Where it sits
The close-range primary. This is the slot for routes that are too tight to hold a lane, where an assault rifle is more gun than you can point. It is a standard launch unlock, available to every player who reaches the required level — no edition purchase required.
How to unlock it
VEL 46 becomes available at player level 5. Create-a-Class itself unlocks at player level 4, so this is one of the later weapons in the progression rather than a day-one option. Use the unlock tracker to see exactly what else your current level has already opened.
What to test
Test it immediately after a sprint, which is when a close-range primary actually gets used. Change one attachment at a time and keep notes — a change that feels better is not always the change that performs better.
What is not published yet
Activision has not published damage, range or time-to-kill figures for the launch arsenal, and this page will not invent them. Any ranking you see elsewhere is a guess until the game is in your hands and you have measured it yourself.
Where this comes from
Reviewed October 21, 2026. Names, unlock levels and edition contents come from Activision. Tactical guidance on this page is this site’s own reading, not an official description — confirm behaviour in the live game.