The official patch notes for Call of Duty: Warzone Season 6 were published by Raven Software on September 16, 2026, on the eve of The Haunting launch. The update is not limited to horror content: it decisively intervenes on weapon balancing, tightens Ranked progression in the higher divisions and modifies several gameplay and economy elements. For competitive players, the most important point is the nerf to the AN-94, until now one of the long-range meta standards.
AN-94 nerfed: less damage, range and control
Raven reduces the AN-94’s damage across all tiers: max goes from 41 to 38, mid from 37 to 34 and min from 33 to 31. Effective ranges also decrease: the first tier now ends at 38 meters instead of 45 and the second at 52 meters instead of 60. In Battle Royale and Resurgence recoil increases by 12%, bullet velocity drops from 920 to 890 m/s and ADS goes from 235 to 245 ms. The 15" Benthic barrel is also scaled back, with reduced bonuses to bullet velocity and recoil control.
This does not mean the AN-94 will automatically disappear from the Ranked meta, but its advantage has been sharply reduced. CODMunity, at the time of the last check, still shows it at the top of the Ranked meta because the page is still dated September 9; UIS OFBR will update the loadouts only when the source records the new post-patch balance.
VST and REV-46 touched, buffs for other weapons
The VST also receives a significant nerf: max damage drops from 29 to 27, mid damage from 27 to 24 and the first range is shortened from 13.5 to 12.8 meters. The REV-46 retains its damage values, but maximum range falls from 12.8 to 12.2 meters. There are buffs for weapons such as EGRT-17, M15 MOD 0 and Voyak KT-3, while the MK35 ISR loses damage in the first and last ranges and a small amount of bullet velocity in BR/Resurgence.
The expected result is a meta less concentrated on Season 5 leaders and with more room for mid- and long-range alternatives. However, real data from the Top 250 will be required before declaring the new best loadouts.
Ranked: higher entry costs and no SR Challenges
Season 6 introduces one of the most significant changes for competitive. All SR Challenges are disabled. Additionally, from Diamond upward Deployment Fees increase and the maximum SR obtainable in a single match decreases. Diamond I, for example, goes from a cost of 65 to 75 SR and from a maximum gain of 210 to 200. In Iridescent and Top 250 the impact grows progressively with the score.
Raven explains the goal is to counter SR inflation in the higher divisions and ensure the leaderboard rewards sustained performance, not just match volume. Also returning to Ranked are some items previously limited, including a thermal optic, a shotgun and the launchers, with specific protections to prevent overly punitive eliminations.
The Haunting, new weapons and economy
Season 6 brings Haunted Hollow, the haunted version of Haven’s Hollow, with Ghost Train, Mystery Box, Trick or Treat pumpkins, low-gravity zones and temporary power-ups. Also arriving are the VMP SMG, the TR51 Para and the Arcblade.
On the economy front, Cluster Strike enters the Buy Station at $4,000, the Juggernaut Public Event is disabled and the distribution of perks obtainable from contracts and legendary crates changes. Supply Drones are also concentrated in High Value Loot Zones and made more predictable.
Raven also intervenes on the AFK system, adding clearer warnings when inactivity is detected and improving detection logic to limit botting. Some ground loot elements also change: Armor Box and Munitions Box return in place of the Utility Box, while Combat Axe and Flash Grenade are replaced respectively by Frag Grenade and Concussion Grenade. These are less conspicuous changes than weapon balance, but they can affect rotations and resource management during matches.
What changes for UIS OFBR players
The priority in the first hours of Season 6 is not to automatically copy the previous week’s loadouts. The AN-94 remains a weapon to test, but the nerf is large enough to require a new meta verification. UIS OFBR will continue to compare official patch notes, CODMunity and updated data before modifying the Ranked Loadouts section.
Official source: Call of Duty / Raven Software – Warzone Season 06 Patch Notes, published September 16, 2026.