Black Ops Cold War Season 3 Reloaded update nerfs snipers, buffs ARs

On May 18, Treyarch revealed the full slate of content coming with the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Season 3 Reloaded update. This update is headlined by the arrival of Standoff Rambo and John McClane skins and, of course, another round of weapon balancing.

This time around, the weapon balancing is a whole new monster. Treyarch is starting to crack down on multiplayer’s biggest issues, including the overpowered nature of sniper rifles. The Season 3 Reloaded update is set to shake up the weapon class significantly, much to the delight of any non-sniping fan.

In addition, the developers are touching on every assault rifle, light machine gun and pistol in the process.

Season 3 Reloaded update: weapon tuning patch notes

To start off, Treyarch is finally adding flinch to snipers to make them less powerful. This becomes more magnified when aiming down sights, but now snipers will kick up when being shot. There are also individual changes for each of the snipers in multiplayer — in regard to ADS momentum, bullet velocity and a plethora of attachments. Players can read about each individual change on Treyarch’s website; the highlights of which are listed below.

• Custom Flinch: a sniper-specific flinch that moves the weapon aim while being hit. This flinch is more pronounced in ADS. Attachments that reduce flinch have been factored into this feature update.

• LW3 Tundra
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 550 to 580
  • Reduced ADS-In Momentum from 0.2 to 0.233
• Pelington 703
  • Increased Sprint to Fire speed from 0.45 to 0.433
  • Reduced Bullet Velocity from 500 to 478
  • Increased Aim Down Sight time from 0.55 to 0.583
• M82
  • Increased one-hit kill potential to include the mid-torso
  • Aim Down Sight speed increased from 0.7 to 0.666
  • Increased ADS-Out Momentum from 0.2 to 0.183
  • Reduced ADS-In Momentum from 0.2 to 0.25
  • Reduced firing speed from 0.333 to 0.833
• ZRG 20mm
  • Reduced Aim Down Sight speed from 0.65 to 0.683.
  • Reduced Bullet Velocity from 925 to 923.
  • Increased ADS-Out Momentum from 0.2 to 0.183
  • Reduced ADS-In Momentum from 0.2 to 0.283
• Swiss K31
  • 25% less Flinch than other sniper rifles
  • Reduced Bullet Velocity from 700 to 684

AR buffs in Season 3 Reloaded

In regard to assault rifles, there’s a class-wide buff to bullet velocity, with one exception. Every AR, apart from the FFAR, now features a much better bullet velocity to compete with SMGs at longer ranges.

• Krig 6
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 625 to 686
  • Increased Bullet Velocity bonus from 19.7” Ranger Barrel attachment from 100% to 126%
  • Reduced Bullet Velocity penalty from 15.5” Contour Barrel attachment from 25% to 12%
• AK-47
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 490 to 702
• FFAR 1
  • Increased maximum damage from 27 to 28
  • Reduced Bullet Velocity from 705 to 629
• Groza
  • Reduced headshot multiplier from 1.4x to 1.25x
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 650 to 660
• QBZ-83
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 625 to 671
• FARA 83
  • Increased headshot multiplier from 1.25x to 1.4x
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 675 to 729
  • Reduced maximum damage from 31 to 30
  • Minimum damage reduced from 28 to 27
  • Reduced Bullet Velocity penalty from 17.5” Contour Barrel attachment from 25% to 18%
• XM4
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 550 to 657

LMG buffs in multiplayer

For the LMGs in multiplayer, there’s also a buff to bullet velocity. However, this comes with a nerf to the Task Force barrel’s bullet velocity increase. This will make LMGs a little better without needing to rely on the Task Force barrel.

• Stoner 63
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 675 to 714
  • Reduced Bullet Velocity bonus from 21.8” Task Force Barrel attachment from 100% to 41%
• RPD
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 475 to 684
  • Reduced Bullet Velocity bonus from 20.3” Task Force Barrel attachment from 100% to 44%
• M60
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 600 to 791
  • Reduced Bullet Velocity bonus from 22.8” Task Force Barrel attachment from 100% to 39%

A buff to pistols in Season 3 Reloaded

Finally, pistols are receiving a bullet velocity buff as well. However, it isn’t as extreme as the buffs to the ARs or LMGs.

• 1911
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 200 to 206
• Magnum
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 300 to 313
• Diamatti
  • Increased Bullet Velocity from 250 to 257

The Season 3 Reloaded update is set to roll out at 12 a.m. ET on May 19. PlayStation players are able to pre-load this download. The actual content for Season 3 Reloaded releases at 12 a.m. ET on May 20 for all systems.