If you prefer a measured, tactical playstyle — holding long sightlines and guarding anchor points — one weapon will likely become your go-to in Black Ops 7: the M8A1. This marksman rifle fires four-round bursts and, in the current beta build, can one‑burst enemies at full health when every shot connects — making it a standout choice for precision-oriented players (provided you don’t miss).
For newcomers the M8A1 will feel fresh, but veterans will recognize it instantly. It’s a throwback to the weaponry that dominated earlier eras of Call of Duty: in 2012’s Black Ops 2, the M8A1 (paired with the MSMC among SMGs) was ubiquitous in multiplayer and competitive playlists. Skilled players could rhythmically time each burst to approximate fully automatic fire, with only a tiny pause between trigger pulls.
Its reappearance is more than mere nostalgia; it’s a sensible fit. Black Ops 7 returns to a three-lane map philosophy, which reshapes match tempo, sightlines, and the value of anchored positions — situations where a disciplined burst rifle thrives.
The removal of automatic tactical sprint (unless a perk trades off overall mobility) slows the movement ceiling compared with recent entries. That reduced pace favors weapons built for longer engagements, and the M8A1 benefits from that context. Had it come back during a meta dominated by close-range SMGs and fast-assault play — like in some recent installments — it wouldn’t have been nearly as effective.
There are dozens of classic weapons that could also flourish in a slower, lane-based game: the Galil from Black Ops, the AK-74U and M16A4 from Call of Duty 4, the R700 or Barrett .50 cal, and World at War staples like the BAR or Kar98k, to name a few. That said, no weapon suits every map — some layouts simply don’t reward anchored, long-range play. Toshin’s chaos and Blackheart’s cramped corridors aren’t ideal for holding angles, whereas maps like Cortex, Exposure, and Imprint create the perfect environment for a four-shot burst rifle that punishes headshots.
We’ve only sampled six of the 16 maps scheduled for Black Ops 7 in the beta, but the initial selection already favors burst-faithful players. Personally, we’re eager to take the M8A1 back to Raid and Standoff and see how it shapes familiar battlegrounds.
Source: Polygon
