Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2continues the reboot saga that began in 2019 withModern Warfare. Rather than remake the original trilogy, the developers decided to reboot the whole thing, taking only a fraction of what those games were about.
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Unlike many of the recent games in this series,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2is fairly linear. There are big open maps to explore, and missions can be approached in several ways; however, there is no home base or downtime in-between missions. The game goes back to basics while leveling things up to a degree. There’s a lot more to cover, so here are a fewCOD MW2 beginner tipsto get players started.
Updated on May 14, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam:WithCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2gracing Season 3 with new TDM (Cranked) and pair-versus-pair (Gunfight) modes on top of new free weapons and operators, fans of the Call of Duty franchise might be excited to sink their teeth into this upgraded Modern Warfare experience.
However, for newcomers to MW2 who feel a bit overwhelmed with the game’s focus on intense firefights, some tips may help them pull off more kills and score more points than they’ve imagined. Effective tips include prioritizing Scorestreaks over Killstreaks, focusing on recoil, and even using the game’s hilarious death camera to one’s advantage.
9Start With Scorestreaks Before Killstreaks
Newcomers toCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2might feel overwhelmed with the aggressive-leaning nature ofModern Warfaregameplay. When faced with numerous opponents, vets often useever-reliable Killstreaksto summon drones and other benefits to help their team. However, beginners of the game may not necessarily have the same immediate skill set to one-tap one enemy after the next.
Thankfully, players can now toggle which streak system they would like to use in multiplayer matches. Players can still opt for the usual kill-reliant Killstreaks to unlock special attacks and features in combat; however, newcomers still getting used to the game may want to tap into Scorestreaks instead, giving them access to the same special tools but earned via performance criteria instead.
8Prioritize Recoil For Builds
As with otherrecent FPS titles,Modern Warfare 2offers players an assortment of conventional and military-grade weaponry that fits the game’s timeline. And thanks to a more intricate building system, players can custom-tailor their firearms to precisely fit their gameplay styles, allowing gamers to rely on the trusty sniper from afar or even get up close and personal with the shotgun. However, newcomers to the game may want to focus on prioritizing recoil for any of their first builds.
Remember, a key tenet in almost any FPS is that weapon firepower is practically useless if players can’t even aim their guns properly. With recoil potentially affecting the player’s shooting performance when not managed properly, newcomers should prioritize low-recoil weapons for maximum gun control.
7Master The Killcam
WithModern Warfare 2removing enemy red dots in the minimap when they shoot their weapons, it’s become much more difficult for players to determine where shots come from in larger maps. Newcomers who find theirModern Warfare 2gameplay disrupted by a sudden kill from a location they can’t determine can find this situation extremely frustrating. However, they can actually use this death to their advantage with the Killcam.
As fans may recall, the franchise makes use of the Killcam to deliver a quick recap of just how a player had died in a rather dramatic (and sometimes embarrassing) manner. However, eagle-eyed players may notice that their Killcam also reveals not just a larger view of the game but also a real-time recap of what’s happening at the time of their death. When viewed properly, players can get a sense of what’s happening on the map on a larger scale, allowing them to make strategic decisions about whether to meet the enemy as seen by their general direction or go the other way once they respawn.
6Communicate With The Ping System
Popularized byApex Legendsgameplay, the Ping System has been a game-changing mechanic in the fast-paced matches ofModern Warfare 2. After all, they provide players with a way of communicating elements on the map without pressing too many keys, with the game intuitively understanding which elements players are tagging and giving everyone the appropriate soundbite for ease of messaging.
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In that regard, players should get used to pinging enemy positions and even sources of gunshots in order for the team to stay ahead in firefights, regardless of whatModern Warfare 2game modethey’re participating in. To Ping, players can press an appropriate keybind on the PC or press Up on both the PlayStation or Xbox directional pads. Holding the button should bring a selection of options for players to choose from if they want to convey a specific message. Pinging can give players more room to do more complicated maneuvers without worrying about communicating their situations to their teammates.
5Campaign First, Then Multiplayer
Players will want to get through the campaign as quickly as possible since it is so good that they won’t want to put it down. This mode is also not that long, and fans will want to get through the story before they come across spoilers.
More importantly, thesingle-player campaignis good training for multiplayer, which is true for most shooters. Getting used to guns and new or tweaked mechanics is the best reason to jump into the campaign first. With five difficulties to choose from overall, there are plenty of reasons to return to the single-player mode after competing in some online sessions.
4Wear Headphones
Theaudio design inCall of Dutyhas always been second to none. Wearing headphones or a headset is a good idea in an AAA game likeModern Warfare 2as it can help with immersion. The biggest reason why players should do this is because of mission orders.
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Whether it’s Ghost, Price, or another ally, they will often instruct the player on what to do. For example, there is a later mission wherein players have to account for wind when firing their rifles. It’s a great sniper mission that becomes easier when players can hear orders more clearly through headphones. Subtitles may be a good idea too.
3Think Carefully About Weapon Choices
Modern Warfare 2is littered with guns both in the single-player campaign and multiplayer. It’s a good idea to keep two weapons in hand that are unique from one another. For example, don’t have an assault rifle and a sniper rifle equipped.
Instead, a good combo would have players equip a shotgun for close-range combat and a rifle for long-distance sniping. Whatever combos players choose, they should keep distance in mind. Sometimes players can get lucky and find the exact gun they need at the right time, but other times they may be up a creek with no paddle. Keeping a long-distance rifle is one of the most important tips to bestow to beginners overall, and it can helpwith other shooterstoo.
2Using Stealth Effectively
Most missions allow players to choose how they want to approach the goals. For example,stealth scenarioscan get loud if they need to, like if a guard spots the player; other times, getting seen will result in a game-over scenario. Even though stealth-based missions can go loud 90% of the time, players should attempt to remain in the shadows. Doing so will help create a more immersive experience and challenge the player to use their mind instead of going all out 24/7.
Save therun and gun tacticsfor multiplayer sessions or emergencies in the campaign. Overall, players need to take their time on missions. This goes beyond the stealth scenarios too. There’s a late mission, for example, that forces players to create their weapons with a crafting system. Even thoughModern Warfare 2is linear, there are many branching paths and secrets to uncover. Exploring and taking advantage of the environments is all part of the fun and the aforementioned immersion of the game.
1Don’t Worry About Dialogue Choices
TheCall of Dutyserieshas featured dialogue choices and branching paths off and on throughout the years. One of the biggest examples wasBlack Ops 2,which created scenarios wherein players could fail missions, but the game would still carry on.Modern Warfare 2does not have anything as grand as that, but there are dialogue choices that show up in the latter half ofModern Warfare 2’s campaign.
It’s important to emphasize that these dialogue choices will not affect the campaign. They will unlock some funny moments between characters or deepen the lore in some cases, but there are no true branching paths with multiple endings and the like. Therefore, the tip here is to not worry about the consequences and just choose the dialogue that sounds best.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2was released on July 20, 2025, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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