To unlock all four announced MW4 Season One weapons, advance the free linear Battle Pass to Tier 16 for the Cronen Osprey and Tier 36 for the CSG-35, then complete the in-season events for the JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk when Activision publishes their challenges. Season One is scheduled to begin on November 6, 2026, at 00:00 ET (November 5 at 21:00 PT), so none of these rewards should be treated as playable before that launch window.
The two launch weapons have confirmed Battle Pass tiers and are described as free base-weapon rewards. The shotgun and combat axe arrive later through events; their individual event names, challenge requirements and arrival dates were not included in Activision’s October 28 announcement.
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Free plan / price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cronen Osprey | Players who want a fast-firing 5.56 assault rifle | 882 RPM (publisher specification) | Free linear Battle Pass, Tier 16 | Oct 2026 |
| CSG-35 | Close-range SMG engagements | 1,200 RPM (publisher specification) | Free linear Battle Pass, Tier 36 | Oct 2026 |
| JAK 12 | Full-auto shotgun play | Full-auto shotgun; additional specifications not stated | Later in-season event reward; price not stated | Oct 2026 |
| ZLR Talonhawk | Melee combat-axe play | Melee combat axe; additional specifications not stated | Later in-season event reward; price not stated | Oct 2026 |
When does MW4 Season One start?
Activision’s announced start is November 6, 2026, at 00:00 Eastern Time, which is November 5 at 21:00 Pacific Time. As of October 30, 2026, Season One has not started, so the Tier 16, Tier 36 and event rewards are prospective unlock routes rather than rewards already obtainable in live play.
Use the launch time shown in the in-game season screen for your own region. The announcement gives the Eastern and Pacific equivalents, but it does not provide a universal regional timetable or an earlier preload time for these weapons. A store listing, datamined menu or social-media countdown is not a replacement for the live Battle Pass screen, particularly if a platform receives the update at a different local time.
The timing distinction matters because the two Battle Pass rewards are announced for launch, while the other two weapons are explicitly described as later-season content. You can prepare your progression plan now, but you cannot honestly claim any of the four has been unlocked before the season opens.
Which four weapons are new in Season One?
The four additions are split into two launch Battle Pass weapons and two later event weapons. That split determines what you can work toward immediately when the season opens.
Cronen Osprey — assault rifle
The Cronen Osprey is the Season One assault rifle. Activision describes it as a fast-firing 5.56 rifle and lists a publisher-supplied rate of 882 rounds per minute. The base weapon is the free Battle Pass reward at Tier 16.
A separate Cronen Osprey blueprint appears at Tier 87. That blueprint is a configured or cosmetic variant, not a second Cronen Osprey and not the tier you need for the base weapon. Reaching Tier 16 is the relevant unlock objective. The 882 RPM figure is the publisher’s specification, not a result from independent firing-range testing, so it should not be read as a complete performance ranking.
CSG-35 — submachine gun
The CSG-35 is the new submachine gun, described by Activision as strongest at close range. Its published specification is 1,200 rounds per minute. The free base weapon is placed at Tier 36 on the linear Battle Pass.
The Battle Pass also lists a CSG-35 blueprint at Tier 73. Treat Tier 73 as a separate blueprint reward; it does not replace or add another base weapon to the four-weapon Season One list. A high rate of fire can affect ammunition use and recoil management, but the announcement does not supply damage, range, magazine or handling figures, so those details should wait for in-game testing.
JAK 12 — full-auto shotgun
The JAK 12 is a full-auto shotgun scheduled for a later in-season event. It is not listed as a Battle Pass tier reward, and Activision has not yet supplied the event’s name, challenge steps or individual arrival date in the announcement covered here.
Do not infer a kill count, playlist, match type or attachment requirement from the weapon class. Wait for the event notice that specifies how the reward is claimed. The phrase “later in the season” establishes timing relative to launch, but it does not identify a particular week or guarantee that the JAK 12 will be the first event weapon.
ZLR Talonhawk — melee combat axe
The ZLR Talonhawk is the second later-season reward, classified as a melee combat axe. Like the JAK 12, it is an event reward rather than a listed Battle Pass tier, and its event challenge and date remain unannounced in the checked material.
Activision’s wording is deliberately broad: “Later in the season, hunt down foes with the JAK 12 Shotgun and the ZLR Talonhawk Melee Weapon.” That confirms their later timing, not a specific week or event objective. It also does not establish whether the axe is earned through eliminations, objective play, a themed playlist or another task.
How do I unlock the Cronen Osprey and CSG-35?
Both launch weapons use the same free, linear Battle Pass progression. The announced pass has 100 tiers, and the two weapon tiers sit on that standard path. You do not need to purchase a premium Battle Pass, BlackCell or the Vault Edition to reach the announced weapon tiers.
- Wait for the Season One launch window. The track becomes relevant when the season begins on the announced November 6 schedule.
- Open the Battle Pass screen and select its linear track. The weapon rewards are positioned on the standard progression path rather than an optional event page. Confirm that the pass is showing Season One, not a previous season or a premium-only reward view.
- Progress to Tier 16. Claim the Cronen Osprey base weapon when the tier becomes available. Check that the reward is labeled as the weapon, not the Tier 87 blueprint.
- Continue the same track to Tier 36. Claim the CSG-35 base weapon at its listed tier, again distinguishing it from the Tier 73 blueprint.
- Verify the unlock in your loadout. The base weapon should appear as an available weapon after the tier reward is claimed. If the game displays a blueprint preview, return to the tier rewards and confirm that the base-weapon tile was selected.
The publisher describes these as free base-weapon rewards. “Free” here means no premium-pass purchase is stated as a prerequisite; you still need access to the game and must earn Battle Pass progression to reach the tiers. The pass also advertises more than 50 guaranteed premium rewards, but those paid rewards are a separate benefit and do not turn Tiers 16 or 36 into premium weapon gates.
Because the track is linear, the practical order is fixed even if you spend time on other rewards: the Osprey is encountered first at Tier 16, and the CSG-35 follows at Tier 36. You do not need to wait for the later blueprint tiers to make either base weapon usable.
When do the JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk unlock?
They unlock later in Season One through in-season events. Activision has not published the individual event dates or challenge text in the announcement, so there is no reliable date, number of eliminations, mode requirement or task sequence to follow yet.
What you can do now
- Check the in-game Events panel after Season One begins.
- Read the event rules before choosing a mode; the eventual challenge may specify a playlist, weapon type or match objective.
- Track the event end time as well as the start time so you do not mistake a preview for an active reward window.
- Claim the reward through the event interface if the challenge uses a separate claim button rather than automatic delivery.
- Record which event is tied to which weapon. A general event overview may mention several cosmetics or attachments without assigning a named activity to either weapon.
What you should not assume
- Neither weapon has a confirmed Battle Pass tier.
- The announcement does not assign either weapon to a named event.
- No post-event earning method has been announced, so do not promise that a later armory challenge or store bundle will be available.
- Blueprints and attachment rewards mentioned elsewhere in the season overview are not additional members of the four-weapon list.
- A weapon’s class does not prove its challenge format. A shotgun is not automatically tied to shotgun eliminations, and a melee axe is not automatically tied to melee-only matches.
Are all four MW4 Season One weapons free?
Activision explicitly calls the Cronen Osprey and CSG-35 free Battle Pass weapons. The announcement does not attach a purchase price to the JAK 12 or ZLR Talonhawk because they are described as event rewards; their eventual challenge-access rules have not been published.
A premium Battle Pass, BlackCell entitlement and Vault Edition benefits are presented as separate premium content. Nothing in the announced unlock route makes one of those purchases a prerequisite for the Tier 16 or Tier 36 base weapons. Avoid treating premium reward counts or a blueprint tier as evidence that the base weapon is paywalled.
There is also no announced alternate purchase route for the two event weapons. Until Activision specifies otherwise, the only confirmed plan is to complete the event in which each appears. Do not spend currency on a bundle because a store preview uses the weapon’s name; a blueprint or cosmetic bundle would not necessarily grant the underlying base weapon.
What is the difference between a base weapon, a blueprint and an attachment?
A base weapon is the underlying gun or melee item that becomes selectable in the relevant category. A blueprint is a separate preset build or cosmetic configuration for that weapon, while an attachment is an individual modification that can be applied to compatible equipment.
| Reward type | Season One example | What it means for unlocking the four weapons |
|---|---|---|
| Base weapon | Cronen Osprey at Tier 16; CSG-35 at Tier 36 | Counts as one of the four new weapons |
| Blueprint | Cronen Osprey at Tier 87; CSG-35 at Tier 73 | Does not create an extra weapon or change the base-weapon tier |
| Attachment reward | Other in-season attachment rewards mentioned in the overview | Modifies equipment; it is not a fifth weapon |
This distinction matters when scanning the Battle Pass. If a later tile shows a named blueprint, you have not missed the earlier base weapon; the two rewards serve different purposes. Likewise, an attachment can improve a compatible loadout without adding another entry to the Season One weapon count.
How should you compare the four weapons?
Availability and weapon class are the most useful comparisons before launch. The Osprey is a fast-firing 5.56 assault rifle for general rifle engagements, while the CSG-35 is a high-rate-of-fire SMG that Activision positions for close range. The JAK 12 is a full-auto shotgun, and the Talonhawk is a melee combat axe. These descriptions indicate intended engagement styles, not an independently tested best-weapon ranking.
The unlock mechanism is another clear dividing line: two fixed Battle Pass tiers versus two event rewards with unknown dates. A player planning early progression can set Tier 16 and Tier 36 as concrete milestones, but should keep the JAK 12 and Talonhawk on an event-watch list rather than a calendar with invented dates. The 882 RPM and 1,200 RPM figures apply only to the publisher’s listed specifications and do not by themselves establish damage, time to kill or overall balance.
What should I do if a weapon is not available at the announced time?
First confirm that the season has actually opened in your region and that the game has loaded the Season One Battle Pass rather than the previous season’s screen. The schedule is an announcement, not a guarantee that every platform will display the content at exactly the same local minute.
- Restart the game and check for the Season One content update.
- Open the Battle Pass and verify that the track shows Tier 16 and Tier 36 weapon tiles.
- Confirm that you are viewing the linear track, not a premium-reward tab or a blueprint preview.
- For the JAK 12 or ZLR Talonhawk, check the Events panel and the official event notice; their later challenges were not available in the October 28 announcement.
- If a claimed tier does not appear in the loadout, review the reward history and follow the game’s support instructions rather than purchasing premium content to force an unlock.
Do not use a community post to fill in an unannounced event date or challenge. The only confirmed information for the later weapons is that they are in-season event rewards. If the live screen differs from the announced tier, follow the current in-game tile and an updated Activision notice instead of an old screenshot.
Do you need to buy MW4 before unlocking the weapons?
You need access to the game to play its Battle Pass and events, but the announced weapon rewards themselves are not described as requiring a premium edition. Activision confirms physical Standard Edition formats for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and says there is no physical PC or physical Vault Edition. Physical-edition preorders cannot be upgraded to Vault.
Those edition details concern how you obtain the game, not a separate weapon fee. After you have access, the two launch base weapons follow the free Battle Pass route, while the later two depend on their eventual event instructions. If you are choosing a physical copy, verify the platform and edition carefully; a purchase decision should not be based on a claim that Vault access is required for Tier 16 or Tier 36.
What is confirmed, and what is still unknown?
| Question | Confirmed in the announcement | Not yet supplied |
|---|---|---|
| How many new weapons? | Four: two Battle Pass launch weapons and two later event weapons | Nothing further is needed to identify the four |
| When does Season One begin? | November 6, 2026, 00:00 ET; November 5, 21:00 PT | Other regional display times |
| Where is the Cronen Osprey? | Free linear Battle Pass, Tier 16 | Any change to the announced tier |
| Where is the CSG-35? | Free linear Battle Pass, Tier 36 | Any change to the announced tier |
| How are the JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk earned? | Later in-season event rewards | Named events, challenge conditions and individual dates |
| Are premium purchases required? | No prerequisite is stated for the two free base-weapon tiers | Any later event-specific access rule |
| Are the listed RPM figures tested independently? | No; 882 RPM and 1,200 RPM are publisher-supplied specifications | Independent performance testing and complete weapon statistics |
A separate official Warzone Season One information post was announced for November 2. It may add Warzone-specific details, but it does not change the currently stated MW4 route unless Activision updates the weapon announcement. Keep Warzone availability separate from the base unlock information above.
How should you plan your Season One unlocks?
Use the Battle Pass tiers as the only fixed early targets and treat the event weapons as alerts to monitor rather than dates to schedule around.
- At launch: open the linear Battle Pass and identify the Tier 16 and Tier 36 tiles.
- During progression: claim the base weapon at each tier before evaluating its later blueprint reward.
- After launch: check the Events panel and official announcements for the JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk challenge rules.
- Before an event ends: confirm completion and claim status in the event interface.
- For any discrepancy: rely on the current in-game reward tile and Activision’s updated notice, because the October 28 announcement does not establish post-event alternatives.
- For loadout testing: evaluate each weapon in its intended role only after it is actually available, rather than treating the publisher’s class description as a final ranking.
The practical order is therefore fixed: Cronen Osprey first at Tier 16, CSG-35 at Tier 36, then whichever of the two later events Activision schedules for the JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk. That route gives you every confirmed step without inventing a date, challenge or purchase requirement that has not been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I unlock the JAK 12 or ZLR Talonhawk before their events begin?
No early method has been announced. They are identified as later in-season event rewards, so a Battle Pass tier, blueprint purchase or pre-season challenge cannot be treated as a confirmed substitute.
Will completing a blueprint tier unlock the underlying weapon automatically?
The announced tiers separate the base weapons from their blueprints. The Cronen Osprey blueprint at Tier 87 and CSG-35 blueprint at Tier 73 are distinct rewards, so verify the base-weapon tile at Tiers 16 and 36.
Where will the event requirements be published?
Look for the in-game Events panel and a new official Season One announcement once Activision schedules each event. The October 28 announcement does not provide the challenge text, so community estimates are not authoritative.
Could the Warzone Season One information change these unlocks?
Activision said a separate Warzone Season One information post was due on November 2. It may explain Warzone availability, but the currently announced MW4 unlock route remains the two free Battle Pass tiers followed by later events unless an official update says otherwise.
Do I need BlackCell or the Vault Edition for the Osprey or CSG-35?
No prerequisite is stated for either free base-weapon tier. BlackCell, premium-pass rewards and Vault Edition benefits are separate paid content.
Are the 882 RPM and 1,200 RPM figures guaranteed in every mode?
They are the publisher’s listed specifications. The announcement does not provide independent testing or mode-by-mode performance measurements, so use the live weapon information for final verification.
Is there a confirmed way to earn an event weapon after its event ends?
No alternative post-event route has been announced. Do not promise an armory challenge, store bundle or other recovery method until Activision publishes one.
The Bottom Line
Season One’s confirmed path is simple: reach Tier 16 for the free Cronen Osprey, Tier 36 for the free CSG-35, then watch the Events panel for the JAK 12 and ZLR Talonhawk. The latter two have no published dates or challenges yet, so rely on Activision’s live event instructions rather than guesses.