Best guns in Modern Warfare: Weapon tier list (2023)

Modern Warfare remains a popular choice for Call of Duty fans, so we’ve placed every weapon in the game into a tier list, and counted down the top 10.

Thanks to its joint progression system between Warzone and Cold War, Modern Warfare has stayed active long after its content cycle ended. We’re only months away from CoD: Vanguard, but many players are still jumping into 2019’s Modern Warfare title.

Even though it’s no longer receiving dedicated seasons, Modern Warfare has received new maps and weapons such as the CX-9 and RAAL MG, which have expanded the already diverse arsenal of weaponry.

Some weapons are always more powerful than others, so we’ve ranked every Modern Warfare weapon and counted down the top 10.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare: Weapons tier list

Modern Warfare players have a ton of weapons at their disposal, with the Gunsmith system allowing players to completely transform them into something new. Before we count down the top 10 weapons, we’ve placed every Modern Warfare weapon into a tier list.

• Read more: Can you use Cold War Operators in Modern Warfare?

We should also note that these are the best weapons in Core Modern Warfare, as Hardcore completely changes the weapon balancing.

S-Tierweapons are the meta in Modern Warfare – the best of the best. Weapons inA-tierare incredibly strong and extremely viable and can be just as effective as those in S-Tier if used right.

B-Tierguns are useable, and very viable if built right and used in the right circumstances, whereasC-Tierweapons would only need some buffs to increase their popularity.

D-Tierweapons are ineffective, but you can try them out and have some fun with them, whileF-Tierguns shouldn’t be in your loadout at all.

Best weapons in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

10. PKM – Best LMG in Modern Warfare

LMGs have always had a place in Call of Duty multiplayer, utilizing their massive magazines to repeatedly take down the competition without ever having to reload.

• Read more: Can you get Dark Matter camo in Modern Warfare?

For Modern Warfare, the PKM is the LMG you want at your side. Possessing the firepower and magazine size that make LMGs great, the PKM can be built to be a speedy option that doesn’t limit you to holding down lanes while mounted.

9. R-90 – Best Shotgun in Modern Warfare

Many Modern Warfare and Warzone players know the power of the “Doof Doof” R-90 Shotgun. Fitted with Dragon’s Breath rounds, the R-90 becomes an absolute monster at close range.

Even if a player manages to get away from the devastating firepower of the R-90, the fire shells will continue to tick away at their health.

8. MK2 Carbine

If you’re looking for something that’s a solid hybrid between quickscoping and traditional sniping, the MK2 Carbine is a great choice. This lever-action Marksman Rifle is perfect for both the chaos of Shoot the Ship and the more tactical nature of Search and Destroy.

• Read more: Vanguard players call for one major Modern Warfare feature to not be added

Although slower than the Kar98k and SPR-208, its ability to one-hit chest-shot makes it extremely forgiving.

7. Sykov – Best Pistol in Modern Warfare

For a secondary weapon, there’s nothing better than the Sykov. This Pistol arrived long after Modern Warfare’s lifecycle ended, but instantly made an impact in both multiplayer and Warzone.

The Sykov is a full-auto Pistol with 80 Round Drum mags that can be dual-wielded. This allows it to put down an incredible amount of firepower, being more effective than many SMGs and Shotguns at close range. However, its damage quickly falls off.

6. Grau 5.56

With the cleanest Iron Sights of any weapon in the game, the Grau 5.56 is an accurate and powerful choice in Modern Warfare’s multiplayer. If you’re looking to beam enemies across the map with pinpoint accuracy, you can’t go wrong with the Grau.

• Read more: Players reporting Modern Warfare’s aim assist is completely broken

It can also be converted into an SMG thanks to the Gunsmith system, so can effectively suit almost any playstyle.

5. MP7

The MP7 takes fifth place on our list of the best Modern Warfare weapons thanks to its high fire rate and low recoil. If you’re more of a flexible player who likes to take fights at all ranges in a single game, then the MP7 is perfect for you.

Although it will lose out to some other SMGs and Shotguns at close range, it has much more range potential. With an easy-to-control recoil pattern and fast fire rate, you’ll be able to challenge players at medium range with ease.

4. MP5 – Best SMG in Modern Warfare

The MP5 has long been the best SMG in Modern Warfare. Although it doesn’t have the fire rate of some of the other SMGs, it’s extremely effective in the confines of Modern Warfare’s maps.

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If you want to get around the map with speed and accuracy, the MP5 is the weapon for you. It doesn’t quite have the range potential of the MP7, but at close range, it will win the head-to-head fight almost every time.

3. SPR-208 – Best Marksman Rifle in Modern Warfare

Quickscoping has long been a staple of Call of Duty, and the SPR-208 is designed to do just that. The SPR-208 is another Marksman Rifle and is the perfect weapon for quickscoping. Although it has a slightly slower ADS speed than the Kar98k, its bolt time, damage, and magazine size make for a more rounded weapon.

2. AS VAL

A dominant weapon in both Warzone and Modern Warfare, the AS VAL takes second place on our list. Although only having 30 rounds in a mag, this lightweight Assault Rifle simply tears through enemies with its extremely low time to kill.

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If you’re taking one-on-one fights in Search and Destroy, for example, the enemy won’t stand a chance against the AS VAL. The only thing holding it back slightly is recoil and small magazine size, but for an SMG/AR hybrid, the AS VAL is perfect.

1. M4A1- Best Assault Rifle in Modern Warfare

This will come as no surprise to anyone who has played Modern Warfare. The M4A1 is an all-rounder that excels in every situation, making it the best gun in Modern Warfare.

With clean Iron Sights, minimal recoil, and great mobility, the M4A1 suits any playstyle. You can build it for either close-range combat in multiplayer or for long-range beaming in Ground War, and you’ll have a ton of success with this classic Call of Duty Assault Rifle.

And those are the top 10 weapons you can use in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare! Be sure to check out the best weapons that Black Ops Cold War and Warzone have to offer too.

Image Credit: Activision