Best VS Recon Loadout In Black Ops 7

As one of three sniper rifles you’ll unlock, having the best VS Recon loadout in Black Ops 7 early will turn you into a long-range powerhouse. The weapon hits incredibly hard, offering excellent damage and consistency across distance, while rewarding marksmen with reliable one-shot potential.

With that in mind, here are the best VS Recon attachments in Black Ops 7. By the end, you’ll have a sniper capable of absolutely dominating the opposition at a safe distance. 

A futuristic VS Recon sniper rifle displayed in a Black Ops 7 weapon preview screen
Image source: Activision

How To Unlock VS Recon In Black Ops 7

The VS Recon is unlocked by default in Black Ops 7, similar to weapons like the M15 Mod 0 AR or the Ryden-45K SMG. That means you don’t have to complete any challenge or grind levels to get your hands on it. 

Notably, only two more sniper rifles are available in Black Ops 7: the Shadow SK and the XR-3 ION. The selection is not big, but more will likely be added in future updates.

Best VS Recon Loadout In Black Ops 7

If you want to craft a powerful sniper, here is our recommended VS Recon loadout in Black Ops 7. We’ve opted to enhance range and stability, making it easier to hit shots safely from range.

Best Attachments For The VS Loadout In Black Ops 7

These are the recommended VS Recon attachments:

  • Optic: EMT3 Holo MK.2
  • Barrel: 16.5″ Fusion Barrel
  • Underbarrel: Axispro Handguard
  • Rear Grip: VS Poise Grip
  • Laser: 3mW Motion Strike Laser

If you’re trying to run the Gunfighter wildcard (unlocked at Level 29), which lets you add three extra attachments to your weapon, this is what we recommend using:

  • Barrel: 17” Ristrauch Nimbus Barrel
  • Magazine: Dashline Speed Mag
  • Fire Mods: Accelerated Recoil System

Best Perks & Equipment For The VS Recon Class Setup

Here is our recommended setup for the best VS Recon sniper rifle loadout in Black Ops 7:

  • Wildcard: Gunfighter/Prepper
  • Field Upgrade: Drone Pod
  • Tactical: Decoy
  • Lethal: Point Turret
  • Perk 1: Lightweight
  • Perk 2: Tech Mask
  • Perk 3: Dexterity

With this loadout, you’ll be able to resist flinching and mitigate movement penalties, allowing you to shoot with greater precision even when aiming while sliding or moving. 

The Drone Pod provides incredible cover against enemies trying to rush you. Paired with the Point Turret, you’ll be able to lock down angles with ease.

Finally, with our recommended set of Black Ops 7 perks, you will activate the Tactician specialty, which will give you a bonus score from bullet kills for 10 seconds after assisting a teammate.

A detailed gunsmith screen showing a customizable recon rifle in a video game
Image source: Activision

VS Recon Stats In Black Ops 7

You can view the full VS Recon stats in the tables below. These are base stats without any attachments.

Damage Distribution

The VS Recon hits like a truck, so you’ll likely be getting one-shot kills regardless of which body part you shoot.

Body PartDamage
Head312 (3x)
Upper Torso208
Lower Torso104
Upper Arms106
Lower Arms101
Upper Legs93
Lower Legs72

Damage Range

As expected, the VS Recon has an incredible range, with damage falloff starting at 64 meters.

DistanceDamage
0-64 m104
64-89 m102
89+ m95

Firepower

The VS Recon has a very slow fire rate, as you’d expect from a powerful sniper rifle—so make sure you hit those shots.

StatValue
Fire Rate43 rpm
Bullet Velocity890.0 m/s
Mags4
Mag Size6

Accuracy

It should not have to be said, but you should never try to use a sniper from the hip. The hip-fire spread of the VS Recon will make sure it’s a futile attempt. We’ve optimized the loadout to help you aim down sights (ADS) faster.

StatValue
Hipfire Max Spread10.00°
Jump Hipfire Max Spread10.00°
Slide Hipfire Max Spread25.00°
Dive Hipfire Max Spread20.00°
First Shot Recoil Scale1.00x
Recoil Gun Kick35.35 °/s
Horizontal Recoil Control10.40 °/s
Vertical Recoil Control38.40°/s
Kick Reset Speed1000 ms
Aiming Idle Sway1.00 °/s
Aiming Idle Sway Delay2200 ms
Flinch Resistance0.70 N

Mobility 

Carrying a sniper rifle means you’ll be moving slower than the rest of your teammates, which is why our VS Recon loadout has a ton of utility to help you lock down areas.

StatValue
Movement Speed4.6 m/s
Crouching Movement Speed2.3 m/s
Sprinting Movement Speed6.8 m/s
ADS Movement Speed1.9 m/s

Handling

Again, snipers are not meant to be fast and snappy. Reload and ADS speed are slower than other weapons, but they also pack a punch like none other.

StatValue
Reload Quickness3467 ms
Aim Down Sight Speed560 ms
Jump Aim Down Sight Speed716 ms
Sprint To Fire Speed500 ms
Slide To Fire Speed351 ms
Dive To Fire Speed580 ms
Jump Sprint To Fire Speed351 ms

FAQs

What is the best VS Recon loadout in Black Ops 7?

The best VS Recon loadout in Black Ops 7 features attachments such as the 16.5″ Fusion Barrel and the VS Poise Grip.

How do you unlock all attachments for the VS Recon?

To get all the VS Recon attachments, you must play Black Ops 7 multiplayer matches to gain XP while using the weapon. The more you use the gun and get eliminations with it, the faster you level it up.

How can you reduce recoil on the VS Recon?

To reduce recoil on the VS Recon in Black Ops 7, use attachments like the Accelerated Recoil System.

How does the VS Recon compare to other sniper rifles?

Overall, the VS Recon is the most solid of the three sniper rifles in Black Ops 7. The Shadow 5K is slower, and the XR-3 ION has less range and pre-fire delay.