All weapon buffs and nerfs in MW2 & Warzone 2 Season 1 update

The Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 1 update added a long laundry list of weapon balancing. Here’s a breakdown of every nerf and buff included.

After just under a month of leaving up and testing every gun in Modern Warfare 2, the game’s meta is beginning to slowly take shape.

The Kastov-74u, M4, and SP-R 208 emerged as early front runners for best weapon, but the jury is still out. We took a crack at ranking MW2’s best weapons and provided a loadout for each gun. The meta will continue to evolve, especially as players discover what weapons work best in Warzone 2.

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2’s first major weapon-balancing patch nerfed the game’s top weapons while giving some much-needed boosts to other forgotten guns.

Most significant weapon buffs and nerfs

One of the most significant changes made is an increase in long-distance flinch on all Assault Rifles SMGs, and LMGs.

The Kastov-74u, M4, STB 556, and SP-R 208 all received much-needed nerfs but nothing that will completely take them out of the game’s meta.

Players should have less to fear when going up against a Kastov-74u or STB 556 in close-quarters combat.

While the FSS Hurricane, PDSW 528, and M16 received buffs to help bring them in line with other offerings. The M16 got a massive overhaul to its rate of fire, ADS movement speed, strafing speed, and recoil reduction.

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 1 buffs and nerfs

Here is the full list of MW2 Season 1 buffs and nerfs.

» Assault Rifles «

• Increase to long distance flinch on all Assault Rifles

Kastov 545 

• ADS speed increase
• Improved ironsight ADS sight picture

Kastov-74u 

• ADS speed decrease
• Hip spread increase

M4 

• Hip spread reduction

M16 

• Rate of fire increase
• Hip spread reduction
• Recoil recenter speed increase
• Shot grouping improvement
• Increase ADS movement speed
• Increase strafing movement speed
• Semi auto recoil reduction
• Semi auto damage reduction 

STB 556

• Close range damage reduction
• Reduced sprint to fire speed

» Battle Rifles «

FTac Recon 

• ADS speed improvement
• 5 round magazine – speed and handling improvement
• Increased flinch caused by bullets
• Hip spread decrease

SO-14

• Increased hip fire when full auto

» Handguns «

• Increase to close range flinch on all Handguns

» Light Machine Guns «

• Increase to long distance flinch on all Light Machine Guns

» Marksman Rifles «

Lockwood 300

• Damage range reduction

SA-B 50

• Minor increase to flinch when hit

SP-R 208

• Large increase to flinch when hit

» Shotguns «

• Increase to close range flinch on all Shotguns

Bryson 800

• Close range damage increase
• Hip spread increase

» Submachine Guns «

• Increase to long distance flinch on all Submachine Guns

FFS Hurricane 

• ADS move speed increase
• Increased headshot damage
• Increased far damage range

Minibak 

• Movement speed decrease
• Damage range decrease
• ADS speed decrease
• Hip spread increase

PDSW 528

• Movement speed increase
• Damage range increase
• ADS speed increase
• Hip spread decrease
• Adding Laser and Flashlight Attachments
  • 1mW Artemis Laser
  • 1mW Quick Fire Laser
  • Accu-Shot 5mW Laser
  • VLK LZR 7mW
  • 7mW Canted Laser
  • Schlager ULO-66 Laser

VEL 46 

• Damage range increase

» Sniper Rifles «

Signal .50

• Fixed attributes on the Signal .50 barrels:
  • 21.5″ Fluted Fifty
  • 23.5″ SA Fifty-H7