Modern Warfare 4 Update Buffs Nine Guns and Nerfs Four Others

Infinity Ward released the first major weapon balance update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on October 28, 2026, just five days after launch. The patch buffs nine weapons and nerfs four others, while the Han 86 and Hyeon Burst receive a mixture of improvements and reductions.

The update focuses on making gunfights more consistent, particularly by improving damage dealt by submachine guns. It also weakens the Oden assault rifle, adjusts two light machine guns, and fixes several gameplay issues in Multiplayer and DMZ.

Submachine guns receive the most widespread improvements in the update. Infinity Ward has increased arm and hand damage multipliers from 0.95 to 1.0 for five weapons: ISO Nightshade, PPSh-41, VEL 46, Wz.55 Striga, and X-58 Nyx.

The changes remove the previous damage reduction when shots hit those areas. According to Infinity Ward, the goal is to make damage more consistent across different hit locations.

The PPSh-41 also receives several handling improvements. Its aim-down-sights time drops from 300 milliseconds to 280 milliseconds, making it approximately 7% faster to aim. Movement, sprint, crouch, and aiming strafe speeds have also been increased slightly.

The Wz.55 Striga gains a 7% increase to its maximum damage range and a 2% improvement to its first mid-range damage distance.

Meanwhile, the X-58 Nyx receives a stronger headshot damage multiplier, increasing from 1.25 to 1.3. Its Void Apex Attachment also gains 5% more maximum damage range and a 3% increase to its first mid-range damage distance.

The Oden is among the weapons most heavily affected by the October 28 patch. Its neck and upper torso damage multipliers decrease from 1.2 to 1.1, while its lower torso multiplier drops from 1.1 to 1.0.

Infinity Ward has also weakened the Oden's Sentinel Apex Attachment. Its maximum damage range decreases by 6%, while its first mid-range damage distance falls by 4%. The attachment now carries an additional muzzle velocity penalty.

Two light machine guns receive reductions to their damage performance. The APOC-338's first mid-range damage decreases from 38 to 37, while its minimum damage drops from 35 to 33. Its first mid-range damage distance is also reduced by 4%.

The FiNN LMG loses 6% of its first mid-range damage distance. Its upper arm damage multipliers decrease from 1.1 to 1.0, removing the additional damage previously awarded for hits to those areas. The fourth nerf affects the Warlord shotgun's 12G Slug Rounds. Their second mid-range damage distance has been reduced by 10%, limiting the range at which the ammunition maintains that damage tier.

Several assault rifles receive improvements alongside the SMG buffs. The Kastov 762 gains an 11% increase to its maximum damage range, while the M4 receives a smaller 3% increase.

The Patriot XMR benefits from reduced recoil penalties on two attachments. The EXP Haste 80L 14-inch Light Barrel's recoil control penalty decreases from 8% to 6%. The FJX Fury IV Grip's penalty also drops from 5% to 4%.

The Type 73 LMG receives an attachment-specific buff. Its Assault Apex Attachment now deals 20 minimum damage instead of 19.

However, the Han 86 and Hyeon Burst receive changes that are not straightforward buffs or nerfs. The Han 86 gains 7% more maximum damage range, but its neck and upper torso damage multipliers decrease from 1.1 to 1.0.

The Hyeon Burst's Hyperburst Apex Attachment also receives a trade-off. Its full-auto maximum damage falls from 37 to 34, an 8% reduction. However, its maximum damage range increases by 26%, extending the distance at which it can deal its highest damage.

The update also fixes a problem with the Quick Fix Perk that allowed health regeneration to continue even after players took damage. Infinity Ward said the bug made affected players harder to eliminate than intended. Taking damage will now interrupt the regeneration effect.

Another change targets a movement exploit that allowed players to gain an unintended speed boost by diving immediately after a sprint jump. As a temporary measure, the developer has reduced diving velocity by 23%. Infinity Ward plans to introduce a longer-term solution that removes the exploit without affecting normal diving speed.

The patch also fixes a Riot Shield out-of-bounds exploit and several challenge-tracking problems. Free-for-All's score limit has been restored to 30 following player feedback, while separate DMZ fixes address equipment, loadouts, and extraction-related issues.