Warzone Season 5 Reloaded weapon buffs and nerfs: MXR-17 hit, AN-94 and Mammoth buffed
By TourneyTime ·
The short version
Warzone Season 5 Reloaded is a real balance patch, not just a playlist refresh. Raven’s August 19 patch notes hit the MXR-17 and CBRS-3, while opening space for the AN-94, MK35 ISR, Mammoth, SG-12 and several other weapons (Call of Duty). Dexerto’s weapon-balance roundup tracks the same Warzone buffs and nerfs from the official notes (Dexerto).
The update itself went live on August 20 at 9AM PT (5PM BST), so these numbers are in the game now. This page is the balance list; for everything else in the mid-season update — Black Ops Royale, Loaded Resurgence, Quickdrop Kits and the new camo drops — see our Season 5 Reloaded update rundown.
The early read for squads is simple: the MXR-17 is less forgiving at range, the AN-94 and MK35 ISR are better long-range candidates, and the Mammoth LMG has been pushed hard enough to deserve testing.
Biggest Warzone weapon changes
| Weapon | What changed | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| MXR-17 | Max damage 48→46, medium damage 41→38, minimum damage 38→34; medium damage band pulled in from 36–52m to 36–45m, so minimum damage now starts 7m sooner; bullet velocity 900m/s→880m/s in BR/Resurgence; recoil +10% | The old easy long-range pick should feel weaker, less stable and noticeably worse past 45m. |
| AN-94 | Max damage 38→41, max range 40m→45m, medium damage 34→37, minimum damage 32→33; BR/Resurgence vertical recoil -10% | This is the clearest assault-rifle buff in the patch. |
| MK35 ISR | Max range 38m→42m, minimum damage 30→31, minimum range >52m→>58m; bullet velocity 910m/s→920m/s in BR/Resurgence | More forgiving at range, especially with improved barrel and FMJ attachment benefits. |
| CBRS-3 | Max damage 42→38, max range 13.7m→13m, medium damage 36→34, medium range 23.4m→22m | The close-range standout has been pulled back toward the pack. |
| Mammoth | Max damage 55→63, medium damage 46→52, minimum damage 39→43, headshot multiplier 1.1x→1.2x, bullet velocity 820m/s→870m/s in BR/Resurgence | This is a major LMG buff and should be tested for slower long-range builds. |
| SG-12 | Max damage 25→28, max range 2.5m→3m, medium damage 20→23, headshot multiplier 1x→1.2x, sprint-to-fire 200ms→170ms | Shotgun players get a more responsive close-range option. |
MXR-17 finally takes a proper hit
Raven says the MXR-17 remained at the forefront of the meta for longer than intended, mainly because it mixed power with ease of use. The patch cuts its damage across all ranges, pulls the medium damage band in from 36–52m to 36–45m — so its worst damage value now kicks in 7m sooner — reduces BR/Resurgence bullet velocity from 900m/s to 880m/s, and adds 10% more recoil.
That does not automatically make it unusable, but it does mean squads should stop treating it as the default long-range answer until post-patch testing settles.
AN-94 and MK35 ISR are the first rifles to test
The AN-94 is the cleanest winner on paper. Its maximum damage moves from 38 to 41, its max range stretches from 40m to 45m, and Raven also reduces vertical recoil by 10% in Battle Royale and Resurgence.
The MK35 ISR gets a quieter but still meaningful buff: better max range, a higher minimum damage value, longer minimum damage range, and a small BR/Resurgence bullet velocity lift from 910m/s to 920m/s. Its barrel and 5.56 NATO FMJ attachment benefits also improve, so this one may depend heavily on build choice.
Close range: CBRS-3 down, Gremlin and MPC-25 up
For SMGs, the CBRS-3 is the direct nerf. Raven trims its max damage, medium damage and effective ranges after saying it had pulled slightly ahead of the close-range pack.
The Gremlin and MPC-25 move the other way. Gremlin gets higher max and medium damage, a small max-range extension, better lower torso and leg multipliers, and a 50-round Procural Extended Mag. MPC-25 gets max damage increased from 40 to 42 and medium damage from 36 to 37.
Mammoth could be the sleeper change
The Mammoth LMG gets one of the biggest numeric buffs in the patch: max damage 55 to 63, medium damage 46 to 52, minimum damage 39 to 43, headshot multiplier 1.1x to 1.2x, and BR/Resurgence bullet velocity 820m/s to 870m/s.
That is enough to test seriously, even if movement and handling still decide whether it becomes a tournament-ready option or just a strong public-match pick.
The other balance change: Grappling Hooks are gone
The patch also removes Grappling Hooks from standard Battle Royale and Resurgence, keeping them only in Black Ops Royale and selected upcoming LTMs. Raven says it had already reduced their speed and momentum and did not want to weaken them further, so removing them is meant to make rotations, positioning and defensive holds matter more again. That makes this an equipment change with loadout-level consequences, which is why it sits here rather than with the mode notes.
Everything else in the mid-season update — Black Ops Royale, Loaded Resurgence, Quickdrop Kits and the Special Delivery Drone camos — is covered in our Season 5 Reloaded update rundown.
What to do first
If you are jumping in tonight, do this in order:
- Retest the MXR-17 before trusting old builds.
- Build the AN-94 and MK35 ISR as your first long-range replacements.
- Try the Mammoth if your squad can tolerate slower LMG handling.
- Check the CBRS-3 against Gremlin and MPC-25 in close-range fights.
- Play without Grappling Hooks in normal BR/Resurgence and expect positioning to matter more.
For the mode and reward side of the same update, read the Season 5 Reloaded update rundown.
Sources we checked
- Raven Software’s official Call of Duty: Warzone Season 05 Reloaded patch notes for every numeric weapon, perk, equipment and gameplay change.
- Dexerto’s Season 5 Reloaded weapon-balance roundup for an independent editorial summary of the same buffs and nerfs.
- The r/CODWarzone Season 05 Reloaded patch-notes discussion as a live community signal for which changes players are reacting to first.
FAQ
Is the MXR-17 dead after Season 5 Reloaded?
Not necessarily. The official notes clearly nerf its damage, bullet velocity and recoil, but whether it fully drops out of the meta depends on post-patch testing. Treat it as weakened, not deleted.
What is the safest first replacement for long range?
On paper, the AN-94 is the first rifle to test because it gets damage, range and recoil help in the same patch. The MK35 ISR is also worth testing if you prefer its feel.
Did Warzone remove Grappling Hooks?
Yes, from standard Battle Royale and Resurgence. Raven says Grappling Hooks remain available in Black Ops Royale and selected upcoming limited-time modes.
