Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Weapons Tier List – Best Guns in the Game!

Our Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Weapons Tier List will help you decide which of the weapons are best in Activision and Infinity Ward’s latest shooter. Time to kill is at an all time low in the latest entry, so we’ll be prioritizing weapons that can dish out bullets at a decent pace and feature a manageable recoil. Naturally, this may differ when using Shotguns, Marksman Rifles, and Sniper Rifles though, as you’ll simply want to bring your opponent down as quickly as possible.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Weapons Tier List

Assault Rifles Tier List

As we mentioned in the opening paragraph of this Tier List, time to kill (or TTK) is super low in Modern Warfare, so we’re prioritizing Assault Rifles that have a solid fire rate. Given that you’ll generally be fighting at a medium range, recoil and accuracy is pretty important too, so our favorites will have naturally low recoil and high accuracy too.

Tier 1

• M13: It doesn’t get much better than the M13 in terms of Assault Rifles in Modern Warfare. It features the second best fire rate in its class but isn’t let down by a three bullet burst like the FR 5.56. It also features very manageable recoil, so you should have no trouble keeping the kills coming at medium range.
• FR 5.56: If you’re a good shot, the FR 5.56 is unbeatable in its class. It’s got the highest fire rate out of all Assault Rifles, solid damage, and the three round burst helps keep recoil to a minimum. In fact, the burst is the only real downside of the weapon, as it slightly suffers in close range if you’re not deadly accurate.

Tier 2

• Kilo 141: The Kilo 141 is the default Assault Rifle in Modern Warfare, and it’s a highly competitive option. It’s got solid damage, recoil, and fire rate, and is only really let down by the better options in this list. You’ll use it a lot in the beginning and drop it as soon as you’ve unlocked the others.
• M4A1: The M4A1 is a very similar weapon to the Kilo 141. It trades a tiny bit of damage for more accuracy and a higher fire rate, so we’d argue it’s the better of the two. Only just.

Tier 3

• FAL: The FAL has terrific damage and range, and in the right hands it can operate like a mini Sniper Rifle or Marksman Rifle. Recoil is basically non-existent with it if you pick your shots carefully too, and the fast fire rate for follow-up shots mitigates the generally slow fire rate overall. It’s not a terrible weapon, but you’re better off picking a better Assault Rifle or going with a better Marksman or Sniper Rifle.
• FN Scar 17: The FN Scar 17 is a slightly better version of the AK-47, with solid damage and decent range, but disappointing fire rate and moderate recoil. When fighting enemies up close it has its uses but you’re better off with an Assault Rifle with a faster fire rate.

Tier 4

• Oden: If this was a Black Ops game, the Oden might very well be a tier 1 weapon. Sadly, damage isn’t as important as fire rate in Modern Warfare, due to the fast TTK, so it’s down in tier four.
• AK-47: The AK-47 is the biggest disappointment in Modern Warfare. It’s the last Assault Rifle you’ll unlock and, along with the Oden, is the last option you’ll want to pick in terms of Assault Rifles. The recoil is terrible to manage and the fire rate is low.

SMGs Tier List

SMGs are the kings of a fast fire rate, so they’re in heaven in Modern Warfare. What we’re looking for in terms of the best is top fire rate and mobility. Recoil isn’t as difficult to manage up close, so accuracy isn’t overly important, and you won’t be fighting at range unless you’re mad so that’s not important either.

Tier 1

• MP7: The MP7 ticks all of the boxes. It features low damage but that’s mitigated by a fast rate of fire, best in class mobility, and very manageable recoil. It’s one of the last weapons you’ll unlock though, so you’ll have to wait for it.

Tier 2

• MP5: Fortunately, you unlock the MP5 very early on, and it’s like a budget version of the MP7. It trades a slower rate of fire for a bit more damage and range.

Tier 3

• P90: The P90 is a decent enough SMG with a solid fire rate and mobility. It’s just let down by better options within its class.
• Uzi: The same can be said of the Uzi, which has lower damage and fire rate than the P90 but has more mobility and accuracy. They’re interchangeable really, so go with whichever you like the most until you unlock the better options.

Tier 4

• PP19 Bizon: The PP19 Bizon is just an all-round useless weapon, and easily one of the worst in Modern Warfare. It’s got average stats across the board and doesn’t particularly stand out in any particular area.
• AUG: The AUG isn’t a bad weapon, it’s just a bad SMG. Statistically, it seems to want to be an Assault Rifle, as it features solid range, damage, and accuracy but is let down by poor mobility and fire rate.

Shotguns Tier List

Shotguns are the kings of close range damage and typically feature a low fire rate. What we’re looking for here is decent mobility and fire rate, just like with SMGs.

Tier 1

• Origin 12 Shotgun: The Origin 12 Shotgun is everything you want in a Modern Warfare Shotgun and more. It’s got the best fire rate and mobility in its class, basically. There’s no beating it.

Tier 2

• R9-0 Shotgun: There’s not an awful lot between the R9-O and the Origin 12 Shotgun. In fact, it’s statistically the better option, beating our Tier 1 choice in every department except for fire rate and mobility. Unfortunately for the R9-O, those two just so happen to be the most important Shotgun statistics in Modern Warfare.

Tier 3

• Model 680: The default Shotgun just so happens to be one of the two worst weapons in its class in the game – despite the fact it has excellent accuracy, damage, and range. Those aren’t super important statistics for a Shotgun though.
• 725: The fact that that the 725 is a better Shotgun than the Model 680 isn’t quite enough to boost it up the tiers, as both are poor choices of Shotgun. It has some of the best damage statistics in the game, solid range, and excellent accuracy, but you’d better make sure your shot hits. You’re dead otherwise.

LMGs Tier List

What makes a good LMG in Modern Warfare? Fire rate, of course! Mobility isn’t overly important, as you’re going to be primarily providing cover of defending a spot. There’s not much in it in terms of accuracy, so being picky over recoil is pointless when it comes to LMGs.

Tier 1

• MG34: The MG34 is one of our favorite LMGS, with solid range, control, and, most importantly, fire rate. In fact, it’s got the best fire rate of all of the LMGs in Modern Warfare.
• PKM: The default LMG is our joint-favorite LMG, featuring comparable statistics to the MG34. In fact, we won’t even be all that mad if you prefer it, as it has ever so slightly easier recoil to control in exchange for a slightly lower fire rate.

Tier 2

• M191: The M191 is our favorite of the two lesser LMGs, strictly because it has considerably more damage than the SA87. We’d still encourage you to use either of the other two though, as it pales in comparison.
• SA87: There isn’t much in it, but the SA87 is our least favorite LMG in Modern Warfare.

Marksman Rifles Tier List

Marksman Rifles are for the player that likes a bit more mobility than a Sniper Rifle affords, but wants to play like they’re using an Assault Rifle. You’ll move around the map, decimating your opponents at medium range.

Again, we’re looking for solid fire rate and mobility, to help you get around. We’ll also want decent accuracy so you can manage the recoil at a decent range.

Tier 1

• MK2 Carbine: The MK2 Carbine is everything you want in a Marksman Rifle. It’s got high damage, a high rate of fire, the best mobility in its class, and manageable recoil. There’s simply no competition whatsoever for best Marksman Rifle.

Tier 2

• EBR-14: If you insist on using Marksman Rifles before you’ve unlocked the MK2 Carbine, you’ve got no choice other than the EBR-14. It’s a considerably lesser weapon in all departments aside from range, which is surprising as a faster rate of fire is usually balanced by higher damage. What’s even more surprising is that the EBR-14 still isn’t the worst Marksman Rifle.

Tier 3

• Kar98k: Why this is the last Marksman Rifle to unlock we’ll never know. It trades ever so slightly higher damage for considerably lower fire rate and mobility over the MK2 Carbine. What it wants to be is a Sniper Rifle – it’s just as confused as the AUG in its class.

Sniper Rifles Tier List

There’s only one thing that matters when it comes to Sniper Rifles: damage. All you want is a weapon that can bring down an opponent in as few hits as possible, and preferably just one. Fire rate isn’t important at all, as you only fire one bullet ideally, and mobility is pointless because you won’t move around much.

Tier 1

• AX-50: The AX-50 is the king of Sniper Rifles in Modern Warfare, and those who opt for it won’t be remotely disappointed. You’ll kill in a single hit at most distances, and it’s highly accurate. What more do you want?

Tier 2

• HDR: The HDR isn’t actually a bad option for Sniper Rifle fans, performing better at range than the AX-50 in exchange for lower damage. Given the lack of big maps in Modern Warfare, that extra range won’t likely end up benefiting you much though, so it’s our Tier 2 option.

Tier 3

• Dragunov: There isn’t really a bad Sniper Rifle in Modern Warfare, just less good ones. This is the least good of the three, with lower damage and range than our Tier 1 and 2 options. It does feature higher fire rate and mobility though, so if you like moving between shots it’s a solid option.