The latest update to Season Six in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare brought the JAK-12, a fully automatic shotgun built for intense close-quarters engagements and breach-and-clear operations.

Here’s what the in-game armament experts say about this new weapon, which brings the shotgun category to a half dozen options:

“Fully automatic open bolt shotgun with a recoil reducing gas blowback system. This combat shotgun unloads high volumes of lead down range at a steady rate.

Don’t know JAK about this weapon yet outside of that description? Here’s how you can unlock it and how it can be used in Multiplayer and Warzone:

Unlocking the JAK-12

All players can unlock the JAK-12 by completing the following objective:

“Get 3 Hipfire Kills using Shotguns in 7 different matches.”

This challenge hints at the JAK-12’s main strength: its ability to pulverize enemies in close-quarters without the need to aim down sights (ADS). No matter what shotgun you use, try to engage with enemies inside of five meters, a range where pellet spread is not much of a factor in the equation for their eventual death.

Try playing multi-life modes like Blood Money (Plunder) or Team Deathmatch (Multiplayer) to maximize engagement chances per match. For Warzone specifically, this challenge may be easier when targeting building-heavy locations like Barakett Promenade, where shotguns could dominate within tight corridors and small rooms.

JAK-12 Overview

As the fastest-firing shotgun in Modern Warfare and Warzone, the JAK-12 cements itself among the elite choices for CQB Primary Weapons.

With zero attachments, the JAK-12 can one-shot kill a 100 health, no armor enemy out to about three meters. This effective range can be extended slightly with a multitude of Barrel and Muzzle attachments, but in general, a standard JAK-12 is best used within a dozen meters, where fast follow-up shots can down enemies quickly.

The JAK-12 can be outfitted with category-standard Dragon’s Breath and Slug rounds, with the former providing increased damage up-close via fiery pellets, and the later packing punches into one slug for a one-shot kill potential out to 20 meters (in Multiplayer or against armorless enemies in Warzone).

Then there is the FRAG-12 ammunition, a prototypical attachment with an explosive payload. When equipped, the JAK-12 will fire a shell at a low muzzle velocity that explodes upon impact, causing heavy damage both operators and vehicles alike.

No matter what the weapon’s standard 8 Round Magazine has inside of it, reloading it won’t leave you out of the fight for more than two seconds. However, with either of the two drum mags – a reasonable 20 Round and a monstrous 32 Round – expect reloads to be significantly longer to compensate for their increased carrying capacity.

Blueprint Review and Loadout

Kopis

Available through the “Lacedaemon” Store Bundle, the Kopis is for those that treat CQB combat as their profession.

Configured with the 8 Round FRAG-12 Mags, Merc Foregrip, Aim-Op Reflex Sight, ZLR J-3800 Torrent Barrel and the FORGE TAC Marauder Muzzle, this weapon can throw explosive payloads downrange without much trouble. Having the weapon’s longest Barrel and Muzzle attachments helps with this, while the Merc Forgrip provides some much-needed Recoil Control and the Aim-Op Reflex Sight gives a nice clean sight picture.

Here’s a recommended loadout for Warzone™ and Multiplayer that uses this blueprint:

Primary: Kopis

Secondary: RPG-7

Perks: E.O.D., Hardline, Shrapnel

Equipment: Frag Grenade, Stim

This blueprint is built for a high-explosive loadout, complete with a rocket propelled grenade launcher, Frag Grenades and Shrapnel, which causes explosions to delay health regeneration. E.O.D. and Stim is here to mitigate damage from enemy explosives and heal up quickly after they hit.

As for Hardline, its Buy Station discount in Warzone or reduction of Killstreaks by one kill in Multiplayer will help tremendously if, and when, more potent explosives are needed against the enemy.

Two Warzone Loadout Suggestions

1. Urban Royale

Primary: JAK-12

JAK Urban King, 8-R Dragon’s Breath, 5mW Laser, Stippled Grip Tape, Sleight of Hand

Secondary: Darkwood Marksman Rifle Blueprint (Available at Tier 85 of the Season Six Battle Pass)

Perks: Quick Fix, Overkill, Battle Hardened

Equipment: C4, Heartbeat Sensor

Built for the mean streets of Downtown Verdansk, this loadout has a powerful shotgun for indoors and a deadly rifle for rooftop sniping. This loadout’s main focus is the JAK-12, which is configured for pure speed.

That is thanks to the JAK Urban King Barrel, which boosts ADS and Movement Speed, and myriad of Sprint-to-Fire Speed boosters, not to mention Sleight of Hand for faster reloads. Not only are is this configuration agile, it’s hostile too thanks to 8-R Dragon’s Breath Rounds that will spit fire out at extreme close ranges, making it perfect for room or hallway clearing.

To stay competitive at long ranges, pair this weapon with the mighty Darkwood (via Overkill), a weapon that awards true marksman with one-shot headshots.

Other loadout pieces in this versatile setup include Quick Fix for faster health recovery, Battle Hardened to reduce enemy Tactical Equipment effectiveness, C4 for great damage against enemies and vehicles, and a Heartbeat Monitor to track down enemy squads.

2. CQB Special

Primary:  JAK-12

Monolithic Suppressor, Operator Foregrip, Tac Laser, 20 Round Drum Mags, Rubberized Grip Tape

Secondary: Red Sparrow Sidearm Blueprint (Unlocked at Tier 42 of the Season Six Battle Pass)

Perks: Cold Blooded, Ghost, Tracker

Equipment: Thermite, Flash Grenade

This loadout fits a niche, yet important, role in Warzone: clearing out interior spaces and tackling snipers head on in their hideout.

Start with a Monolithic Suppressor to increase range and suppress sound, then keep the weapon’s recoil steady with the Underbarrel and Rear Grip attachments. Mitigate those ADS penalties with a Tac Laser, then round it out with 20 Round Drum Mags, which will be more than enough to deal with a whole squad.

To get within the effective range of this weapon – or the Snake Shot Sidearm – you may need to fly under the radar or come up cold on enemy tracking thermal or tracking devices, making Cold Blooded and Ghost invaluable Perks. Track down your prey with the help of the Tracker Perk and throw off their aim with the spark of a Thermite or blinding effects of a Flash.

Two Multiplayer Loadout Suggestions

1. Killstreak (KS) Denial

Primary: JAK-12

FORGE TAC Marauder, ZLR J-2800 Influx, 30-Round Drum Mags, ZLR Tsunami Stock FMJ,

Secondary: PILA

Perks: Cold Blooded, Pointman, Amped

Equipment: C4, Gas Grenade

A.K.A. “the Juggernaut Killer,” this JAK-12 will tear apart Juggernaut armor – or turrets and vehicles – quickly due to the 30 FMJ buckshot shells it holds per drum mag. Its Barrel and Muzzle attachments will tighten pellet spread for more compact spread patterns without penalizing ADS too much, especially if you pair it with the ZLR Tsunami Stock.

Against aerial Killstreaks, few can match the PILA in its ease of use and effectiveness, but feel free to use your own favorite launcher instead.

The Perks and Equipment will further help with either ground or aerial streaks: Cold Blooded keeps you off AI-Controlled Killstreak’s radar, Amped allows you to fast swap these two heavy weapons, C4 help against turrets or vehicles, Gas Grenades can slow down Juggernauts, and Pointman converts Killstreaks to Pointstreaks, making all this hard work add up to earning your own tide-turning technology.

2. Wild Card

Primary: JAK-12

FORGE TAC Marauder, ZLR J-3600 Torrent, 8 Round Slug Mags, Cronen C480 Pro Optic, Commando Foregrip

Secondary: Kali Sticks

Perks: Double Time, High Alert, Tune Up

Equipment: Molotov Cocktail, Snapshot Grenade

What’s a more unique, yet still effective, way to kit the JAK-12? Introducing this fully-automatic Slug-spitting machine.

Maximized for range from its Muzzle and Barrel attachments and kitted with a Foregrip for stable recoil and aiming, this configuration is based around aiming down that Cronen C480 Pro Optic and lining up shots at double the Shotgun “Longshot range” distance of about a dozen meters. It’s far from a true long shot, but if it lands, it may leave your enemy questioning how a fully-auto shotgun just one-shotted them at that range.

Pair this with the Kali Sticks to get fast movement speed and a quick one-two punch at point blank, as well as Perks that promote speed (Tune Up, when combined with Dead Silence, Double Time), a lethal equipment option that can deny routes and objective spaces (Molotov Cocktail), and other loadout pieces that help with awareness (High Alert and Snapshot Grenade) for a well-rounded, off-the-beaten-path class.

These are only just a few ways to configure the JAK-12 in the Gunsmith. Once you unlock it, keep levelling it up to see the near-infinite possibilities it provides for your loadouts.

We’ll see you online. Stay frosty.

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