Best TAQ-M loadout for Warzone & MW3
A B-tier badass whether you’re in Warzone or MW3, the TAQ-M marksman rifle has steadily clawed its way up the gun meta since Warzone Season 6, becoming a reliable, if not divisive, fave for cracking skulls in those long-range kills.
Still, it’ll take more than its base form for you to make a mark with the TAQ-M, even if it is one of (if not the) best marksman rifles in the game. (yeah, we said it!)
It’ll take a loadout capable of cranking that B up to an A-tier-worthy specimen that totally slays at mid-to-long range. A build that perfectly counters the TAQ-M’s main turn-offs among Warzone’s players: slow mobility and fire rate.
Stick around and we’ll help you do just that – eradicate the TAQ-M’s weaknesses and harness this rifle’s godlike damage the way it was meant to be. Your enemies won’t know what hit them while they line up to feed your ever-growing killstreaks.
How do you unlock the TAQ-M?
Reach level 20 with the TAQ-56 and you’ll unlock the TAQ-M for your armory.
What is the best TAQ-M loadout in Warzone?
Attachments
This TAQ-M loadout is all about reversing this rifle’s weaknesses so you can stay nimble and make the most out of every shot. At a glance, the Polarfire muzzle might seem counterintuitive, but honestly… it’s worth the hit to ADS for all the buffs it gives.
Besides, we’ll totally undo that ADS drain with the FSS OLE-V laser and the Demo Cleanshot rear grip. Plus, the laser boosts your accuracy in a way that’s tough to argue with!
If you’re not a fan of lasers, the FTAC Ripper 56 could be a decent enough stand-in, though, for our money, it’s less of an effective attachment choice for a kickass TAQ-M build.
The optic, as usual, comes down to personal preference. We think it’s pretty essential, especially for turning the TAQ-M into the kind of long-range death machine players have recurring nightmares about… but you might disagree. If you’re happy with the default scope on the TAQ, you’d be best served with something like the VX Pineapple underbarrel in its place – combined with the rest of this loadout, you’ll feel like the TAQ-M is a part of your arm itself, you’ll have so much control over it!
Rounding out the attachments, we’d opt for the 20 Round Mag, just to make sure you never come up dry when you need it most. Again, it’s a preference thing. If you’re so deadly accurate you never waste a shot, you might want to go for the 6.5mm High Velocity ammo or the LR1:7 20.5″ barrel, for a tasty boost to damage and velocity.
Perks and equipment
Perk-wise, we’re leading with the tried-and-tested Overkill, because you’d be mad not to rock into Al Mazrah without an SMG to back up your new-and-improved TAQ-M and give you some brutal close-range stopping power.
Double Time is pretty much a no-brainer, since this TAQ-M build is all about wiping out the gun’s weaknesses and sluggish movement speed is the biggest of the bunch. Fast Hands would also make the cut time and again for us, so we can make full and swift use of that SMG whenever we need it.
Try Battle Hardened if you absolutely must have an alternative!
FAQs
Is the TAQ‑M good?
Yes, the TAQ-M is viable but somewhat niche in Warzone. It offers high damage and strong bullet velocity, making it effective for mid-to-long-range engagements. However, it has slower fire rate and handling compared to many other marksman rifles or assault rifles, so it may not suit aggressive, run-and-gun playstyles.
What SMG in Warzone has the fastest TTK (time-to-kill)?
There is no single, clearly documented SMG that always holds the fastest TTK across all ranges and seasons. Some community tests suggest weapons like the Kompakt 92 dominate in very close-range with a TTK around ~495 ms up to ~13.2 m.
So while you can find claims, the data varies by range, load-out, and patch.
Does headshot damage affect TTK?
Yes, headshot hits normally deal increased damage compared to body shots, which can reduce the number of shots needed and thus shorten TTK. Weapon damage multipliers for headshots exist in the Call of Duty series. That said, some players report that in current versions of Warzone the multiplier for headshots may be small or inconsistent.