The Kilo 141 assault rifle was considered the best all-round weapon for long distances before the integration of Black Ops Cold War into Call of Duty: Warzone, but it received a nerf. MeinMMO examines whether the weapon is still competitive.
Why is the Kilo no longer a standout? The Kilo 141 assault rifle is one of the first weapons unlocked in Modern Warfare. It is a great beginner’s weapon and shines with outstanding stability coupled with average damage. This makes it strong in Call of Duty: Warzone – really strong. At least until its peculiar nerf.
Because a developer posted on Twitter a few weeks ago: “The Warzone-specific range buff for the Kilo 141 has been reduced.” But at that time, this Warzone buff was not known at all. It later emerged that 17 other automatic weapons besides the Kilo had such a buff. These weapons only lose damage at distance once and do not have a third damage range.
The Kilo now has a third damage range in Warzone and thus loses some of its strength at distance – exactly where it was previously so strong. But apparently, that doesn’t stop the weapon and the Kilo is still very popular. MeinMMO looks at whether the weapon is still competitive and shows a few alternatives if you want to switch.
The Kilo remains extremely stable and thus strong & popular
Why is it still strong? The Kilo 141 is still a powerhouse when it comes to stability and accuracy. When you pull the trigger, the recoil of the first few shots is still noticeable and needs to be compensated for, but after a few bullets, the fully automatic weapon sits very well in your hands and allows you to keep your crosshair steady on the target even at long distances. With a Command Foregrip and the VLK 3x Scope, even the kick of the first few shots is hardly noticeable.
Moreover, it performs better in its second damage range than most of its direct automatic competitors. With a typical Warzone setup (longest barrel and Monolithic Suppressor), the damage drops at around 48 meters, and up to nearly 87 meters, it is even better than the M4A1. The M4 is a bit harder to control, but it takes down enemies nearly 50 milliseconds faster than the Kilo in its first damage range.
Theoretical Time-to-Kill comparison:
- Warzone weapons with range focus
- Enemies with 3 plates
- Full Warzone setups
- Only chest shots
- Kilo 141: up to 48 meters 639 ms / up to 87 meters 799 ms / after 87 meters 1.039 ms
- M13: up to 54 meters 673 ms / from 54 meters 875 ms
- Grau 5.56: up to 47 meters 658 ms / from 47 meters 904 ms
- M4A1: up to 45 meters 593 ms / from 45 meters 816 ms
- Bruen Mk9: Every distance – 705 ms
- M16: Every distance – 767 ms
Whether M13, M4A1, or Grau – the typical assault rifle alternatives with range focus all lose against the Kilo in the range between 45 and 87 meters. Alternatives like the Bruen Mk9 or the range beast M16 can beat the Kilo, but you absolutely need an SMG or shotgun as a secondary weapon, as you will often be at a disadvantage in close combat.
The problem with the Kilo is its low firepower at distance
What are the downsides of the Kilo? The assault rifle is still fully competitive within these 40 meters between 45 and 87 meters. But often you need to put pressure on enemies who are even farther away. Here, the Kilo is not much fun, as you need 14 bullets to down the enemy.
The M13 also needs this many in its second damage range starting at 54 meters but comes with even higher stability and a significantly higher rate of fire, allowing you to take down enemies faster – Kilo: 750 rounds/minute / M13: 890 rounds/minute.
The Kilo’s time-to-kill is over one second after 87 meters. This is a terrible value that you should avoid.
This is precisely where the nerf of the Kilo comes into play. Without its third damage range, the weapon would surpass its direct assault rifle competition at range. But in its current state, it simply loses too much damage against the equally stable competition.
Pros and Cons of the Kilo after its nerf
Is the Kilo still a top rifle in Warzone?
The Kilo 141 remains a strong alternative in Battle Royale but is no longer among the top weapons in Warzone. For an all-round weapon focusing on range, the time-to-kill at greater distances is too high.
However, this does not mean that the weapon cannot deliver strong performances in Warzone. Stability and control are among the most important characteristics for weapons like Kilo 141. A weapon that gives you a certain security when firing at your enemies is very valuable in a game like Warzone. It improves your mindset and confidence in battles, leading to better performances.
But if you haven’t switched yet, you should at least consider the alternatives. There are weapons that give you a very similar feeling but deliver more damage at longer distances.
Try alternatives – competition can keep up with the handling
Which weapon should I switch to? If you’re looking for a very similar gameplay feel to that of the Kilo, you essentially have two alternatives:
Both weapons are very accurate, hardly veer when firing automatically, and deal more damage at distance. The Grau hits harder up to 47 meters, while the M13 deals more damage at range.
However, the M13 burns through your magazine like nothing due to its high rate of fire and low damage per bullet. The Grau, on the other hand, comes with a very good “Iron Sight” (sight), allowing you to save on optics and have space for an additional attachment. The “Cold War” LMG Stoner 63 also falls into this category, but brings some disadvantages in mobility.
If you want more damage and are willing to take a bit more recoil, then go for the M4A1. It is a bit more unstable but still very stable and offers good time-to-kill values. Even more damage can be obtained with the CR-56 AMAX, which comes with even stronger recoil.
Other stable alternatives include the Bruen Mk9 and the M16. However, both are rather weak in close combat, while assault rifle all-rounders still deliver acceptable time-to-kill values at short distances.
If you are still using the Kilo 141 and have noticed that it deals too little damage in some situations, then now is a good time to switch. If you are bringing a sniper rifle as a second weapon anyway, you could stay with the Kilo since you will likely switch to your sniper at long distances. However, you should also consider whether one of the best submachine guns in Warzone might be better suited.
