Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2: Best Secondary Weapons Tier List (2024)

Secondary weapons have been the backbone of custom classes in Call of Duty Multiplayer since the very beginning. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 is no exception, with the secondary weapon category lined with Rocket Launchers, quick-draw Pistols, and gimmicky Melee Weapons. No two secondary weapons are created equal, and players will want to know which weapon will perform the best in any situation they may find themselves in.

Related: Warzone 2 / MW2: Best Marksman Rifles Tier List

With the live-service nature of Modern Warfare 2 bringing constant fixes and alterations to weapons and gameplay, updates and patches throughout the game's lifespan may affect the stats and performances of these weapons. This list will be updated accordingly and weapons may move up or down the tier list, so make sure to save this page for future visits to see the most up-to-date ranking of Modern Warfare 2's secondary weapons.

Updated By Nathan Round on 6th September 2023: We have updated this guide to include the 9mm Daemon (added for Season 5 Reloaded).

MW2 & Warzone 2 Secondary Weapon Ranking Criteria

Given the distinctive differences between the combat knife, handguns, and rocket launchers, the tier list will have two separate ranking criteria: One for Handguns and Melee Weapons, and a second for Rocket Launchers. The criteria are as follows:

Handguns & Melee Weapons

• Ammo Count
• Fire Rate
• Reload Time
• Movement Speed

Rocket Launchers

• Lock-On Capability
• Reload Time
• Splash Damage
• Ammo Reserve

Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2 Secondary Weapon Tier List

Best Secondary In Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2

FTAC Siege

The FTACSiege is one of three full-auto Handguns in both Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2, and is without a doubt the best secondary option out there. The FTAC Seige has the highest fire rate among all Handguns, providing players with the fastest TTK to both armored and non-armored Operators. The mobility and handling is not far off from other weapons of its type either, meaning that no other secondary has the edge in close-quarters combat. However, the FTAC Siege does sport the poorest damage, range, and recoil control, making near useless from afar.

X13 Auto

See Also

CoD MW2 und Warzone 2: Der beste X12 Akimbo-Build - diese Waffe kostet euch euer Gewissen

The X13 Auto is yet another fully-automatic Handgun and boasts the second-fastest TTK thanks to its fast fire rate. The X13 Auto is quite comparable to the FTAC Siege and does possess slightly better mobility and handling attributes. However, the latter option is simply better in every way, making the X13 Auto the second-best Handgun in the game.

Great Secondary In Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2

Basilisk

The Basilisk is one of the hardest-hitting Hanguns in Modern Warfare 2, second to that of the .50 GS. The Basilisk has seen a huge surge in popularity for Warzone 2 Season 4, thanks to it having the third-best level of recoil control, along with the second-best level of damage. Though the .50 GS beats the Basilisk in some areas, the Basilisk has far better recoil control and mobility, making it the best option out of the two.

GS Magna

The GS Magna is a peculiar weapon in the Handgun category, and looks identical to the .50 GS. However, though this Pistol is essentially a full-auto version of the .50 GS, there are a few stat differences. First off, the GS Magna has better accuracy, recoil control, and mobility than the .50 GS, whilst still retaining high damage and range. In fact, it boasts the best level of accuracy among all Handguns, but fails to perform to the same standard as the FTAC Siege.

.50 GS

The .50 GS has the best range and damage among all Handguns in Modern Warfare 2. Though it suffers from a slow rate of fire and low magazine capacity, players have access to an array of attachments to improve these stats as they level up the weapon. The .50 GS has a decent reload speed for its category and can one-shot non-armored Operators when firing at the head. However, it does boast one of the poorest levels of recoil control.

Good Secondary In Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2

9mm Daemon

The 9mm Daemon has the highest level of accuracy and mobility among all Handguns for Season 5 Reloaded. Though this weapon does not compete to the same level as some of the other weapons of its class, it is without a doubt the best low-caliber semi-auto Handgun. This is largely due to its high ammo reserve and high damage-per-shot when compared to some of the latter options on this list.

X12

The X12 is one of two semi-automatic Handguns that uses low-caliber ammunition. Though boasting higher handling and mobility than most of the other weapons on this list, it ranks fairly low in overall TTK when compared to full-auto handguns. However, it does have better damage, fire rate, range, recoil control, mobility, and handling than the P890 - which is another semi-auto Pistol of a low caliber.

P890

The P890 is the default pistol in Modern Warfare 2, dealing more damage than the X12 and X13 per shot, but less damage than the .50 GS and Basilisk. Though the P890 has better accuracy than the X12, the latter option is far better when it comes to every other stat category. Because of this, the P890 is without a doubt the worst pistol in the game, meaning its best to avoid this weapon for all modes

Worst Secondary In Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2

Melee Weapons (Combat Knife, Dual Kodachis, Tonfa)

Though there are currently three Melee Weapons in the game as of Season 4, pretty much all of them function exactly the same. Melee Weapons are a more gimmicky choice when it comes to Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2, and are by no means meta. If you are not grinding for camos, then it is best to avoid these weapons altogether.

Related: Warzone 2 / MW2: Best SMGs Tier Lis

Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2 Rocket Launcher Tier List

Best Rocket Launchers In Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2

RPG-7

The RPG-7 may not have a lock-on function, but it makes up for a lack of lock-on features by offering high splash damage and incredible ease of use for players. The ultimate 'fire and forget' weapon in Modern Warfare 2, the RPG-7 is effective at clearing objective points, destroying ground-based and low-flying killstreaks with relative ease, and disabling enemy vehicles in Warzone and Invasion. It has a fast, for the category, reload time and is an all-around reliable weapon for most situations, maps, and game modes players will experience.

PILA

The PILA launcher will be the first weapon of its category most players will use, being unlocked by default in multiplayer. What the PILA lacks in splash damage it makes up for with a lock-on ability for ground and air killstreaks and vehicles, dealing solid damage upon impact. The range of the PILA's lock-on is extensive, allowing players to deal with troublesome gunships, UAVs, and helicopters from afar. Similar to the M4 Assault Rifle in the primary weapon class, the PILA stands as a workhorse weapon that is highly adaptable and competitive compared to similar weapons unlocked further along in online multiplayer.

Great Rocket Launchers In Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2

JOKR

The JOKR was one step away from taking the S-tier rank in this category with ease. It has a fast reload speed for its category, deals massive splash damage upon impact, and shares the same exceptional lock-on component as the PILA. The one notable downside to the JOKR is that the lock-on component is required to fire the JOKR. The weapon has no means of free fire and must be used outdoors as the launcher fires its payload straight up before crashing down onto the lock-on target. If players can adapt and adjust to this unique firing prerequisite, the JOKR is a devastating weapon against enemies and killstreaks large and small.

Worst Rocket Launchers In Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2

STRELA-P

The STRELA-P's main redeeming element is an increased damage rate toward vehicles and killstreaks upon direct impact. Besides that, this launcher is extremely average compared to the other weapons in this category. It lacks a lock-on component like the RPG-7, but it doesn't have the RPG-7's large area of effect splash damage for anti-infantry play. Its reload speed is average, and its main gimmick is hardly noticeable unless players are actively aware of it. Overall, the STRELA-P has nothing to offer players that aren't done better by the other three rocket launchers in the game. Unless players want to purposefully challenge themselves or unlock rocket launcher camos, stay well away.

Next: Warzone 2 / MW2: Best LMGs Tier List