What is the best Black Ops 6 AEK-973 loadout? There are few things more satisfying in Call of Duty than dispatching an enemy with a single burst, and the AEK-973 is the best in the game at doing so, at least, up to the 40-meter mark with this loadout.
This powerful marksman rifle is also surprisingly stable out of the box, making it a dream to build in Black Ops 6. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the AEK-973 is stationed on our best BO6 loadouts list, and with our tried and tested build you’ll be tearing up lobbies in the FPS game – be it in BO6 multiplayer or Warzone.
How to unlock the AEK-973 in Black Ops 6
To unlock the AEK-973 in Black Ops 6 you must reach player level 34. As a Black Ops 6 Prestige unlock, the AEK-973 is a decent candidate for one of your permanent unlocks. However, we’d advise prioritizing using the limited unlocks on end-Prestige weapons so you can maximize your time with them.
Best Black Ops 6 AEK-973 loadout
- Optic: Volzhskiy Reflex
- Muzzle: Suppressor
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag I
- Rear Grip: Quickdraw Grip
- Stock: Balanced Stock
- Fire Mods: Rapid Fire
While you can use any standard sight for this AEK-973 loadout such as the Kepler Microflex, we’re big fans of the Volzhskiy Reflex and its large round optic. Muzzle-wise, we’ve tested the lot, but haven’t noticed a huge difference in performance. As such, the Suppressor gets our vote as it keeps you nice and safe on the mini-map, provided killstreaks aren’t active.
Moving down the weapon, we’ve opted for the Long Barrel – a must-have on most weapons thanks to its large boost in effective damage range. On the underside of the AEK-973, we have the Vertical Foregrip for horizontal recoil control, the Extended Mag I to ensure you’re able to fight off multiple enemies with one clip, and the Quickdraw Grip to bolster your ADS speed.
At the butt of the gun, we have gone with the Balanced Stock due to the extra mobility boost it provides. If you find yourself missing shots because of bullet flinch, the Combat Stock will quickly solve the issue. Finally, apply the Rapid Fire mod to increase the burst rate of the rifle.
Best Black Ops 6 AEK-973 class build
- Secondary weapon: CIGMA 2B
- Melee: Knife
- Tactical: Stim Shot
- Lethal: Semtex
- Field Upgrade: Acoustic Amp
- Perk 1: Gung-ho
- Perk 2: Assassin
- Perk 3: Double Time
- Specialty: Enforcer
- Wildcard: Gunfighter
As you’ll be running all eight available attachments, the Gunfighter Wildcard is mandatory for this build. While you can pick any sidearm you fancy to marry up with the AEK-973, taking the killstreak destroying CIGMA 2B is a logical choice if you’re running a suppressed weapon – no UAV, no problem.
As you’re going to be aiming for long streaks, the Stim Shot will keep you topped up on health while providing an extra burst of mobility. The Lethal slot is largely down to personal preference, but the Semtex is our go-to pick. For the Field Upgrade, we’ve been having a lot of fun with the Acoustic Amp, as the amplified footsteps give us a clearer understanding of where our targets are lurking.
Perk-wise, we’ve gone for the red trinity of Gung-ho, Assassin, and Double Time to gain access to Enforcer. If you’re fragging out on a particular day, consider taking Bankroll instead of Double Time to get you to your streak breakpoints quicker.
Best Warzone AEK-973 loadout
- Optic: Willis 3x
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
- Fire Mods: 7.62x39mm Overpressured
The best AEK-973 loadout for Warzone is slightly stripped back, as Gunfighter gives way to Overkill so we can pair it with an SMG. Thanks to the Willis 3x, the AEK-973 becomes a fearsome ranged option that can pluck targets with two bursts, even at 100 meters.
Though the AEK-973 is already incredibly stable, the Compensator is what turns it into a laser. Because of this stability, we don’t actually need a foregrip, allowing us to take the 7.62x39mm Overpressured fire mod for more bullet velocity over something like the Vertical Foregrip.
To further juice bullet velocity and improve the AEK-973’s range to make the best use of the Willis 3x, slap on the Reinforced Barrel. Finally, grab the Extended Mag II to ensure you always have enough rounds in the chamber to mow down whole squads.
Best Warzone AEK-973 class setup
- Secondary Weapon: Jackal PDW
- Melee: Knife
- Tactical: Concussion
- Lethal: Frag
- Perk 1: Grenadier
- Perk 2: Quick Fix
- Perk 3: Alertness
- Wildcard: Overkill
For this Overkill build we’re pairing the AEK-973 with the indomitable Jackal PDW – one of the best SMGs to tear up Urzikstan and Area 99 with. Don’t believe us? Give our Jackal PDW loadout a spin.
The Tactical/Lethal combo is largely preferential here. While the Stim Shot is still a top pick for movement junkies, we typically default to the Concussion for duels, or the Smoke Grenade for securing rotations. The Frag, meanwhile, is a tried and tested beastie.
On the perk front we’re lining up our AR build trio: Grenadier, Quick Fix, and Alertness. Grenadier benefits both weapons as it’ll improve aim stability while you’re sliding and diving about. Quick Fix immediately starts regenerating health when you secure a kill or use an armor plate, reducing downtime between skirmishes. Finally, Alertness gives you intel on nearby enemies while giving you a heads-up if someone is aiming at you from further afield.
Best Black Ops 6 AEK-973 alternatives
The best Black Ops 6 AEK-973 alternative is the AS Val. Though the Swat 5.56 is also a burst-based marksman rifle, we feel it’s not worth using in its current state. As such, if you want to dish out the damage and rack up quick kills, the best Black Ops 6 AS Val loadout will serve you well.
And that’s the best Black Ops 6 AEK-973 loadout and class setup. Now that you’re decked out with the best attachments the rifle has to offer, get out onto the Black Ops 6 maps and show them how it’s done. You’re going to be ripping through opponents with ease using our loadout, so read our Black Ops 6 camos guide to find out how to unlock great skins.
