Almost all the ARs in MW2 are viable, but some are outstanding. Here is our ranking of ever AR available in Modern Warfare 2.
Assault rifles are usually the best and most popular weapons in CoD. And in Modern Warfare 2, the ARs are even more powerful than usual. But which is the very best? We've been grinding since launch to answer that very question, and with all attachments in MW2 unlocked, we can now confirm this ranking of the assault rifles.
- Here is our tier-ranking of every weapon in MW2, so you get a sense of where these ARs stand compared to everything else.
Best Assault Rifles In Modern Warfare 2
11. M16
The M16 is the only assault rifle in Modern Warfare 2 that doesn't have a fully automatic fire mode, which makes it the worst assault rifle in our opinion. The M16 can only be used in burst or single-shot mode, which doesn't make it very flexible. Burst mode is extremely imprecise, and you need at least two bursts for a kill even at close range. For us, the M16 felt best in single-shot mode, but if you're already playing a semi-automatic weapon, a DMR or battle rifle is just clearly stronger.
10. Kastov-545
This weapon was surprisingly terrible when we were trying to level everything up. The problem with the 545 is that it's just a much worse version of the Kastov-762. The 545 version is less damaging and has a worse TTK, but there's nothing to make up for it.
9. Lachmann-556
The Lachmann-556 is an unremarkable assault rifle. It plays okay at medium to long ranges and doesn't have too much recoil. However, it's noticeable less powerful than everything higher on the list in core multiplayer, as it's just so sluggish.
8. M13B
The M13 is back! But it's not as good as MW2019's. The problem with the M13 is quite simply the damage. This is a great rifle in many ways, but the TTK is simply too poor to compete with most other ARs.
Don't be upset if you love the M13, though, as this is a great weapon for Warzone. The very low recoil of the M13 extends its effective range out past what most other ARs in the game are capable of. Perfect for Al Mazrah.
7. STB-556
The STB-556, or AUG, is a very comfortable weapon to use. It has low-recoil, fast-handling, and decent attachments to choose from. So why not higher? Because the TTK is weaker than other options, and you can get outgunned quite easily even if you're landing all your shots.
6. Kastov-74u
This Kastov is actually the AK-74u, which was always considered an SMG in past titles. And you sort of play it like an SMG, so it's difficult to compare with everything else on this list. But we're certain it deserves a high-rating because it's a phenomenal weapon. It's basically the perfect flex weapon; it has the mobility and handling of an SMG, but it can use all of the AR attachments.
5. TAQ-56
The TAQ-56 is actually the SCAR, and it's finally awesome again. It doesn't have the highest damage, and it suffers from a slightly slower rate of fire. Nevertheless, it has an extremely fast TTK to upper chest and head, and once you get used to the gun, you can shred with it, thanks to it's very low recoil. This might even be the best AR, but right now it feels like it's just slightly beaten by the number 1 and 2.
4. Chimera
The Chimera is based, of course, on the Honey Badger, and it looks so dope. It sounds amazing as well. But is it any good? We think it absolutely is for MW2. It's more of a Warzone 2 weapon, because SMG/AR hybrids are so strong in CoD's battle royale, but the Chimera is still really solid in MW2 as well. We advise this weapon for aggressive players, especially on larger maps where SMGs are less viable.
3. ISO Hemlock
The ISO is a great all around AR for multiplayer, with a solid TTK, low-recoil, and a fantastic assortment of attachment to choose from. It's not quite good enough at any one thing to be truly meta, but it's more than viable, and should dominate most other ARs in multiplayer.
2. Kastov-762
The Kastov-762 is superb. This weapon is faster and more controllable than it has any right to be, given how competitive the TTK is at most ranges. And what's even nicer is that the AK platform is massive, so once you have the ARs and the SMGs and the RPK done, you'll have access to some fantastic attachments to combine with a weapon which already feels like the one of the best ARs with its base version.
1. M4
The M4 is once again the first assault rifle that is unlocked right from the get go, and every player can start their first matches with it. In our opinion, it is the one of the most balanced assault rifle in MW2. The rate of fire is good, the recoil is very low and the TTK also leaves little to be desired. Thanks to an incredible variety of attachments, the M4 is also more customizable than any other assault rifle. So, if you're looking for a good assault rifle that's easy to play and reliable at almost all ranges, the M4 is exactly what you need.
That's all the ARs currently available in Modern Warfare 2. As soon as we get more weapons, we will of course update our assault rifle ranking accordingly. If you think we've rated something higher or lower than it should be, please comment your exact build for the weapon, so we can do our own testing and correct the list if needed.