The best AS VAL loadout and class setup in Black Ops 6

Call of Duty is always adding in new weapons and bringing back old ones for nostalgia’s sake, and Black Ops 6 marks the return of an underrated banger assault rifle: the AS VAL. If you’re seeking the best AS VAL loadout to dominate, we’re here to help.

The AS VAL is a returning weapon in BO6 that was originally released as a seasonal gun towards the very end of Modern Warfare’s year way back in 2020, and it continued to see some usage in Warzone after Black Ops Cold War launched.

How to unlock AS VAL in BO6

The AS VAL has been brought back in a new game of its own, and it’s one of the late-game unlocks. To unlock this AR, you need to reach the max level of 55. You will want to consider using a Permanent Unlock token for this weapon when you Prestige. If not, you will have to level up every single time and lose out on the gun until then.

Here’s our pick for the best attachments to use on your AS VAL build in Black Ops 6.

Best AS VAL loadout in BO6

The AS VAL is an interesting weapon in multiple ways. It comes with a built-in suppressor, so one less attachment slot is needed altogether. However, it’s an assault rifle that feels and plays a bit more like an SMG.

With this best AS VAL loadout, though, it plays as more of a hybrid AR/SMG that’s capable of being highly mobile up close while still holding its own at range.

Best AS VAL build in BO6

Slot	Attachment
Optic	Kepler Microflex
Barrel	Suppressed Reinforced Barrel (No Mini-Map Firing Ping, Bullet Velocity, Damage Range)
Underbarrel	Vertical Foregrip (Horizontal Recoil Control)
Magazine	Extended Mag III (Magazine Ammo Capacity)
Rear Grip	Ergonomic Grip (Slide to Fire Speed, Dive to fire Speed, Aim Down Sight Speed)
Stock	Combat Stock (Flinch Resistance, Aim Walking Movement Speed)
Fire Mods	Recoil Springs (Horizontal Recoil Control, Vertical Recoil Control)

As a base weapon, I find the AS VAL to be lacking. Its fire rate and recoil make it a difficult weapon to use at range, while its assault rifle-like mobility means it will be easily outclassed up close by SMGs. So this build makes it a bit of a hybrid when it comes to any distinct weapon class.

Bullet velocity and damage range are important for this weapon, as is recoil control, which is one of the AS VAL’s biggest issues due to its high fire rate that is lightning-quick for an AR. Thankfully, the Suppressed Reinforced Barrel, Vertical Foregrip, and Recoil Springs mitigate these issues well.

Having a bigger magazine is a must, as the AS VAL only has 20 bullets by default. The Extended Mag III provides you with 45 bullets, which can help you score multiple kills with a single mag. However, if it feels too heavy, you can go with the Extended Mag II instead, which gives you 40 bullets.

As for mobility, the combination of Ergonomic Grip and Combat Stock makes the weapon feel more maneuverable, especially if you want to maximize the omnimovement mechanic. You may not be able to outdodge top SMGs like the Jackal PDW and Saug up close, but you may have a fighting chance to defeat them with pure damage. If you want to contend with SMG users and quickly charge at enemies, you can replace the Combat Stock with No Stock.

This AS VAL build utilizes the Gunfighter Wildcard, but if you wish to use something else such as Perk Greed, you can remove the Stock and Optic attachments to run the weapon with iron sights, which means this is only effective for mid-range gunfights.

Best AS VAL class setup in BO6

Equipment

• Pistol: Grekhova
  • Muzzle: Compensator
  • Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
  • Magazine: Extended Mag I
  • Rear Grip: Quickdraw Grip
  • Fire Mods: Recoil Springs
• Melee: Knife
• Tactical: Flashbang or Stun
• Lethal: Semtex or Frag
• Field Upgrade: Trophy System or Assault Pack

Perks and class setup

• Perk one: Ninja or Ghost
• Perk two: Forward Intel
• Perk three: Cold-Blooded
• Perk Specialty: Recon
• Wildcard: Gunfighter

Since the AS VAL has a suppressor no matter what, I like to lean into its ability to cause havoc with stealth and run the Recon Perk Specialty. Ninja will make your footsteps quieter, but Ghost is great for all of the UAV spam from the other team to keep you on the move and getting up close for the kill.

If you’re opting to run the Perk Greed Wildcard, you can add Slipstream or Double Time to increase your movement speed, enabling you to swiftly run around the map and hunt for eliminations.

Since the AS VAL struggles at a distance, it feels like this gun needs a buff or two before it’s able to hold its own against the juggernaut ARs in the game like the XM4, AMES 85, and Model L. The AS VAL is built around quickness and fire rate, so it may always end up losing out to those rifles at long range, but can compete against SMGs at close to medium range.

---