The Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer has arrived, and now, players are jumping in and gunning down their foes, all in the name of weapon and career XP. With the game’s launch, players are testing out 50+ weapons, with pistols, primary weapons, and even launchers on the list. While the game uses an unofficial whoever ADS first wins rule, some weapons are more meta than others for various reasons. We aim to rank the best Modern Warfare 2 weapons into a MW2 Tier List, helping you work out the varied strengths and weaknesses.

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Here is a MW2 tier list, ranking weapons based on their strengths, weaknesses, niches and roles, largely for regular multiplayer, and some big team battle map considerations. Image via Activision.

Modern Warfare 2 Tier List¶

Note the Modern Warfare 2 Tier List will gradually update as pre-season 1 launch rolls out. During this time, the meta will be experimental, as players level their weapon platforms, guns, get new attachments and then mess around with weapon tuning. We will have a more stable and concrete tier list ready by the time Season 1 goes live 20+ days after launch.

Until then, this MW2 Tier List is running on some assumptions from the Beta, evidence from the multiplayer’s early days, and some hands-on experience of how weapons work in the campaign. Keep in mind that the current weapon rankings will change, and we will add unranked weapons when we feel confident to do so. With that said here is the current ranking of our MW2 Tier List.

Tier	Weapons
S+	M4, SP-R 208, Kastov 74-U
S	Fennec, Kastov 762, Victus XMR, Vaznev-9k, FSS Hurricane, TAQ-56
A	PDSW, M16 (only with full recoil attachments otherwise its D Tier), Lachmann 556, LM-S, Rapp-H, Signal-50, Expedite-12, Lockwood Mk2, Lachmann 762, MX9, SA-B 50
Balanced tier	Lachmann Sub, MX9, VEL-46, FTAC Recon, RPK, 556 Icarus, Kastov 545, STB 556, TAQ-M, TAQ-V
C (very niche tier)	Minibak, Sakin MG38, Lockwood 300,
Unranked	S0-14, EBR-14, Chimera, M13B, , RAAL MG, HCR 56, MCPR-300, LA B 330, SP-X 80, Bryson 800, Bryson 890 and more.

Note that we have not ranked the likes of the launchers, pistols, and other misc weapons you can use in your load-outs. These weapons are very situational, used in cheesy fun setups, or are more appropriate to big battles or equipment and killstreak counters. It doesn’t feel fair to rank them and list them as bad, when they are not.

Best Guns in MW2 explained¶

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Here are the best weapons in MW2 and the reasons why. Image via Activision.

With the MW2 Tier List outlined, we will go through the strengths and weaknesses of the weapons in the game using pros and cons. That way, you can see a quick summary of why we rank the weapons in the MW2 Tier List. By the end, you’ll recognize which are the best weapons in MW2 and why that’s the case. You’ll also get to see why weapons fall short slightly, comparisons of weapons in similar weapon classes or roles, or due to the game’s design.

S+ Tier: The Best Guns in MW2¶

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Expect to see lots of golden M4s, because this gun is an all-around amazing weapon. Image via Activision.

The S+ Tier weapons in the MW2 Tier List are the most meta-defining weapons in MW2 multiplayer. It’s likely down to the weapons being very versatile, with builds that make them perfect, or with a very minor gripe. These will be the best weapons in MW2 for the meta slaves, K/D enjoyers, and rank pushers.

Weapon	Pros	Cons	Comments
M4	Best all-rounder AR	Not the best at everything Ar’s are known for	Similar to the Lachmann Sub, it is the most versatile AR in the game for meta slaves.
SP-R 208	The ADS, bolt chambering speed and damage profile makes this an incredibly stong weapon right now.	Whiffing a shot against two or more enemies (says alot about how good it is)	By far the best quick scope weapon, and even outclasses shotguns and smgs in hip fire point blank fights.
Kastov 74U	Two shot at most range, very mobile	Slightly slower than SMGS	This weapon has all the perks of the Kastov 762, but with mobility. It’s the most broken hybrid in the game.

S Tier Comments¶

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Good weapons with builds that fix minor weaknesses belong here, such as the Fennec.

The S Tier weapons in the MW2 Tier List are weapons we feel are very good. They can serve a purpose and can contend with the S+ Tier. However, they have a noticeable flaw, which can be ironed out with a gunsmith build to make them amazing. You can consider these weapons some of the best MW2 weapons once you fix their glaring weakness via the gunsmith.

Weapon	Pros	Cons	Comments
Fennec	High headshot damage, built-in ACP rounds for death skull hiding, incredibly fast RoF, good recoil.	Terrible magazine size compared to rate of fire.	The build needs a better magazine before you can truly feel how great it is.
Kastov 762	Two to three shot kills, hip fire can even beat SMGs if you get the pounce, long range	One of the slower RoFs for ARs.	Genuinely one of the strongest rifles in its given role, outclassing the TAQ-56 for those mid range damage spikes. It can even shred well with hip fire range as it only needs to land a few hits vs a high speed SMG.
Victus XMR	Solid ADS sniper with strong damage profile	not so mobile compared to what the SP-R is doing	Seems to be the better sniper rifle for ADS speeds right now.
FSS Hurricane	One of the best hybrid SMG thanks to its range, damage, and rate of fire.	Slightly hard recoil.	Use the build that pros use to get the best experience of this, but adjust your mouse aim or controller sensitivity to offset the recoil issues. It’s only S tier because other hybrids or high fire rate SMGs are similar in strength or better.
Veznev 9K	Decent damage for an SMG, fast fire rate	poor recoil	The SMG is similar to the Kastov-74U, but slightly more mobile at the expense of damage. This is an S Tier, as its the option pros are starting to look at in case the Kastov 74u is turbo broken and gets nerfed.
TAQ-56	Longer range AR, High damage rounds.	Poor accuracy, slightly high recoil, and lower RoF makes it harder to use in closer matchups.	The weapon when built correctly can dominate the medium and long range assault rifle role, and its high damage and rate of fire in closer ranges only is really challenged by the M4.
SA-B 50	More mobile and slightly better range than the SP-R 208	Doesn’t spec too well into long sniping like the SP-R can, therefore it’s not as versatile.	If you like the quick scope sniping of the SP-R, then you should try this, as this is all about ADS and quick scoping.

A Tier Comments¶

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Really good weapons with a few weaknesses, even with attachments are the typicla A tiers, but they serve their purpose very well.

The A Tier in the MW2 Tier List features weapons that are not meta-defining or challengers, but, they are good at what they do. You’ll find very few issues with these weapons, and likely enjoy yourself as you push through the gun platforms, getting attachments for that family of weapons and your challenges. The typical examples are really good, but non-meta SMGs and ARs, along with the better selection of shotguns, battle rifles, marksman rifles, snipers, and LMGs.

Weapon	Pros	Cons	Comments
PDSW	All-around good SMG, with very high magazine count.	Awkward accuracy in extended sprays.	Generally a good SMG, but requires accuracy attachments to work, but when it is addressed, it’s an awesome gun, especially for newer players as its unlocked right away.
M16	One hit burst at close range, two hit burst at medium range.	Poor recoil control, and the burst needs to land, or you lose the fight.	Gunsmith into recoil and ADS control and get good at aiming if you want to use this effectively. Otherwise, this is a B-tier weapon in the wrong hands and setup.
Lachmann 556	Good all-around AR with decent damage and easy recoil control.	Pea shooter damage at medium and long range.	One of the more mobile ARs that work in close quarters. Better suited for AR run and gun gamers looking for the perks of an AR.
LM-S	Marksman rifle with solid two-hit kill potential at all ranges, and one-shot headshot.	Whiffing rounds is a death sentence.	Play cautiously and aim well, and this weapon works fine.
Rapp-H	Strong LMG with an almost equivalent heavy AR movement speed.	Close range is its biggest weakness.	Ideal for LMG players wanting to move more with their gun and like pre-aiming ADS.
Signal-50	Can one hit kill, also good for quick scopes.	Whiff your shot, and you’re likely dead.
Expedite-12	Close-range one-shot kill, also has higher mag than other shottys.	Slower rate of fire and longer reload.	Take in Overkill loadouts as the secondary, and it shines well as an emergency close range weapon. Otherwise, it is weaker than A-Tier as a primary weapon.
Lockwood Mk2	Cowboy rifle that can one hit kill to upper body and headshots in close and medium range.	Slow reloads and lower mag count to other MM rifles.	Ideal for quick-scope cowboy gameplay, but you need to land your shots and don’t shoot legs. Otherwise, it drops down a tier, just like the M16.
Lachmann 762	Solids two tap potential without a build, decent hip fire, decent range, higher magazine size over other battle rifles.	Slower rate of fire, slowish movement speed.	One of the better battle rifles in the game for players who like pre-aiming ADS or can react well with faster ADS speed.
MX9	Strong damage, amazing recoil control	Lacks range, low ammo count	All you need to do is upgrade the mag size to 32 very early, and put ADS improving rear grip and you have yourself a nice gun.

B Tier Comments¶

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Totally balanced weapons belong in the B tier, with clear purposes, strengths, and weaknesses.

The B tier in the MW2 Tier List represents the average weapons. These weapons are serviceable in their niche and role, and you can perform on them too. The key thing to note is that these tend to have noticeable strengths and weaknesses. With the right gunsmith build, some of these weapons can move to an A- rank and work well if they are the right fit for how you play MW2 (kinda like the M16 and Lockwood Mk2). Overall, these weapons are fairly well-balanced, and you know what you’re in for. Your journey through the weapon platform system will be fine.

Weapon	Pros	Cons	Comments
MX9	Best default SMG damage range and vey mobile.	Not as effective in close range compared to other SMGs.	Use this as a hybrid SMG with mobility, and you can see its hybrid role shine while supporting other players.
VEL-46	High ammo count, decent rate of fire, decent hip fire.	It’s an average jack of all trades.	Build this as either longer range SMG, or a hip fire focused SMG. It should work rather well. It is one of the best examples of a very balanced gun.
FTAC Recon	Mobile battle rifle with great accuracy and easy aiming.	Lower damage, small mag size.	Need to upgrade its mag size before it’s an okay gun. Otherwise, it’s a bad gun.
RPK	Stronger damage LMG and equal to the 556 Icarus magazine capacity	Slower rate of fire, and bigger gun kick	Similar role to the 556, albeit with better damage for slower RoF. Both do the same role for different gameplay preferences.
556 Icarus	Stable gun when ADS, little recoil while mounted decent firerate.	Low headshot damage, and very slow movement.	It’s a well-rounded and easy-to-use LMG, and fills the same role as the RPK. Preference decides if you choose this or the 556 Icarus for the more classic feeling LMGs.
Lachmann Sub	Average at damage, RoF and movement speed	Overnerfed	It was one of the best guns in the beta, but it’s two hit, long range for an SMG and high mobility got nerfed.
Kastov 5	Okay rate of fire, okay damage, okay range.	Lacks a wow factor for an AR	The nato round AK in MW2 is a more stable rate of fire weapon, for less damage. While in theory it is good, it’s significantly outclassed by the 74U and the 762 given their current range and strengths.
STB 556	One of the fastest movement speed ARs in the game, and solid hipe fire and ADS speeds. Also no recoil issues with certain builds	Low damage for an AR	The STB’s role makes it more SMG like, but its massively gapped by the Kastov 74u at the moment. Plus it needs to get into ideal pre-aim or hipefire moments, otherwise it is outclassed by every other AR in the game in terms of raw damage.
TAQ-M	Two hit kill, decent range	Slow movement	The TAQ-M works perfectly as a MM rifle, however, the one hit kill of its competitors and their mobility severely outclass this weapon.
TAQ-V	Slightly stronger than the TAQ AR, solid medium and long range gameplay.	Low ammo count, accuracy stability.	This is pretty much the TAQ AR but designed for longer range scenarios. Downside is that bolt action fast moving MM rifles are significantly better.

C Tier¶

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The C Tier contain the niche weapons that are good in very niche circumstances.

The main thing to note about the C Tier of the MW2 Tier List is that it’s not necessarily the bad gun room, more like it’s the niche room. These weapons have very specific purposes. However, outside of those roles, they are not ideal. But, when they are in those roles or positions, they can feel like A-tier weapons. Please be aware of their niche before using them.