Why was ISO Hemlock banned from Ranked Play in MW2?

Players needed this.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Ranked Play is getting nothing but love from the community. Players have been waiting for a ranked mode to grind the Multiplayer environment, climb up the leaderboard, and earn rewards. Besides Ranked Play integration, the Season 2 update also introduced the ISO Hemlock Assault Rifle to the game, which as of now has been removed from the ranked mode.

Why was ISO Hemlock banned from Modern Warfare 2 Ranked Play?

If you've been playing the MW2 Ranked Play since the day it launched, you must have witnessed how broken the ISO Hemlock is. Those who died from this gun were left frustrated, and those who used it felt how overpowered it was. While Vaznev-9k and TAQ-56 are two good options to run in the ranked mode, the ISO Hemlock was untouchable because of its consistent, three-shot kill ability at all ranges.

Related: How to get Ranked Play Skins in MW2

Although it took the devs at Treyarch and CDL about a week to add this gun to the restricted list, the change is finally here and the community is rejoicing. If you didn't try out the ISO Hemlock for yourself, there's no need to feel left out as you can enjoy using this weapon in MW2 Multiplayer public lobbies and Warzone 2. Here's our recommended MW2 build for the ISO Hemlock:

  • Muzzle: Sakin Tread-40
  • Optic: Cronen Mini Pro
  • Ammunition: 5.56 High Velocity
  • Underbarrel: FSS Sharkfin 90
  • Rear Grip: XTEN Grip

Stay tuned to Pro Game Guides for more Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 content. In the meantime, head over to our article on Where to find Tactical Cameras in DMZ.

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About the Author

Praharsh Kashyap is a video gaming enthusiast from India currently working as a Contributing Writer at Pro Game Guides. He has been playing and covering first-person shooters such as Call of Duty, Battlefield, and Apex Legends for years now. Besides FPS games, he also likes to indulge in RPGs every now and then.
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