -12%, down from -50%
      
• Vargo 52 (BOCW)
  
  • 17.1” VDV Reinforced Barrel
    • Horizontal Recoil Control decreased to 2.5%, down from 4%
    • Vertical Recoil Control decreased to 2.5%, down from 4%
      
  • 17.9” Takedown Barrel
    • Horizontal Recoil Control decreased to 7%, down from 8%
      
  • 18.6” Task Force Barrel
    • Horizontal Recoil Control decreased to 5%, down from 8%
    • Vertical Recoil Control decreased to 5%, down from 8%
      
  • 19.8” Liberator Barrel
    • Vertical Recoil Control decreased to 7%, down from 8%
    • Vertical Recoil Control decreased to 7%, down from 8%
      
  • Foregrip
    • Horizontal Recoil Control decreased to 5%, down from 10%
      
  • Spetsnaz Grip
    • Horizontal Recoil Control decreased to 5%, down from 20%
    • Vertical Recoil Control decreased to 5%, down from 6%
      
• XM4 (BOCW)
  • Minimum Damage decreased to 26, down from 27
  • Maximum Damage Range increased to 880, up from 850

Handguns

Top Break (VG)

• Max Damage increased to 46, up from 45
• Mid Damage increased to 38, up from 34
• Min Damage increased to 28, up from 26

Diamatti (BOCW)

• Head Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.49

LMGs

For most of the Pacific era, the Bren LMG from Vanguard has dominated the mid-range meta thanks to its impressive damage. The LMG receives significant nerfs while the Whitley earns a few buffs that could see it rise in popularity.

Bren (VG)

• Max Damage decreased to 32, down from 34
• Min Damage decreased to 28, down from 30
  
• 6.5 Sakura 40 Round Mags
  • Horizontal Recoil Control decreased to 14%, down from 20%
  • Vertical Recoil Control decreased to 14%, down from 18%
    
• Queen’s 775m Scepter
  • Horizontal Recoil Control decreased to 23%, down from 40%
  • Vertical Recoil Control decreased to 20%, down from 40%
    
• Queen’s 705mm Royal
  • Horizontal Recoil Control decreased to 31%, down from 38%
    
• Tight Grip
  • Recoil Control greatly decreased

Whitley (VG)

• Min Damage increased to 31, up from 30
• ADS Speed decreased to 0.460, down from 0.475
  
• .303 British 45 Round Mags
  • Fire Rate increased to 18%, up from 15%
    
• 28″ Gracy MK. 9 Barrel
  • ADS Speed penalty decreased to -11%, down from -18%

Credit: Activision

SMGs

The MP40 is a popular choice for close-quarters combat but thanks to a significant nerf to one of its barrel attachments, it could fall by the wayside. The SMG isn't the only one to undergo changes. The Owen Gun has its fire rate and damage multiplier nerfed for a number of popular attachments.

Armaguerra 43 (VG)

• 8mm Kurz 72 Round Mags
  • Fire Rate decreased to 10%, down from 15%
  • Now increases Damage by 5%
  • The 8mm Kurz 72 Round Mags simply didn’t have a fair pro for con trade. We’ve slowed its rate of fire down some while providing a damage increase that results in targets being eliminated 1 bullet faster.
    
• Imerito 180mm Short Barrel
  • Bullet Velocity penalty decreased to -10%, down from -12%
  • Recoil Control penalty decreased to -10%, down from -15%
  • Visual Recoil decreased.
    

• Type 100 (VG)
  • Visual Recoil decreased
    
  • 8mm Kurz 48 Round Drums
    • Damage Multiplier decreased to 6.5%, down from 14%
    • Movement Speed decreased to -4%, down from -3%

Owen Gun (VG)

• 7.62 Gorenko 33 Round Mags
  • Neck Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.17, down from 1.3
    
• 7.62 Gorenko 72 Round Drums
  • Head Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.47, down from 1.5
  • Neck Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.17, down from 1.3
    
• Hockenson 142mm Rapid
  • Fire Rate decreased to 16%, down from 19%
    

MP40 (VG)

• VDD 189mm Short Barrel
  • Min Damage decreased to 23, down from 24
  • Upper and Lower Torso Damage Multiplier decreased to 1.04, down from 1.1

There you have it! That's all of the buffs and nerfs appearing as part of the Warzone Season 3 update. For more intel, check out our dedicated page containing the latest news, leaks, and loadout guides.