Assault Rifle · patch launch · data from 2026-10-27

Best M4 builds in MW4

96,708 legal five-attachment builds were scored from the gunsmith's own numbers; the Pareto front holds 1,856 builds no other build beats on every stat. The presets below are the best build for a fixed set of priorities. To set your own priorities or lock an attachment, open the interactive optimizer.

Other weapons: HAN 86, ISO Nightshade

Mouse & keyboard

  • Barrel 16" Highmark Barrel
  • Muzzle Corvus LVL-40
  • Underbarrel FSS Tac90 Grip
  • Stock Demo HVR2 Stock
  • Laser SA LAZ-500
ADS
272 ms+13%
H recoil
11.1 deg/s-35%
V recoil
35.3 deg/s-13%
Strafe
3.50 m/s-3%
Range
25 m±0%
Idle sway
0.1 deg/s-76%

Horizontal recoil is what a mouse cannot easily correct, so it gets full weight; vertical pull is manageable by hand. Result: ADS 272 ms (+13% vs 240 ms stock), horizontal recoil 11.1 (-35%), vertical 35.3 (-13%), first damage range to 25 m, strafe 3.50 m/s (-3%).

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Controller

  • Barrel 16" Highmark Barrel
  • Muzzle ZLR Reverb90
  • Underbarrel FSS Tac90 Grip
  • Stock Demo HVR2 Stock
  • Laser SA LAZ-500
ADS
272 ms+13%
H recoil
14.8 deg/s-13%
V recoil
30.7 deg/s-24%
Strafe
3.50 m/s-3%
Range
25 m±0%
Idle sway
0.1 deg/s-76%

Aim assist helps with side-to-side drift, so vertical recoil control takes priority, with ADS speed close behind. Result: ADS 272 ms (+13% vs 240 ms stock), horizontal recoil 14.8 (-13%), vertical 30.7 (-24%), first damage range to 25 m, strafe 3.50 m/s (-3%).

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Balanced

  • Barrel 18" LE Crosswind
  • Muzzle Corvus LVL-40
  • Underbarrel FSS Tac90 Grip
  • Stock Demo HVR2 Stock
  • Laser SA LAZ-500
ADS
267 ms+11%
H recoil
12.3 deg/s-28%
V recoil
39.0 deg/s-4%
Strafe
3.50 m/s-3%
Range
31 m+24%
Idle sway
0.1 deg/s-74%

Equal weight on every axis: the best all-round compromise with no single stat sacrificed. Result: ADS 267 ms (+11% vs 240 ms stock), horizontal recoil 12.3 (-28%), vertical 39.0 (-4%), first damage range to 31 m, strafe 3.50 m/s (-3%).

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Fast ADS

  • Barrel 11.5" Shortline Barrel
  • Underbarrel FSS Tac90 Grip
  • Rear Grip ZLR Phase Grip
  • Stock Demo Dozer Stock
  • Laser SA LAZ-500
ADS
160 ms-33%
H recoil
20.4 deg/s+19%
V recoil
48.9 deg/s+20%
Strafe
3.77 m/s+5%
Range
24 m-4%
Idle sway
0.2 deg/s-50%

ADS speed and mobility first for aggressive play; recoil only matters enough to stay usable. Result: ADS 160 ms (-33% vs 240 ms stock), horizontal recoil 20.4 (+19%), vertical 48.9 (+20%), first damage range to 24 m, strafe 3.77 m/s (+5%).

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Long range

  • Barrel 18" LE Crosswind
  • Muzzle FSS IS300
  • Underbarrel FSS Tac90 Grip
  • Rear Grip Brace DX Grip
  • Stock Demo HVR2 Stock
ADS
310 ms+29%
H recoil
14.4 deg/s-16%
V recoil
34.5 deg/s-15%
Strafe
3.43 m/s-5%
Range
36 m+44%
Idle sway
0.1 deg/s-71%

Damage range, muzzle velocity and recoil control for holding lanes; handling is secondary. Result: ADS 310 ms (+29% vs 240 ms stock), horizontal recoil 14.4 (-16%), vertical 34.5 (-15%), first damage range to 36 m, strafe 3.43 m/s (-5%).

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All M4 attachments

AttachmentSlotADS In SpeedADS Horizontal RecoilADS Vertical RecoilStrafe SpeedDamage RangeADS Idle Sway
ZLR Drift 16.5"Barrel · Light Barrel226 ms (-6%)18.6 deg/s (+9%)44.3 deg/s (+9%)3.72 m/s (+3%)——
11.5" Shortline BarrelBarrel · Light Short Barrel212 ms (-12%)18.4 deg/s (+8%)43.9 deg/s (+8%)3.77 m/s (+5%)24 m (-4%)—
18" LE CrosswindBarrel · Long Barrel265 ms (+10%)16.4 deg/s (-4%)39.0 deg/s (-4%)3.50 m/s (-3%)31 m (+24%)0.4 deg/s (+7%)
16" Highmark BarrelBarrel · Heavy Barrel270 ms (+13%)14.8 deg/s (-13%)35.3 deg/s (-13%)3.50 m/s (-3%)——
FT Cannonade 7"Barrel · Heavy Short Barrel233 ms (-3%)——3.67 m/s (+2%)23 m (-8%)0.4 deg/s (-10%)
ZLR Reverb90Muzzle · Vertical Comp252 ms (+5%)—35.3 deg/s (-13%)———
Corvus LVL-40Muzzle · Horizontal Comp252 ms (+5%)12.8 deg/s (-25%)————
FTAC DominionMuzzle · Balanced Comp252 ms (+5%)15.7 deg/s (-8%)37.4 deg/s (-8%)———
FSS IS40 · suppressedMuzzle · Light Silencer————23 m (-8%)—
XRK Mil-Tac Suppressor · suppressedMuzzle · Tactical Silencer256 ms (+7%)—————
FSS IS300 · suppressedMuzzle · Heavy Silencer270 ms (+13%)16.0 deg/s (-6%)38.2 deg/s (-6%)3.53 m/s (-2%)29 m (+16%)0.5 deg/s (+15%)
B16 HelicalMuzzle · Breacher——————
TZL-110 V1 · flashHiddenMuzzle · Flash Hider—16.6 deg/s (-3%)39.4 deg/s (-3%)———
FSS Fireline GripUnderbarrel · Angled Grip260 ms (+8%)15.5 deg/s (-9%)37.0 deg/s (-9%)———
FSS Tac90 GripUnderbarrel · Angled Short Grip—————0.2 deg/s (-50%)
Mire-50 Tac GripUnderbarrel · Vertical Grip257 ms (+7%)——3.77 m/s (+5%)——
GW Domi-9Underbarrel · Vertical Short Grip——————
FSS BeargripUnderbarrel · Bipod Grip260 ms (+8%)——3.70 m/s (+3%)——
AA54 V.3 BipodUnderbarrel · Bipod——————
Hurricane Grip (not equippable)Underbarrel255 ms (+6%)15.4 deg/s (-10%)39.4 deg/s (-3%)———
Miri 40mmUnderbarrel · Underbarrel Launcher——————
TV JudicatorUnderbarrel · Underbarrel Shotgun——————
45 Round MagMagazine · Magazine246 ms (+2%)——3.57 m/s (-1%)——
60 Round DrumMagazine · Magazine258 ms (+7%)——3.52 m/s (-2%)——
5.56 NATO Armor PiercingAmmunition · Ammunition——————
5.56 NATO FrangibleAmmunition · Ammunition——————
5.56 NATO Hollow PointAmmunition · Ammunition——————
5.56 NATO High VelocityAmmunition · Ammunition——————
5.56 NATO OverpressuredAmmunition · Ammunition——————
ZLR Phase GripRear Grip · Skeleton Grip218 ms (-9%)18.1 deg/s (+6%)43.1 deg/s (+6%)———
Brace DX GripRear Grip · Assault Grip255 ms (+6%)16.0 deg/s (-6%)38.2 deg/s (-6%)———
Schlager STB GripRear Grip · Sniper Grip250 ms (+4%)————0.3 deg/s (-30%)
No StockStock · Stock200 ms (-17%)22.2 deg/s (+30%)52.8 deg/s (+30%)3.77 m/s (+5%)—0.4 deg/s (+10%)
ZLR ASP50 StockStock · Light Stock———3.75 m/s (+4%)—0.5 deg/s (+17%)
Demo Dozer StockStock · Tactical Stock220 ms (-8%)17.9 deg/s (+5%)42.6 deg/s (+5%)———
Demo HVR2 StockStock · Heavy Stock—————0.2 deg/s (-52%)
PF1 Fixed StockStock · Assault Stock260 ms (+8%)15.8 deg/s (-8%)37.6 deg/s (-7%)———
Hurricane Stock (not equippable)Stock216 ms (-10%)18.6 deg/s (+9%)44.3 deg/s (+9%)3.71 m/s (+3%)——
SZ Gen.6 PEQ · laserVisibleLaser · Bright ADS Laser220 ms (-8%)—————
SA LAZ-500 · laserDimLaser · Dim ADS Laser230 ms (-4%)—————
Bruen 22-LPW · laserVisibleLaser · Bright Hip Laser——————
STOVL IRX-6 · laserDimLaser · Dim Hip Laser——————
Expedite Intra-5B · laserVisibleLaser · Canted Laser——————
Corio ODSPR+ · laserVisibleLaser · Canted Laser——————
Corio 4DV-3 · laserVisibleLaser · Flashlight———3.67 m/s (+2%)—0.2 deg/s (-40%)

Stock M4

ADS In Speed
240 ms
ADS Out Speed
370 ms
Sprint To Fire
210 ms
Reload Speed
2600 ms
ADS Horizontal Recoil
17.1 deg/s
ADS Vertical Recoil
40.6 deg/s
ADS Horizontal Gun Kick
3.3 deg/s
ADS Vertical Gun Kick
16.9 deg/s
Move Speed
4.70 m/s
Strafe Speed
3.60 m/s
ADS Move Speed
2.51 m/s
Sprint Speed
6.18 m/s
Damage Range
25 m
Muzzle Velocity
590.00 m/s
Rounds
30
Reserves
120

How totals are computed: ADS in/out times add in milliseconds; recoil control, gun kick, sway, bob, movement speeds and muzzle velocity multiply. Verified by equipping a five-attachment build and comparing the displayed totals.