Battlefield 2042: Best Meta Weapons and Loadouts

Battlefield 2042‘s launch hasn’t been…great, but anyone looking to try out the latest entry in this historic multiplayer franchise will probably want to go into the game with at least a little knowledge about which guns and weapons are currently dominating the meta.

Well, so far as that goes, I’ve got some good and bad news for you. The good news is that Battlefield 2042 eliminates much of the pain and confusion that come from needing to “choose” a gun by making one of the game’s weapons so absurdly powerful that there’s really no reason to use anything else. The bad news is that there’s really only one gun in the game at the moment that is worth using, which is about as dull as you’d suspect it would be.

So while it feels kind of silly to talk about Battlefield 2042‘s available arsenal when there is really only one option, here’s a brief look at a few of the best overall guns in the game and their ideal loadouts.

Battlefield 2042: Every Gun in The Game

• M5A3 (Assault Rifle)
• AK-24 (Assault Rifle)
• SFAR-M GL (Assault Rifle)
• AC-42 (Assault Rifle)
• PBX-45 (SMG)
• PP-29 (SMG)
• MP9 (SMG)
• K30 (SMG)
• DM7 (Marksman Rifle)
• SVK (Marksman Rifle)
• VCAR (Marksman Rifle)
• LCMG (LMG)
• PKP-BP (LMG)
• SWS-10 (Sniper Rifle)
• DXR-1 (Sniper Rifle)
• NTW-50 (Sniper Rifle)
• MCS-880 (Utility)
• GVT 45-70 (Utility)
• 12M Auto (Utility)

Battlefield 2042: The Best Guns

PP-29

The reason why it’s so hard to have a serious discussion about the best guns in Battlefield 2042 at the moment is that the PP-29 is so laughably overpowered that there’s really no reason to even bother to use anything else.

The PP-29 is fast, accurate, and powerful. It absolutely shreds at close ranges, it can be equipped with absurdly large magazines, and it’s honestly pretty useful at longer ranges assuming that you find the right loadout for it. It’s one of the most hilariously broken weapons I can remember seeing in a competitive multiplayer game in quite some time, and I can’t believe it was allowed to exist in this state at launch. 

LCMG

While every other gun on this list suffers by virtue of not being the PP-29, it has to be said that LCMG is one of the best overall weapons that aren’t comically broken. 

Actually, if it weren’t for the fact that the LCMG makes you painfully immobile, it might be able to stand up to the PP-29 by virtue of its massive magazine, low recoil, and pure stopping power. You’re definitely going to want to learn to love this for when the PP-29 is nerfed. 

DXR-1

Look, Battlefield 2042’s snipers are not in a great place at the moment. They’re too slow, too inaccurate, and generally don’t fit into the PP-29 meta. That being said, the DXR-1 appears to be your best bet for a quality sniper rifle at the moment. 

The DXR-1’s raw power means that you really only have to hit a shot or two with it to ruin someone’s day. It’s not nearly as powerful as the NWT-50 so far as that goes, but it is more manageable, accurate, and generally reliable, which are all the sniper traits you’re looking for in the current meta. 

M5A3

I think there is a solid argument to be made for the AK-24 over the M5A3, but the M5A3’s accuracy and reliability are hard to ignore. 

You definitely shouldn’t expect to be able to run and gun much with this one (that’s what the PP-29 is there for), but the M5A3 is very good when you’re able to hold a fixed position with it against enemies at slightly longer ranges. It’s just a solid all-around weapon. 

SVK

If Marksman weapons are ultimately supposed to fall somewhere between snipers and assault rifles, then I tend to recommend the SVK over some of its close alternatives simply because its stopping power helps it fill that somewhat niche void. 

The SVK is perfect for taking down enemies in a few shots from nearly sniper rifle-level distances. Even if it doesn’t quite boast the range of a gun like the DXR, its max range is still respectable enough to allow you to effectively operate at a distance in the majority of Battlefield 2042 scenarios.

Battlefield 2042: The Best Loadouts

Picking the best loadouts in Battlefield 2042 is kind of tricky. Loadouts in this game are designed to allow you to relatively easily be able to swap between various attachments in order to make the most out of the current situation. In other words, one loadout might be best suited for long-range combat and another will help you maximize your damage output in close quarters. It’s really all about your preferences and the current circumstances.

With that in mind, here are some of the best “general” or “overall” loadouts that we’ve found for some of the game’s best guns:

PP – 29

Barrel: Extended Barrel
Sight: Fusion Holo
Ammo: Standard Issue
Underbarrel: Default

LCMG

Barrel: Extended Barrel
Sight: 8R Holo
Ammo: Close Combat
Underbarrel: Cobra Grip

DXR-1

Sight: Raven
Ammunition: High-Power
Barrel: Extended Barrel
Underbarrel: Factory Mounts

M5A3

Sight: Fusion Holo
Ammunition: Extended Mag
Barrel: Extended Barrel
Underbarrel: BCG Light Grip

SVK

Sight: BKS 8x
Ammunition: High-Power
Barrel: Extended Barrel
Underbarrel: Cobra Grip