Introduction | Weapons Battlefield 4 Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

In Battlefield 4 you have access to a variety of weapons that, additionally, come in multitude of variations. It would seem that with such a multitude of weaponry, the differences between the individual models will be rather negligible, due to the balance requirements. And that is what it is like but, the "negligible" difference have a tremendous bearing on the operation of each weapon, which allows the player select a weapon that suits his gaming style and the situation in the battlefield.

Fortunately enough, in this installment of the series, weapon has been very well described, both in the game on the Battlelog. Thanks to the lucid graphs (that present percentage values) and the numerical data, you can easily figure out the use of each weapon but, these are general graphs and, sometimes, a single bar represents three mean statistics, where the other ones have not been presented at all. The only method to discover, the more or less apparent features of a weapon, is to test it in the battlefield and compare - or by taking a look into our guide. Below, you ill find a simplified description of the hidden features of the weapons, which has been presented as a five-step scale which, for easier identification, has been color-coded in the following manner:

• best
• good
• medium
• bad
• worst

Thanks to the lists presented below, you will easily recognize the upsides and downsides of each weapon, which will allow you to avoid the tiresome and time-consuming process of trials and errors and comparing. Nevertheless, we still encourage you to test each and every weapon that you unlock - best at the proving ground accessible via the Battlelog, where you get access to the perfectly-designed shooting range. There, you will be finally able to find out if statistics that look so well in writing actually suit your preferences. All of the statistics presented below, refer to the default weapons, i.e. without attachments. The statistics presented below are:

• Optimal/effective range - a projectile fired from each weapon has the largest power at the beginning of its flight and, after it covers a certain distance, its power decreases considerably and remains on the same level until it drops to zero.
• Tactical reload time - it is reloading a magazine, in which there is still, at least, one bullet.
• Full reload time - it is reloading a magazine that is completely used up.
• First shot recoil - the accuracy of the first shot in nearly all weapons is perfect but, it causes the effect of the muzzle vertical climb and each consecutive shot connects higher than the previous one.
• Recoil of the consecutive shots - the longer you hold down the trigger (incessantly), the higher is the barrel climb. . This statistic shows how much the barrel climbs between the second shot and the last one.
• Muzzle horizontal drift - apart from the vertical climb, each weapon also has various horizontal climb. Sometimes, it is uneven and oblique.
• Stabilization times after the last shot fired- it is time necessary for the weapon to return to its starting position after fire is ceased.

Each of the subchapters below is devoted to a given weapon type and all comparisons of their features refer only to that type of weapons. Assessment of various categories using one scale would not make much sense, because you cannot treat, e.g. pistols and sniper rifles on a par. More about this, you can find in chapter "Weaponry Categories" . This statistic shows how much the barrel climbs between the second shot and the last one. where the general features of each weapon, and their use, have been described.