Since the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Season 3, players have had the chance to try out several new weapons, from the Ballistic Knife to the CARV.2 tactical rifle, added recently. Among these new weapons, the Swiss K31 sniper rifle sits in an interesting niche, blending accuracy and high damage with mobility.
Black Ops Cold War Season 3: The Swiss K31
The Swiss K31’s in-game description is brief and to the point; “Bolt-action sniper rifle,” it reads; “Improved accuracy with low recoil. Fast rechamber and aiming speed with a larger ammo capacity.”
Certainly, this is an accurate description of what the baseline Swiss K31 is, but it only hints at the tactical potential of the weapon. To unlock this Swiss sniper rifle, you simply need to reach Tier 31 in the Season 3 Battle Pass. The weapon is, along with the PPSh-41, one of the two weapons available for free as part of this season’s Battle Pass. Indeed, many players will likely have unlocked it by now, although they may have overlooked it in favour of flashier options like the CARV.2.
When it comes to damage, the Swiss K31 sits on the lower-end of the sniper rifle spectrum. However, this isn’t a long-range stationary sniper’s weapon. Where the K31 excels is a a versatile mid-range, able to shift to longer-range shots as needed. While its damage might be lower than other sniper rifles, its fire rate is higher than any other bolt-action rifle. This combined with its low recoil and quick aiming speed makes it ideal for mid-range skirmishing. You’ll need to hit most targets twice in Multiplayer to take them down (unless you score a headshot). However, this is less of a concern given its other attributes.
Of course, the Gunsmith offers plenty of options for fine-tuning. If you’d rather the Swiss K31 perform more like a traditional long-range sniper rifle, you can tweak it accordingly. However, its best loadouts are likely those which play to its existing strengths; mobility, mid-range accuracy, and handling speed. These attributes make the K31 useful across Black Ops Cold War and Warzone alike, particularly Zombies, where higher-powered sniper rifles might be wasted shooting at hordes of weak foes.