Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Season 2 is getting into gear, and it has already added two great maps and another huge amount of content available in its battle pass. Unfortunately, the new guns added to Season 2's battle pass are not quite as good as the ones added last season. Even so, balancing changes have slowly but surely changed the way the the weapons in Modern Warfare stack up, so that now the meta looks quite a bit different than it did at first.
Modern Warfare's meta now includes far more weapons in the A- and S-Tiers than any other tier. That means that all the balancing work that has been done was not in vain. Ideally, all the weapons would be roughly competitive with each other, but as of now the developers have done an admirable job. There are still plenty of weapons that need attention, though.
Another factor in the changing meta are maps. Smaller maps and more varied maps have made SMGs and close-range guns far more viable than they were when the game first launched. This is not due to any significant damage changes, simply that smaller maps are far more common now. The new maps added in Season 2 reflect this change, with Rust entering the game as a long-anticipated fan-favorite map because of its small size and tight design. Likewise, Atlas Superstore may be new, but it has promise as a relatively tiny map with plenty of tight angles and winding paths.
All of this adds up to paint a new picture for Modern Warfare's meta with a heavier focus on close range weapons and more versatile guns. Over time, A-Tier has become bloated with viable options, which is exactly what the game needs. More guns than ever are competitive choices without being overpowered, and while there are still far more dead-weight weapons than there should be, it is clear that Modern Warfare's weapon balancing is improving slowly month over month.
D-Tier Modern Warfare Weapons
The Uzi is still one of the worst weapons in the game, sadly. The gun deserves a lot more attention to make it more viable, if only because of how iconic it is. However, as of now, not even the ascendance of SMGs into the limelight is enough to save the Uzi. It was at the bottom of the Season 1 Tier list, and it will sadly remain at the bottom for another season.
Likewise, even after multiple buffs to the SA87 in Season 2, it just can't compete with any of the other guns in its class. Things may change, but not yet. The EBR 14 is still the worst marksman rifle, just as the M19 and Srela-P are the worst weapons in each of their classes.
C-Tier Modern Warfare Weapons
Shotguns are probably the most useless weapons overall in Modern Warfare, as there is very little they can do that other close-range weapons can't do better. After its nerfs, the 725 now sits with the Model 680 and Origin 12 as some of the most useless weapons in the game, so a shotgun buff would be much appreciated.
The FAL is unique because it is practically useless in normal game modes, but sees a lot more use in hardcore Modern Warfare playlists. Its semi-auto firing mode makes it viable only when it can one-shot. In normal playlists, though, it is in the same class as the KAR98K, an unimpressive DMR.
The Dragunov is the worst sniper rifle, but at least it is fun to use. The PP19, X16, and PILA are similar in that they are okay, but not impressive compared to other weapons in their respective classes. For each of these weapons, there is another choice that does the same thing, but better.
B-Tier Modern Warfare Weapons
The AUG is one of the worst SMGs, but it avoids being classed lower because of its great versatility, wealth of modifications and attachments, and its overall fun factor. The FAMAS is similar in this regard as a relatively weak AR, but also has the benefit of being exceptionally strong at long ranges and in hardcore mode. The .357 revolver is still pretty terrible, but with shotgun rounds available, it becomes a pocket-sized beast.
The M13, JOKR, and 1911 still sit squarely in B-Tier as all-around good weapons with nothing that stands out. The Striker 45 SMG now joins them as an SMG with a slow fire rate and long-range capabilities. These features are interesting, but not well suited for an SMG when there are so many good rifles in the game. The Stiker 45 had a lot of potential, and its sad to see that the SMGs won't be getting another option that can stack up against the MP5 and MP7.
At the very least, both of the newest weapons are available relatively early in the Season 2 battlepass. However, the blueprint that allows the Striker 45 to become a true UMP45 is at the very end of the battlepass, making it very difficult for most players to unlock the Stiker 45's more famous older brother.
A-Tier Modern Warfare Weapons
A-Tier is bloated with weapons that all perform well in a wide variety of situations. The rapid growth of the A-tier list is the best thing to happen to Modern Warfare since launch, indicative of a general trend towards a more balanced game.
The FN SCAR 17 received a slight buff and is now a solid A-Tier weapon, even if it still can't quite outdo the AK-47. It sits beside the Oden as a good high-damage AR, while the Kilo-141 is an impressively strong gun for being the first rifle in the game.
The Holger-26 is a great choice because it is an LMG that behaves like an AR. It is extremely useful in smaller maps because it maintains an LMG's ammo capacity while benefiting from acceptable reload times and handling. Meanwhile, the GRAU 5.56 scrapes into the A-Tier as a strong AR, even though its modification options don't play to its strengths.
The P90 is now a lot more viable than it once was. Its damage is still pretty abysmal, but in smaller maps its high ammo capacity and fast handling make it a compelling choice as an SMG. The RPG-7 reaches A-Tier because of its anti personnel and anti-killstreak capabilities, while the M91 and MG34 still can't quite compete with the PKM. The HDR sniper is great, but not the best.
The R9-O is the best shotgun and may well be underappreciated, but still pales in comparison to what the 725 once was. The MK2 Carbine is a reasonable replacement for the 725, trading ammo capacity for one-shot potential.
The riot shield is still ridiculously strong, but remains below S-Tier because it is annoying to play against, while the Combat Knife and Throwing Knife are extremely fun and satisfying despite how bad they are.
S-Tier Modern Warfare Weapons
The S-Tiers have also grown, even though they don't have any new additions for Season 2. Down the line players may see more weapons at this level, especially if the leaked Vector lives up to its reputation. This also doesn't mean that Season 2 is worse, it's just that the developers' focus was on maps and game modes this time around.
The AK-47 and M4A1 are both great ARs for their own reasons. The AK slams out damage and is extremely versatile, while the M4A1 is S-Tier because it simply has no real weaknesses. The RAM-7 edges out the M4A1 in terms of strength, but not by much.
The PKM, AX-50, and Desert Eagle are all the strongest weapons in their classes, giving them an automatic S-Rank. The Desert Eagle is especially satisfying to use, the PKM is the only true choice to take advantage of all the benefits of an LMG, and the AX-50 dominates at long range, with the added capability to transform into a quick-scoping machine.
The MP5 and MP7 still dominate all other SMGs as versatile, high-damage, and fun weapons. Many were hopeful that the Striker 45 could join them at the top, but it sadly suffers from too much recoil and a slow rate of fire.
The Crossbow tops of the S-Tier weapons simply because of its fun factor. It is also extremely strong in the right situations, but the satisfaction of nailing an enemy with a perfectly arced bolt is impossible to understate. It was added in late Season 1, so let's hope Season 2 also gets another great weapon or two down the line.
There is still plenty of time for Season 2 to add plenty more content, but the biggest attractions will likely be new maps and battle royale, rather than new guns and balancing. That's a good thing though. Better balancing in the weapons will let the developers focus in on other issues with the game and add more fan-requested features.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.