Best AEK-973 Loadout in Black Ops 6: Class Customization, Attachments, Perks

ARs and SMGs are the favorites in Black Ops 6 multiplayer, but the AEK-973 is an incredibly powerful marksman rifle that deserves more attention.

Even a decade later, the M8A7 from Black Ops 3 remains one of the most dominant weapons in Call of Duty history. The iconic four-shot AR weapon quickly eliminated enemies with a single burst. There have been a lot of explosive weapons in the series since then, but none of them were quite like what we saw in BO3.

But the AEK is a real contender and one of the best weapons in BO6 if you have the accuracy to take advantage of its strengths.

The AEK-973 is a three-round marksman rifle capable of destroying enemies at a distance of up to 41 meters with one shot. It’s important to note that the delay between shots makes using this weapon a little more difficult, but there is a loadout that mitigates this issue.

Let’s take a quick look at why the AEK-973 is one of the best weapons in Black Ops 6.

Best Black Ops 6 AEK-973 Loadout

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• Optics: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Ported compensator
• Under-barrel: Vertical handle
• Rear handle: Quick release handle
• Fire mods: Rapid fire

The choice of optics depends on personal preference, but Kepler Microflex Provides the clearest line of sight when shooting at short and medium distances.

To ensure all your hits land, Ported compensator improves first shot and vertical recoil, and Vertical handle Helps control horizontal recoil. Both of these attachments should be included in every AEK-973 configuration, since without them the weapon swings too much.

Next, Quick release handle provides a significant increase in aiming speed, which is critical if you want to get the first shot at more mobile ARs and SMGs.

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Rapid fire is the most important attachment for the AEK-973, as it eliminates much of the delay between bursts by increasing the weapon’s rate of fire. This attachment negatively affects vertical and horizontal recoil, but the ported compensator and vertical forend help compensate for these losses.

The best perks, equipment and combat features for the AEK-973 configuration

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• Wildcard: Perk Greed
• Perk 1: Ninja
• Perk 2: Tracker
• Perk 3: Double time
• Perk Greed: Ghost
• Speciality: Intelligence
• Lethal: Frag
• Tactical: Flash Grenade
• Field Update: Sleeper agent

Treyarch has greatly improved footstep sounds, making enemies much easier to spot. With this in mind, Ninja reduces footstep noise. You won’t have any problems with losing players because Tracker detects traces of the enemy.

Double time – A reliable option for any loadout, as it greatly increases the duration of tactical sprints and is ideal for escaping firefights or moving around the map faster.

Finally, we recommend using Perk Greed add an additional perk and use this slot on Ghost to keep you away from the minimum map during UAV pings.

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By using three blue perks you unlock Intelligence Specialty. Enforcer is great because it gives a temporary boost to movement speed and health regeneration rate after killing enemies, but Recon is the best option.

Scouting allows players to see enemies through a wall after respawning. This is valuable because you get a good idea of ​​where everyone is on the map and can avoid falling into the spawn trap. Additionally, the screen beeps when an enemy outside your field of vision sees you, giving you the opportunity to attack them and shoot first.

AEK-973 pros and cons

Where is AEK-973 in the Black Ops 6 meta?

According to WZRanked, AEK-973 ranks only 23rd in popularity. Based on this, you wouldn’t think that this weapon would be useless since no one uses it. However, more players should give him a chance. The ability to take out enemies in one shot is a bonus that most other weapons don’t have, and it has one of the fastest TTKs in the game if you have enough accuracy.

How to unlock AEK-973 in Black Ops 6

AEK-973 is unlocked after reaching level 34. This means you’ll have to play around a bit before you get your hands on it, but you won’t have to wait until you’re max level to use it.

Alternatives to Black Ops 6 AEK-973

If you want a weapon that hits as hard as the AEK-973, check out our AK-74 kit. For more information, check out our guide to the best BO6 controller settings.