Summary
TheCall of Dutyseries is all about its weapons, and each entry in the series aims to give players a wide variety of weapons to use and plenty of loadout options to experiment with.Black Ops 6is no different as it bringsa ton of different weaponsto play with and find the best fit.One of these weapon types is the marksman rifle, which offers a sort of middle ground between sniper rifles and assault rifles. They give players more accuracy and range, with the caveat being a reduced fire rate.
Despite them being an often-overlooked batch of weapons, marksman rifles canbe great tools to bring into a match. With their versatility, they offer players power in most encounters, which is why it’s important to know which ones are the best options. There are only a small handful of these weapons available at the time of writing, but that doesn’t mean that players shouldn’t know which ones they should spring for. There arefour marksman rifles in the gameright now, and this is how they rank from worst to best.
Updated by Shane Black on July 20, 2025:Every season of any Call of Duty game brings a new change to the meta. This is from newly-introduced weapons to changes made to the stats of certain weapons. Because of this, guides need to be updated frequently to reflect the ways that the game is evolving. That’s why this guide was updated to change the rankings of the marksman rifles, as well as add the TR2, which came to the game after its launch. It also added some more in-text links to offer players access to more information that can help them become the best players possible in the game.
5SWAT 556
Unlocked At Level 1
The basic option for the Marksman Rifles is theSWAT 556, whichdoesn’t have very much benefit to using it. Despite it having solid accuracy that can land shots fine, this gun doesn’t really do enough damage. This makes its time-to-kill very slow, and then this is combinedwith its mediocre mobility. These work together to make a gun that is slow to move with and slow to use.
Sure, the SWAT 556 could work fine in a pinch, and there will certainly be people who find ways to make it work effectively, but on paper, it justdoesn’t bring enough to the tableto justify it being anything but the last option on this list. It simply does not do enough, and with the other marksman rifles available, it isn’t going to turn any heads.
4Tsarkov 7.62
Unlocked At Level 22
This entry earns its place above the previous marksman rifle for the fact that it offers better time-to-kill and much better mobility. Using theTsarkov 7.62will not feel nearly as slow as using the SWAT 556, and that makes it a much better option. Plus, players can actually take their targets out in a timely manner and won’t have to worry as much aboutgiving their opponent time to return fire.
That doesn’t mean the Tsarkov 7.62 is free from drawbacks, as it does boast one of theworst recoil patternsin the marksman rifle category. If a player misses their shot, it is going to be much harder to line the next one up. When rapid fire is added to the mix, it can get chaotic and becomedifficult to control very fast. This is what keeps the Tsarkov 762 on the lower half of this list.
3DM 10
Unlocked At Level 43
It’s time to get into the marksman rifles that really makeBlack Ops 6fun to play. TheDM 10is a solid option in this category thanks to its great time-to-kill. Players can quickly down their targets with this gun, bringing far more efficiency to the game than the last two. It also has great mobility, which makes moving around the mapmuch more fun, which is always a good thing.
However, the DM 10 does come with one downside that keeps it from claiming the top spot on this list:a slow ADS speed. This means that being able to aim for the right shot in time is not easy, and it can sometimes feel like this is counteracting its excellent mobility. It’s hard to play with a gun that allows players to zip around with ease, but then slows things down to a crawl when they want to make a shot. This keeps it here in the second spot primarily because ofits lack of quickscoping.
2AEK 973
Unlocked At Level 34
Once the very best marksman rifle on this list, theAEK 973isstill very much one of the best options. While some players may be wary of its burst fire mode due to a possible accuracy issue, those fears should be put to bed with the fact that its time-to-kill is outstanding. One burst from this gun can take an enemy out, and opens the player up to move on to their next target in no time.
Players really can’t ask for more than that. It offers a feeling similar tothe M16inCall of Duty 4with Stopping Power equipped. Plus, the AEK 973 hasvery manageable recoil, so it’s easy to line another shot up if the player misses with their initial burst. It’s a truly formidable weapon that can make anyone using it a force to be reckoned with. Before the meta shifted with the game’s first few seasons, this gun rain supreme among the marksman rifles.
1TR2
Unlocked Through Armory Challenge
Thenewest marksman rifle in the gameis also its best thanks toits excellent stats. It boasts a quick rate of fire that allows for multiple shots to be fired off in a row with little time in between. This makes for a weapon that can pin an enemy down with ease, while also doing enough damage tomake it a potent counterto just about any opponent.
The biggest draw, though, is the gun’s recoil and ability to recenter after a shot. This means that even if a player misses their shot, they can quickly and easily line up another one soon after to keep the pressure on their opponent. This is what sets it apart from the other weapons available in the marksman rifles, and why it hasclaimed the top spot on this list.
