Two seasons later, this Black Ops 7 gun is still the Zombies king

Even after a dozen new additions to its arsenal, one gun still stands at the top of Black Ops 7 Zombies. No matter the map, no matter the Cursed Relics, and no matter the squad size, the M34 Novaline is the weapon to wield in BO7 Zombies.

As a humble marksman rifle, the M34 Novaline tends to get overlooked by plenty of casual Zombies players in favor of rapid-fire SMGs and reliable assault rifles, especially since people have gotten used to custom Zombies loadouts after their introduction in Black Ops 4. The Novaline still easily outclasses just about everything in BO7's armory, however.

Marksman rifles have high critical damage—making them perfect for attacking bosses and special enemies with high health pools—but their slow fire rates and low ammo capacity make them impractical for large hordes at first glance.

After all, it's COD Zombies. You're going to spend your time running in circles and turning around every now and then to shoot at the horde trailing behind you. Something like an SMG is better suited for that. Marksman rifles and other situational weapons just don't feel right outside of your secondary slot (or tertiary with Mule Kick).

The M34 Novaline already has a leg up on other marksman rifles because of its two-round burst and decent handling, but sticking with it rewards you with something even greater. When you Pack-a-Punch the M34 Novaline, it becomes fully automatic.

Keeping a Pack-a-Punched sniper or something similar in your back pocket isn't unheard of for Zombies players, especially if you want a specialized tool to take out Elites like Manglers, Doppelghasts, or Zursas.

With the Novaline, there's no need. It shreds Uber Klaus' shoulder shields, destroys Mangler cannons and armor, and even embarrasses main bosses like Veytharion and Caltheris.

There are some things to consider, however. Firstly, the M34 Novaline really needs the Cyclops-03 Barrel attachment to maximize its damage. Without it, headshots and critical shots won't deal nearly as much damage.

There's also a new contender on the block: the M8A1. This four-round burst rifle is a returning favorite from Black Ops 2, and with a new Conversion Kit, it can become fully automatic just like the Novaline. It won't deal as much damage, but the better handling and larger magazine size can make it a better choice in some situations.

Still, even with new weapons, attachments, and Conversion Kits constantly dropping, the M34 Novaline remains the king of Black Ops 7 Zombies. Try it out in your next game and see for yourself.