Good news has finally arrived for PUBG Mobile players who were tired of the long-running PUBG Mobile shotgun meta in Classic Mode. As per the latest PUBG Mobile beta update, the developers have introduced PUBG Mobile weapon balance changes that focus on reducing shotgun power and increasing the damage of Assault Rifles.
The PUBG Mobile 4.2 update beta is currently live, and the patch notes have revealed major PUBG Mobile Classic Mode updates. While the damage changes look minor on paper, they could be the start of a PUBG Mobile meta change, especially pointing toward the return of the PUBG Mobile AR meta.
PUBG Mobile Buffs AR Damage in the 4.2 Update
According to the PUBG Mobile beta update, several ARs have received a damage increase to make gunfights more balanced and skill-based. These PUBG Mobile AR damage buffs will help players rely more on rifles instead of close-range shotgun rushes.
As part of the PUBG Mobile weapon balance changes, the following ARs have been buffed:
- The base damage of AKM, M762, ACE32, Honey Badger, and Mk47 has been increased by 2 points
- The base damage of the Groza has been increased by 1 point
These changes are expected to make ARs more reliable, especially against aggressive shotgun rushes.
PUBG Mobile Nerfs Shotguns Including DBS and S12K
Along with AR buffs, PUBG Mobile has also introduced a clear PUBG Mobile shotgun nerf. Shotguns have dominated close-range fights for a long time, and this update aims to reduce their impact.
According to the patch notes:
- The base damage of S686, S1897, NS2000, S12K, DBS, and M1014 has been reduced by 1 point
- The randomness of bullet spread has been slightly increased, making shotgun shots less consistent
With this PUBG Mobile DBS nerf and PUBG Mobile S12K nerf, shotgun players will now need better aim and positioning instead of depending on easy one-shot eliminations.
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Although the damage adjustments in the PUBG Mobile 4.2 update are minor, they should not be ignored. These changes could be the first step toward ending the shotgun-heavy gameplay and bringing back a more balanced PUBG Mobile AR meta.
If PUBG Mobile continues to fine-tune weapon stats in future updates, players may soon experience a noticeable PUBG Mobile meta change in Classic Mode. Since these updates are currently part of the PUBG Mobile beta update, final values may still change before the update officially goes live.
For now, this patch clearly shows that PUBG Mobile is slowly preparing for a shift in gameplay balance.
PUBG Mobile 4.2 Update Release Date and Time
PUBG Mobile has not officially confirmed the PUBG Mobile 4.2 update release date so far. However, based on the game’s recent update schedule, major version updates are usually rolled out once every two months. In 2025, PUBG Mobile followed a consistent pattern, with version 3.8 released in May, 3.9 in July, 4.0 in September, and the PUBG Mobile 4.1 update arrived in November 2025.
Following this regular update timeline, the PUBG Mobile 4.2 update is expected to be released between January 3 and January 9, 2026. The rollout is likely to begin in the morning, starting at around 7:30 AM IST.