The best LMGs in Modern Warfare 2

LMGs, or Light Machine Guns, are some of the heaviest hitters in Modern Warfare 2 and can help players push their competitive edge further than before.

These beasts provide heavy, sustained fire with their large magazines, letting you plow down enemies before they can get their grubby little fingers on the trigger. While the LMGs and chunky and slow, their dominating firepower more than make up for that difference.

LMGs are not the best option overall in MW2, especially for the game’s fast-paced objective game modes, where assault rifles and submachine guns are always going to be the better play. But if you like to post up with a loud, obnoxious, belt-fed gun that seemingly never stops firing, you’ve come to the right place.

If you want to find out just which LMGs are worth investing your time and resources in, then make sure to read our list of the best LMGs in MW2 below.

Best LMGs in MW2

6) 556 Icarus

This gun is the very first LMG you will use in the game, but that doesn’t mean you should take it lightly; the gun itself is the lightest LMG in the game when it comes to mobility.

The 556 Icarus is a versatile weapon that offers some of the best fire rate and mobility you can ask for in an LMG while being ideal for players that want to keep it lightweight with their LMG loadout.

Related: Best 556 Icarus loadout and class setup in MW2

The 556 Icarus is stellar since it is practically just an M4 assault rifle that comes inbuilt with a 75-round magazine while also possessing damage and handling that is strikingly similar to the regular M4 when you build it correctly, making this LMG an exceptional all-round weapon.

5) HCR 56

This is an old LMG that you may have come across in previous CoD games, albeit with improved stats. That, however, does not stop it from being one of the more lackluster LMGs in the game. 

The HCR’s TTK drops off drastically at around the 25-meter range, making it only suitable for close-range combat, but it even falters there when compared to the horde of assault rifles and SMGs that excel in close-range gunfights.

Due to the lightning-fast nature of the current metagame, you aren’t even guaranteed to get off a single shot without the threat of being killed by enemies who decided not to use a bad weapon.

Furthermore, the HCR 56 has one of the lowest damage outputs among all of the LMGs, along with the very worst recoil control. You’re better off with some of the other options on the list.

4) RAPP H

The RAPP H is essentially the 556 Icarus when it comes to statistics, offering the same fire rate and damage but with lower mobility, accuracy, and recoil control. Some players go for the RAPP H because of its fire rate, which actually manages to rival the 556 Icarus. But when you take the RAPP’s TTK into consideration, it ultimately gets beaten by the SAKIN and the RAAL.

The RAPP H comes with all the expected downsides of an LMG but none of the benefits. It takes forever to reload and doesn’t kill fast while needing to use two other weapons to simply unlock it in the first place. The RAPP H is outshined by several other LMG’s, but if you’re a fan of the Lachmann weapon platform, then you may find success with it.

Related: The best RAPP H loadout in Warzone 2

It does beat the 556 Icarus in terms of range, but only by a thread, which means that you are better off using the Icarus with attachments that improve its performance from a long distance.

3) SAKIN MG38

While the SAKIN MG38 has slightly lower damage than the Raal, its increased fire rate easily compensates for it. At the right range, this LMG has one of the fastest TTKs, only falling short of the RAAL. The SAKIN even boasts no damage falloff until 60 meters, making it an incredibly consistent weapon to use.

Related: Best Sakin MG38 loadout and class setup in MW2

The gun sees the best use in long-range encounters but can still be taken advantage of in mid-range and close-range fights. That being said, it does have the worst limb and headshot TTK in close range. Furthermore, players will have to get used to SAKIN’s slow handling, making the learning curve for this weapon much steeper than the rest.

2) RAAL MG

Still one of the best LMGs in MW2 as of now, this thunderous LMG possesses the quickest TTK among its weapon type in the game, and if you fit this baby with the correct attachments, it can even pick off enemies with two shots from a long distance.

Surprisingly, this does not impact the gun’s recoil control in any major way. The RAAL possesses phenomenal control, with only a tiny spike of horizontal recoil as you begin unloading the magazine that quickly fixes itself as you plow through the entire 75 rounds. 

The gun does happen to be the slowest in terms of fire rate, ADS, and reload speed, but it also has the highest damage per bullet, which more than makes up for its slow rate of fire, making this gun have great potential to get consecutive kills when in the thick of combat.

Since you don’t need many attachments to improve the recoil, you can use attachments that increase your mobility and ADS speed, and you’re definitely going to need it.

Related: Best RAAL MG loadout and class setup in MW2

While it is true that this gun may not be the fastest weapon you could have in your arsenal, as long as you keep your gunfights medium to long ranged, the RAAL MG will shine like it is meant to.

1) RPK

The RPK is one of the players’ favorite LMGs in MW2 thanks to its ability to be turned into a bit of a run-and-gun weapon in the Gunsmith, all while maintaining its large magazine.

Related: Best RPK loadout and class setup in MW2

For a more skilled, accurate player that is able to land close-range headshots, the RPK can be an extremely effective pick. This LMG has the fastest TTK tor limbs up close while maintaining its TTK during mid-range and long-range combat.

While the gun has the second fastest reload speed of all LMGs, it does have a slow fire rate, which makes landing all your shots all the more important.