Warzone Season 1 patch notes (December 16, 2025): Holiday Rush LTM, Buy Station changes, weapon balancing, and more

A brand-new set of Warzone Season 1 patch notes has been released on December 16, 2025. The latest update is set to inaugurate a new limited-time event in the game, and alongside it, a plethora of balance changes to make the game feel more competitive.

In this article, we will provide you with a detailed brief on the changes and additions made with the Warzone Season 1 patch notes released on December 16, 2025. Read below to know more.

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Exploring the Warzone Season 1 patch notes for December 16, 2025

Holiday Rush LTM with Warzone Season 1 patch notes

Holiday Rush is a festive, limited-time mode that blends large-scale team combat with fast-paced rules. Two 36-player teams (Naughty vs. Nice) battle across a focused section of Verdansk, racing to capture and deliver presents for points. With unlimited respawns, no moving gas, and constant opportunities to rejoin the fight, Holiday Rush is built for nonstop action, big moments, and holiday-themed chaos.

Overview:

• 36 v 36 teams assigned randomly at match start.
• Played on a limited section of Verdansk centered around a single major POI.
• Unlimited respawns with a respawn-on-squad system.
• No moving gas.
• Relaxed, Clash-like ruleset.

Gameplay:

• Capture presents from central dispensers and deliver them to score points.
• Deliver to a CODMAS Tree (Nice) or Incinerator (Naughty) to score.
• Golden presents will appear randomly or can be purchased at Buy Stations.
• Santa will drop large present boxes across the map, which can grant rewards or trigger dangerous surprises.

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Buy Station

Battle Royale, Resurgence

Specialist

• Specialist is now available for purchase at Buy Stations for $30,000.

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Loot and Economy changes with the Warzone Season 1 patch notes

Spawn Rates

• Reduced the spawn rate of Shotguns and Sniper Rifles found via ground loot and Supply Boxes.

Battle Royale

• Shotgun spawn chance reduced from 7% to 4%.
• Sniper Rifle spawn chance reduced from 14% to 9%.

Resurgence

• Shotgun spawn chance reduced from 4% to 2%.
• Sniper Rifle spawn chance reduced from 6% to 3%.

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Weapon Builds with Warzone Season 1 patch notes

VS Recon

• Replaced the 19.3" Tack Driver Barrel with the 24.9" Domain Barrel.

Shadow SK

• Replaced the Custom Filer Grip with the E-3 Billet Skeleton Grip.

Carbon

• Replaced the MFS Renown Plus Magazine with the Bowen Sideline Extended Magazine.

MPC-25

• Replaced the K&S Compensator with the 13" Razorback Barrel in Warzone.

Ryden 45K

• Replaced the Torch Extended Magazine with the Forward Breach Magazine.
• Replaced the EAM ScatterLine Laser with the Excess Grip.

Peacekeeper MK1

• Replaced the K&S Compensator with 5.7x28mm Overpressured Ammunition.
• Lateral Precision Grip now appears at Uncommon rarity.
• 5.7x28mm Overpressured Ammunition now appears at Legendary rarity.

XM325

• Replaced the Lethal Tools ELO with the Redwell 30-S 2X Optic.
• Replaced the Accelerated Recoil System with the 22" Hermes Fluted Barrel.

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Weapon balancing with the Warzone Season 1 patch notes

AK-27

• Sprint to Fire Speed improved from 207ms to 190ms
• Vertical Recoil Reduced by 5%
• Horizontal Recoil Reduced by 5%

Attachment Adjustments

17" Bystro Speed Barrel

• Horizontal Recoil Benefit improved from 15% to 20%
• Velocity Penalty reduced from 10% to 6%

EMT3 Compensator

• Vertical Recoil Benefit improved from 12% to 15%

Eclipse 7.62 Brake

• Vertical Recoil Benefit improved from 8% to 12%

Flowguard Foregrip

• Horizontal Recoil Benefit improved from 8% to 12%

Also read - Warzone Season 1 patch notes: Haven's Hollow map, Black Ops 7 integration, and much more

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DS20 Mirage

Attachment Adjustments

60 Round Magazine

• Reload Speed improved from 3.95 seconds to 3.66 seconds

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MXR-17

• Aim Down Sight speed slowed from 250ms to 260ms

Attachment Adjustments

Monolithic Suppressor

• Bullet Velocity Benefit reduced from 20% to 15%
• Damage Range Benefit reduced from 12% to 8%

17" Greaves Scourge Barrel

• Horizontal Recoil Benefit reduced from 20% to 12%

Winch Stock

• Recoil Control Benefit reduced from 15% to 10%

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Peacekeeper MK1

• Horizontal Recoil reduced by 8%
• Vertical Recoil reduced by 8%

Attachment Adjustments

19.4" Stimulus Barrel

• Horizontal Recoil Benefit improved from 10% to 18%
• Velocity Penalty reduced from 10% to 6%

K&S Brake-2B

• Vertical Recoil Benefit improved from 10% to 15%

EAM Steady-90 Grip

• Horizontal Recoil Benefit improved from 10% to 15%

Kinetix-Mk 1 Grip

• Vertical Recoil Benefit improved from 10% to 18%

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Carbon 57

• Horizontal Recoil Reduced by 5%
• Aim Down Sight speed improved from 200ms to 190ms
• Rate of Fire increased from 833rpm to 857rpm
• Sprint to Fire speed improved from 170ms to 134ms

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Read more: Black Ops 7 Season 1 patch notes (December 16, 2025): New event, Multiplayer changes, weapon updates, and more

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MPC-25

• Sprint to Fire speed slowed from 110ms to 120ms in Warzone

Attachment Adjustments

K&S Compensator

• Vertical Recoil Benefit reduced from 18% to 12%

Magnate Grip

• Vertical Recoil Benefit reduced from 14% to 8%

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Ryden 45K

• Horizontal Recoil Reduced by 5%
• Aim Down Sight speed improved from 185ms to 180ms
• Sprint to Fire speed improved from 140ms to 110ms

Attachment Adjustments

SKE-02 Stock

• Horizontal Recoil Benefit improved from 10% to 15%
• Aim Down Sight speed penalty reduced from 10% to 6%

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XM325

• Vertical and Horizontal Recoil reduced by 8%
• Headshot multiplier increased from 1.1x to 1.2x
• Aim Down Sight speed improved from 280ms to 265ms

Attachment Adjustments

22" Hermes Fluted Barrel

• Horizontal Recoil Benefit improved from 15% to 22%

RL-7.62 Compensator

• Vertical Recoil Benefit improved from 18% to 25%

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M8A1

• Bullet Velocity increased from 860m/s to 880m/s
• Aim Down Sight speed improved from 280ms to 265ms
• Sprint to Fire speed improved from 220ms to 200ms

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VS Recon

• Bullet Velocity increased from 700m/s to 720m/s

Attachment Adjustments

21" Engage-R Barrel

• 12% ADS Speed
• Removed Bullet Velocity and Damage Range

24.9" Domain Barrel

• 5% ADS Speed and 13.5% Bullet Velocity
• Removed Damage Range

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Default Loadouts

Enforcer

• AK-27 replaces the MXR-17
• Carbon 57 replaces the MPC-25

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That's everything that you need to know about the Warzone Season 1 patch notes for December 16, 2025.

For more related news and guides, check out:

• How to get Pack A Punch in Astra Malorum: Black Ops 7 Zombies guide
• Black Ops 7 Season 1 patch notes: New maps, weapons, Zombies update, and more
• Warzone and Black Ops 7 Season 1 Battle Pass: BlackCell, price, and what's included
• All new maps in Black Ops 7 Season 1

Edited by Jay Sarma