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Best AS VAL loadout and class setup in Warzone

Here's the best loadout for the AS VAL assault rifle in Warzone.

Ever wondered what the best set-up is for the AS VAL? Look no further. If you think you’ve had enough of the elite time-to-kill of certain weapons, then tough, because the AS VAL beats them all out. Not enough people are using it. Granted, it has a smaller-than-ideal magazine capacity, but with that ludicrous damage output is more than enough for me to give it a second look. So then, here’s the best AS VAL loadout in Warzone Pacific.


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How to unlock the AS VAL in Warzone

The AS VAL was available in a previous battle pass, so in order to get it unlocked you’ll need a boatload of patience (or Modern Warfare purchased). The requirements are as follows: get 2 headshots using assault rifles in 5 different matches. This can be done in Warzone, but is so much less painful if you can play it in Modern Warfare.


Best AS VAL loadout in Warzone

I’ve put together a couple different AS VAL loadouts in this loadout guide. In all honesty, the weapon is best used as a close-range powerhouse, much like the FFAR 1, thanks to its elite, best in the game, time-to-kill, but there are a few different ways you can kit it depending on how you fancy playing it.

Best recoil control AS VAL loadout in Warzone

I’d say this loadout is the most reliable one for the AS VAL. You slightly sacrifice the weapon’s mobility and your chances to sprint in and out of cover, but make the AS VAL far more usable at longer ranges than it otherwise would be. Here’s what you should use attachment-wise on this VAL:

  • Barrel: VLK 200mm Osa (Level 28)
  • Stock: VLK Strelok (Level 46)
  • Underbarrel: Merc Foregrip (Level 13)
  • Ammunition: 30 Round Mags (Level 17)
  • Rear Grip: Rubberised Grip Tape (Level 47)
This AS VAL loadout has the VLK 200mm Osa, VLK Strelok, Merc Foregrip, 30 Round Mags, and Rubberized Grip Tape

So then, with this AS VAL you’re looking to reduce your recoil as much as possible. I really like this gun’s iron sights so have left them alone, and muzzle attachments like suppressors aren’t available with the VAL. This means you have an extra attachment to use elsewhere, and don’t worry: the VAL is suppressed by default so you’ll never show up on the enemy radar.

The most important attachment here is the VLK 200mm Osa barrel. Range and bullet velocity are very important with this gun, and this attachment boosts them both noticeably. Your bullets will feel like they actually hit as hard as they should now.

When it comes to mitigating recoil control, we’re absolutely stacking attachments here. The Merc Foregrip does this along with improving your hipfire spread, the VLK Strelok stock boosts your recoil control whilst making your idle sway more manageable, and the Rubberised Grip Tape further boosts your recoil control. Basically, you’re plonking every recoil-mitigating attachment on this AS VAL to boost your accuracy at longer ranges.

The main weakness of the AS VAL is ammunition capacity in a magazine, so you need the 30 Round Mags in there to give you the maximum number of bullets available at one time. Of course, you’ll still need to reload frequently, so it’s important to play smart and always have cover available to you if you get caught short.


Best balanced AS VAL loadout in Warzone

Is the above AS VAL loadout a bit slow for your tastes? Well then, try switching out some attachments. I’ve gone for this loadout, which balances out recoil control with mobility for a class that’s probably going to perform better in the close-range encounters you expect from this gun:

  • Barrel: VLK 200mm Osa (Level 28)
  • Laser: Tac Laser (Level 15)
  • Stock: VLK Strelok (Level 46)
  • Ammunition: 30 Round Mags (Level 17)
  • Rear Grip: Stippled Grip Tape (Level 19)
This AS VAL loadout has the VLK 200mm Osa, Tac Laser, VLK Strelok, 30 Round Mags, and Stippled Grip Tape

I’ve made a couple changes here. Firstly, we’re not going as hard on recoil control. This is great if you fancy yourself as a crack shot, or if you’re looking to bring out the AS VAL in close-range encounters only.

This is substituted with more aim down sights and mobility improvements so you can snap onto your target quicker and delete them. The Tac Laser is fantastic for this, keeping your aim more stable as well as getting you ADS’d quicker. The other change is swapping in the Stippled Grip Tape, which makes you quicker both with ADS and sprint-to-fire speed. It’ll slightly harm your stability, but when you’re zooming around zapping enemies to death, who’s to say stability matters more?

Feel free to substitute the Tac Laser for the Sleight of Hand perk too, if you feel like you’re losing too many fights to reload time. That split-second can make all the difference.


Best secondary to pair with the AS VAL

With the AS VAL covering you big time for close-ranged encounters, you want something that’ll cover the far-away fights. Therefore, I like pairing it with a sniper rifle. In the current aggressive meta, players are steering further from the hardscoping HDR and LW2 - Tundras. Instead, the SP-R 208 or Kar98k are what I’d go for here, depending on which you prefer. If sniping isn’t your thing, then whack out a CR-56 AMAX - this thing deals ludicrous damage at range.


Best AS VAL loadout with Perks and Equipment

Sorting your Perks and Equipment is key to every loadout:

  • Perk 1: EOD
  • Perk 2: Overkill/Ghost
  • Perk 3: Amped
  • Lethal: Semtex
  • Tactical: Heartbeat Sensor

EOD is a bit of a classic. It’ll save your hide when enemies start bonking you with explosives as you charge in with your AS VAL in tow. Overkill is another one you want for your first loadout of the game, getting both your VAL and long-range gun available right away. Afterwards though, you’ll want to switch to a class with Ghost or you’ll be on everyone’s radar. Finally, Amped lets you switch guns faster, allowing you to follow up more quickly with the AS VAL after a sniper shot breaks an enemy’s armour.

With equipment, I’m picking Semtex with this class. It’s a really powerful way to deal damage to an enemy behind cover, or even get a big chunk of damage on a foe charging at you around a corner. Perfect for pushing with the AS VAL, the Semtex is a solid go-to. Tactical gear is tougher, but I’ve gone for the Heartbeat Sensor. Obviously, some enemies will have Ghost equipped, but for those that don’t, you can kill them extremely easily by getting their location with heartbeat and gunning them down with your AS VAL’s super fast time-to-kill.


And there you have it - the fastest-killing gun in the game! We have all kinds of other Warzone stuff going on here at RPS too, including our tier list of the very best guns in Warzone, as well as the Warzone Audio Bang podcast to hear a load of fun discussions on the game’s latest developments.

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About the Author
James Law avatar

James Law

Former Guides Writer

James was part of Rock Paper Shotgun's guides team from 2020-2021, bringing his expert knowledge about FPS games, Hearthstone, Path Of Exile and more from his time at Metabomb. He's also a dab hand at Hitman 3, and making his own jam - things which may or may not be related to one another.

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