Arena Breakout Ammo Chart 2026: M80 vs M855A1 Guide

Understanding Tier 4 Ammunition Classification

Tier 4 ammo penetrates armor classes 1-4 consistently while offering partial effectiveness against Tier 5. Penetration values of 40-46 translate to 65-75% armor damage per hit against same-tier protection—the sweet spot for players levels 15-35.

Season 4 (launched January 8, 2026, 6:00 PM EST) maintained Tier 4 balance while adding 9x19mm 7N30 and 5.45x39mm 7N10M, confirming these rounds remain the economic backbone.

Budget reality: Premium M995 at 1,100+ Koen requires 3-4 kills just to break even. Tier 4 options need only 1-2 kills for profit.

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Penetration Mechanics

When Tier 4 ammo (penetration 40-46) hits Tier 4 armor, 30-40% of base damage transfers to health while the rest depletes armor durability. Against lower-tier armor, transfer increases to 60-80%.

Critical breakpoints: 40, 45, 50 penetration. M80's 42 sits comfortably above Tier 4 minimum. M855A1's 40 hits the threshold exactly.

M80 vs M855A1 Complete Statistics

M80 (7.62x51 NATO) Specs

• Penetration: 42 (Tier 4)
• Base Damage: 63
• Armor Damage: 21
• Velocity: 833 m/s
• Recoil: -3 vertical, -3 horizontal
• Accuracy: +3
• Cost: 300 Koen

Highest damage-per-shot among affordable Tier 4 options. Requires only 2-3 center-mass hits against light armor.

Compatible weapons: FAL, G3, M110, MK14, NEGEV, M24, M14, BM59. FAL and G3 cost under 25,000 Koen.

M855A1 (5.56x45 NATO) Specs

• Penetration: 40 (Tier 4 minimum)
• Base Damage: 47
• Armor Damage: 20
• Velocity: 945 m/s
• Recoil: -1 vertical, -2 horizontal
• Accuracy: +4
• Cost: 550 Koen

945 m/s velocity provides 112 m/s advantage over M80, reducing bullet travel time by ~0.05 seconds at 150m.

Compatible weapons: AK-102, M4A1, H416, F2000, MDR, SCAR-L, FAMAS, AUG, MCX, SG550, G36, AR-15, M249, EYOLY, M96, Mini-14, M16.

Direct Comparison

Penetration: M80's 42 beats M855A1's 40 by 5%, requiring one fewer shot ~15% of the time against fresh Tier 4 armor.

Damage: M80's 63 exceeds M855A1's 47 by 34%. Against unarmored targets: 2 chest shots vs 3 shots—33% faster kills.

Ballistics: M855A1's 13% velocity advantage matters beyond 100m, but most fights occur within 75m.

Recoil: M80's -3/-3 beats M855A1's -1/-2 for sustained fire control.

Economics: M80 costs 83% less. A 20-round mag costs 6,000 Koen vs 11,000 Koen. Over 10 raids, that's 50,000+ Koen saved.

Armor Penetration Analysis

Tier 1-3 Armor

Both rounds achieve near-total damage transfer. Tier 3 armor (most common early-game) offers minimal resistance. Players survive 2-3 M80 hits or 3-4 M855A1 hits.

M80's 34% damage advantage = faster kills in tight spaces like Armory corridors. M855A1's penetration is overkill here.

Tier 4-5 Armor

M80 achieves 35-40% damage transfer against fresh Tier 4 armor; M855A1 delivers 30-35%. This 5-10% difference requires one extra shot ~20% of the time.

Against Tier 5 (resistance 46-52), both struggle with 15-25% transfer, requiring 5-7 hits. Upgrade to M995 (penetration 52) or M61 (penetration 68) for confirmed Tier 5+ opponents.

Tier 6 Limitations

Tier 6 armor (resistance 53+) negates both rounds—damage transfer drops below 10%, requiring 8-12+ hits. Target unarmored body parts instead.

Tier 6 appears in <5% of raids. Don't build loadouts around this rare threat.

Cost-Efficiency Breakdown

M80 Economics

20-round mag: 6,000 Koen. At 40% accuracy (8 hits per mag), cost-per-kill averages 2,250 Koen (3 hits for elimination).

Unlocks at vendor reputation level 2 (15-20 hours gameplay). No special requirements.

Low cost enables stockpiling 500-1,000 rounds without major capital investment.

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M855A1 Economics

20-round mag: 11,000 Koen. At 40% accuracy, cost-per-kill averages 4,950 Koen (4 hits for elimination).

The 2,700 Koen cost-per-kill difference compounds fast. Three kills per raid = 8,100 Koen disadvantage—enough for medical supplies, grenades, or armor repairs.

Break-Even Analysis

Standard mid-tier raids yield 40,000-60,000 Koen. Keep ammo costs below 30% of loot value (12,000-18,000 Koen max).

M80 loadout: Two 30-round mags (18,000 Koen) + one 20-round backup (6,000 Koen) = 24,000 Koen total. Supports 3-5 engagements profitably.

M855A1 loadout: Same config costs 49,500 Koen—175% over budget. Requires 3-4 kills for equivalent returns vs M80's 1-2 kills.

Damage and Ballistics

Base Damage

M80's 63 vs M855A1's 47 = 34% lethality advantage. Against unarmored targets, M80 needs two center-mass hits (126 damage) vs M855A1's three hits (141 damage). That's 0.3 seconds faster.

Leg shots: M80 deals 38-44 damage vs M855A1's 28-33. Critical when clean center-mass shots aren't possible.

Headshots (2.0-2.5x multiplier): M80 delivers 126-158 damage—instant kill. M855A1 deals 94-118, occasionally needing follow-ups.

Distance Falloff

Damage reduces ~0.5% per 10m traveled.

• 50m: M80 retains 61 damage (97%); M855A1 maintains 46 (98%)
• 100m: M80 delivers 60 (95%); M855A1 provides 45 (96%)
• 150m: M80 at 58 (92%); M855A1 at 44 (94%)

M855A1's velocity reduces bullet travel by 0.13 seconds at 150m—marginal benefit that doesn't offset damage deficit.

Time-to-Kill

Assuming 600 RPM fire rate and 40% combat accuracy:

• Tier 3 armor: M80 = 0.4s TTK; M855A1 = 0.6s TTK (50% faster)
• Tier 4 armor: M80 = 0.8s; M855A1 = 1.0s

That 0.2-second difference lets opponents return fire, seek cover, or heal.

Weapon Platform Compatibility

Best M80 Rifles (Budget)

FAL: Optimal budget platform at 22,000-28,000 Koen. Excellent modification potential, manageable full-auto with M80's -3/-3 recoil. Standard 20-round mags.

G3: Similar performance at 18,000-24,000 Koen but higher horizontal recoil. Great for burst-fire discipline.

M14/BM59: Semi-auto alternatives excelling at 75-150m where M80's damage-per-shot maximizes effectiveness.

Modification priorities:

• Recoil-reducing stocks/grips (5,000-8,000 Koen)
• Ergonomic improvements (3,000-5,000 Koen)
• Basic optics (4,000-7,000 Koen)
• Extended mags (2,000-4,000 Koen each)

Optimal M855A1 Weapons

M4A1: Dominates 5.56x45mm category. Exceptional mod flexibility, widespread parts. Base cost 25,000-32,000 Koen. Standard 30-round mags.

SCAR-L: Comparable performance, better base accuracy, fewer mods. Costs 28,000-35,000 Koen.

AK-102: Budget 5.56mm access at 18,000-24,000 Koen but limited mods and higher recoil.

M249: LMG at 60,000+ Koen with 100-200 round belts. Squad support role, exceeds budget parameters.

Magazine Capacity Trade-offs

7.62x51mm: 20-round standard mags vs 5.56x45mm's 30 rounds (33% less capacity).

But M80's damage compensates: 20 rounds × 63 damage = 1,260 total potential vs 30 rounds × 47 damage = 1,410 total (only 12% difference despite 33% fewer rounds).

Reload times: 7.62mm takes 2.5-3.0s vs 5.56mm's 2.0-2.5s. That 0.5s rarely decides fights.

Tactical Applications

Close-Quarters (Armory, Lab)

Armory's tight corridors favor M80's damage-per-shot. Engagements rarely exceed 25m, negating M855A1's velocity while emphasizing M80's faster TTK. 300 Koen cost enables aggressive pushing.

Recommended loadout: FAL with 20-round mags, red dot, recoil-reducing stock. Total: ~35,000 Koen weapon + 18,000 Koen ammo (3 mags) = 53,000 Koen.

Mid-Range (Farm, TV Station)

Farm's open fields and TV Station's multi-story structure create 50-100m engagements where both perform well. M855A1's velocity provides marginal benefits for moving targets, but M80's damage ensures faster kills.

Economics favor M80 even here. The 250 Koen savings enables extra mags for sustained combat.

TV Station's mixed distances (CQB interiors, medium-range exteriors) make M80 the versatile choice.

Playstyle Matching

Aggressive players: M80's damage and cost-efficiency reward confident shooting and decisive action. Lower costs reduce economic penalty for high-volume fights.

Tactical players: M855A1's velocity and +4 accuracy (vs M80's +3) provide marginal improvements at extended range. But cost premium demands higher kill efficiency.

Hybrid approach: Carry both—M80 for primary engagements, M855A1 backup for specific scenarios.

Common Mistakes

Cheap Ammo = Bad Performance

M995 (1,100 Koen) offers penetration 52 vs M80's 42—24% improvement. But M995 costs 267% more. Against common Tier 3-4 armor, M80's penetration 42 suffices. Upgrading wastes penetration capability.

A player using M80 affords three complete loadouts for one M995 loadout's cost. Those two extra raids provide more value than marginal performance gains.

Penetration Misunderstandings

Penetration doesn't need to exceed armor tier by 10+ points. Matching armor ratings achieves 30-40% damage transfer—sufficient for 3-4 shot kills.

Using M61 (penetration 68) against Tier 3 armor wastes 30+ penetration points. Costs 1,218 Koen vs M80's 300 Koen—306% premium for identical results.

Over-Investing in Premium Rounds

Premium ammo (M995, M61, 7N37) serves specific purposes: Tier 5-6 armor, high-value targets, extraction defense. Using them for standard raids wastes resources.

Spending 30,000 Koen on premium ammo requires extracting 100,000+ Koen for 3:1 profit ratios. Standard raids yield 40,000-60,000 Koen average—unrealistic. Budget ammo costs 10,000-15,000 Koen, enabling profit with modest loot.

Expert Loadout Recommendations

Early Game (Levels 15-25)

Unlock vendor reputation level 2 for M80/M855A1 access. Focus quests over pure combat.

Starter loadout: FAL with basic mods (25,000 Koen) + three 20-round M80 mags (18,000 Koen) = 43,000 Koen. Add Tier 3 armor (15,000-20,000 Koen) + medical (5,000 Koen) = 63,000-68,000 Koen total.

Expected profit per extraction: 15,000-30,000 Koen after resupply.

Reinvest profits into weapon mods before upgrading ammo. Well-modded weapon with budget ammo beats stock weapon with premium ammo.

Mid-Game (Levels 26-35)

Maintain M80 as primary while experimenting situationally.

Optimized loadout: Fully-modded FAL/G3 (40,000-50,000 Koen) + four M80 mags (24,000 Koen) + Tier 4 armor (30,000-40,000 Koen) + medical (8,000-10,000 Koen) = 102,000-132,000 Koen total.

Expected profit: 25,000-45,000 Koen per extraction.

Players favoring 5.56mm platforms should transition to M855A1 here, accepting cost premium for platform consistency.

Vendor Unlock Priority

1. Level 2 (15-20 hrs): M80 and M855A1 access
2. Level 3 (40-50 hrs): M995 and improved medical
3. Level 4 (80-100 hrs): M61 and crafting recipes

Focus reputation with ammo vendors. Ammo is recurring expense; weapons/armor need infrequent replacement.

Inventory Management

Dedicate 20-30 slots for ammo storage by caliber and tier.

When Koen exceeds 200,000, invest 50,000-75,000 in M80 stockpiling (167-250 rounds). Provides 8-12 raids worth, eliminating pre-raid vendor visits.

Maintain 6-8 pre-loaded mags in stash. Reduces setup time, ensures consistent loadouts.

2026 Meta Predictions

Seasonal Balance

Season 4 maintained Tier 4 balance while adding new rounds. Pattern suggests developers view Tier 4 as appropriately balanced—unlikely to see significant M80/M855A1 nerfs.

Historical analysis: Tier 4 ammo receives minor adjustments (±2 penetration, ±5 damage) ~once yearly. M80 knowledge remains valuable 6-12 months before potential changes.

Armor Meta

Tier 4 armor prevalence increased from 45% to ~60% of mid-tier opponents. This reinforces Tier 4 ammo importance.

Armor-ammo arms race stabilizes at Tier 4 due to economics. Tier 5 armor costs 60,000-80,000 Koen, requiring 3-4 raids to recoup. Most players can't sustain this.

M80's penetration 42 and damage 63 provide optimal performance against the most common protection level.

Long-Term Investment

Mastering ammo mechanics provides permanent skill advantages across seasons and patches. Understanding penetration calculations and cost-efficiency enables rapid adaptation.

When Season 7 introduced 5.7x28mm SS190A1 (penetration 41, damage 50, velocity 945 m/s), experienced players immediately recognized its positioning between M80 and M855A1.

FAQ

What is the penetration difference between M80 and M855A1?

M80 has penetration 42; M855A1 has 40. That's a 5% advantage requiring ~one fewer shot in 15-20% of engagements against fresh Tier 4 armor. Both reliably penetrate Tier 1-4.

Which is more cost-effective for budget raids?

M80 at 300 Koen vs M855A1's 550 Koen (83% cheaper). Combined with higher damage (63 vs 47), M80's cost-per-kill averages 2,250 Koen vs M855A1's 4,950 Koen. M80 enables profit with fewer kills.

Can M80 penetrate Tier 4 armor in 2026?

Yes. M80's penetration 42 reliably penetrates Tier 4 armor (resistance 40-45), achieving 35-40% damage transfer. Requires 3-4 center-mass hits against fresh Tier 4 armor.

How much does M80 cost per round?

300 Koen per round at vendor reputation level 2. A 20-round mag costs 6,000 Koen; 30-round costs 9,000 Koen. Most cost-efficient Tier 4 option.

What are the best weapons for M80?

FAL and G3 (18,000-28,000 Koen) offer excellent mod potential. M14 and BM59 provide semi-auto precision alternatives. All 7.62x51mm platforms support M80.

Is M855A1 worth the extra Koen vs M80?

Only if weapon platform requires 5.56x45mm or extended-range engagements (100+ meters) benefit from 945 m/s velocity. For most budget players, M80's damage and 300 Koen cost provide better value.