With Season 5, the AN-94 came to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and CoD Warzone. The new assault rifle has been trying to find its place since then. MeinMMO explains what the AN-94 can do, how to play it best, and which attachments, setups, and loadouts fit best.
What kind of weapon is the AN-94? The Russian assault rifle seems like a mix between the famous AK-47 and the M4A1 and roughly positions itself between these two weapons. The rifle was originally intended as a replacement for the AK-47 in real life but never gained traction.
In Call of Duty, it is one of the weapons that were introduced with Season 5 of Modern Warfare and Warzone.
How do I get it? During Season 5, the AN-94 can be unlocked through the Battle Pass (at level 31). Afterwards, it will likely be available through a challenge, like all other Battle Pass weapons so far.
How powerful is the AN-94? The values of the AN-94 are mostly in the middle range of assault rifles. However, it has one of the best TTK (“Time to Kill”) values of all automatic weapons in the game:
- Rate of fire: about 1,800 rounds per minute for the first two bullets, then 571
- Damage (to the upper torso): 34 (up to about 21 m distance), 27 (up to about 33 m), 25 (up to about 42.5 m), 22 (beyond 42.5 m)
- Required bullets for a kill (to the torso): 3-5, depending on distance
- TTK (for torso hits): 110 ms (up to about 21 m distance), 215 ms (up to 42.5 m), 320 ms (beyond 42.5 m)
- TTK (in semi-automatic mode): 175 ms (up to about 21 m distance), 235 ms (up to 42.5 m), 350 ms (beyond 42.5 m)
- Reload time: 1.52 seconds (1.12 seconds with proficiency)
The AN-94 has a particular feature: The first two bullets when firing from the AN-94 come out of the barrel almost simultaneously. This means that they are fired at a rate of over 1,000 shots per minute.
This can be repeated, but with a delay of a few milliseconds. This way, you can take down enemies with the first shots extremely quickly. Only after that does the AN-94 slow down again.
In semi-automatic mode, you fire these two bullets with every pull of the trigger. This is a bit slower than doing it manually, but it gives you more control over the weapon.
Best attachments and setups for the AN-94
How do I best modify the AN-94? The gunsmith feature allows you to customize the AN-94 to your liking. You should do this, as it is rather at the lower end of assault rifles in its base configuration – despite relatively good values in some areas.
Our setups give you some suggestions on how to modify the weapon. For more inspiration, here you can find a setup for the AN-94 from assault rifle pro Octane.
Setup 1: Multiplayer 6v6
- Sight: Mini Reflex Sight Solozero
- Stock: FSS Combat Stock
- Underbarrel: Ranger Grip
- Ammunition: 45-round magazine or Laser: Tactical Laser, if you play in semi-auto.
- Grip: FSS Combat Grip
This setup is particularly suitable for engagements at medium range, as found on most maps in the Multiplayer of Modern Warfare. Tactical modes like Cyber Attack are especially ideal. It strikes a balance between strength at range and mobility.
This setup can also be used for Warzone, but you should focus more on fighting in urban areas without getting trapped in buildings. At close range, you are strong, but likely at a disadvantage against shotguns and submachine guns.
Setup 2: Warzone/ Ground War
- Muzzle: Silencer (Monolith)
- Barrel: AN-94 Factory X-438mm
- Laser: Tactical Laser
- Sight: VLK 3.0x Sight
- Ammunition: 60 or 45 rounds
This build is designed for longer distances and is accurate and deadly even at long ranges. You can use this setup for the AN-94 on large maps like Ground War or 10v10 in multiplayer and especially in Warzone.
With this setup, you sacrifice mobility for precision and range. This makes you strong in open-field combat and also in urban areas, but extremely vulnerable at short distances. You should never chase enemies into houses.
Setup 3: Run & Gun
- Barrel: AN-94 Factory 330mm
- Laser: Tactical Laser
- Sight: Mini Reflex Sight Solozero or Extra: Proficiency
- Stock: Folding Stock
- Grip: Textured Grip Tape
With this build, you convert the AN-94 into a kind of stronger submachine gun, similar to the secret AK-74u for the AK-47. You go all out on mobility, which is the complete opposite of the Warzone build, and utilize the fact that your first shots leave the barrel almost immediately.
This builds upon the weapon’s quick TTK at the shortest distance. The downside is, however, that submachine guns are still somewhat faster in terms of movement and aiming.
Iron sights of the AN-94 are not well received by many players. They are bulky and obstruct the view, making a sight almost essential, although strong players prefer to forgo these on other weapons. For a pure “Run & Gun” style, this is not optimal, but it can still be successful.
The YouTuber and CoD expert TheXclusiveAce has also presented some of these setups and showcases some more interesting details about the AN-94. We have embedded his video here for you:
How to build the best loadout with the AN-94
These loadouts are the best: For each of the setups, there are secondary weapons, perks, and equipment that perfectly complement the playstyle. We have compiled some example classes for each of our setups.
Loadout 1: Multiplayer 6v6
- Secondary weapon: Any – The Renetti as the best pistol is a good choice here.
- Perks: Ghost, Tracker, and Amped
- Primary equipment: C4
- Secondary equipment: Stim or Heartbeat Sensor (in Warzone)
- Field upgrade: Dead Silence
For multiplayer, Dead Silence is key to the playstyle with this loadout. You try to use it as often as possible to surprise and overwhelm opponents. For Battle Royale, you should definitely take the Heartbeat Sensor, as it is the best equipment in Warzone.
Loadout 2: Warzone/Ground War
- Secondary weapon: Rytec AMR or any pistol
- Perks: Cold-Blooded, Overkill or Ghost and Amped
- Primary equipment: C4
- Secondary equipment: Heartbeat Sensor
- Field upgrade: Tactical Insertion, Mobile Cover, or Trophy System
The Rytec AMR as a secondary weapon makes you an opponent on large maps and in Warzone that no one wants to face at a distance, and even when rushing, others may struggle against the AN-94.
In Warzone, however, you can skip Overkill if you want and buy your loadout only when you already have a strong sniper rifle found that you can swap out. This way, you can save a relatively weak perk.
Loadout 3: Run & Gun
- Secondary weapon: Renetti or any melee weapon. We have analyzed how good the new dual Kodachis are in our special for you.
- Perks: Sprint Speed or Tracker, Ghost and Spotter
- Primary: Throwing Knife or Semtex
- Tactics: Stim
- Field upgrade: Dead Silence or Munitions Box
The “Run & Gun” loadout fully emphasizes speed and the need to surprise and overwhelm opponents. You can even play it with the Throwing Knife, as you can use it relatively easily to take out enemies when you need to reload.
Especially on the popular and fast maps Shipment and Shoot House, this loadout can work well. Here, however, Tracker is better suited than Sprint Speed, so that explosive weapons don’t take you out immediately. The Tracker perk is considered one of the strongest.
Pros and cons of the AN-94
AN-94 compared with other assault rifles
How strong is the AN-94 in comparison? The AN-94 lands in the middle to lower range compared to other assault rifles. While it is quite accurate in its values and has the TTK at the very top, it quickly loses effectiveness if you don’t play it perfectly. Moreover, as an all-rounder, it does not perform as well as the M4A1.
Weapons like the AK-47 will likely outperform it in most areas. The AK is simply too inaccurate and difficult to master to pose a real challenge to the AN-94. However, for enthusiasts, both weapons might be seen as comparable.
By the way, YouTuber JGOD believes that the AN-94 is completely unsuitable for Warzone as it isn’t good enough in many aspects. He thinks other weapons are simply better. You can see his assessment here in this video:
Which other assault rifles are worth it? The M4A1 and the Grau are probably the best alternatives to the AN-94. However, there is a rifle that plays similarly to the AN-94 and is somewhat of an improved version of it: The CR-56 AMAX.
The AMAX, also known as the Galil, is essentially a “tamed AK-47” that has taken over its strengths but can offset its weaknesses better. This is what the AN-94 was originally intended to do. You can find details in our detailed guide to the CR-56 AMAX for Modern Warfare and Warzone.
