If you’ve been getting outgunned in Battlefield 6, chances are you’re not using the right weapon for your class. With the open weapons system letting you equip any gun on any class, it’s easy to make the wrong choice. But here’s the thing: while you can use anything, some weapons just perform better depending on your role and engagement distance.
This guide breaks down the meta weapons that top players are running for each class in BF6. Whether you’re pushing objectives as Assault or holding lines as Support, we’ve got the loadouts that’ll help you rack up those kills and PTFO like a pro.
Understanding the BF6 Weapon Meta
Before we dive into class-specific recommendations, let’s talk about the current state of weapons in Battlefield 6 on Steam.
The meta right now favors:
- SMGs and Carbines – These are king for a reason. They’re laser-accurate, have manageable recoil, and shred in most engagements
- Select Assault Rifles – ARs can be powerful, but bloom and recoil make many of them frustrating to use
- Situational picks – LMGs, DMRs, and sniper rifles excel in specific scenarios but aren’t as universally dominant
The community consensus on Reddit’s Battlefield 6 forums is pretty clear: if you’re struggling with assault rifles, swap to a carbine or SMG and watch your K/D improve. The recoil control is just so much easier.
Assault Class: Best Weapons for Aggressive Pushes
The Assault class is all about getting in the enemy’s face and clearing objectives. You’re the tip of the spear, so you need weapons that excel in close to medium range combat.
Close Range Dominators
Top Picks:
- M433 – The starting assault rifle that’s actually meta. TTK of 0.217 seconds with manageable recoil
- TR-7 – Absolute monster at close range with a 0.16 second TTK (three body shots at 720 RPM)
- KV9 (SMG) – When you need maximum mobility and close-quarters firepower
- M870A1 (Shotgun) – For those ultra-tight corridor fights
The TR-7 is particularly nasty on smaller maps. Three body shots and your opponent is done. However, it gets awkward beyond 25 meters, so keep that in mind when choosing your engagements.
Medium Range Options
Top Picks:
- NVO-228E – Balanced performance with better range than the TR-7
- B36A4 – Solid accuracy for mid-range duels while maintaining CQB viability
- M4A1 (Carbine) – Versatile option that handles most situations well
- M277 (Carbine) – Interesting choice that maintains full damage out to 80 meters
Pro Tip: If you’re playing on large maps like Liberation Peak or Operation Firestorm, medium-range weapons are essential. You’ll get caught in open areas frequently, and close-range specialists will struggle.
⚠️ Important: Equipping two primary weapons as Assault cuts your ammo capacity in half for both guns. Stick with one primary if you want to stay in the fight longer.
Check out our complete weapon stats guide to understand damage dropoff and recoil patterns better.
Engineer Class: Versatile Vehicle Support
Engineers have the most flexible role in BF6. You’re supporting armor when it’s available, but when tanks are scarce, you become a destruction specialist targeting cover and enemy deployables.
Close-Medium Range Setup
Top Picks:
- M433 – Reliable across multiple ranges
- PW5A3 (SMG) – More adaptable to medium distances than pure CQB SMGs
- M4A1 (Carbine) – The go-to carbine for balanced performance
- PW7A1 (SMG) – Excellent mobility with decent reach
Medium-Long Range Setup
Top Picks:
- NVO-228E – Much more controllable at distance than the TR-7
- B36A4 – Accurate and powerful for supporting from range
- AK4D – Solid AR for longer engagements
- AK-205 (Carbine) – More reliable at range than the M417 A2
Playstyle Considerations:
If you’re running with friendly armor, position yourself at medium-long range where you can spot threats and repair between engagements. If you’re playing anti-vehicle, get closer with repair tools and understand vehicle weak points.
The SL9 and UMG-40 SMGs deserve special mention – they bridge the gap between SMG mobility and medium-range effectiveness better than most.
Support Class: Suppression and Sustain
Support players can go two directions: aggressive smoke-rushing with light weapons, or defensive suppression with LMGs. Both playstyles are effective, but they require completely different loadouts.
Offensive Support Weapons
Top Picks:
- M433 – Still excellent for pushing with the team
- TR-7 – High-risk, high-reward close range option
- PW5A3 (SMG) – Fast and deadly for smoke rushes
- L110 (LMG) – When you want stopping power without sacrificing too much mobility
Defensive Support Weapons
Top Picks:
- L110 (LMG) – One of the best LMGs in the game for sustained fire
- DRS-IAR – Excellent accuracy for an LMG, perfect for defensive positions
- M250 (LMG) – High capacity for continuous suppression
- SVDM (DMR) – Accurate long-range option for picking off enemies
Key Insight: The Support class shines when you match your weapon to your position. Pushing with your squad? Go light and mobile. Holding a choke point? Deploy that bipod and rain hell with an LMG.
The versatility here is insane – you can play like Assault with offensive picks, or become an area-denial machine with defensive setups. Your field spec choice should complement your weapon selection.
Recon Class: Sniper or Spec Ops?
Recon is the most polarizing class because it supports two completely different playstyles: traditional sniping and close-quarters infiltration (Spec Ops).
Spec Ops Infiltrator
Top Picks:
- M433 – Reliable for behind-enemy-lines plays
- PW5A3 (SMG) – Quiet and deadly for sneaky objective caps
- SGX (SMG) – Excellent SMG option for aggressive Recon
- M4A1 (Carbine) – Versatile for varied engagements
Traditional Sniper
Top Picks:
- M2010 ESR – Most consistent at 100-200 meters, the sweet spot for most sniper engagements
- SV98 – Slightly less consistent than the M2010 but still excellent
- PSR – Reserved for extreme long-range sniping (rarely needed)
Important Note: Sniper rifles have noticeably worse accuracy when used by non-Recon classes. Whether this is intentional or a bug is unclear, but it’s another reason to pick your class weapons wisely.
The Spec Ops field spec gives you stealth bonuses and detection tools, making you perfect for flanking and harassment. Play objectives on the enemy’s side of the map in Conquest, or slip behind enemy lines in Breakthrough to cause chaos.
Want to dominate from range? Check our best sniper spots on Liberation Peak and master scope glint mechanics.
Quick Reference: Top Weapons by Category
Assault Rifles
- M433 – Best all-rounder
- Kord 6P67 – High skill ceiling
- NVO-228E – Balanced performance
- TR-7 – CQB specialist
- B36A4 – Medium range focus
Carbines
- M4A1 – Most versatile
- M277 – Unique damage model
- QBZ-192 – Solid alternative
- M417 A2 – Precision option
- AK-205 – Long-range carbine
SMGs
- PW5A3 – Current meta king
- SGX – Close second
- SCW-10 – Aggressive option
- KV9 – Ultra close range
- PW7A1 – Balanced choice
LMGs
- L110 – Best overall
- DRS-IAR – Most accurate
- M250 – Highest capacity
- RPKM – Solid alternative
Sniper Rifles
- M2010 ESR – Most consistent
- SV98 – Close alternative
- PSR – Extreme range specialist
Shotguns
- M870A1 – Pump action power
- M1014 – Semi-auto speed
- 18.5KS-K – Balanced option
DMRs
- SVK – Top performer
- M39 EMR – Solid choice
- SVDM – Alternative option
- LMR27 – Niche pick
Tips for Choosing Your Meta Weapon
Match weapon to engagement distance: Small maps = close range weapons, large maps = medium-long range options
Consider your playstyle: Aggressive players benefit from SMGs/carbines, while methodical players should use ARs/LMGs
Master recoil control: The reason SMGs and carbines dominate is their manageable recoil. Learn the patterns and you’ll outgun anything. Check our no recoil guide for tips.
Understand weapon bloom: BF6’s accuracy spread system punishes continuous fire. Tap fire at medium range for better accuracy.
Don’t sleep on starter weapons: The M433 is literally a meta weapon and you start with it. Don’t assume you need to unlock everything to compete.
Experiment on your platform: Controller vs keyboard/mouse changes optimal weapon choices due to different recoil control capabilities.
Final Thoughts
The weapon meta in Battlefield 6 on PlayStation and other platforms heavily favors ease of use right now. Carbines and SMGs dominate because they’re simply more forgiving than assault rifles, which suffer from excessive bloom and recoil.
That said, the “best” weapon is always the one you perform best with. If you’re crushing it with an off-meta LMG, keep using it. Meta picks give you an advantage, but player skill and positioning matter more than your gun choice.
Want to level up faster with these weapons? Check our XP farming guide and best beginner weapons.
Now get out there and start stacking kills. And if you’re struggling with performance issues, we’ve got guides for fixing high CPU usage and packet loss too.
Good hunting, soldier. You can also grab Battlefield 6 on Epic Games Store if you haven’t already joined the fight.
Related Guides:
