Modern Warfare 2 was released in October 2025, and since then, it has become the de facto standard for competitive Call of Duty players. It’s the most up-to-date Call of Duty platform, and as such, it boasts all-new weapons, attachments, and even a brand-new Gunsmith. It can be tough to know which are the best MW2 guns, especially when there are so many of them. But, with this guide in hand, you’ll quickly learn everything you need to know about the best guns in Modern Warfare 2 and how to use them effectively.
Below, we’ve got the top MW2 guns ranked by their effectiveness in the game. If you’ve found yourself asking, ‘What is the best gun in MW?,’ then look no further – the answer is just moments away.
What Are the Best Guns in MW2?
1. TAQ-56 (Assault Rifle)
Image Credit: Infinity Ward
Used by CDL Pros
Out of all MW2’s guns, the TAQ-56 is by far the most capable weapon.
Built to replicate the iconic SCAR-platform weapon, the TAQ-56 is a capable and reliable close-to-mid-range assault rifle that can lay an enemy down in nothing flat. From stock, this weapon has one of the lowest levels of recoil in its class, and the iron sights are clean and easy to get to grips with. It’s a powerhouse of a weapon that any veteran Call of Duty player will understand with ease, and professional Call of Duty League players have already found their calling running this weapon religiously in every event.
Furthermore, the TAQ-56 is a fan favourite in both Warzone 2 and DMZ, the battle royale and extraction mode platforms released in 2025. There are countless players both using and loving the TAQ-56 in Modern Warfare 2, then carrying it over, fully equipped, into Warzone 2. It’s arguably a weapon that sits at the top of the table where the best MW2 guns are concerned.
2. VAZNEV-9K (SMG)
Image Credit: Activision Blizzard
It may be misleading at first glance, but the VAZNEV is a fantastic alternative to the likes of the Lachmann Sub or something even smaller and faster, like the VEL-46. It’s a relatively small but mighty SMG, chambered primarily in 9mm, but it absolutely shreds any target at close range. It’s more capable than comparable weapons, such as the Lachmann Sub, and it has become an absolute favourite of the SMG-toting pro players, like OpTic Texas’ Shotzzy.
This deceptive SMG boasts one of the fastest TTK records in its class, making it an easy choice, and once the unlock path has been fulfilled, almost every player is all too eager to take it into a match and give it a spin. There’s almost no need to apply any attachments to the weapon, but if you do want to put some on, and they’re the right ones, the weapon only gets that much better. It’s an impressive piece of kit, to be sure.
It’s one of the best Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 guns if you’re a fast-moving SMG player, that’s for sure.
3. ISO Hemlock (Assault Rifle)
Image Credit: Activision Blizzard
The ISO Hemlock was added in the Season Two update for Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2, and it quickly became a fan-favourite rifle. It’s a balanced and punchy weapon with an easy-to-predict recoil pattern, and when paired up with the right attachments, it becomes an absolute powerhouse. It can fire both fast-flying 5.56mm ammunition or subsonic .300 BLK rounds, both of which can lay out an enemy in no time at all.
If we look at the MW2 guns’ real names – because they’re based on real-world weapons, after all – we can see that the ISO Hemlock is actually the Brugger and Thomet APC556 carbine. It’s an extremely nice-looking weapon, and it’s somewhat reminiscent of the ACR from 2009’s Modern Warfare 2 in how it behaves. As we’re seeing the best MW2 guns ranked, we’re putting the ISO Hemlock firmly in third place.
4. Kastov 74u (Assault Rifle)
Image Credit: Activision Blizzard
At first glance, you’d think this is the first-choice favourite SMG from Cold War – the AKS-74u. Technically, it is, but in Modern Warfare 2, it takes up a key spot in the Assault Rifle roster. It’s a relatively tough weapon to unlock, but that just goes to prove how fantastic it is, and it certainly stands firm as one of the best MW2 guns. If you’re eager to run the Kastov 74u, you’ll need to rank up both the Kastov 762 and 545 just to unlock it.
Once you’ve managed to secure the Kastov 74u, you’ll be pleased to see how well it performs at almost any range. There’s a considerable drop-off but in close-to-mid-range engagements, the Kastov shines through and defeats almost any comparable weapon. There are some key attachments that require the player to traverse some awkward unlock paths, but once they’re in hand, this weapon becomes an absolute show-stopper.
5. Lachmann Sub (SMG)
Image Credit: Infinity Ward
Throughout the history of Call of Duty, few weapons have had the impact that the MP5 has. It has been a staple weapon in almost every modern (or near-modern) title in the franchise, and the introduction of the Lachmann Sub doesn’t change that fact. It isn’t called the MP5 for licensing reasons, but rest assured that it is the MP5. From the earliest days of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the MP5 has been the weapon of choice for fast-paced run’n’gun fanatics, and the Lachmann Sub is no different.
In Modern Warfare 2, players must undergo quite a journey to unlock the Lachmann Sub. It involves using a Battle Rifle, then an Assault Rifle, which finally unlocks the Lachmann Sub. It’s worth it, though – up close, few weapons boast the stopping ability that the Lachmann Sub does. It’s a force to be reckoned with, and it’s only let down by its weaknesses at anything further than a mid-range engagement.
6. SP-R 208 (Marksman Rifle)
Image Credit: Infinity Ward
If you’re an avid Modern Warfare 2 player, you’ll have been put flat on your back by the SP-R 208 more times than you can count. If you’re asking, ‘what is the best gun in Modern Warfare 2’, you’ll not be far off the mark if you’re looking for one of the most overpowered Marksman Rifles in the history of the franchise. Out of every Call of Duty title, few weapons have been quickly regarded as a complete nuisance than the SP-R 208.
That’s why it’s one of the best MW2 guns – because people hate seeing it on the battlefield. Even without a single attachment equipped, the SP-R 208 boasts a fast ADS speed, and if you’re hitting enemies in the chest or higher, you’ve got a 95% chance of a one-hit-kill. It’s an absolute wonder to behold, and many a player has brought a team deathmatch to a quick closure whilst wielding the SP-R 208. It boasts a limited potential if you’re a massively aggressive player, but don’t consider overlooking this rifle.
7. M4 (Assault Rifle)
Image Credit: Activision Blizzard
The M4 is one of the most popular weapon platforms in Modern Warfare 2 for the simple reason that it just works so well. It’s a phenomenal piece of kit and it’s favoured by some of the best Call of Duty players in the business. There’s no doubting the overall ability of the M4 platform, which is massively versatile and can function just as easily as an SMG as it can a two-tapper semi-auto rifle. It’s iconic, it’s instantly recognisable, and it’s one of the best MW2 guns without a doubt.
With the right build, the M4 can dominate on any map, during any game mode, and then, it’ll also clear the battlefield in a round of DMZ, Invasion, or in Warzone 2.0. There’s no end to the abilities of this weapon, but some of the meta attachments are a little tricky to unlock. Since Modern Warfare 2 launched, Infinity Ward has nerfed the M4 somewhat, and in the Call of Duty League, the organisers have gotten rid of the weapon entirely – it’s just that good.
8. STB-556 (Assault Rifle)
Image Credit: Activision Blizzard
This really is an Assault Rifle game, and that’s a fact that’s proven by the slower pace and generally longer lines of engagement. Our third weapon on the list of the best MW2 guns is the STB-556, which you’ll recognise as being a replication of the real-world weapon platform, the AUG. It’s a tried, tested, and iconic weapon in the world of Call of Duty, but in Modern Warfare 2, it really is something special.
It has a slow and punchy rate of fire that might deter the more aggressive players, but it makes up for the firing speed by being an absolute powerhouse. With the right attachments, the STB-556 has almost no discernable recoil, and it’s a weapon that can perform well in the hands of both the beginner and the veteran player. For a while, the AUG was one of the most popular weapon platforms in Warzone, and we could see the STB-556 making a meta-focused return in Warzone 2.
9. Fennec 45 (SMG)
Image Credit: Activision Blizzard
The Fennec 45 has been a legendary weapon since it was introduced in 2019’s Modern Warfare. It’s one of the fastest-firing weapons in the game, and it’s chambered in .45, which means that it boasts one of the lowest TTKs in the business. It’s a stable platform based on the real-world Vector SMG, and with the right set of attachments, it becomes an absolute laser beam of a weapon. It can be outfitted with modifications that dampen the already low recoil even further, making it effortless to dominate the battlefield.
It’s much less common than some other SMGs, like the Lachmann Sub or the Vaznev-9k, but it’s still a solid choice for MW2 players looking to run around on smaller maps – particularly shipment. It’s also a favourite for hardcore players, as the rapid ADS combined with the low recoil means that even across-the-map shots will hit hard.
10. Tempus Torrent (Marksman Rifle)
Image Credit: Activision Blizzard
Deployed in the Season Two Reloaded update in 2025, the Tempus Torrent became one of the most sought-after weapons in Modern Warfare II. For a while, nobody knew how to unlock it, but it turned out that a relatively simple challenge had to be completed to secure this powerful, show-stopping weapon. In terms of the MW2 guns’ real names, the Tempus Torrent is the SR25, a staple when it comes to military-focused shooters.
Out of all the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 guns that fit into the marksman rifle category, the Tempus Torrent is by far one of the best. It’s a fantastic weapon to use in DMZ and Warzone 2.0, but it’s still one of the best MW2 guns for players that prefer the pinpoint accuracy of a semi-auto over a fully-automatic weapon.
