Season 5 added four weapons to Battlefield 6 and REDSEC on October 13, 2026: the Mk 24 assault rifle, the RSPR personal defense weapon, the Z84M light machine gun and the ELR-40 bolt-action sniper rifle. EA’s Season 5 Battle Pass page lists a free sniper rifle, a free assault rifle and a free machine gun, which appear to be the ELR-40, Mk 24 and Z84M under different names, and EA has not said publicly where the RSPR unlocks.
Below: what EA says each weapon is built for, how the Battle Pass and catch-up challenges hand out seasonal guns, the naming mismatch on EA’s page, and the two weapons still to come this season. Every weapon detail is verified against EA’s Game Update 2.1.1.0 notes and its Season 5 roadmap.
The Four Season 5 Weapons at a Glance
| Weapon | Type | What EA says it is built for | How it unlocks, per EA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mk 24 | Assault rifle | Precision and damage at longer range, small magazine | Likely a free Battle Pass tier (see below) |
| RSPR | PDW / SMG | Close range with rifle stopping power, heavy recoil | Not stated publicly; check its lock in-game |
| Z84M | Light machine gun | Close-range pressure with a 100-round belt | Likely a free Battle Pass tier (see below) |
| ELR-40 | Bolt-action sniper rifle | Extreme range, with a single-shot mode for closer fights | Free Battle Pass tier |
Mk 24 Assault Rifle
EA’s Game Update 2.1.1.0 notes describe the Mk 24 as an assault rifle “that becomes deadlier at longer ranges while balancing its power with a limited magazine capacity.” The Season 5 roadmap adds that it “trades magazine capacity for consistent performance and exceptional damage at range,” with a steady rate of fire, and pitches it at “players who value precision.”
In other words, EA is not selling it as a spray-and-pray gun. Its smaller magazine means more frequent reloads, and EA’s pitch is about picking ranges where its damage holds up.
RSPR Personal Defense Weapon
The RSPR is the odd one out, starting with its category. The patch notes call it “a highly compact, short-range Personal Defence Weapon with major stopping power from its rifle cartridge” that “performs better at longer ranges than most Personal Defence Weapons” at the cost of “higher recoil.” EA’s Season 5 roadmap files the same gun as an SMG “with the characteristics of a rifle,” with a smaller magazine and heavier recoil, and places its performance “between the SG 553R and SCW-10.”
Both labels point at the same slot: EA’s own notes use PDW and SMG interchangeably (the SCW-10 appears under both names). It is also the one Season 5 weapon that EA’s Battle Pass page does not appear to list among the free rewards.
Z84M Light Machine Gun
The Z84M is a belt-fed light machine gun with a 100-round capacity that EA built “to dominate at close range,” with “support for a wide selection of attachments.” The roadmap is unusually blunt about its downside: its high damage and high rate of fire come “with significant recoil and handling trade-offs, so keeping it under control is key.”
That makes it an LMG pitched at short fights rather than holding long lanes: EA’s description points it at spaces like Vegas Strip’s hotel interiors and the Area 51 tunnels rather than open ground.
ELR-40 Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle
The ELR-40 has two personalities. In its standard setup, EA says it has “the best bullet drag performance and the furthest sweet spot in its weapon archetype,” which EA calls “particularly well suited for the open sightlines” of Area 51. Switch to its custom single-shot ammunition and the sweet spot moves to short range, “with functionality that longtime Battlefield players may find familiar.”
One thing to watch: EA’s Year 2 outlook says the team is “evaluating the balance and power of bolt-action sniper rifles” for 2027, so the whole class, the ELR-40 included, may be retuned later. Our Year 2 plans story has that list.
How Season 5 Weapons Unlock
EA’s progression guide lists four routes for seasonal hardware:
- Battle Pass free tiers, which EA calls “the fastest way to unlock new Hardware at the start of a season.”
- Bonus Path free tiers, for hardware released during a season.
- Seasonal Assignments, a specific challenge or set of challenges.
- Seasonal Catch-Up Challenges, which let you earn hardware from a Battle Pass or Bonus Path you missed.
The catch-up route is real, not a promise: Game Update 2.1.1.0 added Season 4 catch-up challenges for the BROD 3, Interdictor and VSSM. If Season 5 ends before you reach a weapon, expect the same treatment later.
What EA’s Season 5 Battle Pass page says. EA’s Season 5 Battle Pass page states that “Free Season 5 Battle Pass items include the CDX-40 Sniper Rifle, the MRGG-A Assault Rifle, and the PKM Machine Gun.” None of those names appear in the patch notes. The image EA uses for that sniper rifle is labelled ELR-40, which suggests the page uses early or real-world names for the Season 5 guns. The likeliest reading is that the three free weapons are the ELR-40, the Mk 24 and the Z84M, but EA has only tied the ELR-40 to its page name, so treat the other two as probable rather than confirmed.
Check any lock yourself. EA’s progression guide says to open a loadout and “hover over locked weapons to see their rank or challenge unlock requirement.” That is the fastest way to see exactly where the RSPR, or any of the four, sits for your account.
What paying changes. Free players earn the free tiers by playing. The paid Battle Pass unlocks the locked tiers, six instant rewards and a 10% Battle Pass XP boost. Battlefield Pro adds 25 tier skips and a further 5% boost, per EA’s help article on the Battle Pass. Battle Pass XP is earned alongside Career XP at a 1:1 rate, so every match counts toward it. The Season 5 pass starts with a Recruit Path; after that you switch between four themed paths, and finishing them all opens the Ultimate and Prestige paths.
Where You Can Use Them
EA’s REDSEC Season 5 announcement lists all four under “New Battlefield 6 | REDSEC Weapons,” so they belong to both the multiplayer game and the free-to-play Battle Royale. If you are coming in through this week’s trial or REDSEC, our free trial guide covers the dates and what carries over to the full game.
One REDSEC note: Season 5 also made many assault rifles, LMGs, carbines and SMGs take one more bullet to kill armored players at set ranges. The notes list existing weapons by caliber and do not name any of the four new guns, so their armor numbers are not public. Our patch notes breakdown has the full list.
Two More Weapons Are Coming This Season
EA’s October 9 preview promised “6 new weapons and 2 new vehicles” across Season 5, so four at launch leaves two to come. EA’s Season 5 pages point to the two mid-season drops: Casino Heist on November 10 brings “new hardware,” and Frozen Aces on December 8 adds “new weapons, gear, and the B-81 Cavalry.” EA’s progression guide calls a Bonus Path the fastest way to unlock hardware released during a season, so watch for one with each drop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Season 5 weapons free? Mostly. EA’s Battle Pass page lists a free sniper rifle, assault rifle and machine gun, which appear to be the ELR-40, Mk 24 and Z84M. EA has not said publicly how the RSPR unlocks.
How do I unlock the RSPR in Battlefield 6? EA has not published it. Open a loadout and hover over the locked RSPR, which EA’s progression guide says shows the rank or challenge requirement.
Is the CDX-40 the same as the ELR-40? EA’s Battle Pass page names a free “CDX-40 Sniper Rifle” but labels its image ELR-40, and no CDX-40 appears in the patch notes, so it appears to be the same weapon under an early name.
What if I do not finish the Battle Pass in time? EA’s Seasonal Catch-Up Challenges let you earn missed Battle Pass hardware later. Season 4 weapons got exactly that in Game Update 2.1.1.0.
Can I use the new weapons in REDSEC? Yes. EA’s REDSEC Season 5 announcement lists all four as Battlefield 6 and REDSEC weapons.
Which Season 5 weapon is best? EA has not published damage tables for the four, and balance can change with any update. Go by EA’s own pitch: the Mk 24 and ELR-40 for range, the Z84M and RSPR for close fights.