The "Launch Powerful, Nerf Later" Trend in Modern Warfare III | (Is it a Bad Thing?)

[@wi11iambruh91]

It isn’t too bad in my opinion if they balance out an unintentionally good kit, I have more of an issue with how bad they nerf them afterwards

[@xxPhoenixX-sg9tr]

Then give said guns they nerf in bundles and the next battlepass as rewards 🤣. This company is beyond incompetent

[@arcticowl1091]

how would it be unintentional? you don't make a gun good by accident, someone has to input the values for these guns, it's intentional.

[@jonsnow2555]

Yeah they've been releasing guns for years now, they make them OP to sell skins and then nerf them. Rinse and repeat

[@thatguy1080]

>Implying it's unintentional Oh you sweet summer child.

[@hispaniccoyote]

It's so dumb. They can't get weapon balancing right.

[@XSR1K]

Definitely a bad thing in my opinion. Some of us have jobs and families to take care of. We cant fucking keep up with changes to weapon stats every other day.

[@LowTide941]

More like every other week but yes completely agree

[@KiryokuYT]

Wait, how does that have anything to do with the balancing of an aftermarket part? It takes all of two or three games to complete five weekly challenges. The strength of the kit has nothing to do with how long it takes to unlock it.

[@XSR1K]

@@LowTide941I agree. Some of the guns were quite good and in no way overpowered, when the game first game out for e.g BAS B, Striker, Katt AMR etc. Instead of nerfing them, they should’ve just buffed other guns to make them more competitive. I hate coming back on the game after a while and realizing my loadouts have become irrelevant. The whole “meta” thing is super annoying. Games like Insurgency Sandstorm for instance, every player uses a different gun - it helps in making the game more fun as there is more variety. I dont wanna use a freakin Rennetti for a whole season and then switch over to another ‘meta’ the following season. Back in the days, you could use any gun and still be competitive ( I know there were some OP weapons in the original games as well but not to this extent). You cant even try out other guns in this game as you’ll lose a shit ton of gunfights.

[@nathancarsey3605]

It’s not the games fault you don’t have time. You should be rewarded for putting time into the game. Sucks if you don’t have time

[@cam935n]

The game doesn't have to change itself so a minority can play the game

[@caryugly]

From a business perspective it's good that it encourages players to keep up and stay active, thus more potential revenue. But it's not the best practice for competitive title, which COD isn't anyways.

[@Beast-jn1rl]

These kits etc are not in ranked play

[@David_1789]

Competitive is a relative term. Sure, this isn’t a LAN tournament with everything perfectly balanced, but the overarching point of the game is to win matches, as opposed to a coop multiplayer game, so it is inherently competitive.

[@caryugly]

@@David_1789 I completely agree with you. Players compete, that's gaming for the most part, which is why COD's tactic of attracting players with OP weapons works in the first place. By 'competitive' I meant titles that prioritize competitive integrity over other aspects such as Valorant and CSGO, where OP weapons tend to drive players away, unlike COD.

[@sebastiangelbert3637]

why is the crossbow not a one shot kill torso up? why do i need to use explosive tip to even have a chance? not to mention eod padding why was the lockwood 300 nerfed to the ground? was it so oppressive knowing the smg's and ar's in this game

[@davidanthonyschneider4321]

I completely agree. I love having the weekly challenges to unlock new stuff. After the game launches and I have leveled up and unlocked all the gun camos I feel like the game gets stagnant and there really nothing really to work for.

[@David_1789]

If you play CoD FOR the grind, then you don’t inherently like the gameplay. Good games, or games that you like, are fun to play without any goal other than playing.

[@Ryze2803]

It’s a tactic to increase playtime by having people grind them out, is it bad? Maybe? Does it work? Yeah

[@thunderslug1066]

What's the point of adding something if it doesn't change the game much at all?

[@Ccubed92]

Because of more variety lol making a op gun will have 99 percent of people using the same gun

[@jolbertti7421]

​@@Ccubed92yeah adding one op gun is same to removing 90% guns

[@Beast-jn1rl]

@@Ccubed92 id rather it being op for a week and than balance it out then it being bad from the start

[@jeremybrown9611]

​@@Beast-jn1rlyep this

[@epicgamerzfail4575]

Id rather something come out strong and fun to use vs something thats weak and useless. The first few APs that were literally downgrades felt awful and like a waste of time. ofc id prefer stuff to be balanced, but if we had to go one way or another, thats where I lean

[@JordTheeNord]

The goal should be BALANCED. Not overpowered or underpowered. It bothers me that people don't think balanced is an option. That everything has to be overpowered or underpowered.

[@epicgamerzfail4575]

@@JordTheeNord no one is perfect at balance, thats why devs lean one way or another in the first place.

[@JordTheeNord]

@@epicgamerzfail4575 I respectfully disagree to the notion that you need to lean one way. Yes balance will never be perfect but I don't believe the devs are even trying in the first place. Let's take a look at the latest example with the BP50 smg kit. Insanely fast ttk, insanely good handling stats, insanely good mobility stats, insanely good recoil plot, insanely high magazine size. Do you honestly believe the devs ever considered this to be balanced?

[@Ccubed92]

Yea because of your low skill level

[@hoagieland3716]

It’s very clearly a shady marketing technique to drive engagement by creating a temporary carrot on a stick for people to chase. People rush to get the best stuff as early as possible and then it gets nerfed for them to repeat the cycle with new shiny overpowered content. Edit: I’m not entirely against the weekly challenge system for unlocking new items, but they should be balanced properly. The appeal shouldn’t be because it’s OP. The appeal should be it’s interesting, looks cool, and/or feels unique

[@Oznerol1234]

They just need to find the right balance between ruining the weapon, and make it more balanced. This also applied to many changes they made in Season 3 for some weapons that were here since day one. (A few nerfs to weapons that didnt need it at all)

[@David_1789]

Ace, I WOULD prefer the alternative of items launching in their inevitable end state. The OP at launch/Nerf later tactic is bad for consumers overall in the long run and it’s not worth the temporary fun (for those who use the item) before the nerf. A truly balanced offering of weapons doesn’t need any particular one to shine…the entire point is that personal preference plays a greater role in weapon choice without sacrificing performance.

[@Dash3105]

I rather weapons and new stuff be launched in a powerful state. Gives more excitement to them. If they're bad or mediocre it feels like "what's the point in going for this?" I'm fine with them being nerfed and balanced a little later on. This isn't a competitive game to me, so I don't really care if things are super broken/overpowered. The only exception was things like the AMP longbow, AMP haymaker, and AMP BAS-B kits. Those were powerful to the point of unfun.

[@David_1789]

Variety is the point. You all are trading in long term, interesting variety in exchange for temporary, repeated cheap thrills.

[@dillonc7955]

I miss the question of "will it be powerful?" rather than knowing the first few days or a weapon or AMP's release will instantly make it good, then up to a week later a nerf will take it out of commission. The same pattern has happened with the last 3 to 5 guns and AMPs that weren't minor optics or stocks.

[@bobdarrick2628]

it's better the way theyre doing it

[@HowManyToasters]

There's a massive financial incentive for them to make new weapons too good so more people buy the battlepass and blackcell to get them 10+hours early, really rubs me the wrong way. Dont at all expect it to change tho. At least when an aftermarket part is too OP everyone has access to it and you cant pay money to get it early

[@m4a1snerfed]

what was that bo4 flatchette gun with explosive ammo operator mod? shit was wild.

[@zapperboy42]

The s6 stingrays impact blast operator mod was crazy

[@iambane7845]

Its really stupid getting a good gun then its ass after a week

[@Honeneko.]

It's not. It keeps things from getting boring. If everyone starts using "THE GOOD GUN", is it even good anymore? People complain about META weapons as it is.

[@shadowxeagle]

@@Honeneko. True... But people still using same gun over and over anyway MCW still for me the most unbalance gun in the gun for multiple reason

[@MazevG]

@@shadowxeagleu realize the mcw is one of the worst ars in the game right? I hope people use it against me

[@iambane7845]

@@shadowxeagle the MCW is the best AR in ranked because it's the only AR in everything else it's one of the worst guns in MP (unless it's the jak raven kit)

[@mikeyplayzwrld]

@@shadowxeagleanime pfp with a dumb opinion #827379292

[@Kuriketto]

As someone who doesn't enjoy quickscoping in general, I still found the Outlaw kit hilariously broken and fun while it lasted. The weekly AMP unlocks have definitely done a lot to help keep my interest in MW3, even if I don't use many of them for long.

[@GhillieMaster]

It’s better than the gun/part releasing terrible, but it’s also gutting when they overnerf things and make them almost useless after the nerf like the Photonic barrel and Lever Action Bas B

[@foxmulder2941]

Most of the time the weapons are nerfed before I unlock them , but dang , when I get them early I really notice the difference. One of my biggest gripes was a Renetti akimbo blueprint I was using was seriously nerfed and became borderline useless. Luckily I noticed there were 2 empy spaces for attachments and I got back lost range and damage.

[@StyxYRenegade]

Yes, it’s a bad thing. Especially since the devs have 1-2 decade of balancing experience. They should tbh know how to balance guns. Some games even have perfect balance so how tf do they have bad balance the next game?

[@LetrixAR]

The experience would only make it easier and faster, but you can't balance stuff if you have no general feedback about it.

[@StyxYRenegade]

@@LetrixAR true, but we have many cods with good balance we can at least base balancing off of

[@oscarfunez3806]

​@StyxYRenegade It can be very tricky. Also, I have to remember that it is just the base version of AMP. They won't know for sure how people will customize the gun with however many slots they restricted. People use tons if different builds. Until it's out there, they can't exactly buff or nerf it until they get feedback. BAS P they thought it would be no different from the Marksman rifles, but they quickly nerfed it, then buffed it back a bit to balance it out. It's good on paper, but until we test it and. Try different parts, they won't fully know for sure.

[@StyxYRenegade]

@@oscarfunez3806 One of the reasons why I want us to go back from the current gunsmith system.

[@oscarfunez3806]

@@StyxYRenegade I mean, the pick 10 is fine, it would still bring down the numbers to 2 to 4 parts on the gun which wouldn't exactly make a big impact. They would have multiple kinds of attachments. We also can't go back before b02. Then we would barely have any customization for our guns.

[@DoktorSammich]

This trend went all the way back to AW with the weapon variants, and Black ops 3 with the supply drop guns, some of which never caught nerfs. Good on you for keeping your wallet closed, but its hard to argue that this trend isn't in favour of boosting revenue and retention, as you've mentioned. Its part genius marketing and retention strategy, part frustration for the players who dont spend and are gnawed at by the prospect of having the next new strong thing. Battlefield 3 and 4 introduced new weapons throughout their life cycle, though these new weapons tended to excel in areas outside of the existing loadouts. It wasnt perfect and some weapons definitely over/underperformed, but you could always expect the weapons to introduce new playstyles that expanded on the original sandbox.

[@DannyRamirezJr]

Its so they can get chumps to buy the bundles and have an advantage when it comes to gunfight.

[@moosevision8113]

Yep, noticed most of these op new guns have been part of some 2400 cod point bundles the last couple of years

[@spencermclean]

please address that they haven’t changed the loadouts for gunfight since launch 😭 me and my homies favorite mode

[@Honeneko.]

Feels more like a reward for active players, who also keep tabs on the news and additions to the game. It does feel like many of the glitches and OP additions are done purposefully. The glitches and oversights feel nostalgic.

[@Ccubed92]

The low skill community wants a weapon to be op when it comes out . What they dont realize is it makes the game super stale when its no variety and people are using one gun only in a match. If your good at cod you can easily get 20 plus kills with any weapon.

[@DoomJoy666]

It makes sense to a degree. Launch it powerful so everyone wants it and jumps on to grind as long as they can (usually longer than average) to unlock it. Then you get more hours out of player for them leveling it. Then some more hours for them to enjoy it. After that people are comfortable and usually getting over it. By then they balance it and suddenly its a real weapon. To me its like in the FGC, if they dropped new fighters broken then patched the playerbase would call them banned until they are balanced around the actual game

[@MagnificentOnion]

The playerbase as a whole are all the unpaid intern QA team that they never bothered to have. It just seems like the devs assumed that statistically, the Aftermarket Part is fine but never actually tested them in-game, so they see our complaints from wherever and then fix it later.

[@seesidesummerhouse6112]

It’s the only way to keep new weapons fun and interesting, but also to address power creep. I’m not a massive fan of it, but I can appreciate why it needs to be done.

[@ckwon76]

That’s how they get you to buy the bundles. It’s actually planned out that way. It’s by design.

[@okaydayy]

This has been happening since MW19. The amount of broken stuff that got added and left unpatched for 6 weeks is absolutely baffling.

[@NeonChrome_]

It’s always gonna be better to launch a gun/amp powerful so you’ll be able to generate data to see what to do next with the weapon/kit. Even if players see it as deceitful or tricking players into buying bundles or “abusing” it, that game data and community conversation turns into adjustments needed for it to be inline with the general gunplay.

[@xxPhoenixX-sg9tr]

They nerf and buff stuff way to fast and make stuff way to broken. They need more balance. I get the new weapons get a buff but they don’t need to be buffed to the point where it’s the only thing to run then nerf it to the ground. Then also the next battle pass and bundles sell or give the nerfed guns as rewards. Make it make sense.

[@Real_Beaky]

COD is in a lose-lose situation. At launch everybody complained that the aftermarket kits were bad. So they launched the new ones in a better state and people now complain that they are "OP" until they get nerfed. If they launched "bad" then fans would just complain that they are unusable. In the devs' defense it is hard to balance an item until the whole community starts using it. My one major complaint with the current system is that I don't like the challenges to unlock. I would prefer if they were just in the new armory unlock system.

[@starlite_lord4321]

I fully understand where people are coming from, because this trend is actually called "incompetence from the devs". It's the same trend whether weapons are launched ridiculously underpowered or ridiculously overpowered, requiring a fix often within hours of going live.

[@cwdii]

Definitely a good thing imo. I like the fact that new content gets it's time in the limelight before getting dialled back to fit with the weapon balance. It allows people to have fun (the most important thing in a game) with the kits, and it doesn't feel as awful when they get nerfed because it's almost expected. New content being weak on release tarnishes it's reputation forever, it becomes a boring alternative in a saturated meta, so most people just ignore it

[@MarksTech]

yep. launch powerful to get people to play. wait a bit until people start complaining - then nerf it. then next week, a new powerful conversion comes out, whch gets people to play .. then nerf. rinse and repeat. this weeks BP50 conversion is for sure gonna get nerfed. which is why im using it as much as i can lol

[@CalebMay-bf1ci]

Its definitely on purpose to get people doing the challenges playing the game buying stuff but its not that big of deal it keeps it interesting

[@micheal7517]

i agree 100%. i love gettin a new toy every other week, but am crushed when it gets nerfed into the ground. the longbow and bas b kits needed a nerf, but just make them more challenging to use with sway or other things. dont make it impossible to kill with.

[@Adam-pk7go]

As a warzone player, with such an incredibly stale meta, anything that’s actually pretty good and usable is always welcome. It really sucks when new guns get added and you literally cannot use them because they are so bad, and often times they will remain that way forever. Even if something is pretty busted, like the renetti kit, I’m ok with that so long as it’s only for a day or 2 as it just makes the game play differently, but can get frustrating if it remains the same for a prolonged period of time. Ideally, like you suggested, having the new gun be in the top 10 would be great, if there even was a top 10

[@LearnedSophistry]

Also as a warzone player, we experience the game so different, like the JAK outlaw .277 kit for the bas b released in an already nerfed state for warzone do it just wasn’t very good at all. Ever since that renetti nerf we’re back to the 2 month old HRM meta. The revenger kit also released in a weakened state for warzone making it just not very popular either

[@Real_Beaky]

I disagree about the state of the Warzone meta. I don't think it is very stale. I can't recall a time since the 1st season of the original Warzone where there were so many viable weapons. There are so many ARs, BRs, SMGs, and LMGs that are usable. You can really play however you like.

[@Adam-pk7go]

@@Real_Beaky there are quite a few useable guns, but the actual meta is stale. Hrm is the meta smg, the striker 9 is competitive, and the new bp kit is an interesting alternative and fun, but the hrm is still the best option. Other smgs don’t quite stack up, and usually need you to outplay / out aim the other guy to win, or have noticeable handling downsides like the mcw. For ranged weapons, yes, it is more open, but we have a subverter / ram meta. The ttk on the ram is no longer insane, but it’s one of the few guns with a consistent recoil pattern and decent BV, while the subverter out ttk’s everything. You can use other long range guns, mtz 566, sva, stb, either holger, even the striker 9, and have success, but you’ll likely lose gun fights to an equally skilled / decent player using a subverter / ram. The longer range meta is in a better place than the smg meta, and neither are dominated so badly you’re forced to use 1 gun, but the meta we do have has been the same for months now, aka stale.

[@Real_Beaky]

@@Adam-pk7go my go to class is the KVD Enforcer (with the integrated suppressor barrel) and Ram-7 (also with the ISB). But I've gotten W's with a variety of other stuff. BAS-B, SOA Subverter, MTZ 762, BP-50, SVA 545, Holger 556, MTZ 556, Striker, Striker 9, WSP-9, Ram 9, HRM-9, AMR-9. I personally shy away from the LMGs (because I like mobility) but I know people who swear they are the best. I don't think the HRM-9 is the best in the category; I prefer the Striker 9 for its mobility and range. This is the broadest meta we have had in a very long time.

[@Adam-pk7go]

@@Real_Beaky i personally like the striker 9 as well as the stb, and have run around with a tyr and longbow, but when you need to win gunfights consistently, there’s very few guns to use. If you look at the bodies of players in diamond-top 250 lobbies basically everyone is running the same few weapons when trying to be competitive. An open meta would have people eventually branching out a bit more than seeing the 10th hrm in a row on someone you just killed

[@imaginesagi]

I think it begs the question of what’s the point of aftermarket parts? If you have to make it “overpowered” in the first few weeks then nerf it, then what makes it special wasn’t really special to begin with. COD needs to find the balance of powerful & fun but not too over powered on the release of the aftermarket part

[@Ermac43]

I agree with you Ace. I play tons of other games that do the same tactic of releasing a new character or a new weapon that’s really strong, then in 1-2 weeks they nerf it to be in line with the other weapons to even it out, but still be viable. It allows for new content to shine, rather than have the same few weapons be at the top for weeks or months at a time.

[@vincentroyoshea2315]

It’s only bad when things launch like renetti where it’s the only viable weapon.

[@bo-dg3bh]

1. it’s less about selling bundles and more about psychologically forming a common sense that new released items are fun and players will always come back. 2. when devs release new things the management will get unhappy if not enough users take interest in them. for those reasons it’s an unfortunate but necessary strategy. I personally don’t want to get “manipulated” like that so I use mw2 weapons and have really bad stats.

[@BIGGIE-i2l]

Exactly, i don't play much due to university, but every time i hear weekly challenges brought something powerful , i want to test them so i play to unlock weekly challenges

[@someweeb3650]

I think the problem of people buying what they can to get stuff faster and then it gets nerfed as soon as they unlock it can be solved if they just said "Hey, this gun is gonna be OP, we don't know how we're gonna nerf it yet so go ham and we'll get it balanced next week."

[@atrociousvex5968]

i like that the new items are good when they come out but it can make the game very unenjoyable for me due to my MMR it just sucks when they add something so good that you cant compete unless you are using it as well that's just my personal Opinion and experience

[@ryanroper628]

It's awesome what they've done with Call of Duty. I think it's so cool you get in between hybrid classes I'm a hardcore MCW Jack Raven kit and my numbers are amazing with it. It just is another option that fits my gameplay perfectly. That I didn't even know until I put on the kit and realized how a hybrid assault rifle would work with my game style

[@emp1985]

I've been saying it forever, exactly so. It's a business decision. Release new guns in an OP way to incentivate blackcell/tier skips/bundles to get it ASAP, and once a majority or specific percentage of the playerbase has the gun, bring it in line with the rest of guns to resume balance and variety. I'm unable to believe this is not the case.

[@theoneandonlyshelley]

As someone who doesn’t buy black cell or tier skips, it comes across very “pay to win” when weapons are introduced. Then as soon as the season ends, it’s meh..

[@igotisekaid2664]

How I would’ve changed the bas-b amp is slowed down the fire rate both ads and hip fire, changed its ammo count from 20 to 10, and reduced its 1 shot damage range potential (still allowing its 1 shot potential from upper chest and head) that way its in line with marksman rifles but isn’t as powerful as one. Edit: additionally if it’s still to over powered in majority of players eyes I’d remove its upper chest 1 shot potential BUT give it a new Ammo type or a barrel that boosts its damage (like the mors sniper) but reduce it’s velocity and range, so if you still want that 1 shot you’ll have to sacrifice an attachment slot but still giving us that upper chest 1 shot potential

[@swiftblaqness]

The problem isn't that they release something that needed balancing that would be understandable. The problem is they release weapons that are blatantly overpowered with no other seemingly good reason other than to make more people gravitate to the game when they hear of the new OP weapon. Then of course once they've gotten a weekend's worth of play numbers the chop the legs off the gun and make it almost pointless. Or run of the mill at best.

[@Alpha_2-6]

I think the aftermarket parts are great!! Although I would love to see a new system of this. Like instead of 3D printed parts kits, I would love to see more "tactical" kits. My best idea is a 300BLK M13 kit that comes built with the skeleton stock, integrated suppressor, and bump the fire rate up 50-100rpm higher. Or a Holger 556 kit that instead of being a 3d print rifle, turned it into the XM8/M8A3. Instead of what MWII did with the lachmann shroud, M13B, Iso 9, etc. We just get that weapon as a "kit" for an already existing weapon. I think certain weapons like the M4 and M16 are different enough, but weapons that are 95% identical should just be kits, and then they only have to make a couple magazine/barrels models

[@LarryAichler]

I have to say that I do like most of the weekly challenge aftermarket parts. I find myself wanting to complete these as soon as possible (usually takes 3-5 games to hit 5 completions) and trying them out, rather than just logging on with nothing to really play for. I am a decent player, not a sweat by any means, but EOMM has killed any pleasure I have of trying to get better and obtain kill streaks I haven't reached before (i.e. gun ships or swarms) and now I will never get.

[@oven3515]

I like the aftermarket parts I saw the BP gets an aftermarket part, I already enjoy the gun a lot. I get on when I'm able and bang out the challenges to get it, and continue using the gun. I value fun in these games, not meticulously balanced paintball matches.

[@Incognigro.]

Haven’t watched the video yet but hasn’t this been a thing for a long while now? 2019’s MP5… the most notable. But a lot of Warzone from ‘19-‘23 was ‘here’s the new gun, its absolutely busted’ Everyone gets back on, abuses the new meta, they then nerf it 2-7 weeks later and it’s back to normal. Rinse and repeat.

[@pn8535]

I tend to play a lot because its the way I interact with my friends the most when I moved countries. The single most thing i look forward to is the weekly challenges and experiencing a new kit/attachment that flips a weapon on its head. Yeah battlepass can have some cool blueprints (that I 100% feel should Interact in unique and cool ways with camos that is underutilized) and the new weapons that are new to a season, but otherwise i set it to auto-unlock and don't care for the 2k calling cards/emblems and junk. THERES TOO MUCH STUFF! I remember in the previous game i got a blueprint that i noticed reacted differently with maybe %5 of camos that put a unique look to it, kind of like an Easter egg. Though for sure unintentional, it made it feel like MY weapon and seeing someone kill me with it was an experience.

[@Cobalt_Colonel]

Ill never understand why cod finds it so hard to just, ya know, MAKE ALL THE WEAPONS GOOD AND KEEP THEM THAT WAY!

[@Nas-1240]

Buisness wise, it makes sense. It gets more people playing and that has the potential to increase store sales. As a player, its annoying, especially when you level up a gun you never used before just for it to be destroyed by nerfs and never used again.

[@loadedexcrement]

With all the 2x xp there really isn't a reason to not have everything maxed out. (at least MW3 guns)

[@roar104]

Tbf to them, if a gun launches on the stronger side, theyll get tons of feedback abd data on it almost immediately so they can change it to where they want it.

[@gman9mm1]

I just want more emphasis on balancing the less-efficient weapons into good choices rather than endless nerfs.

[@TehCoD1KNifER15]

Another reason they probably like to release new weapons on the overpowered side then nerf them vs the opposite is that, in general, its easier to nerf an overpowered weapon to a balanced state than buff a weak weapon to balanced. To use an example outside of CoD, there's a MOBA called Smite, its third person and they add a new character every 2 months or so. Whenever they do, the developers tend to release that new character on the overpowered side, often intentionally, because weak characters receive no playtime and it is therefore difficult to get enough data to know what needs to be buffed to fix them. For example, Baba Yaga was a terrible release, she came out clunky, with poor damage and awkward abilities, and it took them 2 years of constant buffs for her to finally be considered good, whereas most overpowered characters are nerfed closer to in balance within a couple months. I think the same thing is true with weapons/aftermarket parts in CoD. Now, they definitely do overshoot on some of them, like the BAS-B kit, but for the most part I prefer them releasing new items strong

[@alexanderdavies1891]

I too like the idea of introducing new stuff that's pretty good. I don't love it when it's broken powerful, or even instantly the best gun in the game, but introducing it and making it A tier is fine by me. My problem is less with that kind of thing than it is with the nerfing it.I know nerfs are important a lot of the time, but sometimes I feel like the answer would be to buff alternatives not necessarily cut down the top option. Not all the time, obviously, but I think in general making other weapons a little bit better is a better option than making their favorites a little bit worse.

[@ItsMiiUly]

To me if its just AMPs that has this trend, its fine... Because u have to UNLOCK these via weekly challenges. Thank god we DONT have the same trend of "Busted at launch Nerf Later" like Vanguard. Because i remember (in the side of WZ at least) The H4 Blixen was TOO good with the bundle being available with the launch of the gun. Almost EVERYONE had the "Job Well Done" bundle.

[@LiveTUNA]

I was LITERALLY just talking about it. Because I unlocked Bioluminescent and Borealis mastery camos first in zombies, I've been having the worst time doing the interstellar grind because of constant nerfs. I've been working on the marksman rifles for months because they nerfed all of them when they released the lever action amp. They went from one shot headshots to 2-3 shot headshots. You have to get one shot headshots for the stupid camo on all of them but now it's IMPOSSIBLE. They have done a similar thing to every single gun in the game and it's always right in the middle of me camo grinding that specific gun. So freaking annoying! Thankfully, I only have 3 guns to go to get gold in 3 categories so I can get forged for those categories, the battle rifles, marksman rifles and LMG's. Then I can work on the 3rd mastery camo, whatever the 3rd one is called😂 oh yeah, priceless. Actually, I only need the SOA subverter gold and forged because the rest of the battle rifles are already Forged. It's just taking forever because it's 2 headshots in one life. Every time I get into a hardcore lobby I'm getting rage hacked on.

[@weirdeurasianboy8091]

How u got Arachnid? What u do? T1 escort? T2 outlast?

[@oscarfunez3806]

I dont think its bad unless they make a serious mistake that they should have known was going to be broken as hecks. The mors they definitely knew it was shooting through the whole map. Im ok they nerfed it, but its still a solid choice. Its perfectly fine. The BASP I will give them the BOTD. They may have assumedbit would behave like the other marksman rifles, but quickly noticed it definitely was not like them. It was crazy strong. The BASP is now indeed just a niche AMP to use. They could buff it a tiny bit more and it should be ok. At least. The BP50 really just needs a handling nerf. Make it around the other ARs. 210ADS should be their average mark. 180STF. No need to touch the damage ranges or damage numbers. Just slow it down a bit more to make the kit more of a fun addition than blatantly a strong SMG with giant mag. Can be tricky balancing things, but some mistakes definitely should have not been released.

[@S3BAST1AN696]

I think its a good/fine practice for AM parts for a couple reasons. Firstlt actualily makes me exited week over week to play and be intereated whats the new part and look forward to play with it and changing a guns play style. on the other hand ive seen a trend that AM parts have gotten easier to unlock and less grindy and that makes it okay because even players that dont have too much time to play you can get them unlocked in like 2-3 hours if not a lot less some weeks so. In my opinion is honestly good balmace they have overall.

[@radeni]

I just wish they actually spent the time to fully balance the already vast roster of weapons that we have. A lot of the guns in the game, especially MW2 ones are still just a straight up disadvantage to use.

[@carbonclaw7280]

Lets just hope the lockwood mk2 amp isnt busted for too long

[@pyromancer14]

Definitely a net negative. It’s a malicious, disingenuous insult to players and the current existing weapons in the game. Releasing these broken weapons obsoletes every other weapon in the game. This speaks volumes about Activision’s integrity. There’s plenty of other weapons, especially MWII weapons, that need buffs/rebalancing, but choose not to. This mentality is not healthy for the game, it reduces viable variety that is exacerbated by SBMM.

[@thatkoboldgaming7114]

Definitely a bad thing, I feel like making a strong kit only to nerf it into the floor is a bad move to take. Example A: The Outlaw Kit. Came out incredibly and blatantly overpowered, and while it needed to be nerfed it didn’t need to be completely gutted. Example B: The Maglift Kit. The recent nerf to it’s effective ranges was slightly uncalled for, I wouldn’t call the shot spam at range overpowered as it was more mildly annoying to deal with. This makes me concerned about the Atlas and Warden AMPs where my fear is they’ll be strong only to be completely gutted. Especially the Wardens since the Lockwood Mk. 2 is already a craptastic gun, it’ll go right back to collecting dust.

[@joe9739]

I don't get why they NERF any gun into oblivion.... I think EVERY weapon should feel like a solid pick, definitely viable. Last year was ALOT better with Pistols, Shotguns and Launchers especially.

[@zkywolf9407]

@thexclusiveace Why does the only other alternative you bring up/offer is to get shitty weapons/kits instead? Why not bring stuff into the game and try to keep it relatively the same or just adjust it a bit after release. Maybe they should spend more time on properly balancing before releasing a weapon/conversion kit. Maybe we should hold them a bit more accountable as money is involved... The way they do it now feels borderline like a scam..

[@David_1789]

CoD is a casino and gift shop now.

[@EthanMaskie]

For me, the Taq Evolvere was my go-to, but post nerf it's really bad :(

[@CaptainJoeBoss]

For me personally, I wish they launch the Weapons and AMP in a Better than average state, but not overpowered. Pretty much make them viable.

[@growingoaks]

3:08 It shouldn't be frustrating. Nerfs happen all the time. Don't buy it if you don't wanna accept that it might get nerfed. Really simple tbh.

[@evilmcfluffin6774]

i dont mind it overall it changes the games up for a few days or weeks lets people still try with a new non meta gun that people wouldnt otherwise use

[@dark_of_twilight]

I do empathize with those who feel annoyed by the changes. At the same time, I agree that it's fine as long as the balance change isn't overboard. I think the fact these AMPs are so powerful shows the devs want them to be good, but it's hard to know if an AMP is going to dominate the meta until it's introduced.

[@hacimdoowlla2730]

It just gets to a point where idgaf about keeping up with what's relevant...i merk with the same guns ive been rocking since start of season 2

[@GeorgeLinRL]

“Balancing” as a whole topic seems to be much more reactionary rather than intentional. I feel like getting to a place where “metas are rotated” would be great but it’s getting out of this reactionary rut. I don’t mind the flair or excitement around a strong new gun, but I like to think of the guns on a tier list. For a short time, it was nice that there wasn’t 1-3 guns in the meta and it was more like 5-7. But we’re all out of proportion right now. What the right percentages/proportion of guns in each tier may be subjective, but right now it feels like 1-3 in S tier, 2-3 in A, no B, C, or D tier then the rest in F. Surely that can’t be right [or fun].

[@hilaireb795]

prior to the BP50 AMP, I very rarely got on the game. However the AMP for the BP50 is so fun that is the only class I have rn for MP and I am enjoying it for the most "part" (slaps knee)

[@shutdown5177]

a lot of these aftermarket parts for me anyways, expresses a lot of the creativity that the devs can bring

[@shadowxeagle]

i just hate people being toxic cuz im not USING a Meta gun sooo i Never really use MCW- Rival-9 or the bas-B except for the Challenge or lvl up the gun ucz its fun to play fair gun... for my part but people are so bad they need to play UInbalance gun....

[@joshhogben4827]

I think cod has a severe weapon saturation issue. The game would be much better if there were just a few weapons in each category that all felt unique. Instead of this dopamine hit style they are catering for pumping out a new gun every month

[@roberte.o.speedwagon6043]

Idk, if they release things that are far too strong... A) nerf it slightly so it's a top 2 or 3 gun. Having my hard work paid off by having a stronger weapon should be something to keep me going. If the AMP then becomes bad I feel like I've wasted my time. B) buff other options (in terms of Zombies. WHY HAVEN'T THEY BUFFED SHOTGUNS YET) Releasing the best weapon in the game and then literally running them into the ground fucking sucks. I bust my ass off to get the Free BP slots and weekly challenges... Just for them to take a weapon I'm enjoying and feel good using, and then making them worse than 4 or 5 other guns just feels like spit in the face.

[@vakhtang9824]

with the bp50 kit if you equip high velocity 9mm rounds it appears to reduce vertical recoil by a lot with no downsides, despite no stats being listed

[@orestodomundo6652]

I don’t think it’s intentional, they just make these things with a big time gap and they eventually release it. I think it’s great (that they are great) it just makes it fun to look forward to something new and exciting and if you are worried about it’s balance they are always ontop of everything- No complaints!

[@chuteu260]

I like it when we get those kits and the weapon is powerful, I don’t like it when they make them unusable, I look forward to the daily challenges and especially the weekly challenges

[@JWEAVWUZHERE]

I would just prefer to have the choice to use whatever weapon I want and not have to worry about egregiously over or underpowered ones at any time. There are so many creative things you can do with the guns and even changing mostly aesthetics can keep things fresh. I shouldn’t feel like I need to use a new gun to compete.

[@DionStabber]

I see where you're coming from but I honestly have kind of the opposite take than you. With the new seasonal stuff, I think it makes sense to make that stronger and it's fine if each season there are a few new best guns. With the aftermarket parts, the idea that the meta can change nearly every week is so exhausting to keep up with that it is mostly a detriment to me. It's not only hard to follow what's good, but if I haven't played in a week or even a few days, sometimes I have to contemplate if it's even worth going for the new AMP because I'm worried it's going to get nerfed within the week of me even unlocking it. So, I am one of those people, I would prefer the new AMPs were just average (and maybe unique/fun in the way they function) than having to relearn the game balance each week

[@oscarfunez3806]

Eh. The BP50 stays relatively the same. I suppose the only real nerf needed would be handling since I takes a bigger map size. Make it around the speed of 210 ADS and 180STF. It should still behave like an AR, but with reduced accuracy since it has a lot of horizontal recoil that can make your shots miss from mid to long range. I know the Lever action shotgun going akimbo is going to be OP as hell unless the range is like below 5m or something. With no ability to apply many parts to it except a muzzle or different levers. Guns should be fun to use. Not just average and feel no different or just worse than the base version. Then what would be the point of getting them to begin with.

[@emwols]

Definitely a good thing overall. I’m an enjoyer of fun quirky new things in CoD, it doesn’t have to be meta OP, but it can be. But I will say as long as it feels different than everything else in the game I’ll be happy to use it as long as it’s not total trash (looking at you sidewinder AMP). Things that come to mind as unique and not trash are the rival 9’s auto burst, holger 556 double barrel, holger 26 rapid fire, MORS photonic barrel, swarm akimbo, Cor 45 and haymaker binary trigger, TYR rifle kit, etc. all very fun unique additions to the game (except the haymaker, I stopped using that because I felt bad)

[@peabrain6872]

I think its fine, get something super busted to mess around with and then it goes regular once people have their fun

[@ChevyDahl]

I'd love a sniper like the P06 from BO3. That was a very interesting and fun gun. Be it as an aftermarket part for the mors or an entirely new gun

[@ehallam08]

Besides matchmaking, this is another reason I stopped playing

[@nakedbanana7056]

Lol that's all it takes?

[@Legend_47_]

Cool story bro

[@frosty278]

That's kinda stupid

[@scottmacaluso9102]

Increase the number of items to obtain/grind for and lower the SBMM. Perfect balance.

[@kreuger8397]

I reject the premise of the question you raised at around 06:00. All the guns should be strong, not just the newer ones. The stronger the weapon roster is, the better off multiplayer will be in terms of retention

[@TheXclusiveAce]

If all guns are strong, no guns are strong since the strength of a weapon is relative to the other weapons in the game. Unless you just mean you want a faster general TTK for all guns but that’s an entirely different topic.

[@kreuger8397]

@@TheXclusiveAce kinda had a similar dynamic in 2009 iirc with og MW2. Most of the guns in that game were very strong within their intended "roles". The point is to have as much variety as possible and encourage experimentation

[@TheXclusiveAce]

That works great with a smaller weapon pool and I do like to see that but it’s not nearly as viable to keep that up when you already have over 100 weapon choices in the game as essentially all of the roles are already taken by multiple guns

[@kreuger8397]

@@TheXclusiveAce I mean this is gonna be a completely diff topic, but imo cod should not be integrating all of their games like this. 100 guns is just stupid if 60-70 of them are just going to be non-competitive

[@TheXclusiveAce]

I agree with that point completely. I definitely want a fresh start with CoD 2024 when it comes to the weapon pool as it is currently overwhelming

[@AliFOJ5]

The only issue I have is if they nerf it too quick or nerf it too bad like how the nerfed longbow which I had the most fun ever. They just keep it the way things are until mid season update at least if they want to nerf it bad. That at least most of the people would have played with the meta

[@alexfortin7209]

On the positive side, it allows me to practice “Beginner’s Mind” since I’m always confused about weapons balance and need to be aware of any Buff/Nerf 🧘

[@JordanDavis-ib6dy]

I dislike how some guns are unusable because they TRY to balance them out. I feel as though they do this when dropping new bundles that we really want. For example, Godzilla with the longbow, Shimo and MCW nerf, all just to buff the SVA that was already overpowered and they released a bundle(Watch how fast it gets nerfed). I say all this cause I spent like $200 on bundles and have come to realize it’s just greed.

[@jugger17]

Obviously this trend has to stop. If something is meant to be good/op/broken then leave as it is and instead buff underwhelming weapons/aftermarket kits. It's ironic that ppl wish to return to the "good old OG MW2 golden CoD days" yet when they see anything doing good they cry and complain about it demanding nerfs

[@vgpjuno2608]

Imo the way they handle this is fine but i do wish they would expend this very powerful amp system to guns with out AMPs.

[@timbardam5878]

Bruen mk9 conversion kit is a nice kit for close and mid range battles