Updated: April 12, 2026

Phantom Forces Update April 2026 — Spring Update Weapon Guide and Meta Breakdown

By Earnaldo Team • April 12, 2026 • 11 min read

The Phantom Forces Spring Update has been live for several weeks now, and the dust has finally settled on the biggest content drop StyLiS Studios has delivered in 2026 so far. Five new weapons — the F90 MBR, EF88, UAR A3M2, Salty Weasel, and DOOMBOX — joined the arsenal alongside two new maps (Paradise and Stardom), a complete UAR family revamp, the experimental emissivity skin customization system, weapon remodels, balance passes, and new community weapon blueprints. This guide covers everything that changed, how the meta has shifted since launch, and exactly how to build your loadouts around the new content.

What's New in the Spring Update

The Spring Update is one of the largest single patches Phantom Forces has received in recent memory. Rather than focusing on a single theme, StyLiS Studios touched nearly every aspect of the game: new weapons across three categories, a family-wide weapon restructuring, two maps with very different design philosophies, a brand-new cosmetic system, and sweeping balance changes that affect weapons old and new.

The update rolled out in late March 2026 and has since received minor hotfixes to address early balance concerns. As of mid-April the weapon stats are stable, the maps are in full rotation, and the community has had enough time to thoroughly test everything. What follows is the definitive breakdown based on the settled state of the game.

Overview of All Changes

Here is every major change introduced in the Spring Update at a glance:

New Weapons Breakdown

Five new weapons join the Phantom Forces roster in the Spring Update. They span three weapon categories — Assault Rifles, Carbines, and Battle Rifles — with one DMR rounding out the lineup. The unlock ranks range from an accessible Rank 39 all the way up to Rank 193, ensuring both newer and veteran players have something to work toward.

F90 MBR — Assault Rifle (Rank 39)

The F90 MBR is the centerpiece of the UAR family revamp. It directly replaces the UAR A2 in the weapon roster and inherits the same Rank 39 unlock slot, making it the most accessible of the five new weapons. Based on the real-world Thales F90, this Australian-designed bullpup assault rifle features a compact profile that delivers respectable ADS speed for its category.

After two weeks of community testing, the F90 MBR has settled into a comfortable spot in the assault rifle tier list. It does not dominate, but it outperforms most weapons available at similar rank ranges. The bullpup form factor gives it slightly faster handling than traditional layout rifles, and its recoil pattern is vertical-dominant, making it predictable and easy to control with a Compensator. Players transitioning from the old UAR A2 will find the switch mostly seamless, though the F90 MBR has marginally higher first-shot recoil.

EF88 — Carbine (Rank 188)

The EF88 shares the Australian bullpup lineage with the F90 MBR but is classified as a carbine. Unlocked at Rank 188, it is clearly aimed at veteran players. Carbines in Phantom Forces trade range and raw damage for faster ADS times, better hip-fire accuracy, and quicker movement speed. The EF88 follows this template faithfully.

Where the EF88 distinguishes itself is in its rate of fire. It cycles faster than most carbines, which gives it an edge in sustained firefights where hitting every shot is less important than maintaining pressure. The tradeoff is slightly higher horizontal spread at range, which limits its effectiveness on open maps like Paradise. On Stardom and other tight maps, however, the EF88 is one of the strongest carbines in the game right now.

UAR A3M2 — DMR (Rank 156)

The UAR A3M2 fills a role the UAR family previously lacked: a dedicated designated marksman rifle. Unlocked at Rank 156, it fires in semi-automatic and is tuned for medium-to-long-range precision engagements. Players who enjoyed the UAR family's ergonomics and aesthetic now have a proper sniper-adjacent option that does not require them to switch to an entirely different weapon platform.

In practice, the UAR A3M2 competes directly with established DMRs like the SKS and the Mk 11. Its damage per shot is competitive, and the semi-auto fire rate allows for fast follow-up shots that punish missed shots from bolt-action snipers. The key advantage of the UAR A3M2 is its handling speed — it retains some of the bullpup compactness that makes the entire UAR family pleasant to use, resulting in faster scope-in times compared to larger DMR platforms.

Salty Weasel — Carbine (Rank 137)

The Salty Weasel is the community's favorite name in the entire update. Unlocked at Rank 137, this carbine has carved out a niche as an aggressive flanking weapon. Its fire rate sits in the upper tier for carbines, and the recoil is manageable enough that sustained automatic fire remains accurate at close-to-medium ranges.

The Salty Weasel's standout trait is its sprint-to-fire speed. It transitions from sprinting to shooting faster than almost any other carbine, which makes it devastating for players who favor high-mobility playstyles. On maps with tight corridors and frequent corner engagements — Stardom being the obvious example — the Salty Weasel rewards players who arrive first and shoot fast.

DOOMBOX — Battle Rifle (Rank 193)

The DOOMBOX sits at Rank 193, one of the highest unlock requirements in Phantom Forces. As a battle rifle, it occupies the space between assault rifles and DMRs: higher damage per shot than an AR but with a lower fire rate. The DOOMBOX leans into the damage side of that equation, hitting harder per shot than most battle rifles in the category.

The community has been gravitating toward the DOOMBOX on Paradise, where its range and damage make it a dominant force at medium-to-long distances. Two-shot headshot kills are achievable at ranges where most assault rifles need three or four hits. The weapon's weakness is close-quarters combat, where its slower fire rate becomes a liability against faster-cycling SMGs and carbines. Veterans who have reached Rank 193 generally have the game sense to avoid those situations, which is part of why the weapon performs well in experienced hands.

All five new weapons from the Spring Update: F90 MBR, EF88, UAR A3M2, Salty Weasel, and DOOMBOX

New Maps: Paradise and Stardom

Two maps entered the rotation with the Spring Update, and they could not be more different in design philosophy. StyLiS Studios clearly intended them as complementary additions that expand the range of experiences available in a single play session.

Paradise

Paradise is a large tropical-themed map with wide-open sightlines, elevated positions, and a mix of natural and structural cover. The map features a central courtyard area surrounded by multi-story buildings, with long connecting lanes that stretch across the entire play space. Trees, rocks, and low walls provide intermittent cover in the open areas, but the dominant gameplay pattern on Paradise revolves around holding elevated positions and controlling sightlines.

This map heavily favors DMRs, battle rifles, and scoped assault rifles. The DOOMBOX and UAR A3M2 were practically designed for Paradise — the long engagement ranges play directly into their strengths. Sniper rifles also perform well here, though the semi-auto DMRs tend to be more forgiving of missed shots than bolt-actions. Players who run SMGs or shotguns on Paradise will struggle unless they stick exclusively to interior spaces.

The elevated positions around the map's perimeter are the most contested spots. Teams that control the high ground on Paradise tend to dominate, because the open central area becomes a kill zone with no safe crossing route. Smoke grenades have become essential utility on this map for exactly this reason.

Stardom

Stardom is the polar opposite: a compact urban map with tight corridors, short sightlines, and dense interior spaces. The layout is built around a central stage-like structure with connecting hallways, back rooms, and flanking routes that weave through the environment. Engagements on Stardom happen fast and at close range.

This is the map where carbines, SMGs, and PDWs shine. The Salty Weasel's fast sprint-to-fire speed makes it one of the best weapons on Stardom, and the remodeled Honey Badger — with its built-in suppressor — excels on the many flanking routes where staying off the minimap provides a tactical advantage. Shotguns are viable on Stardom in a way they rarely are on other Phantom Forces maps.

The community consensus after two weeks is that Stardom is the more "fun" of the two maps for casual players, while Paradise is preferred by players who enjoy methodical, positioning-focused gameplay. Both maps have been well received overall, and their contrasting designs ensure the map rotation does not become monotonous.

Paradise (left) offers sprawling tropical sightlines while Stardom (right) delivers intense urban CQB

How This Affects Gameplay

The UAR Family Revamp

The restructuring of the UAR weapon family is the most systemically impactful change in this update. The UAR A2 no longer exists — it has been fully replaced by the F90 MBR at Rank 39. If you had the UAR A2 in a loadout, it was automatically converted. The UAR A3 has been moved from Assault Rifles to Carbines, which changes its category classification for competitive rulesets and how it is perceived in loadout building.

For casual players, the UAR A3 reclassification is mostly cosmetic — the weapon functions the same way regardless of what category tab it sits under. For competitive players, it matters significantly. Rulesets that limit one weapon per category now treat the UAR A3 as a carbine pick rather than an assault rifle pick, which frees up the AR slot for something else.

Weapon Remodels and Recategorization

The X46 received a full visual remodel and was renamed to X46A2. Stats remain largely unchanged, but the weapon looks substantially different in first person. The Honey Badger was also remodeled visually and, more importantly, was moved from its previous category into PDWs. This recategorization affects the Honey Badger's place in the meta similarly to the UAR A3 move — same weapon, different classification, different implications for loadout diversity.

Emissivity Skin Customization

The most novel addition in the Spring Update is the experimental emissivity skin customization option. Emissivity lets players adjust how certain skin regions emit light, creating glowing or neon-style effects that are visible in-game. The feature works on a per-skin basis and not all skins support it yet, but for those that do, the visual impact is dramatic — particularly in darker environments or interior spaces.

Emissivity is labeled as experimental, and StyLiS Studios has indicated it may receive adjustments based on community feedback and performance metrics. Some players have raised concerns about visibility advantages — a non-glowing weapon is arguably harder to spot in dark areas than a glowing one — but the current consensus is that the effect is primarily cosmetic and does not meaningfully impact competitive balance.

Community Weapon Blueprints

The Spring Update also introduced a batch of new community weapon blueprints — skin designs submitted by players and selected by StyLiS Studios for inclusion in the game. These blueprints are available through the standard case and key system. Several of the new blueprints feature emissivity-compatible regions, making them the first skins many players will experiment with the new customization feature on.

Weapon Rebalances

Alongside the new content, the Spring Update included a broad wave of weapon rebalances. Damage values, recoil patterns, and handling characteristics were adjusted across assault rifles, carbines, battle rifles, and PDWs. The most notable changes include slight damage reductions to several high-performing assault rifles to bring them in line with the F90 MBR's power level, and recoil adjustments to carbines that make the new EF88 and Salty Weasel feel competitive rather than immediately outclassed by existing options.

The rebalances are subtle enough that most players will not notice them on a per-weapon basis, but the cumulative effect is a healthier weapon diversity at all rank ranges. Weapon variety in server lobbies has noticeably increased since the update, which suggests the balance changes are working as intended.

Updated Tips and Strategies

Best Loadouts for Paradise

Paradise's open layout demands range and precision. Here are the strongest approaches after two weeks of community testing:

Primary: DOOMBOX (Rank 193) or UAR A3M2 (Rank 156). Both excel at the medium-to-long ranges that Paradise emphasizes. If you have not unlocked either, the F90 MBR with a medium-range optic is a viable alternative that handles the longer sightlines competently.

Secondary: A machine pistol for emergencies. The open areas of Paradise occasionally force close-range encounters near buildings, and a fast-switching secondary can save you in those moments.

Utility: Smoke grenades are almost mandatory on Paradise. The open central area is a death trap without them, and popping smoke to cross between buildings is a core survival skill on this map.

Best Loadouts for Stardom

Stardom rewards speed and aggression. The tight corridors mean you will rarely engage beyond 30 meters, so optimize entirely for close-quarters performance:

Primary: Salty Weasel (Rank 137) for its sprint-to-fire advantage, or the Honey Badger for suppressed flanking. The EF88 (Rank 188) is the strongest carbine option if you have it unlocked.

Secondary: A high-damage pistol for finishing off wounded enemies when your primary runs dry mid-fight. Reloading in Stardom's tight corridors frequently gets you killed.

Utility: Flashbangs are more useful on Stardom than on most maps. The short hallways and corner-heavy layout create frequent situations where flashing around a corner gives you a decisive advantage.

Adapting to the UAR Changes

If the UAR A3 was your main assault rifle, you have two paths forward. You can follow the weapon into the Carbines category and keep using it as before — the weapon itself has not changed, only its classification. Alternatively, you can use the F90 MBR as your new primary AR. The F90 MBR shares enough DNA with the UAR family that the transition is comfortable, and it frees your carbine slot for something like the Salty Weasel or EF88.

The new emissivity system lets players create glowing weapon skins for a striking visual effect

Community Reaction

Now that the Spring Update has been live for several weeks, the community reaction has largely crystallized. The overall reception is positive, with most players agreeing this is one of the better updates Phantom Forces has received in the last year.

The DOOMBOX has become the star of the update in community discussions. Its Rank 193 requirement makes it aspirational content for mid-level players, and its strong performance on Paradise gives high-rank players a reason to run battle rifles. The name continues to generate memes and fan content across Discord and Reddit.

The UAR family revamp remains the most debated change. Players who built their entire playstyle around the UAR A3 as an assault rifle have had to adjust to its new carbine classification. The sentiment has softened over time as players realized the weapon itself is unchanged, but the initial backlash was real. The F90 MBR replacing the UAR A2 was received more warmly — most players view it as a direct upgrade in both visuals and handling.

The Honey Badger remodel continues to receive near-universal praise. The weapon's new visual design is widely considered a significant improvement, and its move to the PDW category has given it a new identity that differentiates it from its previous role. Players appreciate that the suppressed profile was maintained while the overall model was modernized.

Emissivity has divided the community into two camps: players who love the cosmetic possibilities and players who think glowing weapons are visually noisy. The experimental label has tempered expectations — most players understand the feature may change — but there is strong demand for emissivity support to be expanded to more skins.

Map reception follows predictable lines. Snipers and DMR users praise Paradise. CQB players love Stardom. The overall sentiment is that having both maps in rotation simultaneously was a smart decision by StyLiS Studios, as it prevents the meta from tilting too far in either direction.

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