BOCW Setup Guides: RPD – AK as LMG? Of course!

BOCW RPD Setup Guide
The RPD has a lot of power at distance. (Credit: Activision)

In our regular setup guides, we introduce you to the best attachments for each weapon in Black Ops Cold War. Today, we're taking a look at a classic light machine gun: the RPD.

Looking for the best weapons in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War? You've already found a favorite weapon, but want to know what attachments you can use to optimize? Then you've come to the right place! We show you the best weapons in Black Ops Cold War in our setup guides.

Now that we've covered assault rifles, submachine guns, and tactical rifles, let's turn our attention to the remaining LMGs. We've already looked at a good all-rounder in the form of the Stoner 63, but today we'll follow up with a more specialized LMG. The Soviet RPD is a video game classic, and virtually an AK-47 as a machine gun.

The RPD has very high damage per bullet, very good range, and easily controllable recoil. Its biggest drawback is low mobility, so proper positioning in the match is especially important. As with most LMGs, this holds especially true for the RPD: avoid close combat! The RPD shines especially at medium to long range, so adjust your play style accordingly to get the most out of the weapon's full potential.

RPD Setup

In order to make our setup accessible to all players, regardless of the wildcard they choose, we will again limit ourselves to the most important five attachments for the weapon. Those who use gunslingers can occupy the remaining three slots according to personal preference.

BOCW RPD Setup
With these attachments, the RPD has incredible range and hardly any recoil. (Credit: Activision)

Even though we could increase the weapon's mobility, we prefer to focus on its strengths. For fast run-and-gun gameplay, there are definitely better weapons than LMGs.

  • Muzzle: Muzzle Brake 7.62
  • Barrel: 20.3” Special Command
  • Undergrip: Speznas Grip
  • Handle: Speznas Field Grip
  • Stock: Wire Stock

Of particular interest in this setup is the Special Command Barrel. Normally, the Special Command Barrel comes with serious drawbacks that make the weapon significantly slower, and/or significantly increase recoil – not so with the RPD! The barrel increases damage by 5% and range and projectile acceleration by 100%. The only drawback is one less magazine and 5 fewer bullets per magazine.

BOCW Bomb
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has a plethora of great guns to play with. Get to know them in our Setup Guides! (Credit: Activision)

Even with this trigger, however, we are still left with two 70-round magazines, which is more than enough. With the muzzle brake, we reduce vertical recoil by 8%, and with the Speznas grip by another 8%, while horizontal is reduced by 30%. With the Speznas field grip, we sight in 15% faster and get 80% flinch resistance. In conclusion, the wire grip lets us switch from sprinting to shooting 15% faster.

With this setup, the RPD has incredible range and barely noticeable recoil. If used correctly, it can provide perfect support fire, single-handedly defend narrow corridors, or access points against a full team. However, please do us a favor and don't try to go into close combat with an LMG, there are MPs and Shotguns for that.

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Original article written by Lukas Ballat.

Evan Williams

Australian gamer, musician, and journalist at EarlyGame. Currently living in Germany so no, I don't ride a Kangaroo to work. I am currently hard at work making our CoD and Rocket League pages the best on the internet. Lofty ambitions,...