Black Ops 6 Season 5 Arsenal Expansion: Every New Weapon You Need to Know
Season 5 is bringing some serious firepower to Black Ops 6, and we're talking about weapons that could completely shake up the meta. From a devastating LMG that'll make enemies think twice about peeking corners to a classic burst-fire assault rifle that Black Ops fans have been waiting for, this weapon lineup has something for every playstyle. Let's break down each new addition and how you can get your hands on them.
PML 5.56 Light Machine Gun - The Damage Dealer
The PML 5.56 is dropping at launch as a free Battle Pass weapon on page 3, and this thing is an absolute monster. When someone's laying down fire with this LMG, you'll know about it immediately - mainly because of the insane damage output and that signature sound of 100 rounds being dumped downrange.
This full-auto beast boasts one of the highest damage outputs among all available automatic weapons, combined with a blistering rate of fire that'll shred through enemy teams. The trade-off? You're getting heavy recoil with a strong upward kick and a slight drift to the right, plus mobility that's about as graceful as a freight train.
The PML 5.56 comes with 39 levels to unlock, 3 different magazine options, and a base capacity of 100 rounds. You can customize it with the full range of attachments including optics, muzzle devices, barrels, underbarrels, magazines, rear grips, stocks, lasers, and fire mods. This is definitely a weapon where you'll want to focus on recoil control attachments early on.
Best Use Cases for PML 5.56
This LMG excels in defensive positions and long-range engagements where you can mount up and control lanes. The lengthy reload time means you need to be strategic about when you engage, but when you do, enemies will definitely get the message to stay in cover.
ABR A1 Assault Rifle - The Burst Beast Returns
Black Ops fans, this one's for you. The ABR A1 is making its return as a free Battle Pass weapon on page 6, bringing back that iconic three-round burst assault rifle gameplay that's been a franchise staple. This weapon combines high damage output with tight burst control, capable of dropping enemies quickly if you can land your shots consistently.
What makes the ABR A1 special is its versatility. The weapon fires in three-round bursts with brief pauses between them, but if you need sustained fire, you can unlock Fire Mod attachments that convert it to full-auto mode. It's got good handling and moderate recoil that's manageable once you get used to the upward kick pattern.
With 43 levels to unlock, 3 magazine options, and a 30-round capacity, the ABR A1 offers plenty of customization potential. The weapon even comes with an integrated sight on the base model, which is perfect for players who want to save an attachment slot for something else.
ABR A1 Strategy Tips
This assault rifle shines in medium-range engagements where you can take advantage of the burst damage. It's highly versatile and capable of winning most skirmishes, though you'll want to avoid the longest-range duels where dedicated marksman rifles have the advantage.
Boxing Gloves - Up Close and Personal
Sometimes you just need to settle things the old-fashioned way. The Boxing Gloves are coming in-season as an event reward, bringing a completely different melee experience to Black Ops 6. These aren't your typical knife or tactical weapon - we're talking about straight-up boxing combat.
The Boxing Gloves offer moderate damage with fast attack speed and surprisingly good range for a melee weapon. While they require multiple hits to down an opponent, they make up for it with tremendous lunge distance and formidable speed. The heavy attack is where these gloves really shine - it's a devastating knockout punch that enemies won't be getting up from.
With 30 levels to unlock and skin customization options, the Boxing Gloves don't have traditional attachments but offer plenty of personalization. This weapon is all about getting up close and overwhelming opponents with a swift barrage of jabs and uppercuts.
Gravemark .357 Revolver - The Mid-Season Power Player
Coming at mid-season as an event reward, the Gravemark .357 Revolver brings some serious old-school firepower to your secondary slot. This single-action revolver harks back to simpler times while delivering high damage and considerable range that puts most pistols to shame.
The Gravemark .357 is an eight-shooter that demands precision. With its moderate fire rate and limited ammo count, every shot needs to count. The weapon offers extensive customization options across 26 levels, including optics, muzzles, barrels, magazines, rear grips, stocks, and fire mods.
You can equip Rapid Fire attachments to improve the rate of fire or use Recoil Springs to manage that heavy kick. For players who want maximum firepower, the Akimbo attachment lets you dual-wield these revolvers, though you'll sacrifice some accuracy for raw damage output. The weapon inspection animation is reportedly a real showstopper too.
Game-Changing Attachments
Season 5 isn't just bringing new weapons - we're also getting some attachments that could completely change how existing weapons perform. These aren't just minor upgrades; they're transformative modifications that create entirely new gameplay experiences.
9mm PM Skull Splitter - Pistol Power Upgrade
Available at launch as a Battle Pass page 7 reward, the 9mm PM Skull Splitter is actually two attachments that transform your 9mm PM Pistol into something approaching marksman rifle territory. The Skull Splitter Barrel dramatically increases damage, especially to the head, while reducing rate of fire for more controlled, powerful shots.
Pair this with the extended magazine that gives you additional ammo at the expense of handling, and you've got a completely different weapon experience. This setup is perfect for players who want to turn their sidearm into a legitimate primary weapon option.
PPSh-41 Helical Magazine - High-Capacity Chaos
Coming in-season as an event reward, the PPSh-41 Helical Magazine puts other SMG magazines to shame with its high ammunition count. This attachment excels at spraying bullets in close and medium ranges, though you'll need to manage heat buildup as you dump rounds downrange.
This magazine transforms the PPSh-41 into an even more aggressive close-quarters weapon, perfect for players who like to maintain constant pressure on the enemy team. The increased capacity means less time reloading and more time in the fight.
How to Unlock Everything
Here's your roadmap to getting all these new weapons and attachments. The good news is that half of them are completely free through the Battle Pass, while the others require participating in seasonal events.
Free Battle Pass Unlocks (Launch):
- PML 5.56 LMG - Battle Pass Page 3
- ABR A1 Assault Rifle - Battle Pass Page 6
- 9mm PM Skull Splitter Attachments - Battle Pass Page 7
Event Rewards:
- Boxing Gloves - In-Season Event
- Gravemark .357 Revolver - Mid-Season Event
- PPSh-41 Helical Magazine - In-Season Event
Meta Impact and Final Thoughts
These weapon additions look like they could seriously shake up the current meta. The PML 5.56 brings LMG gameplay back into the spotlight with its ridiculous damage output, while the ABR A1 gives burst-fire enthusiasts a powerful new option that can compete with the current assault rifle meta.
The secondary weapons are equally interesting - the Boxing Gloves add a fun melee option that's perfect for those moments when you want to style on opponents, and the Gravemark .357 could become the go-to high-damage sidearm for players who prioritize stopping power over rate of fire.
Don't sleep on those special attachments either. The 9mm PM Skull Splitter setup could turn pistols into legitimate primary weapons, and the PPSh-41 Helical Magazine might make that SMG the ultimate close-quarters domination tool.
Season 5 launches August 7th, so mark your calendars and get ready to expand your arsenal. We'll have more detailed guides covering loadout recommendations and attachment builds for each of these weapons once they're live. Make sure to check out our other Season 5 coverage, including the new maps, game modes, and that massive Zombies finale everyone's talking about.