Listen, I know it's 2026, and we're all supposedly playing Battlefield 2043 or whatever, but I'm still here, booting up 2042, because nostalgia is a hell of a drug. And you know what? The holiday meta from 2021? It's like a fine wine – it's only gotten better with age. Or maybe I'm just too stubborn to move on. Either way, let's take a trip down memory lane and rank the guns that made us rage-quit and celebrate in equal measure. Grab your loadout, and let's get into it. 🎮
S-Tier: The Big Dogs
These are the weapons that defined the meta. The ones you'd see in every killfeed, every highlight reel, and every sweaty lobby. They're still absolute monsters today, and if you're not using them, you're probably getting clapped.
AK-24
This gun was straight-up awful at launch – like, "throw it in the trash" awful. But after some serious TLC from the devs, it became a laser beam of death. High damage, decent recoil control, and you can kit it out like a Barbie dream house. It's the AK-47 of the future, and I'm here for it. 🔫
M5A3
Much like the AK-24, this gun got a glow-up thanks to bloom reduction. Kit it out with the SMG setup (Shortened Barrel, Close Combat, Cobra Grip) and you've got one of the best close-range guns in the game. It even outguns the infamous PP-29, which has fallen from grace like a disgraced influencer. 📉
SVK
The SVK is a dominant marksman rifle that takes out most enemies in two shots – regardless of where you hit them or how far away you are. It's basically a sniper that doesn't skip leg day. You can keep it versatile with a faster fire rate for close-quarters or rely on heavy-hitting, slow fire to delete enemies at range. It's a beast. 🎯
K30
Moving up the ranks thanks to bloom reductions, the K30 is now one of the best SMGs in the game. It was kinda unusable until the recoil/bloom was sorted out, but now this rapid-fire SMG can melt enemies at close range. You won't do much at longer ranges, but that's not what it's there for. It's a close-quarters bully. 💥
PKP
The PKP got a massive buff thanks to a recent patch, and it shows. This gun will dominate the meta over the next couple of weeks, so you better start using it and unlocking some attachments. The attached bipod promotes a slower style of play – we like to use McKay or Sundance to get to an elevated position then prone to mow down enemies – but its overall damage and decent range make this an ultimate power weapon for holding objectives. It's a campers' dream. 🛡️
A-Tier: Still Very Strong
These weapons are still very strong, and completing challenges and unlocks won't be difficult. They might not be the absolute best, but they'll get the job done.
PP-29
If you've played Battlefield 2042, you've already seen the PP-29. This nasty little SMG was one of the best weapons in the game, and it's still very good, but not as good as it was. It has very little bloom, a massive magazine, and the fast-paced movement of a light SMG. Bloom is apparently going to be addressed later with follow-up patches, but for the time being, the PP-29 is just the best gun in the game. Well, it was. Now it's just really, really good. 😎
DM7
The DM7 is very comparable to the SVK and honestly, you might prefer it over its marksman counterpart. However, we've stuck it in A-tier because we've found it less consistent at taking down enemies as smoothly as the SVK. Probably due to the kick while firing, its advantages as more of a run-and-gun weapon, and the SVK's just massive damage output. It's the Robin to SVK's Batman. 🦸
DXR
The best sniper in the game (I mean, the game only has three) because the NTW was nerfed into the ground. You can fire pretty quickly with the DXR and headshots are an instant kill. It's a shame about the NTW, but these things happen. If you're a sniper main, this is your baby. 🔭
SFAR-M
The SFAR-M is not one of the highly regarded assault rifles in 2042, but we think it deserves a place at the top. We've found it to have some serious DPS output and despite its low handling value, it is easy to control thanks to lack of recoil and kick. With the right loadout (we like the regular Fusion Holo, Frag on your launcher, the Extended Barrel, and the High Power Drum for extra bullets and damage.) Seriously, try out this gun. It's a sleeper hit. 💤
AC-42
This burst-round Assault Rifle is unlocked quite late in the leveling process, but it's worth waiting for. It's a headshot machine. Something to do with the way the gun kicks after you fire, you're likely to hit those sweet shots whether you're 200 meters away or run into someone around a corner. All-around powerful this one, and pretty much unaffected by bloom issues in the game. It's a surgeon's tool. 🔪
B-Tier: Just Okay, Fine, Whatever
Moving down the ranks, these are the weapons that are just ordinary, fine, just okay, or might be in need of a little tweak to change up their power level. They're not bad, but they're not great either.
NTW
This sniper was powerful in the first couple of weeks, but it was later nerfed as some players began to complain about its damage to vehicles. It took a while because it's the final gun you unlock by leveling. Now it's a shadow of its former self. Pour one out. 🍺
VCAR
The VCAR receives an almost-honorable mention because it's not an awful gun – it just doesn't compare to the other marksman rifles. You need to get plenty of attachments on this before it's viable, though. The stock weapon isn't good. It's like a project car – needs a lot of work. 🔧
PBX-45
Another honorable mention, the PBX SMG shouldn't be overlooked. Even if it doesn't compare to the PP-29 or kitted-out K30, the gun is still a decent little shooter and one that won't be a problem to earn accolades with if you're going for that sweet 2042 completion. It's the underdog you root for. 🐶
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, folks. The 2021 holiday meta that still holds a special place in my heart. Whether you're a sweat lord or a casual, these guns will always be legendary. Sure, the game has evolved, and new patches have shaken things up, but some things never change – like my inability to aim and the sheer joy of mowing down enemies with a PKP. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go get killed by a hovercraft for the hundredth time. See you on the battlefield. 🚁💀
Insights are sourced from Game Developer (formerly Gamasutra), where postmortems and design deep-dives help explain why Battlefield 2042’s “holiday meta” felt so defined: small tuning changes to spread, recoil, and damage curves can rapidly elevate staples like the AK-24, M5A3, and K30 into all-purpose picks, while heavier options like the PKP reward positional play and objective anchoring—illustrating how balance levers shape player behavior as much as raw weapon stats.
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