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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) overhauled how weapon progression works in multiplayer. In previous titles, you needed to level a weapon multiple times to unlock the same attachments as other weapons. And if you were someone who wanted to convert their favorite SMG into an LMG, you were at the mercy of ammo conversions and niche, sometimes suboptimal attachments.

Related: The Best Weapons In Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

That's now a thing of the past. Meet weapon platforms, MW2's new weapon progression system. Most weapons in MW2 have archetype variants that convert the weapon from an AR to an SMG, pump-action shotgun to a magazine-fed shotgun, etc. This guide will cover what weapon platforms are, how they work, and we'll showcase how to unlock every weapon in MW2—including those found in the weapon platform system.

What Are Weapon Platforms?

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 2022 FX Cinder Vault

Every weapon in Modern Warfare 2 is tied to a weapon platform, a sort of family tree that shares attachments and a core progression system. For example, Modern Warfare 2 has the M4 platform which contains five unique weapons, ranging from the classic M4 assault rifle to the 556 Icarus LMG conversion of the M4. All of these M4 weapons have a series of attachments you can unlock for all of your weapons, including weapons outside that M4 platform. This effectively means that once you unlock an attachment, you own it forever on all weapons.

By default, you'll unlock the base weapon platform, containing one weapon type. Using this weapon will unlock attachments and, eventually, unlock an entirely new weapon. Consider this weapon to be a new progression branch, unlocking a new suite of attachments and even more weapons tied to the platform.

Overall, weapon platforms serve as progression trees that grant receiver conversions for certain weapons. If you want to use an SMG variant of the M4, you use the FSS Hurricane that's part of the M4 platform. If you want to convert that same M4 into an LMG, unlock and use the 556 Icarus.

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Unlocking New Weapons And Attachments

Modern Warfare 2 Account Level Progression

As with most Call of Duty titles, you'll unlock a few weapons by leveling your account. However, once you unlock a weapon platform, you'll need to use weapons in that platform to unlock attachments and other weapon variants. That might seem strange coming from past Call of Duty titles, but this system is much more intuitive in practice than one might expect.

For example, let's take the M4 platform you unlock immediately. This platform consists of five weapons:

  • M4: Unlocked by default.
  • FTAC Recon: A battle rifle variant of the M4 that's unlocked by reaching rank 13 with the M4.
  • 556 Icarus: An LMG variant of the M4 that's unlocked by reaching rank 16 with the M4.
  • M16: A burst-fire variant of the M4 that's unlocked by reaching rank 13 with the 556 Icarus.
  • FSS Hurricane: An SMG variant of the M4 that's unlocked by reaching rank 13 with the FTAC Recon.

As you can see, you'll start with the M4 and unlock new attachments as you play. With enough XP, you'll eventually unlock the 556 Icarus LMG and FTAC Recon battle rifle. Using either weapon to rank 13 will unlock yet another weapon tied to the platform. Leveling all weapons will unlock dozens of attachments for all of your weapons.

Modern Warfare 2 How To Access Weapon Platform Progression

You can view your current weapon platform progress through the loadout menu. Before entering the Gunsmith, press the weapon progression key ('V' on PC, 'Back Button' for controller users) to view the platform's tree and associated attachments.

Unlike past CoD titles, attachments in this game are tied to your account, not the gun itself. Unlocking a particular foregrip will unlock that same foregrip for every compatible weapon, even if the gun is from a different platform. This is why we highly recommend you level every gun to max rank. Doing so will maximize your Gunsmith options.

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Related: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Tips For Beating The Campaign On Veteran Difficulty

How To Unlock Every Weapon In Modern Warfare 2

Call-of-Duty-Modern-Warfare-2-1

You'll unlock quite a few weapons simply by leveling up in multiplayer, yet some of MW2's best weapons are locked behind weapon platforms. All weapon unlock requirements can be found below.

Unlocks By Level

Modern Warfare 2 Account Level Progression

The M4, Vel 46, Bryson 800, Sakin MG38, EBR-14, and MCPR-300 are unlocked by default.

Weapon

Rank Requirement (Account)

PDSW 528

Rank 5

SP-R 208

Rank 7

Expedite 12

Rank 9

.50 GS

Rank 13

Stela-P

Rank 14

Lachmann-762

Rank 16

Combat Knife

Rank 17

TAQ-56

Rank 19

Kastov 762

Rank 23

JOKR

Rank 24

RAAL MG

Rank 25

Lockwood MK2

Rank 28

X12

Rank 31

RPG-7

Rank 32

Lockwood 300

Rank 36

Riot Shield

Rank 37

Fennec 45

Rank 38

Basilisk

Rank 39

STB 556

Rank 41

Signal 50

Rank 44

M4 Platform

Modern Warfare 2 M4 Platform

Weapon

Unlock Requirement

M4

N/A

FTAC Recon

M4 - Level 13

556 Icarus

M4 - Level 16

M16

556 Icarus - Level 13

FSS Hurricane

FTAC Recon - Level 13

Tactique Verte Platform

Modern Warfare 2 SCAR Platform

Weapon

Unlock Requirement

TAQ-56

Account - Rank 19

TAQ-V

TAQ-56 - Level 11

TAQ-M

TAQ-56 - Level 20

Kastovia Platform

Modern Warfare 2 AK Platform

Weapon

Unlock Requirement

Kastov 762

Account - Rank 23

Kastov 545

Kastov 762 - Level 11

RPK

Kastov 762 - Level 16

Kastov-74u

Kastov 545 - Level 13

Vaznev-9k

Kastov-74u - Level 15

Minibak

Vaznev-9k - Level 14

Lachmaan & Meer Platform

Modern Warfare 2 Lachmann Platform

Weapon

Unlock Requirement

Lachmann-762

Account - Rank 16

Lachmann-556

Lachmann-762 - Level 13

LM-S

Lachmann-762 - Level 17

Lachmann Sub

Lachmann-556 - Level 12

RAPP H

Lachmann-556 - Level 16

Bruen Bullpup Platform

Modern Warfare 2 AUG Platform

Weapon

Unlock Requirement

STB 556

Account - Rank 41

MX9

STB 556 - Level 13

HCR 56

STB 556 - Level 20

Ordnance Weapon Platform

Modern Warfare 2 EBR Platform

Weapon

Unlock Requirement

EBR-14

N/A

SO-14

EBR-14 - Level 12

Bryson 800 Series Platform

Modern Warfare 2 Bryson Shotgun Platform

Weapon

Unlock Requirement

Bryson 800

N/A

Bryson 890

Bryson 800 - Level 16

Bryson Long Rifle Platform

Modern Warfare 2 Bryson Long Rifle Platform

Weapon

Unlock Requirement

SP-R 208

Account - Rank 7

SA-B 50

SP-R 208 - Level 13

LA-B 330

SA-B 50 - Level 16

SP-X 80

LA-B 330 - Level 17

XRK Platform

Modern Warfare 2 X12 Platform

Weapon

Unlock Requirement

X12

Account - Rank 31

X13 Auto

X12 - Level 10

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Next: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - FAQ Guide