Black Ops 7 Zombies best weapon class will surprise you

As Call of Duty Zombies has evolved over the intervening 17 years World at war and Black Ops 7so has the meta, with the weapons deemed the best weapons to go after via Mystery Box, Wall Buys or Weapon Loadouts changing regularly. In the early days of the mode, where ammo was extremely scarce and survival was easier said than done, LMGs were king. Players jumped for joy when they received an MG42 World at war or an RPK in the original Black Opswhile the LSAT was a powerhouse among the few Black Ops 2 maps it could be used on. Black Ops 3 was one last hurray for this weapon class, as the Dingo was iconic, even though it's also the game where shotguns started to take over. The KRM-262 was an ideal wall buy while the Haymaker was a boss melter available in the box, and in BO4Mog 12 was another important wallbuy. Black Ops Cold War and BO6 however, continued this trend via the Huaer 77, ASG 89 and Maelstrom Black Ops 7 marks the birth of a new meta star: pistols.

Black Ops 7 Zombies' best shotgun isn't even a shotgun… It's the Jager 45 Pistol

The shotguns found in Black Ops 7 are pretty poor, with only the M10 Breacher worth using. The Echo-12's two-round burst makes it awkward to use against a horde, and while the rapid-firing Akita shotgun is satisfying to mow down a group of enemies with, it eats through ammo extremely quickly. Fortunately, the era of shotgun lovers is not over, as the M10 is joined (and outshined) by the Pack-a-Punched Jager 45. Much like the SVD went from sniper to shotgun when it was upgraded in Black Ops 6The Jager 45 trades its typical pistol rounds for shotgun firing, and feels like a satisfying successor to Black Ops 2 the executioner's weapon. It has all the advantages of a pistol, it is quick to set up, move with and switch to while still feeling like a traditional shotgun.

An ideal Zombies loadout for the Jager 45 pistol is as follows:

Muzzle: Monolithic damper
Barrel: 9.6” MFS Vital Ace Barrel
Journal: Goliath-X Extended+
Rear grip: Ranger Lite Grip
Laser: Vector Sync Lazer
Fire mod: 0.45 Cal FMJ
Inventory (Prioritize when unlocked): Double wheels

Some attachments have been known to not match their description in BO7 Zombies, so if the FMJ turns out not to have the promised penetration power, it would be recommended to switch to the Match Grade Trigger for its rapid fire capability.

Being able to tear through the undead with not just one but two shotguns makes the Jager 45 the strongest and most satisfying base weapon available in Black Ops 7. While some certainly wish it fired explosives like the Mustang and Sally, the shotgun review is a ton of fun that will be preferred by those looking to get plenty of headshots. Perhaps the best thing about the Jager 45 is that there is no need to level up Black Ops 7 to get it, or spend a Permanent Unlock token on it, since it's one of the game's starting weapons. This means players can start leveling up immediately and work towards Dual Wield, perhaps even throwing on a Double Weapon XP token to reach shotgun nirvana even faster.

Black Ops 7 Zombies Has Another Stellar Pistol To Use (And One To Avoid)

While the 3-round burst Velox 5.7 is an unfortunate follow-up to the Jager 45, as its damage is comparable to something like an RK5 from Black Ops 3the third and final gun is up there with the Jager as one of the best Zombies weapons in the Black Ops 7. The Coda 9 is a spiritual successor to the KAP-40 – something highlighted by its NO KAP Pack-a-Punch name – and it certainly lives up to those high expectations. Once Pack-a-Punched, this gun has an incredible amount of ammo, which would be justifiable if it lacked damage. However, its DPS is also top-notch, meaning players can tear through multiple hordes before needing to visit an ammo crate. By the time they get through all of its ammo, especially if they're aiming for the head, a Max Ammo will likely be dropped at their feet to keep the fight going.

A similar loadout to the Jager 45 is recommended, as zombie accessories like suppressors are always a must for the extra damage and barrels that increase headshot damage are viable for any weapon. However, the Coda 9 is very satisfying without dual grips, so players can just focus on increasing their stats to make an already effective gun stronger.

Call of Duty Zombies' guns have always flirted with being meta, as there have been handguns over the years that have really wowed players. Mustang and Sally (M1911), Boomhilda (Mauser C96) and Z-Harmony (Strife) all come to mind as some of the greats. Having two incredibly powerful guns on day one is quite surprising though, as the last time this happened arguably was in Black Ops 2 with the M1911 and the Bödel – and even then the M1911 was quite dangerous without the PhD Flopper. Assuming a revolver comes along Black Ops 7 post-launch, a weapon type that regularly proves strong in the mode, the pistol class will only get better. However, with Coda and Jager so dominant, it's already the most impressive weapon class in BO7 Zombies.