If you're spending time getting the new EGRT-17 rifle in Black Ops 7 Season 2, we think it's the most underrated rifle and that the other players in the game don't know just yet how op it is. We got a nuke in a losing 60-160 Hardpoint, so you already know what that says for the gun. Here's the full breakdown of why you need to prestige this gun for the assault rifle class. We'll also show how to set it all up for each of the game modes, and what the content from Season 2 is looking like.

• How to Unlock the EGRT-17
• Advantages of Prioritizing the EGRT-17
• Multiplayer Performance: From 60-160 Deficit to a Nuke
• Warzone Performance: Rebirth Island Snow Variant
• Best Class Setups for EGRT-17
• Multiplayer Setup (Aggressive Hardpoint / Domination)
• Warzone Build (Rebirth Island / Resurgence)
• New Season 2 Maps Rating Overview
• New Season 2 Feature: RC Car Scorestreak
• FAQ
• The Bottom Line

↖ How to Unlock the EGRT-17

The EGRT-17 is located on Page 7 of the Season 2 Battle Pass. It is a Battle Pass weapon and will not be available on the Free track. For comparison, the other new weapon this season is the REV-46 SMG on Page 3. This new SMG is a great option at close range and serves a completely different purpose.

When you unlock the EGRT-17, it will have base stats and a very limited attachment selection. This is where prestiging is important. Why? Because the base version of the gun will already dominate most mid-range fights, but because of the full attachment tree, which you unlock through leveling and prestiging, it will be good at all ranges.

During testing, we noticed the bullets appear to ricochet off walls. This is not a visual bug. The EGRT-17 has some weird mechanics that typically make bullets bounce off walls in a confined space. If this is all true and the mechanic works, it completely changes the way we play tight corridors or objective zones (like Hardpoint hills).

↖ Advantages of Prioritizing the EGRT-17

Black Ops 7 is all about the details, so it goes without saying that prestigious weapon ranks in each call of duty, black ops, or even weapon ranks themselves, is just a prestige cosmetics thing. With regards to that, there are a multitude of aspects that can be unlocked weapon rank-wise in black ops that aren't necessarily cosmetics, primary of which is being able to unlock a multitude of attachments. Prioritizing the EGRT-17 in black ops 7 can unlock life-changing, or, in simple terms, game-changing aspects of the gun; these include a three-tier slots upgrade, free ultimate-tier meta attachments like advanced barrels, free unused & untested meta stocks, free simple ranged changes to potentially game-changing ranged changes, and f*cking mastery unlocked.

Here's a tabular explanation of what is different about the base and priorized EGRT-17.

There is a chasm of difference between a base and a maxed out EGRT-17. An honest opinion of an unranked gun can be that it is unshootable, so in initial and base testing of an unranked weapon, the weapon will be unshootable, but, as can be seen in the example of a rank 15 ranked gun, post maxed out weapon it will be able to melt anything it is needed to melt.

↖ Multiplayer Performance: From 60-160 Deficit to a Nuke

Let's break down what occurred in our Hardpoint testing session as it demonstrates what this weapon can do.

We entered a Hardpoint match and got completely obliterated in the first few minutes. The scoreboard read 60 to 160. We were getting spawn trapped, losing hill rotations, and the other team had hilled control. A person would quit the match.

Then the EGRT-17 started clicking.

We went on an insane streak, chained our killstreak, and somehow closed the match by getting a nuke. Final combat record — 103 kills, 13 deaths. The other team left the game. Level 180 sweat lobbies, Fast time to kill, Clean recoil, and insane versatility. EGRT-17 in three phrases.

The defining feature of this gun in Multiplayer is its consistency regardless of the range. The majority of assault rifles in Black Ops 7 are range and accuracy or close range and speed. The EGRT-17 allows you to do both and choose neither. If you often find yourself in a Hardpoint or in a Domination match getting kills this gun will work perfectly and you won't need to change a thing.

↖ Warzone Performance: Rebirth Island Snow Variant

A Rebirth Island snow variant was added in Season 2, and it's the first significant visual change the map has undergone in an extended period. The building interiors have been renovated, new environmental details have been added, and the new season is overall more refreshing. Warzone has been lacking in new content. There have been Godzilla events and trailers for Cold War integrations, but the last several seasons have felt light on new content for the maps. This snow update is a solid start.

During gameplay, we brought the EGRT-17 into solo quads to put the gun through testing. Here's what we discovered.

For a brand new weapon that we were still learning, getting 25 kills, felt very good. The gun is great at mid range, and is good at the longer sight lines across the rooftops of Rebirth. If you are using this as the primary AR, make sure to run a sniper support SMG with a REV-46 for the back up to close quarters.

One frustration is that wall jumping is disabled in Warzone, even though it is a core movement gameplay system in multiplayer. This makes it so you cannot play as aggressively with any weapon as you would like, and we hope this is improved in the future.

↖ Best Class Setups for EGRT-17

After testing some different setups for both modes, here are the best class setups that we found for EGRT-17 for weapon level 15+:

↖ Multiplayer Setup (Aggressive Hardpoint / Domination)

This setup is the most optimal for stealth and consistency. We used this exact setup during the nuke game. The suppressor does reduce bullet velocity a little bit, but the extended barrel should offset it. If you would rather play a little bit louder and more aggressive, you can change the suppressor for a compensator and the stock for a different mobility stock.

↖ Warzone Build (Rebirth Island / Resurgence)

↖ New Season 2 Maps Rating Overview

The new Maps of Season 2 have been played through repeatedly, and here is a quick rating of them.

One annoyance is that the moshpit playlist for season 2 really leans toward face-off maps. We got the Map Nexus multiple times. If you are looking for the remastered maps, you may have to hope for good matchmaking luck, or check the other playlists.

↖ New Season 2 Feature: RC Car Scorestreak

As a small, but entertaining update, Warzone now has the RC Car added as a field item. We captured the item during a Rebirth match, RC Cars can scout and detonate enemies revealing the previously hidden targets on the mini map.

Our first kill confirmed a double kill. Sure, it's not going to take the place of your lethal equipment during serious play, but it is certainly a more fun and more interactive way to clear a building, or push enemies from a more concealed position. Consider it as an upgraded recon drone, but with a couple of added explosions.

Additionally, this season, the UAV activation key has changed. If you recently started playing Warzone and your key isn't calling in streaks, you need to check your settings. It was a big surprise for us mid-game.

↖ FAQ

What are the requirements to unlock EGRT-17 in Black Ops 7 Season 2?

To unlock the EGRT-17, go to the Season 2 Battle Pass and scroll down to the 7th Page. It's important to note that the 7th Page is not a Free Pass, and you must reach that level to claim it.

Is the EGRT-17 better than other assault rifles in the meta?

The EGRT-17 has proven to be a competitive and in many instances, better assault rifle than the other top tier assault rifles in the game. Its unique ricochet property gives it an advantage in more enclosed objective modes like Hardpoint.

What level should I be to take the EGRT-17 to Warzone?

A minimum suggested level is level 15, to be competitive at Warzone you must have access to the right attachments to build a good long-range loadout. Warzone's long-range combat requires good, consistent attachments, and the default gun is bad.

Is the ricochet mechanic in EGRT-17 going to work in Warzone?

From our research the ricochet mechanic does seem to work in both modes, but in Warzone it is more easily observed in close quarters combat. As the community continues to test, there will be more information about the ricochet's mechanics and damage drop-off.

Is the Rebirth Island Snow a permanent change to the map?

Seasonal map changes in Warzone have always followed the pattern of changing back to the original map at the end of the season. Enjoy the new snow map, it could change back to the original layout when Season 3 starts.

↖ The Bottom Line

Forget map updates, REV-46 SMG, and the snow on Rebirth Island — the EGRT-17 is what matters for Black Ops 7 Season 2. Assault rifles like the EGRT-17 are the most versatile and powerful weapons in the game, and this one is especially good if you're willing to grind for the proper attachments. The level 1 struggle is a distant memory; now I'm nuking in a 100 point deficit Hardpoint match. That's exactly the kind of progress that gets me excited for new Call of Duty titles.

Get the Battle Pass, hit unlock Page 7, and start the grind. Your future lobbies will be better for it — your opponents will not.