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A fresh update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 went live yesterday afternoon. Treyarch released Update #5 on November 21, 2025, bringing significant changes to the game’s meta. The developers focused heavily on weapon balancing and controller tuning. Specifically, they addressed player feedback regarding the dominance of Assault Rifles (ARs) over Submachine Guns (SMGs).
Here is a breakdown of the critical changes you need to know.
Aim Assist Gets a Crucial Tweak
The most talked-about change in this update involves Rotational Aim Assist. Previously, players felt the launch-day tuning was too harsh compared to the Beta. Consequently, the developers have adjusted the minimum Rotational Aim Assist penalty. They reduced this penalty from 35% to 25%.
This change means controller players will now receive slightly more assistance when their right-stick inputs do not perfectly track a moving target. The developers noted that the previous setting “slightly overshot” their balance target. Therefore, this update softens that feel without fully restoring the overpowering strength seen in the Beta.
SMGs Finally Get the Upper Hand in Black Ops 7
For weeks, players complained that Assault Rifles outperformed SMGs even at close range. To fix this, the update introduces a global shift in how these classes handle damage and flinch.
First, SMGs received a buff to “Received Flinch”, dropping from 0.17N to 0.12N. This helps you stay on target during gunfights. Simultaneously, ARs received a flinch nerf, increasing from 0.15N to 0.18N. Now, AR users will flinch harder when hit.
Furthermore, specific SMGs received direct enhancements to their damage ranges and attachments:
- Ryden 45K: The “Medium 2” damage range now extends further, from 29.2m to 34.3m. Additionally, the developers improved the ADS speed to 200ms.
- RK-9: This weapon saw its “Medium 2” effective range increase to 27.9m.
- Razor 9mm: The range received a boost up to 30.5m.
Various attachments, like the 12” Vienna Barrel for the Ryden and the Skeletonized Grip, also received massive statistical improvements to range and recoil control.
Assault Rifles & Other Notable Nerfs
To balance the SMG buffs, the developers reduced the versatility of the game’s strongest Assault Rifles. The M15 MOD 0, AK-27, and X9 Maverick all suffered reductions in damage, movement speed, and sprint-to-fire times. For instance, the popular M15 MOD 0 saw its maximum damage drop from 22 to 21, and its movement speed slowed to 4.7m/s.
Beyond weapons, the update brought other interesting gameplay adjustments:
- Pistol Overhaul: The Jäger 45 pistol received a massive damage buff. Its maximum damage jumped from 31 to 60, effectively doubling its lethality in close quarters.
- HUD Update: The viewable minimap area increased by another 10%.
- Scorestreaks: The LDBR Second Strike now fires 13 missiles instead of 9.
- Drone Pod Nerf: This Field Upgrade now takes 30 seconds longer to charge, and the drone lasts only 8 seconds.
This update marks the beginning of weapon tuning for Season 1. The developers promised to continue examining game data to ensure a competitive experience for all input types.
