After several major patches, the weapon meta in Battlefield 2042 has changed significantly. We show you which weapon is currently the best in the game – and a strong alternative.
The majority of battles in Battlefield 2042 take place in large, open spaces. Most enemies are therefore far away from you.
This is also due to the fact that at least on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S battles with up to 128 players are possible – double what it was before. For that, the maps have also become significantly larger.
Here comes the AK-24 into play. This fully automatic weapon excels not only due to its incredibly high damage: Good players can almost completely compensate for its greatest weaknesses.
This AK-24 dominates in Battlefield 2042 – The best attachments
The AK-24 is currently the best weapon you can play in Battlefield 2042. Since you unlock it at level 11, it is also your best choice for your early gaming hours. Until then, the M5A3 is a good alternative.
What are the strengths of the weapon? Even with the standard setup, meaning without unlocked weapon attachments, the weapon is a monster. It has one of the best TTKs in the game, especially at medium ranges. While it has quite a high vertical recoil, you can easily compensate for it with some practice – and then the weapon is very precise.
Additionally, with its 3 fire modes and flexible attachment options, it’s a good choice in almost any situation. With the right attachments, it gets even better:
The best attachments for the AK-24:
- Optic: K8 Holo (otherwise personal preferences)
- Ammunition: Standard version and standard model / drum magazine
- Under-barrel: Lightweight Rattlesnake grip and LWG grip
- Barrel: Arcom Tactical Muzzle Brake and Warhawk Compensator
Why these attachments? The AK-24 has little horizontal recoil but a fairly strong vertical recoil. Therefore, we primarily use the Arcom Tactical Muzzle Brake. We also take the Warhawk Compensator in case the vertical recoil becomes too much.
To unlock the drum magazine with 50 rounds, you need 360 kills. That’s a long grind. Until then, you have to be satisfied with the standard ammunition. The 40-round magazines are also an upgrade, but they don’t come much earlier than the drum magazine.
For the under-barrel, we take the lightweight Rattlesnake grip to stay aggressive in movement and make ourselves harder to hit. For the moments when we need precision while standing still, we have the LWG grip with us.
What are the weaknesses of the weapon? The 2 biggest weaknesses of the weapon are its relatively small magazine until the drum magazine and the vertical recoil. Both can be compensated by good players, either through skill or with the right attachments.
How do I use the AK-24 properly? The perhaps greatest strength of the AK-24 is its versatility. As long as you can handle the recoil and keep an eye on your ammunition, you should be able to keep up with almost any other weapon in the game. And in its domain, the medium range, it is nearly unbeatable in the right hands.
The SKV is a strong alternative
Another very strong weapon in the current meta of Battlefield 2042 is the SVK – the strongest DMR in the game. It is unlocked at level 14.
Why is the SVK so strong? The SVK is overall similarly strong as the AK-24. And that, even though it basically only has one real strength. However, it is noteworthy: It deals the same damage to the body as a sniper rifle. Its handling and rate of fire is better compared to a sniper, though.
Thanks to the large maps in Battlefield 2042, the precision and high damage of the SVK is important. At those distances, DMRs like the SVK are deadlier and easier to use than assault rifles. Therefore, they are a safer choice for most gameplay situations. The fact that DMRs cannot fire automatically is hardly significant.
The best attachments for the SVK:
- Optic: K8 Holo and Bravo 3X (otherwise personal preferences)
- Ammunition: High-Power
- Under-barrel: Lightweight Rattlesnake grip and Kobra grip
- Barrel: Shortened barrel
Why these attachments? The most important attachment is the shortened barrel. To unlock it, you need 210 kills, but it transforms the weapon. With it, the SVK has a significantly higher rate of fire. This helps to compensate for its biggest disadvantages. You can use the weapon much more aggressively – even though it should remain an emergency solution.
What are the disadvantages of the weapon? The weapon becomes very imprecise when moving while shooting (via reddit). This mechanic is intended to prevent you from being too hard to hit with such a powerful weapon.
Even though its handling and rate of fire are significantly better than that of snipers, these values are not great compared to the other weapons on the list. With only 5 bullets in the magazine (plus one in the chamber), you need almost perfect aim to use this weapon effectively.
How do I use this weapon optimally? The SVK is even harder to play than the AK-24, but overall similarly strong – significantly stronger at long distances, but much worse in close combat.
This means that as long as you are patient and shoot at your opponents while standing still, it is an absolute monster. However, once you want to play aggressively in any way, it will quickly let you down. SVK users should therefore defend control points rather than trying to capture them.
What is your favorite weapon in Battlefield 2042? Have you tried the AK-24 yet? If so, what is your best setup? Or do you prefer the SVK? Let us know in the comments!
Whether and when new weapons will come into play is currently unclear. Season 1 seems to be coming much later than the community expected:
Battlefield 2042: Apparently, Season 1 is delayed – Leakers find hints
