The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 beta is live, and as always, players are already dissecting every weapon, more Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Bot Lobbies, perk, and attachment to find what dominates early. With the level cap currently locked at 20, everyone's still experimenting-but that hasn't stopped some weapons from emerging as clear frontrunners.

 

After countless matches, community testing, and some serious trial and error, three setups have proven themselves to be the early meta kings of the BO7 beta. Whether you prefer close-quarters rushing, long-range control, or balanced precision, these loadouts will help you dominate the battlefield right from day one.

 

Let's break down the top three meta builds: the Dravk 45 SMG, the MXR battle rifle, and the M8A1 burst rifle-including perks, tacticals, attachments, and the must-use overclocks that players are overlooking.

 

1. Dravk 45-The Early SMG King

 

If there's one gun everyone's talking about, it's the Dravk 45. It's fast, versatile, and laser-straight-easily the best all-around submachine gun in the Black Ops 7 beta so far. Whether you're rushing objectives or locking down choke points, the Dravk melts enemies before they can even react.

 

Best Dravk 45 Loadout

 

 Muzzle: Hawker Hybrid 45

 

 Barrel: 14" Verse Barrel

 

 Magazine: Fast Mag

 

 Rear Grip: Sprint-to-Fire Grip (switch to Herold once unlocked)

 

 Stock: EM Heritage Stock

 

This setup perfectly balances mobility and control. The Hawker Hybrid 45 muzzle takes a while to unlock, but once you get it, it's game-changing-effectively giving you the benefits of an ergonomic grip right on your muzzle. It boosts slide-to-fire speed, jump accuracy, and hipfire spread, making your movement fluid and aggressive.

 

Before unlocking the Hybrid, run a suppressor to stay off the minimap. The 14" Verse Barrel increases both damage range and bullet velocity, letting you compete outside typical SMG ranges. Pair that with the Fast Mag for quicker reloads and faster sprint-to-fire recovery-critical for high-speed playstyles.

 

For your grip, early players should stick with the Sprint-to-Fire Grip, but once you hit higher levels, swap to the Herold (ergonomic) grip for even better handling. The EM Heritage Stock rounds out the class by enhancing strafe movement speed without punishing recoil.

 

Recommended Perks and Equipment

 

 Perk 1: Ghost (essential to counter UAV spam)

 

 Perk 2: Fast Hands (for faster weapon swaps)

 

 Perk 3: Dexterity (mandatory-prevents the clunky "tactical stance" slide animation)

 

 Tactical: Stim

 

 Lethal: Semtex

 

Dexterity is an absolute must right now. Without it, sliding and aiming feels buggy-similar to Modern Warfare 3's tactical stance animation. Treyarch may patch this later, but for now, always keep Dexterity equipped.

 

Overclocks to Add

 

Many players are missing this crucial step: overclocks. These small modifiers give bonuses to tacticals, lethals, and streaks. They cost nothing-so use them.

 

 Semtex Overclock: Increases explosion radius and lethality.

 

 Active Camo Overclock: Lasts longer and recharges faster.

 

 UAV Overclock: Reduces score requirement.

 

Don't forget to add them before jumping into matches-they make a noticeable difference.

 

Playstyle Tips

 

The Dravk 45 thrives in aggressive, close-to-mid engagements. Slide around corners, use movement to your advantage, and rely on your superior sprint-to-fire speed. With this build, you can run Overkill and pair it with a secondary like the MXR for ranged fights.

 

2. MXR Battle Rifle-The Precision Powerhouse

 

Next up is the MXR, a mid-to-long-range beast that feels like the perfect bridge between an assault rifle and a marksman weapon. It hits hard, shoots straight, and dominates on maps with longer sightlines.

 

It's not the fastest gun in the game, but in skilled hands, it's one of the most rewarding weapons you can use right now.

 

Best MXR Loadout

 

 Optic: Lethal Tools ELO (unlocked by leveling the Peacekeeper to level 5)

 

 Muzzle: Greaves Suppressor (later replace with Redwell Brake or Porta Compensator)

 

 Barrel: Bullet Velocity Barrel

 

 Underbarrel: Lateral Precision Grip

 

 Stock: Infil Stock (Gate Lux)

 

The Lethal Tools ELO optic is crisp, clear, and absolutely worth unlocking. It's cleaner than the default irons and offers great visibility for ranged duels.

 

Early on, the Greaves Suppressor helps keep you off the radar, but as you level the weapon, swap to a compensator like the Redwell or Porta for superior vertical recoil control.

 

The Bullet Velocity Barrel ensures faster hit registration at range-vital for mid-map power positions. Meanwhile, the Lateral Precision Grip keeps horizontal recoil manageable, improving long-range accuracy and reducing idle sway.

 

Finally, the Infil Stock boosts strafe speed-perfect for gunfights that rely on movement and precision.Perk & Equipment Setup

 

 Perk 1: Ghost or Tac Mask (depending on playstyle)

 

 Perk 2: Fast Hands

 

 Perk 3: Dexterity

 

 Tactical: Stim

 

 Lethal: Frag Grenade

 

The MXR benefits heavily from Fast Hands, as the weapon's reload and aim recovery are slower than SMGs. Fast Hands ensures you can swap back to your secondary or Stim quickly when things get heated.

 

Playstyle Tips

 

Treat the MXR like a DMR with SMG-level handling. Anchor mid-lanes, hold sightlines, and pre-aim common entry points. While it's not ideal for rushing, it pairs beautifully with the Dravk 45 in an Overkill setup-giving you flexibility for every engagement range.

 

If you prefer high-skill, precision gameplay, this is your weapon. And once more attachments unlock, the MXR will only get better.

 

3. M8A1-The Classic Returns (and It's Nasty)

 

Finally, we have the M8A1, one of the most iconic burst rifles in Call of Duty history. It's back in Black Ops 7, and yes-it can still one-burst enemies if all four bullets hit.

 

It's fast, clean, and ridiculously satisfying when used properly.

 

Best M8A1 Loadout

 

 Optic: Lethal Tools ELO

 

 Muzzle: Compensator (for vertical recoil control)

 

 Barrel: Ionic 8 Barrel (later upgrade to Reinforced/Frontline)

 

 Underbarrel: Iron Hold Grip

 

 Stock: Mobility Stock

 

This build emphasizes consistency and recoil control. The Compensator ensures all four rounds land tight for one-burst kills. The Ionic 8 Barrel increases bullet velocity for better hit registration, while the Iron Hold Grip keeps your aim steady during bursts.

 

The Mobility Stock improves strafe and ADS movement speed, allowing you to stay agile while maintaining accuracy.

 

Later in the game, when the Swiftline or Infil Stock unlocks, consider swapping to those for even smoother strafing and faster aim transition times.

 

Perk & Equipment Setup

 

 Perk 1: Ghost

 

 Perk 2: Fast Hands

 

 Perk 3: Dexterity

 

 Tactical: Stim

 

 Lethal: Semtex or Frag

 

Like the MXR, the M8 benefits from consistency and positioning. It's not a run-and-gun weapon-it rewards players who control angles and maintain mid-range distance.

 

Pairing it with a Dravk 45 in an Overkill setup is ideal. The Dravk handles close-range chaos, while the M8A1 holds lanes and deletes enemies in three bursts or less.

 

Early Meta Observations and Tips

 

Even though the beta is still limited, several trends have already emerged:

 

 Dexterity is non-negotiable. Without it, sliding and ADS transitions feel broken.

 

 Mobility attachments dominate. The faster your sprint-to-fire and slide-to-fire, the more consistent your gunfights.

 

 Overclocks are game-changers. They add free power boosts with zero downside.

 

 SMGs and burst rifles rule the meta. ARs are balanced, but the Dravk and M8A1 outperform them in their respective ranges.

 

 Gunfighter perks will redefine builds later. Once higher level caps unlock, expect more attachment-heavy setups to appear.

 

Final Thoughts-Mastering the Beta

 

The Black Ops 7 beta may be limited in content, but the foundation for its meta is already taking shape. The Dravk 45, MXR, and M8A1 are clear standouts-each excelling in their own niche while offering versatility across map types and modes.

 

As the level cap increases and more attachments unlock, expect builds to evolve-especially with perks like Perk Greed and Gunfighter coming into play. But for now, these three setups will give you the best mix of control, power, and mobility available in the beta.

 

Whether you're farming streaks, clutching Search and Destroy rounds, make more BO7 Bot Lobbies or just grinding XP, these loadouts will keep you ahead of the competition.

 

TL;DR:

 

 Dravk 45: SMG dominance through mobility and precision.

 

 MXR: Precision mid-range rifle with incredible control.

 

 M8A1: Burst rifle classic-deadly when mastered.