The best Warzone pistols and sidearms for Akimbo, power, and speed

Guide by Josh Broadwell Contributor

Published on June 29, 2021

Using a pistol in Call of Duty Warzone seems like a good way to waste secondary weapons, but the best Warzone pistols can take the place of a shotgun or SMG and save you a Perk slot.

Fitted out with the right attachments, these pistols are a powerful complement to any build, especially if you opt for the Akimbo perk. Akimbo in Warzone lets you dual wield pistols with a small hit to accuracy and aim speed, but that's not the only way to play our picks for best Warzone pistols.

Best Warzone pistol: Sykov

The Sykov pistol is Warzone’s best pistol, even after Raven nerfed it earlier in 2021. You can boost the Sykov’s already formidable speed and power with the right loadout, even increasing its range and stability not unlike a tiny SMG. If you use the Sykov Akimbo build, then the hits to its aim and speed don’t matter anyway.

How to unlock Sykov in Warzone

Get four pistol kills in five separate matches to unlock the Sykov.

How to unlock Sykov Akimbo in Warzone

You’ll have to raise the Sykov’s level to 32 and equip the Mo’ Money perk. Then, get three kills in five separate matches with the perk equipped.

Best Sykov Attachments

Our Sykov setup maximizes its potential as a single-use gun, with high range and velocity, extra ammo, and a barrel that turns it into a fully automatic pistol. If you don’t want it for ranged warfare, swap the laser with Akimbo.

Best Sykov Attachments in Warzone
Attachment type	Name
Barrel	Sorokin 140mm Auto
Muzzle	Monolithic Suppressor
Ammo	80 Rnd Drums
Rear Grip	VLK Prizrak
Laser	5mW Laser

Best Warzone pistol for power: Renetti

The Renetti excels at fast, close-range combat, especially if it’s modded with the burst fire attachment. High recoil makes it difficult to sustain fire at range, but if you’re looking for raw power, this is the pistol for you.

How to unlock Renetti in Warzone

Reach Tier 15 in the free Battle Pass to unlock the Renetti pistol.

How to unlock Akimbo Renetti in Warzone

The Renetti Akimbo challenge opens at level 36. Equip the Mo’ Money perk and get three kills in five separate matches to unlock Akimbo for Renetti.

Best Renetti Attachments

Renetti with the burst fire mod is best played Akimbo to boost your power even more. You don’t have to worry about lack of range or ADS with this build, since it’s designed to get in the middle of a fray and clean the room.

Best Renetti Attachments Warzone
Attachment type	Name
Barrel	Mk3 Burst Mod
Muzzle	Desperado Pro Compensator
Ammo	27 Rnd
Rear Grip	XRK Speed Grip
Perk	Akimbo

Best Warzone pistol for Akimbo: .357

The .357 nerf might have reduced Snake Shot’s effectiveness, but this is still a powerful pistol and a perfect one for Akimbo. The .357 is another one built for close-range combat and, even with the nerf, plays like a shotgun. However, the right barrel and a laser can help pick off enemies from a slight distance if you need to remove yourself from the action.

How to unlock .357 in Warzone

Reach level 21 to unlock .357.

How to unlock .357 Akimbo in Warzone

This one takes a bit of work. You’ll first have to unlock Recon, which opens when the .357 is level 34. With Recon equipped, get three kills in five separate matches.

How to unlock Snake Shot in Warzone

You’ll get this on the way to Akimbo, as it unlocks when the .357 is level 29.

Best .357 Attachments

Our build for this sidearm focuses on enhancing the pistol’s damage and accuracy for a versatile secondary option.

Best .357 Attachments in Warzone
Attachment type	Name
Trigger Action	Match Grade Trigger
Barrel	.357 Long
Ammo	Snake Shot
Laser	5mW Laser
Perk	Akimbo

Best Warzone pistol without Akimbo: Desert Eagle

If you don’t want to fool with Akimbo, then the Desert Eagle should be your go-to pistol. It’s easily one of the most powerful pistols and can even pull off one-shot kills. However, that power comes at a cost. Any build has to grapple with recoil control since Desert Eagle’s recoil is harsh.