The Gorgon is a light machine gun that appears in Call of Duty: Black Ops III. Known in the beta files as the Slowfire, it is one of the most unique LMGs in the game. It delivers high damage with each shot, but at the cost of a very slow fire rate and poor handling. This makes it a weapon that requires patience and accuracy rather than speed.
This article looks at the Gorgon across Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies, explaining its strengths, weaknesses, and best uses.
The Gorgon in Campaign
The Gorgon is unlocked at level 20 in the campaign, making it the last weapon available. Players will not often find it dropped by enemies, so unlocking it is the main way to use it.
In this mode, the Gorgon is a powerful tool against nearly any opponent. It deals heavy damage to humans, robots, vehicles, and even Warlords. Its main drawback is handling. It aims slowly, reloads at a deliberate pace, and struggles in fast close-range fights.
Attachments improve its usability. A Quickdraw Handle speeds up aiming, a Laser Sight tightens hip-fire accuracy, and a Stock increases ADS movement speed. Extended Mag also increases its capacity, while FMJ lets it punch through heavy cover. With the right setup, the Gorgon can take down even the toughest enemies in seconds.
Data Vault Specifications
-
Ammo: .50 Cal
-
Weight: 14.7 kg
-
Length: 1348 mm
-
Barrel: 712 mm
-
Country of Origin: Egypt
-
Production Years: 2042 – Present
The Gorgon in Multiplayer
The Gorgon is unlocked early at level 7. It is one of the highest-damage automatic weapons in the game, often killing in just two shots at almost any range. In Hardcore modes, it can even secure one-shot kills.
This level of damage gives it a strong time-to-kill potential if shots are accurate. However, its rate of fire is extremely slow at about 300 RPM, the slowest of any automatic weapon in the game. If shots miss, the time-to-kill becomes much worse.
Strengths in Multiplayer
-
Two-shot kill at most ranges
-
High penetration, able to shoot through cover
-
Strong in Hardcore due to one-shot kill potential
Weaknesses in Multiplayer
-
Slowest fire rate of all automatic weapons
-
Worst handling speed in the game
-
Smallest magazine among LMGs, only 40 rounds
-
Very large idle sway affecting accuracy
Attachments can make a big difference. The Recon Sight reduces sway, Quickdraw Handle cuts ADS time in half, and Laser Sight helps in close-range fights. FMJ allows players to cut through walls and scorestreaks more effectively. On the other hand, the Suppressor hurts its damage profile too much, making three-shot kills the norm.
Attachments for the Gorgon
The Gorgon supports the standard LMG attachment pool. Among the most effective are:
-
Recon Sight – stabilizes sway and improves accuracy.
-
Quickdraw Handle – reduces slow ADS time.
-
Laser Sight – improves hip-fire for emergencies.
-
FMJ – increases penetration and damage against scorestreaks.
Attachments like Extended Mags or Fast Mag help but are less essential. The Gorgon already reloads fairly quickly for its class, and its slow fire rate makes 40 rounds last longer than expected.
Gorgon vs. Athena’s Spear
The main upgrade benefits of Athena’s Spear are:
-
Double the magazine size (100 rounds)
-
Higher base damage
-
More reserve ammo
-
Slight mobility improvements
This makes it a much stronger option for later rounds in Zombies. While still slow, the extra capacity and damage give it staying power that the base version lacks.
The Gorgon in Zombies
The Gorgon can be found in the Mystery Box for 950 points. It works well in early rounds, keeping one-shot headshot potential into the mid-teens. Its major flaws are the same as in Multiplayer: slow fire rate, low mobility, and small magazine size.
The weapon has a 50-round magazine in Zombies, the lowest of its class. Combined with its weight, long reload time, and reduced movement while firing, it can be risky in crowded areas. Players are advised to pair it with perks like Speed Cola, Double Tap Root Beer, and Stamin-Up to compensate.
When upgraded in the Pack-a-Punch Machine, it becomes the Athena’s Spear. This version improves the weapon in almost every way. It gains a 100-round magazine, higher damage, and slightly faster handling. With accurate headshots, it remains effective into higher rounds, especially for defensive strategies like camping.
Trivia and Extra Details
-
The Pack-a-Punched name Athena’s Spear references the Greek goddess who turned Medusa into a Gorgon.
-
The weapon uses a recoil counterbalancing system, visible as a weight near the barrel moving forward when firing or reloading.
-
With a Suppressor attached, “Nazon” can be seen on its side, along with a palm tree logo.
Closing Thoughts
The Call of Duty Gorgon is a unique machine gun that rewards accuracy and patience. It stands out for its extremely high damage per bullet but is held back by slow handling and rate of fire. In Campaign, it is a late but powerful unlock. With Multiplayer, it offers two-shot kills that punish missed shots. In Zombies, it becomes far more practical once upgraded to Athena’s Spear.
Players who can manage its weaknesses will find the Gorgon to be one of the hardest-hitting automatic weapons in Black Ops III.
Don't forget to check out Strafe Esports for all the latest news and our X account for the latest content and coverage.
Featured Image Source: Call of Duty Fandom
