The Ultimate Guide: What Is the Best Gun to Upgrade in Zombies?
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The quest for the perfect weapon is a cornerstone of the Call of Duty Zombies experience. While initial loadouts and wall buys offer a starting point, upgrading your arsenal is crucial for surviving the relentless undead hordes. So, what is the best gun to upgrade in zombies? The answer isn’t a single weapon, but rather a class of guns, and a couple of standout contenders. In general, the best guns to upgrade are high-damage, reliable weapons that excel in later rounds. This often means that shotguns or certain powerful special weapons tend to take the top spots, but assault rifles can be viable too, depending on the specific Zombies game and its mechanics.
The Top Contenders: Shotguns and Special Weapons
The Mighty Shotguns
Across numerous Call of Duty Zombies iterations, shotguns consistently prove their worth. The ability to deliver massive damage at close range is invaluable when hordes are closing in. The Hauer 77 shotgun from Black Ops Cold War frequently comes up as an example of this. It’s renowned for its incredible power, especially when packed-a-punched. The 410 Ironhide is another standout in this category, offering similar close-quarters devastation. These weapons shine by providing one-shot headshots on regular zombies, allowing for efficient horde clearouts, particularly early and mid-game.
Other shotguns like the Gallo also earn frequent nods from the community, being another goated weapon. The high damage, combined with decent mobility after pack-a-punching makes these incredibly valuable options. When upgrading shotguns, you are improving their damage output, magazine size, and other relevant stats that allow for continued effectiveness in later rounds.
Special Weapons and Explosives
Certain special weapons are also excellent candidates for upgrades. The Ray Gun is a classic example and consistently performs exceptionally well in most Cold War Zombies maps due to its high damage, range, and mobility making it a worthy end-game choice. Similarly, explosive weapons like the M79 grenade launcher often find favor. While initially clunky, the M79 paired with Ring of Fire and PhD Flopper (or PhD Slider), can become a god-tier combination, blasting zombies at later rounds effortlessly. The explosion damage makes it a powerful room-clearing weapon.
However, it is important to consider the specific maps and game mechanics at play. Not all special weapons perform equally. Some have limited ammo, while others might be less effective against certain enemy types. The Thundergun (a special weapon from certain maps) is another example of a weapon that excels when properly upgraded, providing crowd control and immense damage in a relatively small radius.
Assault Rifles: Reliable All-Rounders
While not always the best for late-game high-round survival, certain assault rifles make excellent upgraded options for their balanced nature. Weapons like the XM4 in Cold War offer a good balance of damage, accuracy, and ammo capacity. With the addition of ammo crates in Cold War zombies, the main downside of assault rifles, running out of ammo, becomes almost a non-issue. This makes them good for early and mid-game progression. Similarly, the M16 is a solid contender across the board and is frequently cited as one of the most reliable weapons in general.
In Black Ops 3, the Man-O-War and KN-44 are considered excellent choices that are reliable and can be upgraded to become even more devastating. These weapons do not have the same explosive power as shotguns and special weapons, but their consistent damage makes them valuable in most situations.
Factors to Consider When Upgrading
Beyond the weapon itself, several factors determine which gun is best to upgrade:
- Game Mechanics: Each Call of Duty Zombies title has slightly different mechanics, affecting weapon performance. Some favor raw damage, while others emphasize crowd control or mobility.
- Map Design: The layout of a map influences weapon choice. Close-quarters maps often favor shotguns, while larger maps benefit from weapons with range.
- Perks and Field Upgrades: Perks like Speed Cola (reload speed) and Juggernog (increased health) can greatly enhance a gun’s effectiveness, while field upgrades like Aether Shroud can make any weapon more survivable.
- Ammo Mods: Ammo mods like Brain Rot can significantly increase a gun’s utility, turning zombies into allies, which can be a huge benefit when you’re surrounded.
- Personal Playstyle: Ultimately, the best gun to upgrade depends on individual preference and play style. Some players prefer the close-quarters chaos of shotguns, while others prefer the consistent damage of assault rifles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the Ray Gun always the best weapon to upgrade?
While the Ray Gun is a powerhouse, it is not universally the best. Its effectiveness varies per game and map, and its limited ammo can be a problem in long runs. However, it is often a top-tier option in many Cold War Zombies maps.
2. Are shotguns always the best in zombies?
Shotguns are incredibly strong, especially in early and mid-game rounds when upgraded, but they can lose efficiency in very high rounds or on large maps. However, they are often cited as some of the best guns in the game.
3. What is the best field upgrade to pair with a good gun?
Aether Shroud is an outstanding choice for most players. It provides temporary invulnerability and can help you reposition, reload or even escape when cornered. Another solid pick is Ring of Fire, which can significantly increase your gun’s damage output, but it’s best used with a heavy-hitting weapon like shotguns or explosive weapons.
4. Is the M16 still a top-tier option in modern zombies?
The M16 remains a strong and reliable choice in many titles. It is considered meta in Cold War zombies and offers a great balance of damage and accuracy.
5. What is the best ammo mod for zombies?
Brain Rot is widely considered the best ammo mod because it turns enemies into allies, providing valuable crowd control. However, mods like Napalm Burst and Dead Wire are excellent for damage and can be extremely effective with certain weapons.
6. What’s better for zombies: high damage or high fire rate?
Both are beneficial, but high damage often prevails in higher rounds. A fast fire rate is useful for early and mid-game but ultimately high damage becomes necessary to take down larger zombies and survive longer.
7. Can a pistol be a good upgraded option?
Some pistols, especially when dual-wielded and upgraded, can be surprisingly effective. However, they generally aren’t as reliable as shotguns, assault rifles, or special weapons, especially in later rounds. The 1911 is a specific standout that is a great choice for early rounds, even up to mid rounds in some cases.
8. Are light machine guns viable?
Yes, especially in modes like Outbreak. The Stoner 63 is an excellent example, offering high magazine capacity and damage.
9. What is the best way to get a good gun?
The Mystery Box is the best way to get special weapons like the Ray Gun. However, wall buys are often your most reliable way of starting with good assault rifles or shotguns, which you can then upgrade.
10. Is Double Tap a good perk to help upgrade a gun?
Double Tap increases your weapon’s fire rate and damage, which is a useful perk, however, it may not be as good as perks like Juggernog, Speed Cola or Widow’s Wine.
11. Which Black Ops game has the best zombies experience?
Black Ops 3 is often regarded as the best, thanks to its diverse maps, weapons, and overall gameplay.
12. Which is the hardest Zombies map ever?
Some of the hardest maps include Verruckt, Shangri-La, and Nacht Der Untoten, due to map layouts, enemy types, or general difficulty.
13. What is the most hated Zombies map?
TranZit often receives negative reviews due to its bus mechanic, while Nuketown Zombies is considered frustratingly cramped.
14. Is overkill useful in zombies?
Overkill, which allows you to carry two primary weapons, can be useful to have both a close range and long range option, but it is not a game changing pick.
15. Is Speed Cola the best perk for Zombies?
Speed Cola is excellent for reload speeds and generally considered one of the top 3 perks along with Juggernog and Widow’s Wine. However, all perks are valuable in specific situations.
Choosing the right gun to upgrade is paramount for zombie survival. While the shotguns and special weapons are usually a good go-to, remember to consider your playstyle, map design, and game-specific mechanics to find the best upgrades. Experiment and have fun!