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To unlock all four new MW4 Season One weapons, advance the free linear Battle Pass to Tier 16 for the Cronen Osprey and Tier 36 for the CSG-35. The JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk arrive later as in-season event rewards, so you must wait for Activision to publish their event challenges. Season One is scheduled to begin November 6, 2026, at 00:00 ET (November 5 at 21:00 PT); as of October 30, none of these Season One unlocks is live. The route below is Activision’s announced plan, not a report of completed live-service unlocks.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Free plan / price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cronen Osprey | Fast-firing assault-rifle engagements | 5.56 assault rifle; 882 RPM (publisher specification) | Free linear Battle Pass, Tier 16 | Oct 2026 |
| CSG-35 | Close-range SMG fights | SMG; 1,200 RPM (publisher specification) | Free linear Battle Pass, Tier 36 | Oct 2026 |
| JAK 12 | Full-auto shotgun play | Full-auto shotgun | In-season event reward; price not stated | Oct 2026 |
| ZLR Talonhawk | Melee combat-axe play | Melee combat axe | In-season event reward; price not stated | Oct 2026 |
When can you start unlocking the Season One weapons?
Season One is announced for November 6, 2026, at midnight Eastern Time, which is November 5 at 9 p.m. Pacific Time. Until that update is available, the Battle Pass tiers and events cannot be completed. Activision’s October 28 announcement describes the schedule prospectively, so a later schedule notice could change the timing.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The two launch weapons are placed on a 100-tier linear Battle Pass. Choose that track when Season One opens, then earn Battle Pass progress normally until the relevant tiers. The announcement calls the two base-weapon rewards free; it does not say that buying the premium Battle Pass, BlackCell, or a Vault Edition is required.
The timing distinction is important. “Launch” applies to the Cronen Osprey and CSG-35 because their rewards are visible on the opening Battle Pass track. “Later in the season” applies to the JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk, whose event windows have not been dated. You can prepare to claim the first two immediately after the update, but there is no legitimate way to complete the last two while their events and objectives remain unpublished.
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How do I unlock the Cronen Osprey and CSG-35?
Both launch weapons use the same basic process: select the free linear Battle Pass, earn progress, and claim the weapon at its listed tier. Their blueprint rewards sit at different tiers and do not replace the base-weapon claims.
Cronen Osprey: Tier 16
- Open the Season One Battle Pass after the November 6 launch.
- Select the linear Battle Pass track rather than treating a premium reward page as the weapon requirement.
- Progress through the track to Tier 16.
- Claim the Cronen Osprey base weapon when Tier 16 is reached.
Activision describes the Osprey as a fast-firing 5.56 assault rifle and lists 882 rounds per minute as its weapon specification. That figure is a publisher specification, not an independently measured result. A separate Cronen Osprey blueprint is listed at Tier 87; unlocking that blueprint is a cosmetic loadout option and is not a second Osprey weapon or a substitute for Tier 16.
CSG-35: Tier 36
- Remain on the same free linear Battle Pass track.
- Continue earning Battle Pass progress until Tier 36.
- Claim the CSG-35 base submachine gun at that tier.
The publisher positions the CSG-35 as strongest at close range and gives it a 1,200 RPM specification. That number should be read as Activision’s stated specification, not as a test performed for this guide. Its separately listed blueprint is at Tier 73; the blueprint does not count as another base weapon.
There is no published requirement to buy a premium track, use a particular playlist, or complete a special weapon challenge for either launch gun. The confirmed requirement is Battle Pass progression on the free linear track. The announcement does not state how much play time or how many matches separate one tier from the next, so any precise grind estimate would be speculation.
How long is the Battle Pass route?
The announced pass has 100 linear tiers. The first base weapon appears at Tier 16, so the Osprey is available well before the midpoint of the pass. The CSG-35 appears at Tier 36, still before the halfway mark. You do not need to finish all 100 tiers to obtain either base weapon.
| Milestone | Reward or meaning | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 16 | Cronen Osprey base weapon | First confirmed Season One weapon unlock |
| Tier 36 | CSG-35 base weapon | Second launch weapon |
| Tier 73 | CSG-35 blueprint | Blueprint, not a new base weapon |
| Tier 87 | Cronen Osprey blueprint | Blueprint, not a replacement for Tier 16 |
| Tier 100 | End of the linear pass | Not required for the two confirmed weapon tiers |
Because the route is linear, skipping directly to a later weapon tier is not part of the announced system. Progress through the earlier tiers until the interface marks Tier 16 or Tier 36 complete, then claim the corresponding base weapon. The publisher separately advertises more than 50 guaranteed premium rewards, but those rewards are a paid-track benefit and do not change the two free weapon milestones.
When do the JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk unlock?
Activision has announced both as later in-season event rewards rather than Battle Pass tier rewards. The October 28 announcement does not provide an individual arrival date or the challenge requirements for either weapon, so there is no accurate kill count, mode requirement, match total, or event name to follow yet.
JAK 12
The JAK 12 is identified as a full-auto shotgun. Its route is an in-season event reward, and Activision has not yet published the event’s start date or objectives in the announcement. Wait for the official event panel or a subsequent Call of Duty notice before planning a specific challenge route.
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ZLR Talonhawk
The ZLR Talonhawk is identified as a melee combat axe. It is also reserved for a later in-season event, with no announced date or challenge list in the checked material. Do not assume that a Battle Pass tier, a shotgun challenge, or an attachment event unlocks it.
Activision summarizes the timing in one sentence: “Later in the season, hunt down foes with the JAK 12 Shotgun and the ZLR Talonhawk Melee Weapon.” “Later in the season” establishes the sequence, not a calendar date. The announcement also discusses other events and attachment rewards without assigning a named event to either weapon.
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Are the new MW4 weapons free?
The Cronen Osprey and CSG-35 are explicitly described as free base-weapon rewards on the linear Battle Pass. The announcement does not list a premium Battle Pass, BlackCell, or Vault Edition as a prerequisite for reaching Tier 16 or Tier 36. Premium tracks may contain additional rewards, but those paid benefits are separate from the two weapon-tier unlocks.
Activision has not stated a price or a separate purchase requirement for the JAK 12 or ZLR Talonhawk. They are described as event rewards, so their eventual access depends on the event instructions that Activision publishes. Avoid treating a premium purchase as a confirmed shortcut for either event weapon.
What “free” means here
- “Free” refers to the base weapon reward on the free Battle Pass track; it does not mean every Battle Pass item is free.
- Premium reward counts, BlackCell benefits, and Vault Edition entitlements are separate offers.
- A blueprint is a configured or cosmetic variant reward, not an additional base weapon.
- No price for an event-entry ticket, tier skip, or alternate event unlock has been announced for the two later weapons.
If you already own the game, the confirmed weapon path does not require another edition purchase. If you are deciding whether to buy an edition solely for these guns, make that decision based on access to the game and any edition extras, not on an assumption that a paid tier is mandatory.
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How do the editions and premium offers compare?
| Option | What is confirmed | Weapon-unlock relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Free Battle Pass track | Contains the Cronen Osprey at Tier 16 and CSG-35 at Tier 36 | Confirmed route for both launch base weapons |
| Premium Battle Pass | Advertised with additional premium rewards | Not stated as required for either launch weapon |
| BlackCell | Separate premium Battle Pass offering | Not stated as required for any confirmed weapon route |
| Vault Edition | Includes one-season BlackCell entitlement according to the publisher’s offer | Entitlement is an extra benefit, not a confirmed weapon prerequisite |
| In-season events | Planned route for JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk | Dates, objectives, and any cost are not yet stated |
This comparison prevents a common purchase mistake: seeing a premium reward page and assuming the base gun is paywalled. The confirmed tiers for the Osprey and CSG-35 are on the free linear track. Conversely, no paid shortcut has been promised for the JAK 12 or Talonhawk, so buying BlackCell should not be presented as a guaranteed way to bypass their events.
What is the difference between a base weapon, a blueprint, and an attachment reward?
A base weapon is the weapon itself and is what the four-weapon Season One count refers to. A blueprint is a separate reward that supplies a themed configuration or appearance for an existing weapon. An attachment reward changes equipment options but does not add another weapon to the list.
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| Reward type | Season One example | Counts toward the four new weapons? |
|---|---|---|
| Base weapon | Cronen Osprey at Tier 16; CSG-35 at Tier 36 | Yes |
| Blueprint | Cronen Osprey blueprint at Tier 87; CSG-35 blueprint at Tier 73 | No |
| In-season attachment or other event item | Attachment rewards mentioned in the announcement | No |
| Event base weapon | JAK 12 or ZLR Talonhawk | Yes |
This distinction matters if the Battle Pass interface shows a blueprint before you have reached the base-weapon tier. Claiming a blueprint does not unlock a missing base weapon unless the interface explicitly says the base weapon is included; Activision’s listed Osprey and CSG-35 blueprint tiers are separate from their weapon tiers.
It also matters for counting the season’s content. The four new base weapons are two Battle Pass guns plus two later event weapons. The Tier 73 and Tier 87 blueprints do not turn that total into six, and an attachment mentioned in an event announcement is not a fifth base weapon.
What role does each weapon fill?
The class descriptions provide a practical starting point, but they are not an independent ranking of damage, recoil, range, or time to kill.
Cronen Osprey
This is a 5.56 assault rifle that Activision characterizes as fast-firing. The stated 882 RPM gives you the publisher’s advertised firing-rate reference when comparing it with other assault rifles. Its rifle class makes it the Season One option for players who want a general-purpose primary rather than a dedicated close-range weapon.
CSG-35
The CSG-35 is an SMG that Activision says is strongest up close and specifies at 1,200 RPM. That description points toward short-range engagements and aggressive movement, but it does not establish performance outside the publisher’s stated role.
JAK 12
The JAK 12 is a full-auto shotgun. Activision has not supplied a damage profile, effective range, magazine detail, or challenge requirements in the announcement, so those details should not be inferred from the class name alone.
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ZLR Talonhawk
The Talonhawk is a melee combat axe. Its class identifies it as a close-quarters melee weapon, while reach, handling, lethal-hit rules, and any event-specific limitations remain unannounced.
The firing-rate figures are useful labels, not guarantees of superiority. A higher advertised RPM can describe a weapon’s firing cycle without telling you its damage, recoil, ammunition economy, or effective range. Those practical comparisons require in-game testing after the weapons become playable.
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What should I do when Season One goes live?
Use this checklist to avoid locking onto the wrong reward or assuming that an event is already active.
- Check the in-game Season One start time against the announced November 6, 00:00 ET schedule.
- Open the Battle Pass and confirm that the linear track is selected.
- Identify the base-weapon reward at Tier 16 before claiming any Cronen Osprey blueprint shown elsewhere.
- Continue to Tier 36 for the CSG-35 base weapon.
- Record the separate blueprint tiers—87 for the Osprey and 73 for the CSG-35—so they are not mistaken for weapon unlock tiers.
- Look for a subsequent official event announcement before attempting JAK 12 or ZLR Talonhawk challenges.
- Read the event’s own objectives and eligible modes once published; do not substitute requirements from another Season One event.
Activision has promised a separate Warzone Season One information post for November 2, but the four-weapon route above does not depend on guessing what that post will contain.
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A simple tracking routine
At each session, check the Battle Pass tier shown on the main screen, then verify the reward tile before spending any token or claiming a cosmetic. At Tier 16, confirm that the claim button identifies the Cronen Osprey base weapon. At Tier 36, repeat the check for the CSG-35. Keep the event weapons on a separate checklist because their progress will not be represented by those two Battle Pass milestones.
If the season opens later than scheduled, use the live in-game timer and the latest Call of Duty notice rather than an old calendar reminder. The October 28 announcement is the basis for the announced date, but live-service schedules can change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do I need a particular game edition?
No particular paid edition is stated as necessary for the two Battle Pass weapon tiers. If you do not own the game, Activision confirms a Modern Warfare 4 Physical Standard Edition for PS5 and an Xbox Series X disc edition; it says there is no physical PC edition or physical Vault Edition, and physical-edition preorders cannot be upgraded to Vault. Those are purchase-format details, not additional weapon-unlock requirements.
For a PS5 buyer, the Physical Standard Edition is the format Activision specifically confirms. For an Xbox Series X owner, the confirmed physical alternative is the Xbox Series X disc. No verified price, stock status, retailer listing, or tracked purchase link is part of the weapon announcement, so check the official store or retailer directly for current availability.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting early: October 30 is before the announced November 6 launch, so the Season One tiers are not yet live.
- Confusing blueprints with guns: Tier 87 and Tier 73 are blueprint locations, not the Osprey and CSG-35 base-weapon tiers.
- Assuming premium is mandatory: Activision calls the Tier 16 and Tier 36 base rewards free.
- Inventing event requirements: No kill totals, modes, match counts, or named event assignments have been published for the JAK 12 or Talonhawk.
- Counting attachments as weapons: An attachment reward changes equipment options but does not add to the four-weapon total.
- Promising a later fallback: Activision has not announced a post-event unlock route for either later weapon.
- Treating publisher specs as testing: The 882 RPM and 1,200 RPM figures are stated specifications, not independent measurements.
What has not been announced yet?
Several details remain intentionally open, and filling them with guesses would make the unlock guide unreliable.
- The individual event start dates for the JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk.
- The challenge objectives, required counts, eligible modes, and completion rules for those events.
- A post-event or alternate unlock route for either later weapon.
- Independent testing of the four weapons’ damage, recoil, range, handling, or relative ranking.
- Any confirmed price for event access, tier skips, or a purchase that bypasses the event requirements.
When Activision publishes those details, use the event’s own wording and dates. Until then, the only confirmed launch actions are progressing the free Battle Pass to Tiers 16 and 36.
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How we picked the unlock details
This guide follows the distinctions in Activision’s October 28, 2026 Season One announcement: launch versus later availability, free linear-track rewards versus event rewards, base weapons versus blueprints, and the publisher’s own class and firing-rate descriptions. No independent completion statistics or weapon-performance tests are available in the cited material, so the article does not present a “best” weapon ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I unlock the JAK 12 or ZLR Talonhawk after its event ends?
Activision has not published an alternate post-event unlock route for either weapon. Until a later notice says otherwise, only the announced in-season event path is confirmed.
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November 6 at 00:00 ET is the time in Activision’s October 28 announcement, but live-service schedules can be revised. Check the official Call of Duty channels near launch for any change rather than relying on an old countdown.
Do I need a specific multiplayer mode for the event weapons?
No mode, map, match count, or challenge type has been announced for the JAK 12 or ZLR Talonhawk events. Those requirements should be taken from the event panel when Activision publishes it.
Does reaching a blueprint tier unlock the weapon automatically?
Not according to the published Battle Pass layout. The Osprey blueprint at Tier 87 and CSG-35 blueprint at Tier 73 are listed separately from the Tier 16 and Tier 36 base-weapon rewards.
Do I need BlackCell or the Vault Edition for the Cronen Osprey?
No. Activision identifies the Osprey at Tier 16 on the free linear Battle Pass and does not state BlackCell or Vault Edition ownership as a prerequisite.
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No. Activision places both in later in-season events. Their individual event dates and challenge rules have not been announced.
How many new base weapons are in Season One?
Four: Cronen Osprey, CSG-35, JAK 12, and ZLR Talonhawk. The two blueprints and any attachment rewards are separate items.
Can I estimate how many matches Tier 36 will take?
Not accurately from the announced information. Activision lists the tier locations but does not provide a progress-per-match rate or a guaranteed time estimate.
The Bottom Line
Season One is scheduled for November 6, 2026. Use the free linear Battle Pass to reach Tier 16 for the Cronen Osprey and Tier 36 for the CSG-35. The JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk are later event rewards; wait for Activision’s event dates and objectives instead of guessing.
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