Image: Infinity Ward & Activision via HGG
I've been playing video games pretty much nonstop ever since I got my first 360. I love arena shooters, MMOs, and MOBAs, but I'll pretty much try any kind of game.
Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
In Modern Warfare 2 (MW2), players are able to bring one tactical and one lethal equipment piece into the 6v6 playlist. These two pieces of equipment are often just as important as the weapons you choose to bring in, so you want to make sure you have the best of each. In this article, we’ll rank every tactical and lethal in MW2 for 6v6 playlists.
All Tacticals Ranked for 6v6
Tacticals are intended to help you gain an advantage without doing any damage themselves (with a few exceptions). Tactical equipment ranges from a simple flashbang all the way to heartbeat-detecting sensors, so you have lots of variety in what to use. Here’s each tactical ranked in MW2 (we’ll cover lethal afterwards)!
10/10
Spotter Scope
The Spotter Scope is pretty decent in Ground War, Invasion, and of course Warzone 2, but in smaller game modes, it’s basically useless. We can’t be too mad about this, though, because it isn’t intended to be used in 6v6. Honestly, it’s kind of strange that they included it for these game modes at all, as there’s basically no reason to use it here.
9/10
Heartbeat Sensor
The Heartbeat Sensor can be good in other game modes, but 6v6 is not the place for it. There just isn’t enough downtime in 6v6 to be standing around with a Heartbeat Sensor. Using the Sensor usually results in more deaths than it does anything else. In Ground War, Invasion, and Warzone, it has lots of potential, though.
8/10
Snapshot Grenade
The Snapshot Grenade seems like it would be a lot better than it actually is. It effectively gives you a short-range vision pulse that shows enemies’ outlines through walls, but doesn’t do anything else. It gives vision, sure, but also alerts any nearby enemies to your presence and doesn’t do anything to crowd control them. Throwing a Flash Grenade into a room accomplishes about the same thing, but better.
7/10
Smoke Grenade
Smoke Grenade is okay in game modes like Search and Destroy (which is a 6v6 game mode), but it’s only good in specific situations. For example, if you’re trying to plant the bomb or capture an objective, it can be really helpful. But if you’re doing anything else, it’s kind of irrelevant. It’s definitely one to consider for some game modes, but not all the time.
6/10
Decoy Grenade
Decoy Grenades fall about in the middle of this list for two reasons. The first is their actual intended use, which is to confuse enemies. They do a pretty good job of that, which makes them pretty solid for any game mode. However, their second use is far more common. Getting XP from a Decoy Grenade (which is incredibly easy), also gives weapon XP. This means you can use them to easily level up weapons, while also confusing enemies. It’s a win-win situation all around.
5/10
Shock Stick
The Shock Stick does its job pretty well. It’s a sticky throwable that electrocutes anything around it, including enemies, equipment, and vehicles. While it might not be the overall best tactical for most situations, it’s never bad. Usually, if you hit an enemy with one of these, you’ll end up securing the kill thanks to it. The Shock Stick does feel like a less powerful Flash or Stun Grenade in many situations, but it’s unique enough to earn its spot.
4/10
Tear Gas
Tear Gas is a weird tactical, but a good one. It covers a very large area, is great for keeping enemies out of a specific spot, and crowd controls them well enough to snag an easy kill. The gas alone won’t kill anyone, but it’s really good for controlling the map. This is the main purpose of Tear Gas, but you can also use it aggressively if you want.
3/10
Stun Grenade
The Stun Grenade might as well be a lethal, because I don’t know if I’ve ever survived after being hit by it. It stuns enemies (obviously) in a way that drastically slows their movement and makes it harder for them to aim. Once they’re stunned, they’re an incredibly easy target. The only downside here is that stunned enemies are still able to see and move, just very slowly. If they’re already aiming in your direction, the Stun Grenade might not be enough to save you.
2/10
Stim
The Stim is an insanely powerful tactical. It allows you to instantly begin regenerating health, and it even allows you to keep firing your weapon while using it. Many people put the Stim as their top pick, and I can’t blame them. It is the most versatile tactical in the game and it’s not even close. Every single time you spawn, there will be some situation where you can use the Stim. The only thing holding it back from being first on this list is how strong our top pick is.
1/10
Flash Grenade
In the fast-paced environment of 6v6 game modes, the Flash Grenade is the best tactical in Modern Warfare 2, bar none. A single Flash Grenade can affect an entire room full of people, making it easy to clear out multiple at once with little resistance. It can also be easily used to check rooms before entering by throwing one in and waiting for hit markers, in which case it’s useful regardless of if it affects an enemy. Flash Grenades are always good in MW2, no matter what activity they’re being used in.
All Lethals Ranked for 6v6
Lethal equipment is the opposite to tactical in MW2. Every lethal has the ability to kill an enemy if used well, so no matter what you always have some back up other than your weapons. Here’s each lethal ranked in MW2 (scroll up for tactical rankings)!
9/9
Thermite
Let’s just be honest — the thermite is not good in 6v6. It can be really strong in game modes with vehicles, but in 6v6, it doesn’t do anything relevant. It’s basically a sticky version of the Molotov, but doesn’t have enough area of effect to be good. It can be used against people with Riot Shields, but so can the Semtex.
8/9
C4
C4 has lots of potential, so it sucks to have to put it so low on the list. It’s another option that is really good in other game modes, but doesn’t do well in 6v6. It’s too slow to be great in these game modes, with the exception of Search and Destroy. If you’re playing some S&D, C4 is actually a pretty decent option for guarding the bomb plant spots. Other than that, though, you’re usually better off with a different explosive.
7/9
Molotov Cocktail
The Molotov Cocktail is very underpowered in MW2, but it can still be used in some ways. The main use for the Molotov is as a form of crowd control. You can throw it in a hallway or doorway and prevent enemies from coming through for a short period, or you can also use it to clear out large groups of enemies. It’s a good scare tactic, if nothing else.
6/9
Throwing Knife
The Throwing Knife has a few purposes. Mainly, it’s a lethal projectile that kills in one hit and can be picked back up. This alone is very strong for standard loadouts, but it can be optimized even further. It’s really good for loadouts that are either light on firepower or ones that prioritize stealth. It also turns your standard melee into a one-hit kill since it uses the knife instead of the weapon, which gives a huge advantage up close.
5/9
Claymore
Claymores are both a fan favorite and one of the most hated lethals in the game. All you have to do with Claymores is put them in front of a door or other place where it can be hidden, then wait for someone to not notice it in time. It does have very obvious lasers on it that make it easy to spot, but that can be overlooked thanks to how powerful it is. Using Claymores in these 6v6 game modes might not get a kill every single time, but it’ll at least force your enemies to play more carefully.
4/9
Proximity Mine
Proximity Mines bounce into the air before blowing up and do massive damage to anyone nearby. They’re incredibly strong on smaller maps or in small rooms where players won’t have anywhere to run to avoid its blast. The only down side to the Proximity Mine is that it can be shot from afar if seen, but usually players will just run straight over it and never notice. This is especially true if you put it in a hidden spot like behind a door or table.
3/9
Frag Grenade
The Frag Grenade is one of the best lethals in MW2. There are several reasons why the Frag is so good, but the main reason is that it is cookable. This means that you can hold the grenade for longer before throwing it, making it nearly impossible for enemies to have time to react. It isn’t perfect since you do still have to account for it bouncing around or possibly being thrown back, but it’s still worth using. If you get really good with Frags, you can get around all of its downsides.
2/9
Drill Charge
The Drill Charge is an incredible lethal that can clear out any room. It attaches to a wall and shoots a grenade through to the other side, which is great for clearing out hard-to-reach rooms and campers. Even in non-optimal situations, it can always be put to good use if you know the best points on the map to use it. The only reason the Drill Charge isn’t the highest on this list is because it is situational. That being said, though, it’s rare not to be able to find a way to use it.
1/9
Semtex
The Semtex is basically just a more reliable version of the Frag, which makes it the best lethal in Modern Warfare 2. The Semtex is a sticky grenade with a timer, so you don’t have to worry about it bouncing away from its target. You also don’t have to cook Semtex grenades — while this isn’t as exciting, it is more consistent. If you’re looking for something that can be quickly thrown and will definitely pick you up some kills, the Semtex is the way to go.
Join the High Ground
Thanks for checking out this article ranking every tactical and lethal in MW2 6v6 playlists. Do you agree with our list? If not, leave a comment below letting us know your thoughts! Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more articles and rankings like this one.
Happy gaming!
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