What is the Modern Warfare 2 level cap?

All Call of Duty players have hopped online during the launch weekend of a new game and seen a player at an unfathomable rank.

If you’re one of those public lobby demons who hits max rank within a few hours of the game releasing, you may have realized there’s an eventual wall to be hit within the leveling process in Modern Warfare 2.

The maximum rank of the basic leveling system in MW2 was 55 at launch. After that, players were stuck and could not progress further. For a long while, it seemed like the grind came to an unceremonious halt at 55, but there’s more to the game than meets the eye.

MW2 rank-up progression explained

“The first 20 days between [launch] and Nov. 16 give you the ultimate opportunity to prepare for an incredible year full of content,” Activision said back in November, when players were stuck at rank 55.

Once players hit the maximum military rank of 55, traditional progression stopped until season one began. MW2 has brought back the seasonal prestige system of the past few CoD titles, which means prestige ranks are tied to seasons.

Season one began on Nov. 16. At that point, players’ prestige ranks were reset to level one, and the grind to hit max prestige rank in each season began.

“To begin with, Modern Warfare 2 brings you the familiar leveling system; you have 55 Military Ranks to complete, each unlocking as you receive experience points (XP) from actions you perform during different matches,” Activision said. “Even if you somehow hit Military Rank 55 on day one, there are multiple ways to set yourself up for success in Season 01 and beyond.”

Now at the end of MW2’s life cycle, the prestige rank is all the way up to 25. Here are all the details.

MW2 Prestige mode ranks in season six

With the onset of season one, the level cap increased in MW2 thanks to season Prestige levels. The grind began once again, as players were able to rank up their level to new heights each season. In season one, the cap was 250, but it increased over time, now all the way up to to the maximum level of 1,250.

Here’s how the Prestige ranks look in MW2.

• Prestige 2: Unlocked at Rank 100
• Prestige 3: Unlocked at Rank 150
• Prestige 4: Unlocked at Rank 200
• Prestige 5: Unlocked at Rank 250, and was the level cap until the end of season one.
• Prestige 6: Unlocked at Level 300
• Prestige 7: Unlocked at Level 350
• Prestige 8: Unlocked at Level 400
• Prestige 9: Unlocked at Level 450
• Prestige 10: Unlocked at Level 500, and was the maximum level cap until the end of season two.
• Prestige 10: Unlocked at Level 500.
• Prestige 11: Unlocked at Level 550.
• Prestige 12: Unlocked at Level 600.
• Prestige 13: Unlocked at Level 650, and was the maximum level cap until the end of season three.
• Prestige 14: Unlocked at Level 700.
• Prestige 15: Unlocked at Level 750
• Prestige 16: Unlocked at Level 800.
• Prestige 17: Unlocked at Level 850, and was the maximum level cap until the end of season four.
• Prestige 18: Unlocked at Level 900.
• Prestige 19: Unlocked at Level 950.
• Prestige 20: Unlocked at Level 1,000, and was the maximum level that can be achieved in season five.
• Prestige 22: Unlocked at Level 1,100.
• Prestige 23: Unlocked at Level 1,150.
• Prestige 24: Unlocked at Level 1,200.
• Prestige 25: Unlocked at Level 1,250. This is the final, maximum level to be achieved in MW2.

“Each Prestige Rank also unlocks a new set of Challenges,” Activision said. “Complete these to earn new Calling Cards, including Animated Calling Cards for completing full sets of Challenges.”