Let's be real for a second. When people talk about Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, they usually start by complaining about the jetpacks or that one trailer that got millions of dislikes. But if you actually played the game—I mean really sat down and ground out the solar camouflages—you know the truth. The Call of Duty Infinite Warfare guns were some of the most creative, broken, and genuinely fun tools of destruction we've ever seen in the franchise.
The game didn't just give us reskinned AK-47s. It gave us guns that literally split in half to become dual-wield shotguns. It gave us snipers that recharged ammo from the vacuum of space. Honestly, the weapon design was lightyears ahead of what we’re getting in some of the modern titles today.
The Ballistic vs. Energy Ammo Divide
One thing that messed with people early on was the difference between ballistic and energy weapons. Basically, ballistic guns like the NV4 or the KBAR-32 work exactly how you’d expect. They have bullet penetration, so you can shoot through a thin wall or a crate to pick off a camper.
Energy weapons are a totally different beast. Instead of shooting through walls, the blue "tracers" actually ricochet off surfaces. You could literally bank a shot off a hallway wall to hit someone around a corner. Plus, they have this "fusion mag" mechanic where the battery slowly regenerates over time. If you’re a player who constantly forgets to reload, energy guns were a lifesaver.
But there’s a trade-off. Energy shots don't penetrate cover well. If someone hides behind a plywood board, your energy beams are just going to bounce off like harmless sparks while they melt you with a traditional lead-spitting rifle.
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The NV4: The Reliable Workhorse
You can't talk about this game without mentioning the NV4. It was the first assault rifle you unlocked, and for many, it was the only one they ever used. It felt like the ACR from Modern Warfare 2—virtually zero recoil and a laser-like focus at long range.
In the multiplayer meta, the NV4 Fallout was the holy grail for a long time because it had the "Nuclear" perk. You get a 25-kill streak, and boom, De-Atomizer strike. It made the gun the go-to for anyone trying to show off on YouTube. Even without the perks, the base NV4 was so consistent it almost felt boring. It didn't have the fastest time-to-kill (TTK), but because you never missed a shot, you usually won the gunfight anyway.
Variants That Actually Changed Gameplay
Infinite Warfare introduced the "Prototype" system, which used a currency called Salvage. This was kinda controversial at the time because it smelled like "pay to win," but honestly, being able to craft specific Epics made the grind feel worth it.
Take the Type-2 Butcher. The standard Type-2 is an assault rifle that you can split into two pistols. The Butcher variant? It turns those pistols into dual-wield shotguns. It’s a total game-changer. You could engage at mid-range as a rifleman, and the second you stepped into a building, you’d split the gun and clear the room like a maniac.
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Then you had the Mauler - Sentinel. If you play Zombies in Spaceland, you know this gun. Instead of firing one bullet, it fires a vertical line of five shots. It’s basically a wall of lead. In the Zombies mode, this thing is arguably the best weapon in the game because it shreds through boss health like paper.
Notable Epic Variants Worth the Salvage:
- EBR-800 Bomber: A sniper that fires a three-round burst when you charge it up. It’s essentially a tactical rifle that can one-shot almost anything.
- RPR Evo Bosozoku: This one is weird—it rewards you for shooting people in the... uh... lower regions. It turns groin shots into headshot damage.
- KBS Longbow Big Brother: Keeps your mini-map active while you’re aiming down the scope. For a sniper, that’s huge for situational awareness.
The Zombies Meta: Kendall 44 and Beyond
If you’re hopping into Infinite Warfare today, it’s probably for the Zombies. The weapon progression there is surprisingly deep. Most people start every match with the Kendall 44. On its own, it’s a peashooter. But once you Pack-a-Punch it? It becomes the Baby's Breath, firing explosive rounds that act like a Mustang and Sally on steroids.
The M1 Garand is another sleeper hit in Zombies. Because it's a "classic" weapon, you can buy it off the wall for cheap, and when it's upgraded, it has a semi-auto aimbot feature that targets heads as long as you're vaguely looking at the zombie. It’s the ultimate point-builder for early rounds.
Why the Weapon System Still Matters
Most modern CoDs have moved toward "Gunsmith" where you swap out 50 different grips that all do the same thing. Infinite Warfare's system felt more distinct. Every variant had a personality. Whether it was the Oni Kaiken (a pistol that charges up like a railgun) or the VPR (a twin-barrel SMG that was so broken at launch it had to be nerfed within days), the guns felt like they belonged in a sci-fi epic.
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The complexity came from how those variants interacted with your Rig. If you were running the Merc rig with Man-at-Arms, you could carry a massive LMG like the Titan and still move like a gymnast. It created this high-speed, high-lethality environment that we haven't really seen since.
Getting Started with the Best Loadouts
If you’re just starting or coming back after a long break, don't overcomplicate things. Stick to the basics until you earn enough Salvage for the big stuff.
- For Multiplayer: Run the KBAR-32 with an ELO sight, Quickdraw, and Stock. It’s the "sweaty" setup for a reason—the fire rate is high enough to beat SMGs, but it still has the reach of a rifle.
- For Zombies: Focus on getting the Mauler and upgrading it. If you can't get the Sentinel variant yet, even the base version with a "Slappy Toffee" perk will carry you through the mid-rounds.
- Salvage Tip: Don't waste your Salvage on Rare or Legendary variants unless they are required to unlock the Epic you want. Save up the 4,000 Salvage for the "game-changers" like the Cyclopean (the Erad variant that turns the gun into a literal continuous death beam).
The Call of Duty Infinite Warfare guns might be old by gaming standards, but the variety and the "feel" of the gunplay are still top-tier. Even if the space setting wasn't your thing, you have to respect the sheer audacity of the weapon designers. They took risks that actually paid off in terms of pure fun.
Actionable Steps for New Players
Start by completing the Mission Team challenges. The JTF Wolverines are the easiest to level up early on and will give you the NV4 - Prosperity, which helps you earn more scorestreaks. Once you've got a decent handle on the movement, head into the "Zombies in Spaceland" map to farm keys. These keys are your ticket to Supply Drops, which are still the fastest way to land those elusive Epic variants without spending months hoarding Salvage.
Focus your Salvage spending on the Mauler - Sentinel first if you prefer co-op, or the NV4 - Flatline if you want a dominant weapon for hardcore multiplayer modes. The Flatline has infinite damage range, meaning it's a guaranteed two-to-three-shot kill no matter how far away the enemy is. It’s basically cheating on the larger maps.