Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s 50-plus weapons on offer are chock full of potential for experimentation in the Gunsmith. While assault rifles and SMGs take the spotlight, marksman rifles like the EBR-14 are worth your time and even double XP tokens.
The EBR-14 is part of the Ordnance weapon platform in MW2, which is currently home to just one other weapon in the SO-14 battle rifle. The EBR-14 marksman rifle is a semi-automatic gun that used 7.62x41mm NATO rounds “and balances fire rate with long-range lethality,” according to its description.
While MW2 multiplayer is built for running and gunning, the EBR-14 and other guns like it in the marksman rifle class reward a different kind of playstyle, like slowly checking corners and hard-aiming at sightlines throughout the game’s many locales.
Best EBR-14 loadout and class setup in MW2
- Muzzle: ZLR Talon 5
- Recoil Smoothness: +1.40oz
- Bullet Velocity: +1.00in
- Barrel: 22″ Boremaster Barrel
- Recoil Steadiness: +0.50lb
- Aim Down Sight Speed: -0.40in
- Optic: AIM OP-V4
- Aim Down Sight Speed: -3.00oz
- Close: +1.80in
- Underbarrel: Phase-3 Grip
- Recoil Stabilization: +0.80oz
- Aiming Idle Stability: +0.40in
- Magazine: 20-Round Mag
Secondary: Preferred pistol, or SMG in an Overkill loadout
Tactical: Stun Grenade
Lethal: Semtex
Perk Package: Scavenger/Overkill and Double Time, Fast Hands, Quick Fix
Field Upgrade: Dead Silence and Munitions Box
The EBR-14 is extremely situational in MW2. For multiplayer matches in MW2 in general, you’re better off with a fully-automatic gun like an assault rifle or SMG, especially in objective modes. But if you like to post up and pick off enemies at a distance, marksman rifles like the EBR-14 could be right up your alley.
Related: MW2 longshot distances: How to get longshot kills in Modern Warfare 2
If you need to get marksman rifle kills for a challenge, like to unlock the Tempus Torrent, this is definitely the weapon for you. It’s the one I used to unlock the gun myself.
Keep that kind of playstyle in mind when using this set of attachments, because they will result in some negative effects on both mobility and handling, limiting your ability to swiftly travel around the map.
They will, however, buff the gun’s damage, range, accuracy, and recoil control, turning it into a one or two-shot kill to the torso or above at mid-range. I prefer to play a bit slower with this loadout, but it works.
Related: Best X13 loadout and class setup in Modern Warfare 2
As for the rest of the loadout you can run with the EBR-14, focus on speed and mobility with perks like Double Time and Fast Hands to help compensate for the gun’s cumbersome nature. I like Quick Fix because it will keep you healed up and in the fight, and the Dead Silence Field Upgrade will give you the ability to skulk around quickly and quietly.
