The MW2 Newbie Guide

[Eggsnham]

You may want to add something about pistols. I hardly ever see people use pistols, when it should really be every sniper's secondary weapon at the very least. I can't count the number of times I've killed someone because instead of trying to noscope them I whipped out the pistol and got three shots off before they even had time to ADS.

Duly noted and I'll probably add that, thanks!

I'd expand that to say that you should always pick a secondary to counter the weakness of your primary. Say I have a semi-auto or burst-fire primary - a sniper, FAL, M16, or FAMAS - I'm better off with a weapon that is good in close quarters and that I can switch to in a pinch - either a pistol or a machine pistol. If, on the other hand, I have a fully automatic weapon, most of which are good to awesome in close quarters, I'd be better off using a launcher to make up for an assault rifle's inability to shoot killstreaks down. If I'm using a LMG (especially the MG4 or RPD, which have absurd reload times) I'm much better off with a pistol, simply because switching to a pistol is about fifty times faster (seriously - 0.2 seconds as opposed to 10) than reloading and five times faster than switching to a shotgun, which will save your life. Don't use shotguns unless you're planning on treating them like your primary weapon or you're camping, because they pull out so slowly that they're pretty much useless if your clip runs dry in the middle of a firefight - you need to either have them out already or have enough warning (say, from an exploding claymore at your back) that you have enough time to pull them out.

Damn, I'm giving up all my secrets!

EDIT: oh yes: Coldblooded is hands-down the most useful perk, especially for newbies who haven't learned how not to get killed by killstreaks or avoid getting hunted down and destroyed by people who rely on their minimaps. It's balanced well for any class, too - you don't really NEED stopping power to get kills. In many cases, especially snipers, LMGs and SMGs, stopping power is useless.

You've got many useful tips, I think I'll just direct people to this post, or something. You've got an entire useful section here.

 

[zacaron]

Why do people still complain about grenade launchers...?
Plenty of other things to complain about, like the collision detection sucking something awful and the maps that encourage campers.

Hell, the grenade launcher was usually the only thing I could rely on to get a sure kill considering how often I got killed by knives, snipers, shotguns and duel-wielded smgs, since 50% half the bullets that *hit* my targets ended up missing because the messed up bullet collision decides I actually wanted to shoot some dude in the foot, not the face, and sometimes being shot in the crotch has resulted in me being headshot.

Also dislike the pricks that boast about getting fifty million kills with their precious gay little knife but if you were to take it away from them then they'd be screwed because they can't play without it, but replying to them in same would probably result in my brothers account getting banned over the hundred or so kids that I'd upset ranting down their throats.

if you ever have this problem localy or if you change the settings on a private game double the health it makes it amazingly funny because knives are no longer instant kill and hence they are made worthless compare to standard guns not to mention it almost eliminates the "lethal" range of noobtoob cutting it down to literaly at your feet to kill you

 

[CheckD3]

I find that I do the first thing, run everywhere, but the thing is, it's my style of play. Since I have Lightweight, I can aim quickly, and it really helps when I find people. I don't use grenades, but a Knife, so it gets tricky sometimes, but more times than not I've been saved because I was running and no one could hit me

Though what works for me works for me and helps me find my Call of Duty G-spot (oh, it's such a NAUGHTY girl ^^ lol), and I find that everyone has different styles of play, though camping is just evil and takes all the fun out of playing...

 

[nick n stuff]

much better than i thought. i was expecting something like 'shoot them before they shoot you' or 'don't cry'.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

This is why I did not play MW2. I thought to myself "Alex, wasn't the multiplayer in MW, at times, frustratingly silly, unrealistic and dumb (I'm talking to everyone here who jumped and shot at the same time)? To which my hindbrain replied "Why yes Alex, it was, though it could be splendid fun, especially on Hardcore."

To which my forebrain responded "So, if they remove the mass battles, the hardcore mode, and pretty much everything that stops the game from being a complete festival of abject stupidity, why in the blazes should I invest money in it?"

To which my hindbrain responded: "Why, yes. Incidentally, Legend of Dragoon is only £25 on Ebay."

 

[Conman94]

Tactical layout.

For the love of a non-existant bearded senior in the sky start using it. Drop-shotting is one of the better maneuvers you can pull, and having it mapped to the right stick is just oh so convenient. Besides, how often do you want to go around stabbing people? What are you, some sort of sociopath?

 

[DrunkWithPower]

Nice guide but I have a very important addition:

Use cover.

So much truth in this. Reloading isn't simply pressing square or X anymore. The lowered amount of health means duck and cover to reload even when the coast is clear.

The OP mentioned sidearm FTW, I full heartedly agree but the pistols pull out quicker. So many times I've won a firefight simply because I was carrying a USP and they had a shotgun.

 

[HellsingerAngel]

*snip*

Wo- I- Wow...

Thank you.

Really, thank you. I've been trying to get into this game since launch and multiplayer is just a brick wall for me. I waited out all the glitches before recently trying to get back into it, but with around 20 hours of gameplay I was making very little progress and sitll coming out 2:15 K/D (because I suck =P) with the odd game of getting a good amount of kills and wondering how I did it. This guide, if anything, just lists all the tactics I've learned and am now trying to implement on a consistant basis. I really can appreciate someone actually extending a hand to a community full of griefers/glitchers/bad mouthers and basically saying "there's still hope, now let me show you". And not to belittle anyone else's posts, I read the entire thread, and this is chalk full of good stuff.

There are a few things I would like to point out/add, however:

Tip #1- I think the title should be "Take Your Time" rather than "Don't Sprint Everywhere You're Going To Go". Not sprinting everywhere should still be apart of this tip (and is easily one of the best tips) but I find too many new players can't keep a level head, either. I know on various occassions I just start getting frustrated and that only leads to more deaths. Taking it slow also means keeping in control of yourself so you can better control the game.

My tip- Counter flash/stun. It was covered in one of those videos that Xbox puts out to help people get better at games, and I think it has value. Throwing out a flash grenade/stun grenade after getting hit by one (so long as you know roughly where your opponent is) can really save you. You might be blinded/stunned, but so are they, and they'll still be suffering when you're recovered. It doesn't work 100% of the time, but it sure does work enough to warrent a mention.

My last thing I'd like to add is a question for anyone who'd like to give me a legitimate responce: can someone tell me, without boosting, how to get more FMJ kills through cover? I've been working on the extended clip for the SCAR for awhile now and I've barely hit 10 kills. Any pearls of wisdom some mroe experienced soldiers could impart?

EDIT: Not sure why I got referenced but, uh, thanks?

Another tip I remembered that my friend told me and that I still see people going completely against it, newbies and pros alike: shoot into the open, grenade into enclosed. I can't stress this enough! Don't waste your grenades throwing them into a large pile of when they're in the open, not until you're truly pro (and even then...) because nine times out of ten, they'll sprint away. Bullets travel faster and it still takes even a large group some time to search you out while you mow them down and you always have the option of sprinting away, too. Grenades are useful for tight spots where running isn't an option. Pros maximize their tools for the most effective way to kill someone!

 

[deth2munkies]

Rule #1: Don't sprint around corners. You're just asking to die.

Rule #2: Play all maps a lot. Always watch the killcams to find the best camping places and make sure you check them if you plan on going near their line of fire.

Rule #3: Thermal is a great tool but don't rely completely on it, use it to learn then stop or you'll be screwed by teams that use Cold Blooded.

Rule #4: Don't go outside when there's enemy air support about. Seriously, stop feeding the guy kills so he can nuke.

Rule #5: Pick a gun and stick to it. Every gun has different fire patterns, find one you like and master the shit out of it before picking another one.

Special weapons to consider:

ACR: 0 recoil, perfect once you get aiming down

M16-A4: 1 burst with stopping power will down a target. Better once you get aiming down.

SCAR-H: Bullets do 2x more damage than from any other gun but has small clip. Good for beginners.

 

[Dogstile]

Telling people they can only use the grenade launcher as stress relief? Bad move. I like my one man army + nade launcher. Infinite grenades!

 

[Iron_will]

Telling people they can only use the grenade launcher as stress relief? Bad move. I like my one man army + nade launcher. Infinite grenades!

I agree, it is extremely effective long to medium range.

 

[Eggsnham]

Ignore this please. I fail at editing

 

[ChaosDragon]

My last thing I'd like to add is a question for anyone who'd like to give me a legitimate responce: can someone tell me, without boosting, how to get more FMJ kills through cover? I've been working on the extended clip for the SCAR for awhile now and I've barely hit 10 kills. Any pearls of wisdom some mroe experienced soldiers could impart?

First you have to pick a good map to do this in. Any map with thin walls will work, i prefer Favela, Karachi, and Scrapyard because there's a lot of small rooms, which means a lot of walls. If you find an enemy that haven't noticed you, DO NOT KNIFE OR HEADSHOT!!! figure out the closest wall you can put between the two of you, and start spraying.

If you know where a guy is, work the terrain to your advantage so you can get the peneration kill. If you can, do this in Hardcore Headquarters!

Hardcore = easier kills, headquarters = infinite respawn AND the enemies will cluster around the objective.

hope this helps!

 

[Flour]

I'd like to add: If you're going to sprint around corners, jump, toggle the sights turn facing the corner and go prone before you hit the ground. It's a lot better than slowly going around a corner.

Hell, my advice for every time you're sprinting is "jump aim down the sights and go prone when facing an enemy". Landing after a jump instantly resets your speed to 0, and if you're prone you're a slightly harder target to hit, starting shooting in the air with some weapons and sights up is also a good idea, some weapons are very accurate when jumping.

It's slightly more a PC suggestion since I tested this in Steam's MW2 multiplayer promotion a few days ago(just to see if it still worked, like in MW). But it should work on the PS3 and 360.

 

[HellsingerAngel]

My last thing I'd like to add is a question for anyone who'd like to give me a legitimate responce: can someone tell me, without boosting, how to get more FMJ kills through cover? I've been working on the extended clip for the SCAR for awhile now and I've barely hit 10 kills. Any pearls of wisdom some mroe experienced soldiers could impart?

First you have to pick a good map to do this in. Any map with thin walls will work, i prefer Favela, Karachi, and Scrapyard because there's a lot of small rooms, which means a lot of walls. If you find an enemy that haven't noticed you, DO NOT KNIFE OR HEADSHOT!!! figure out the closest wall you can put between the two of you, and start spraying.

If you know where a guy is, work the terrain to your advantage so you can get the peneration kill. If you can, do this in Hardcore Headquarters!

Hardcore = easier kills, headquarters = infinite respawn AND the enemies will cluster around the objective.

hope this helps!

It certainly does! Thanks a truck load. I tend to play Mercernary Team (my friends don't own the 360 version so I play solo) mostly so that's probably problem one with trying to focus on getting those kills. I'll try the first tip before the second, but they're both really helpful =D

 

[TerribleAssassin]

Haha, that would help loads of noobs easily.

 

[AwesomeFerret]

I don't understand the obsession with using any sort of explosive weapon as being "noobie". I like using a missile or a grenade launcher to take out my targets, we don't all enjoy mastering a knife or learning how to head-shot a man from across the map with a pistol. There is a bit of a satisfaction that comes from blowing up your opponents.

 

[exp. 99]

Chaos, you are my new best friend.

In CoD4 it was my favorite thing to do; I'd play Block and just lay in the middle courtyard somewhere. It was impressive how many choppers I could get in a game by doing that.

I'm also with Ferret, I don't see how people find the grenade launcher to be a noob's gun. You get two shots with it, and if you miss, you're pretty much screwed. If anything, it's best used as a room clearer, with your bullets being a more baseline primary. Maybe its just me, but if I'm going dedicated grenadier (noob tube, thumper, scavenger pro) I tend to live a lot shorter a life and rarely get killstreaks above 5.

Nice guide, though. Some points in it that I actually don't think to practice too often that I need to keep in mind. Thanks for posting it up.

 

[Yureina]

Pretty good guide. Thanks much for posting up that writeup. I may have to try some of this stuff if I can ever bring myself to try MW2 in multiplayer ever again.

 

[scw55]

If you have a fetish for Light machineguns, proning is pretty much a good idea in any map. You can get alot of cover from a patch of grass. Just keep reloacting yourself that's all. Also, if you're running about like a twat and see someone, go prone and shoot the person. This is a really annoying thing to do for the other player but it's safest way to kill them as they will suddenly have to aim downwards.