Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer Guide
(How to not suck at Modern Warfare 2) by James Cavin
This extensive Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer strategy guide is intended for beginner and intermediate players only. Advanced players, by their very definition, don’t need advice. It sucks to have bullets sprayed in your face every time you encounter another player. It can be really frustrating when the only thing you’ve accomplished in the ten minute matches is target practice for the other team. Hopefully I’ll be able to help you with that. Unfortunately, there is no melee scrotum punch for that after-kill flair. I recommend Infinity Ward patch that mistake as soon as possible.
Once again, this is a primer for people who feel they need help to get better at Modern Warfare 2 or are missing something from their “game.” I believe the best use for this multiplayer guide would be to allow for more suggestions. If we can keep adding to it we can expect more quality players in multiplayer matches. More quality = more fun. And, as we all know, the best way to get more skillful is to play against someone better than you.
- Run-and-Gun
- Sniper
- Stealth and Melee
- Camping
- Hybrid
Weapon Familiarization I (Primary and Secondary)
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Weapon Type
- Uses (both common and uncommon) of Each Weapon Type
- Attachments and How to Get Them
Weapon Familiarization II (Equipment and Killstreaks)
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Weapon Type
- Uses (both common and uncommon) of Each Weapon Type
- Killstreaks Combos for High Kill Total
- Killstreaks Combos for Team Support
- Each Perk in Detail
- Mistakes when Using Perks
- Proper Perk Usage
Class Creation
- The Purpose of Custom Classes
- Class Creation 101
- Gameplay Style and Custom Classes
- Ranking Information Described
- Faster XP
- Prestige
- Strategic Matchmaking (XP or Gameplay Experience)
- Knowing your Maps
- Knowing your Roles
- Tips and Tricks for Combat (Aiming, Shooting, Switching Weapons, Knifing, Frag, Semtex, Noob Tube, Sneaking, Camping, ect)
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Please feel free to add your top Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer strategies and tips to the comment section. Comments FTW!
MW2Blog would like to thank JCavin from our Forums for taking the time to write this awesome Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer Guide. You the man!
For questions, suggestions, and corrections you can send me an email at jcavin00@gmail.com. Thanks. Have fun and beat some heads for me.
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What does he mean by after-kill flair and patching it?
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Mervidus Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
@Ricky,
… Go to E-Bay and search for “sense of humor.” Might find a good deal …
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admin Reply:
December 10th, 2009 at 8:32 am
@Mervidus, lol.
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AnimeGod Reply:
January 21st, 2010 at 5:46 am
@Mervidus, LMAO
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justb2 Reply:
January 22nd, 2010 at 8:24 am
@Mervidus, Brilliant
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Thanks for posting this, This informed me about alot of stuff i didnt know.
But there were some errors you made in there,
~ You unlock stopping power pro after 120 kills with it, not 500, i remember getting slight of hand pro and SP pro at the same time, they are both at 120 kills.
~W/ hardline you get a care package after 3 kills, not 2 (I think you meant UAV)
There were a couple more, but i forgot, im just tryin to help
Also, With FMJ do you only get more bullet penetration, not more damage?
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admin Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 9:41 am
@Bearsbullssox, Fixed.
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Mervidus Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
@Bearsbullssox,
FMJ does give a slight (very slight) increase to damage as well as deeper penetration.
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o iM RaViiN v Reply:
January 15th, 2010 at 8:36 am
@Bearsbullssox, you get more damage w/ m16 if u have fmj and people dont sponge as much but other guns u dnt really notice a difference
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Very nice, thanks.
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I’ve heard that the EMP will cancel the Nuke if the EMP is used prior to the countdown timer reaching 0. I’m not 100% sure if this is true since there doesn’t seem to be much proof supporting this. Maybe if it’s confirmed this should go into the strategy guide.
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Mervidus Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
@ReekinHavok,
Having tried this myself (sounds like a great, logical idea doesn’t it?!) I am able to report that unfortunately it does not work.
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[insertnamehere] Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 10:35 am
@Mervidus,
using an EMP while a nerk is active [as in, counting down] does nothing towards removing the nuke. However, if an EMP is active, people will be unable to use the nuke unil the EMP had ended [one minute].
Also, Stopping power pro is 250 kills, not 500 or 120.
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Thanks a lot for putting in the time to make this
gave me a few ideas… 
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This was a great read, if you want to play on ps3, my sn is zanmushi!
Thanks
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they actually have a category for the camper???? as if it aint bad enough they camping already wooow how lame can IW get by actually putting that up………….
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Porkchop666 Reply:
December 30th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
@xxsoundwavexx,
Not EVERYONE likes to run at the bullets. Have you ever heard of a sniper that runs around all over the place in front of the enemy??? Nope. It’s about patience and finese. They sit…. and they wait… and take one sweet ****in shot.
And rarely ever die…
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xxsoundwavexx Reply:
December 31st, 2009 at 1:51 pm
@Porkchop666, yea ur a **** bag camper u loser.is *****es liek u that make this game so horrible to play
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CamberVC Reply:
January 2nd, 2010 at 11:09 am
@xxsoundwavexx, no its people like you that ***** about camping that makes the game rediculous. if you wanna run and gun the whole game and get blown away thats your choice. some people prefer different strategies and it is just that. a strategy. if you cant deal with it go play halo.
stryderfan Reply:
January 5th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
@xxsoundwavexx,
Camping is a sound tactic for those innitiates who have yet to understand the layout of maps and ingress and egress routes mmost commonly used. Also as previously stated a sniper that runs around in close quarters situations is not a sniper at all.
Many clans such as mine will have 1 to 2 players stationed in either a high traffic area for quick killstreaks. We also station them to hold a particular area for safe spawns as well as getting hot heads to contunually rush them resulting in high killstreaks for them and the team.
Common sense would dictate if a player is camping so proficiently that you cannot get him, STOP going back.
One final note. My clans campers our our best killers and always have the nuke set up for those special occasions when hot-headed mediocre players have a death wish.
cherrio killstreak
great help
and a PDF version? for download and print?
Merry Christmas to all
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me Reply:
December 13th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
@filipep, its copy and paste…
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Nice guide, thanks for all your work on this. It’s a great game.
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thanks this really helped me find my play style and get better
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To start, great job on your time/effort and material you have put together here. However, I do want to critique one thing about these “Tactical Guides” and such. First, generally they ALWAYS mistake techniques with tactics! Most (if not all) come from the solo “Run-N-Gun” strategy perspective, even when operating in a “team” game option. I would even say that most of these “team” games are little more than an organized Free-4-All.
Tactics 101: The ONLY thing that is unacceptable is misusing the game’s mechanics i.e. cheating/glitching. If someone is using a tactic that you cannot stand (e.g. camping, Noob-tubing, etc…), maybe you just suck? Adapt and overcome! If someone is burrowed in like a tick (camping), instead of crying about it, do something about it…like say, grenade? Also, each map should have a minimum of four “frame-work” strategies (two for each spawn side)…and two strategies for each game mode (this does not include the basic map “frame-work” strategies).
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Great info thanks, do you have a guide for spec ops by chance?
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Its people like you that the world needs more of. What a fantastic insite for a noob like me. Well done mate. Firstly let me tell you, I played the original C.O.D on PC and now use the PS3 for C.O.D 5, and after Xmas day, C.O.D.MW2. As a new player the hardest thing is to learn the maps, I tend to camp at first while learning them, running around from the off gets you killed by the scum of the earth snipers more often than not. When the map is learnt a bit better I tend to follow the better players, who will invariably find an enemy and either do the enemy some damage then die, thus leaving you with an easier kill. When the bottle necks and sniper positions are learnt, its then a case of running around like a headless chicken and get as many kills as I can with as many weapons as I can to get the challenges. Ive been online with MW2 for less than an hour and think that it is by far the hardest version so far. Maps are big with loads of hiding places and will take some getting used to.
From a new boys prospective, I think the killstreak perks are gained far too early, double the number of kills would have been better (Who wants to spawn with a C130 above you, 30 seconds into a deathmatch?) Other than that I look forward to meeting some of you online and hopefully at some point once Im good enough, joining a team where my team skills can be put to use instead of the normal “Team deathmatch” free for all. Cheers all, Merry Xmas and a happy new year. CRABFAT.
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whooshka Reply:
January 24th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
@Crabfat, Similar situation myself …. moreso struggling with the controllers/everything weapon wise being automatic …. n wishing i had my keyboard n mouse …. you may notice if u havent already 1 of the mw2 maps is ‘brecourt’ i cant remember which one but yeh … possibly some of the other maps are the same layout as previous maps but due to the vastly improved graphics it makes it hard to notice
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i dont know if you people know that the so called campers or snipers may have to do so as i do as my connection speed is slow as it is for a lot of people
this results in shooting someone with a faster connection up to 4 or 5 times and in the replay you havent even got a shot off
so stop wineing about campers and get over it
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*Bookmark*
Awesome guide. My friends mentioned some of the tips you stated, but it was during the game. Lol. With me freaking out about the people constantly killing me… the advice just went in and out of my ear, haha. Doubt that they would have explained all these tips to me anyways.
Thanks a bunch man!!
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This is a fantastic guide and must have taken a lot of effort, very much appreciated.
I’ve only just started to see my kill/death ratio become positive in recent matches (even had a 5 kill streak recently) but I’m still not sure I’ve found the right blend of perks and equipment. This guide will help a lot!
THINGS I DIDN’T KNOW UNTIL READING THIS GUIDE
1. Kill streaks reset after you use one
2. Smoke is good with the IR scoped Sniper Rifle (seems obvious now)
3. SMG is for close quarters not for the mid range I wanted
4. Cooking frag bombs
and the most important one for me…
*. Kills from the results of care packages don’t count toward kill streak
See you ingame
SparksWillFly007
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excellent guide, really helpful for complete beginners such as myself who never played the first one! The amount of kills are starting to rack up
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Excellent guide. Well done.
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when you were talking about the game play styles called “stealth and melee” you should add something. if you have a care package, hold the grenade and run. you will run about 2 to 3 times faster. but anyways great guide
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Flameonfish Reply:
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:57 pm
@Chase, Dude thats called care package glitching and im like 99% sure its against the rules. I hate people who care package glitch and so do most other players.
Great guide btw
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Geckster Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 1:07 am
@Flameonfish, please can I read these rules? I’ve yet to see a rule book on playing COD……. There may be peoples ideas of rules but in reality no-one can really enforce those rules, people will always play as they see fit. That’s the thing with online gaming – there are no set rules so you fight your battle how you see fit. If camping does it then so be it or if run and gun works then great. It’s all about choice.
As for the care package, it’s not a glitch – your no longer holding a weapon in your hands so hence you run faster than normal! Hacking and using other (known) glitches is a beyatch and your right, no-one likes people who use them.
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Thanks for this….
I’m a noob, and have been staying out of deathmatch and anything team related cuz I don’t want to drag me team down. I’m having almost an impossible time aiming any weapon I’ve got. is there a trick to it? I’ve sprayed more lead and not hit what I was trying to aim at. It’s almost not fun.
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Practise Practise Practise thats the key. Im now level 59 and going on 60. Aiming comes with practise, I bet you hit feet and legs mostly? I did the same at first, you have to get used to aiming a bit higher than yu think you should, you will get more kills that way. Also, practise shooting in the aim while still moving, its hard at first but gets easier. I now have a K/D ratio of 1.24 and a killstreak of 21 (Unashamed camping!) Have fun, its only a game and there will always be someone better than you. Chris.
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kukichris Reply:
February 14th, 2010 at 3:44 am
@Crabfat, Well said Chris (crabfat) I’m also just beginning to get a hang of aiming etc as i had never played a 1st person shooter online before MW2 (well apart from original halflife pre broadband on a pc
good times)
It is only a game as you said and the idea is to have fun and although its a pain to keep getting killed it only makes you better in the long run. Hook me up on xbox live if ya want as it would be good to have some friends with the same views (ie its fun and dont be too bloody serious) i got asked the other day during a game why i even bother playing!! ERRR to get better duh!! GT:KUKICHRIS
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Great guide, thanks for taking the time.
One of the reasons I bought it was because I heard it paired you up with people of equal skill in team games.
Imagine my shock when, as a level 1, I was playing mostly 60’s & 70’s! I’m up to 36 and I STILL am playing 50, 60,70 guys! Why can the game group 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, etc. that way it’s fun and not just an endless slaughter fest for noobs? As you got better you’d advance to the next level. At least make it an option…
Great game, but I am just now NOT COMING IN LAST. At this point, I don’t ever hope to WIN a match, but I’d like to come in the middle of the pack most times.
How about a match where regardless of rank, everyone gets the same very basic weapon set only. Then skill would really become necessary, not just I’m a 70 and I have all the toys so there is no way you can beat me Mr. 20.
I still like the game, try learning more every day (that’s why I’m here)… just wondering if anyone else has thought of these things?
See ya on the rooftops in Rio!
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Nubbin' Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
@•••—•••, I’ve totally thought of those things!! I’ve never played any previous COD so I was likewise shocked when I first started and got pwned by the pros… hell, even the non-pros. I just sucked butt.
I’m going on lvl 28. I am STILL coming in last nearly every game though. I usually camp, but am working on learning the maps so I can run around a bit more without coming face-to-face with my demise. K/D ratio has gone up a bit lately… so I guess I’m getting somewhere.
I enjoy the game a bunch and look forward to the day that I can make the noobs feel like butt-suckers too. :p
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Rhysboii Reply:
February 19th, 2010 at 7:27 am
@Nubbin’, same here
MW2 was my first cod and i sucked badly, and yes i camped and ****, lol
So one of my m8s told me to play some FFA to get the hang of it,
about a week later i am coming top of the table, winning tons of FFA matches, and clutching 6 players on HC S&D. while running and gunning, lol
if your new don’t play TDM, play FFA.
also, if you find Nuke or riot boosters, lob a Semtex/Frag/C4 in and blow their cocks off
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With Cold Blooded, you will not be shown on enemy UAV’s, enemy killstreak rewards such as a harrier or helicopter will not shoot you. Also, sentry guns will not see you [however, if it is already shooting somebody and you walk infront of it, not only are you a bit of a moron, you will also die], and you will not be surrounded in a red square if an enemy has a Predator Missile, AC-130 or chopper gunner. However, you can still be damaged/killed if you are unlucky enough to be seen.
Also, you need 100 kills with EXPLOSIVES to get Danger close pro, not just 100 kills
.
“Damage. Higher damage than C4″ i think this is supposede to say “higher damage than Claymores” – in the C4 equipment section.
Also, you cant get a nuke from a care package, you cant get an EMP or a nuke from an emergancy airdrop, and an EMP lasts for 1 minute (:
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a good way to get kills is by clearing rooms,and aim down your sight,practice shooting for the head
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A found this out by accident when I was first starting playing MW2 but a great way to find out a map’s tricks and areas where other players often go is to play Hardcore search and destroy. When you die spectate the top player on your team (assuming he’s kicking arse).
You will be amazed when he turns a corner and nails a guy in a spot you would have never even thought to look.
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admin Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 11:10 am
@superstarman, Nice tip.
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One Man army has a very particular use and works especially well for certain levels if you’ve given up the “I’m too good to camp” mentallity. Although I don’t like to camp and stopped playing for a while because of it, when I came back I adapted my playing style to camp on a few certain levels. I find this most effective on Favela and Rundown. Load up the One Man Army and Danger Close perks and find your spot. Also equip a noob tube and claymore’s. Lay your first claymore then change back into your OMA class and drop another where needed. Then rechange to have one on standby incase someone wanders into the one’s you’ve laid. Take aim with your noob tubes and start blasting. Once you’ve exhausted your two noob tubes simply crouch and change back into that class, rinse and repeat. Works great when trying to achieve a nuke.
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Thanks for the guide….
I am level 34 and I still get at most 8 kills in team deathmatch…..Yes…Yes….I know already…my aim is pretty lousy. My 14 year old nephew is already at prestige in less that a day
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In my opinion one man army pro is good when im sniping because i will equip my ak47 class at the beginning of the match then when i get to my sniping spot equip my sniper class
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in derail,there was some dude waz snipen outside the boundary on the hill,near the radio tower. how did he get up there? please somebody let me no!!!
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