Swordfish A1 Marksman Rifle Best Loadout and How to Unlock It

The Swordfish A1 fills a gap that most Warzone loadouts leave wide open. As Dot Esports' Sourav Banik put it, "This rifle fires three rounds in a tight burst, making it perfect for mid-range fights where ARs falter, and snipers feel clunky." That sweet spot between 25 and 50 meters is where this marksman rifle does its best work, and with the right build behind it, it punches well above its weight in both Resurgence and Battle Royale on Verdansk.

What the Swordfish A1 Does

The Swordfish A1 is a burst-fire marksman rifle introduced with Black Ops 7 Season 2 Reloaded. Each pull of the trigger sends three rounds downrange in a controlled cluster, which means accuracy discipline matters more here than with a traditional semi-auto or full-auto setup. Get the burst on target and the reward is significant: a reliable two-shot kill up to 25 meters and a three-shot kill at 50 meters, provided every bullet in the burst connects. Bullet velocity has been boosted, flinch resistance has been improved, and recoil has been tuned down to keep the rifle composable at range. The tradeoff is a slower aim-down-sights speed, so this is not a weapon for players who like snapping corners. It rewards patience and positioning.

How to Unlock the Swordfish A1

The Swordfish A1 is available as a free unlock tied to a seasonal event. Dot Esports states you can grab it via the Clear Skies event, while Game Rant describes it as a reward on the free track of the Counter Skies Event Pass. Both accounts agree the unlock costs nothing beyond progressing through event content. Given the slight difference in event naming between the two sources, it is worth checking the in-game Events tab directly to confirm the exact name and how far along the track the Swordfish A1 sits. Either way, working through the free track is all that stands between you and this rifle.

Best Swordfish A1 Loadout for Long Range

The fully optimized long-range configuration, with loadout code M05-G124X-F71, uses five attachments that push the rifle's burst precision and suppression into serious territory:

• Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
• Barrel: 16.5" Gar-xL Barrel
• Rear Grip: Trevally Shock Grip
• Stock: Amber-J Stock
• Fire Mod: MFS Penta Burst Mod

The MFS Penta Burst Mod is the centerpiece of the whole setup. Without it, you are leaving the rifle's core burst mechanic underutilized. The Monolithic Suppressor keeps you off the minimap while adding bullet velocity, while the 16.5" Gar-xL Barrel extends the effective damage range. The Trevally Shock Grip and Amber-J Stock work in tandem to tighten recoil and stabilize the burst pattern, which is exactly what you need to consistently land all three rounds at distance. This build is tailored for long engagements in Resurgence and Battle Royale on Verdansk, where the sightlines reward a weapon that can reach out and punish opponents caught repositioning.

Class Setup: Perks and Equipment

The Swordfish A1 is a precision tool, so the rest of the loadout should support controlled, deliberate play.

• Secondary: Sniper rifle or SMG (personal playstyle will determine which gap you need filled)
• Tactical: Smoke Grenade
• Lethal: Semtex
• Perk 1: Drill Instructor
• Perk 2: Sprinter
• Perk 3: Adaptive
• Melee: Personal preference

If you want a specific secondary recommendation, the KOGOT-7 SMG is the pairing that Dot Esports backs explicitly: "The KOGOT-7 backs up the Swordfish perfectly, because when enemies push into buildings or tight cover, you can swap to the SMG and rely on its higher fire rate and better hip-fire accuracy to survive close-range fights." The Swordfish A1 holds its own at distance; the KOGOT-7 handles everything the burst rifle cannot when a fight collapses into a stairwell or doorway.

Sprinter helps you reposition between engagements without burning stamina, Drill Instructor accelerates your weapon handling fundamentals, and Adaptive gives you flexibility depending on what the lobby throws at you. Smoke Grenades and Semtex are a classic Warzone pairing, letting you obscure your movement when you need to push or disengage after making contact.

Camo Challenges

For players working toward prestige on the Swordfish A1, the camo challenge progression requires a focused approach:

• Shattered Gold: Get 3 kills without dying, 10 times
• Arclight: Get 10 Double Kills or better
• Tempest: Get 5 kills without dying, 3 times
• Singularity: Unlock Tempest on 30 total weapons
• Diamondback (Special Camo): With a 4.0x or higher magnification scope equipped, get 50 Eliminations

The Diamondback challenge leans into the rifle's long-range identity naturally, since a 4.0x or higher scope is already a sensible choice for the distances this weapon is built to cover. Raptor is also listed as a camo in the progression, though its specific challenge requirement has not been confirmed in available materials. The Singularity grind is the long game here, requiring Tempest to be unlocked across 30 different weapons, so that challenge will run in the background of your broader weapon progression.

Is It Worth Running in Warzone?

The Swordfish A1 is not for everyone. Dot Esports calls it a "niche choice for Warzone," and that framing is accurate. The slower ADS speed means you cannot run it like an assault rifle and expect to win gunfights at every distance. But for players who like to hold angles, play elevated positions, or control a mid-range corridor while a partner runs closer cover, the rifle fits cleanly into that role. Game Rant frames it more bullishly: "This burst-fire weapon is already shaping up to be a strong meta contender at long range and, with the right loadout, can dominate the opposition." Both reads can be true simultaneously. If your playstyle involves structure and range, the Swordfish A1 with the M05-G124X-F71 build is one of the more rewarding weapons Black Ops 7 Season 2 Reloaded has added to the Warzone loot pool.