Best AEK-973 Loadouts and Class Guide in Black Ops 6

Crafting the best loadout in Black Ops 6 is essential to play at your best. For players looking to use one of the most powerful weapons in the game, the AEK-973 is one of those weapons.

The AEK-973 resembles the classic three-round burst weapon from earlier titles: a low-recoil, semi-automatic rifle capable of one-bursting opponents with the right attachments. These loadouts build on the gun's strengths: good mobility, solid fire rate, and hard-hitting damage.

With the current meta and mapset in Black Ops 6, Assault & Marksmen Rifles are very powerful and can be effectively used on every map. With the AEK-973, players can do both locking down lanes or getting aggressive. It is vital to find the right attachments, perks, and equipment to allow you to shine on the map. Below, you’ll find the best AEK-973 loadout in Black Ops 6, how to unlock it, and the ideal class setup to complement it.

How to unlock & how good is the AEK-973 in Black Ops 6

The AEK-973 is unlocked relatively late in the game. It is the second weapon in the Marksmen Rifle category to be unlocked, requiring players to reach level thirty-four.

Available: Unlocked at Player Level 34

"Three-round burst DMR. Great stability and a fast rate of fire within each burst allows the AEK-973 to land multiple shots on target even at long ranges."

The AEK-973 is one of the best weapons within Black Ops 6, and the right class highlights the power it holds. The base weapon does 40 damage minimum per bullet at 34 meters, meaning it has the power to one-burst. The recoil is manageable, the fire rate is solid, and can be boosted with rapid fire. Overall, the weapon is extremely strong. Below are the complete weapon statistics for the AEK-973:

MAGS: 3

MAG SIZE: 30

Camos for the AEK-973 Black Ops 6

Each weapon within Black Ops 6 has nine Military Camos, two Special Camos, and four Mastery camos for both multiplayer and zombies.

The Military Camos for multiplayer are unlocked by headshot kills, requiring 100 to completely finish the category. In Zombies, players must get 2,000 critical kills in order to complete the Military Camos in that mode.

The Special Camos are:

Multiplayer
Ablaze Camo: Get 2 Kills without reloading 10 times with the AEK-973
Mirage Camo: Get 50 Eliminations with a 4.0x or higher magnification scope attached to the AEK-973

Zombies
Voidflame Camo: Get 300 Eliminations with Cryo Freeze equipped to the AEK-973
Blood Moon Camo: Get 300 Eliminations with Napalm Burst equipped to the AEK-973

To complete the Mastery Camos, we have a complete guide to each. They include Gold, Diamond, Dark Spine, and Dark Matter in multiplayer. In Zombies, the Mastery Camos are Mystic Gold, Opal, Afterlife, and Nebula.

Best Low-Level Class Setup for the AEK-973 in Black Ops 6

In Black Ops 6, players don't have to fully level up the AEK-973 in order to unlock all of the camos or to build a good weapon class. Below is a great low-level class setup for the AEK-973:

Muzzle: Suppressor
Barrel: Long Barrel
Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
Optic: Kepler Microflex
Rear Grip: Quickdraw Grip
*Use Rapid Fire when you can

Best Pubs Class Setup for the AEK-973 in Black Ops 6

What is the best class build for the AEK-973 for public matches? We have you covered with a build that uses just 5 attachments, allowing for multiple options in the Wildcards category. This build brings out the best characteristics of the weapon such as excellent time-to-kill and minimal recoil. Here are the attachments:

Muzzle: Muzzle Brake
Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
Optic: Kepler Microflex
Stock: Balanced Stock
Fire Mods: Rapid Fire

How to get the Dark Matter Camo

Best Zombies Class Setup for the AEK-973 in Black Ops 6

Zombies has made its great return in Black Ops 6, having two maps to play currently in Terminus & Liberty Falls, but more are coming. The AEK-973 is a lethal weapon to use when combining the CHF Barrel (Extra headshot damage), Extended Mag II, and Rapid Fire Mod. Here is the full build for the AEK-973 Zombies Class:

Muzzle: Muzzle Brake
Barrel: CHF Barrel
Underbarrel: Ranger Foregrip
Optic: Kepler Microflex
Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
Magazine: Extended Mag II
Stock: Balanced Stock
Fire Mods: Rapid Fire

How to get the Mystic Gold Camo

Interested in more Black Ops 6 content? Check out the Black Ops 6 Hub with articles on competitive class guides for SMGs, competitive AMES 85 Classes, or guides for the campaign including completing the safehouse puzzles and other achievements.