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What Gives Weapon XP in MW2? A Comprehensive Guide to Leveling Up Fast

In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (MW2), leveling up your weapons is crucial for unlocking attachments and maximizing their potential. But how exactly do you gain that precious weapon XP? The short answer is: through in-game actions directly related to using your chosen weapon, as well as some clever strategies that leverage game mechanics. This article dives deep into all the ways you can earn weapon XP in MW2, providing both direct methods and strategic approaches to help you level up your arsenal quickly and efficiently.

Direct Ways to Earn Weapon XP

The most straightforward way to gain weapon XP is simply by using the weapon in combat. Here’s a breakdown of the main actions:

Enemy Kills

Eliminating enemy players is the most common way to earn weapon XP. Each kill you secure with a specific weapon will contribute to that weapon’s progression.
The amount of XP awarded for a kill can vary slightly depending on the game mode, encouraging players to explore different gameplay styles.

Decoy Grenade Assists

Decoy grenades are more useful than they appear for weapon leveling. Throwing a decoy near enemies and having a teammate eliminate those enemies will net you Decoy kill assist XP.
This method requires a bit of coordination but can be a valuable, passive source of weapon XP.

Vehicle Kills and Objective Play

If you use a Light Tank or an APC, every kill you get while using them counts toward the weapon XP of your current weapon.
Additionally, capturing objectives while in a vehicle also awards weapon XP. Each objective capture can give you up to 250 XP, and each kill up to 100 XP, though this XP is likely applied to your overall level and not just weapon.

DMZ and Warzone 2.0

* In both the **DMZ and Warzone 2.0 modes**, **weapon XP** is accumulated directly through the usage of that weapon by eliminating AI soldiers, fulfilling contracts, killing player operators, and completing faction missions.

* Successfully extracting from the DMZ with your insured weapon will continue to gain it XP.

Strategic Methods to Maximize Weapon XP

While direct combat is essential, certain strategies and game modes can significantly accelerate your weapon leveling.

Kill Confirmed Dog Tag Strategy

In the Kill Confirmed multiplayer mode, you can maximize XP by eliminating enemies with one weapon and then switching to another weapon before collecting their dropped dog tags. This allows you to earn weapon XP for multiple guns in a single match.

Safe Cracker/Intel Missions

For a more pacifistic but very rewarding way to level up your guns, consider playing solo in DMZ. Head to a quiet corner of the map and complete Safe Cracker or Intel Missions.
These missions can give you massive amounts of XP, often fully leveling most guns in just 2-3 games, especially during double XP weekends.

Objective-Based Game Modes

Playing objective-based modes like Domination is highly effective. In addition to kills, capturing and defending objectives earns you XP. This contributes towards overall experience that may have a secondary impact on weapon experience.

Invasion

Invasion is an under-utilized game mode for weapon leveling. It is especially effective for leveling snipers and marksman rifles by killing bots.

Search and Destroy

Search and Destroy is another game mode that provides higher amounts of weapon XP due to high amounts of kill potential within a shorter time frame.

Taking Advantage of Premium XP Boosts and Double XP Events

Modern Warfare II owners receive Premium XP while playing Warzone™ 2.0, adding additional XP to each match’s gains.
Always keep an eye out for double XP weekends, which dramatically increase the rate at which you level up both your player profile and your weapons.

The Influence of Attachments

It is important to note that while weapon XP is how you unlock attachments, the attachments themselves do not directly influence the amount of weapon XP you gain. However, by tuning your weapon using the sliders at the bottom and left of the screen, you can significantly impact the weapon’s performance, allowing you to eliminate more targets and thus gain XP faster.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions players have about earning weapon XP in MW2:

1. Does every kill give weapon XP?

Yes, every kill you get with a specific weapon will give you **weapon XP** for that weapon. However, the amount of XP might vary depending on the game mode.

2. Do throwing knife kills count towards weapon XP?

While kills with a throwing knife or grenade do earn match XP, it is not directly applied to weapon XP. Only kills with your selected firearm will contribute to that weapon's progression.

3. Do assists give weapon XP?

Yes, but to a lesser degree than kills. If you injure an enemy and a teammate finishes them off, you will receive a small amount of weapon XP for that assist as a decoy assist.

4. Do objective captures give weapon XP?

Capturing objectives and other actions like completing map contracts, faction missions and extraction in the DMZ will earn weapon XP as well as overall experience.

5. Do decoy grenades boost weapon XP?

 Yes, if you throw a **decoy grenade** near enemies that are then killed by your teammates, you will earn **Decoy kill assist XP** for that weapon.

6. Do tank kills count towards weapon XP?

Yes, every kill you get using a Light Tank or an APC, as well as every objective you capture while in a vehicle, will add to your weapon XP.

7. What is the fastest way to level up guns in MW2?

Playing **Invasion mode**, completing **Safe Cracker/Intel Missions in DMZ**, or employing the **Kill Confirmed dog tag strategy** are among the fastest methods for leveling up guns.

8. Is DMZ good for weapon XP?

Yes, the **DMZ** is a great place to level up guns by killing AI soldiers, completing contracts and killing player operators. Successfully extracting from the DMZ ensures you keep the weapon progress you've made.

9. What gives the most weapon XP in DMZ?

In the **DMZ**, **killing AI soldiers**, completing map contracts, faction missions and extracting are some of the best ways to earn **weapon XP**.

10. Does MW2 ranked play give weapon XP?

Yes, playing **ranked matches** will give you weapon XP. The XP gained will unlock additional default loadouts and customization options for the weapons.

11. How do premium XP boosts work?

**Modern Warfare II owners** get **Premium XP** while playing Warzone™ 2.0. This means they will receive additional XP on top of any earned match XP.

12. What game modes give the most weapon XP?

**Invasion** and **Search and Destroy** are known to be some of the best game modes for weapon XP farming.

13. How does tuning attachments affect weapon XP?

While tuning **attachments** doesn't directly give you more weapon XP, optimizing your weapon’s stats can help you eliminate enemies more easily and thus indirectly improve your weapon XP gains.

14. Is the TAQ-56 a good gun in MW2?

Yes, the TAQ-56 is currently one of the best assault rifles in Warzone 2, known for its low recoil, high bullet velocity, and accuracy.

15. What is the best SMG in MW2?

The **Fennec 45** is widely considered one of the best SMGs in **Modern Warfare 2**, followed by the **BAS-P** and **Lachmann Sub**.

By utilizing these methods and understanding the mechanics, you’ll be well on your way to unlocking all those sweet weapon attachments in MW2 and dominating the battlefield.

What gives weapon XP in mw2?