Close-range fights feel a little different after Modern Warfare 4's first major weapon tuning pass. The ISO Nightshade and VEL 46 both received a 5 percent increase to their arm and hand damage multipliers, so those messy fights where your crosshair drifts off the chest should be more forgiving. If you're trying out builds in MW4 Bot Lobbies, pay attention to how often you hit arms while tracking a moving target. The ISO's arm and hand multipliers now sit at 0.95. That doesn't make every fight easy, but it gives both SMGs a better case for a spot on smaller maps.

Rifles have a new pecking order

The Han 86 hasn't fallen out of contention, although it isn't quite as dominant as it was. Its maximum damage range has grown from 1,120 to 1,200, an increase of 7 percent. The catch is that its neck and upper torso multipliers have each dropped by 9 percent. You'll keep full damage over a little more distance, but high body shots may need an extra hit to finish the job. The Kastov 762 is worth another look, too. Its maximum damage range has increased by 11 percent to 1,050, giving it more room to work across mid-range lanes. If neither feels right, the M4 remains another option to test.

Damage and range at a glance

Weapon or setup | Change | What to expect Han 86 | Maximum damage range increased to 1,200 | More reach, with weaker neck and upper torso hits Kastov 762 | Maximum damage range increased to 1,050 | More room to fight at mid-range Hyeon Burst Hyperburst | Full-auto maximum damage reduced to 34 | Less peak damage, but a longer maximum damage range ISO Nightshade | Arm and hand multipliers increased to 0.95 | More forgiving close-range hits.

Oden and Hyeon builds need a rethink

Oden players have more to adjust to than Han users. Its neck and upper torso multipliers fell by 8 percent to 1.1, while the lower torso multiplier dropped by 9 percent. The Sentinel Apex attachment also lost range: its maximum damage range is now 820, and its first mid-damage range is 1,740. Don't expect the same quick finishes from an old build. The Hyeon Burst's Hyperburst Apex takes a different approach. Full-auto maximum damage fell by 8 percent to 34, but maximum damage range rose by 26 percent to 1,220. Its first mid-damage range was removed, trading some close-range punch for a more consistent reach.

Other changes worth testing

The Patriot XMR's EXP Haste 80L light barrel and FJX Fury IV skeleton grip now impose smaller recoil control penalties, so handling builds should be easier to keep on target. Elsewhere, the APOC-338 and FiNN LMG lost some mid-range effectiveness, while the Type 73's Assault Apex gained minimum damage. The Warlord's 12G Slug Rounds also lost part of their second mid-damage range. Outside weapon tuning, Quick Fix regeneration now stops when you take damage, and Possum has new activation restrictions. Before taking a setup into ranked play, try it at the firing range or in a private match. Players exploring Bot Lobbies MW4 can use that practice time to compare builds and see which changes matter to their own aim.