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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Best Assault Rifles in Modern Warfare 2

By
Craig Robinson

One of the most common weapon types you see in all Call of Duty games is assault rifles. These weapons are great, with some profiles having solid short and medium range, while others have medium to long range. There’s certainly a map and game mode to accommodate all AR playstyles. Modern Warfare 2 (2022) is no different, with its ARs packing a punch, or whizzing out bullets. Here are our best Assault Rifles in MW2 presented in a list format. You will also get a quick explanation of each weapon’s strengths and weaknesses and why we deem them to belong there.

Here is a list of the best assault rifles in MW2, and the reasons why.

Best Assault Rifles in MW2

The first thing to note is that the best assault rifles in MW2 list is not yet complete. It is based on largely on the hands-on demo from the multiplayer beta. The gunsmith is too important, so if an AR is not on the list, then you know why. The list will likely change as and when we get the full gunsmith, and the community gets their hands on them in the full release.

Our current rankings of the best assault rifles in MW2 are as follows:

  1. M4
  2. TAQ-56
  3. M16
  4. Lachmann 556
  5. Kastov 74U

M4

The M4 is a versatile AR you can always count on.

The M4, at least in the beta was an incredibly well-customizable weapon, along with its strong damage, range, and mobility. It was a general beast of a weapon to use for ALL situations. We expect this to shine incredibly well in the full release of Modern Warfare 2, especially since there are two blueprints available, the Cinders from the vault upgrade version, and the Cpt Price blueprint from completing the campaign. It means you can go straight in and feel the goodness the M4 has to offer with pre-built attachment blueprints. The M4 has the chance to be off to a flying start, and remain a metagame staple thanks to how accessible and versatile it is. If it’s not clear already, this will likely remain one of the best assault rifles in MW2, unless there are some extreme nerfs to it on launch.

M16

The next two weapons are definitely preference-based, but the M16 and the TAQ come at a close second and third. The M16 is another heavily customizable weapon that excels at one burst killing in close range, and two at medium. If you can aim well, this gun is killer, but if you miss one round at medium or longe range, chances are the other player has their ADS on you, and you die instead. The M16 takes map knowledge, angles, and solid aim to utilize effectively. In the hands of a good player, this will feel amazing; on the other hand, it will feel terrible if you’re not comfortable with the burst-fire style.

TAQ-56

Meanwhile, the TAQ is a very strong weapon, but it needs customization to keep its accuracy from skewing. The accuracy starts to move horizontally after a short spray, making it weaker for those medium and long-range extended fights. But, if your aim is grand and you modify to control its recoil and accuracy, you will notice this becomes a solid mid to long-range AR. This weapon can work in short range too, but its fire rate is much slower than other ARs and SMGs, so that is its obvious weakness. This is a better choice for those longer angle maps, and for those who prefer to ADS and pre-fire, and take things at a slower pace.

Lachmann 556

The next on our best assault rifles in MW2 list is the Lachmann 556. This weapon is a solid A- tier weapon. The reason for it is that its accuracy and recoil control are fantastic, its damage is good, and its rate of fire is good. Not to mention it’s one of the faster movement speed ARs in the game. It’s one of those weapons you can use as a hybrid SMG and AR. The only downside is if you whiff shots in the medium range, you will notice how much of a pea shooter it is, compared to other ARs. So, find those close-range fights and angles, and you can carry them with this AR. If you take medium-range shots, make sure they land on the head.

Kastov 74U

The Kasstov makes a great hyrbid, but it its biggest strength makes for its biggest weakness in the meta game.

Now it’s time for the Kastov 74U. This weapon feels like a great hybrid weapon. You get the mobility of an SMG, and the firepower of an AR with this weapon. When you get into those close-mid range fights, you will notice its a similar punch as an M4, with with the fire rate of a TAQ. The other good thing is this is a great weapon for hip firing, compared to other ARs. If you want some run-and-gun ADS and hipe fire gameplay, this is one of the better weapons for that playstyle. However, as all hybrids are, its versatility means it can be outclassed by more meta SMG short range, and more meta ARs at long range. You’ll likely have to build a pineapple and lazer sight for short-range hip firefights. If you want a longer range, you will likely need a damage range increase muzzle and barrel, and then benefit from its faster movement speed bonuses.

Be aware this list is very close, and these can easily shuffle these weapons around. Most of these guns all feel good, thanks to MW2’s TTK, at least in the beta, feeling very low. So, it’s more of a matter of how you play the game modes and maps. What do you think of our best assault rifle list in MW2 list? Let us know in what order you rank them!

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Activision
  • Platforms,
    PC, PS4, PS5, XB One, XB X|S
  • Genre
    FPS
  • Guide Release
    17 October 2022
  • Last Updated
    16 November 2023
    Version History
  • Guide Author

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This guide for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 includes the following:

  • How To Get All Mission Exclusive Trophy/Achievements
  • Best Gun Loadouts for Multiplayer
  • How To Get All Camo’s in Multiplayer
  • Tips & Tricks for Multiplayer Game Modes
  • Details on how to get 3 Stars on all Spec Ops Missions (Coming Soon)

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