Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II has been out for almost a week now, and fans have been diving into the multiplayer mode, breaking down the best weapons, and figuring out how to best play on the new selection of maps. COD: MW2 has introduced a bunch of brand new maps, and each of them has its share of strengths and weaknesses.
In this guide we’ve ranked all of the 6v6 maps in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II from best to worst. Some people have said that MW2 maps are bad, but in all honesty, we think there’s a strong selection to be enjoyed here, with more maps to come in the future. Take a look at our rankings of all the MW2 multiplayer maps below and see if you agree.
If you’re looking for guns to use on these maps, check out our MW2 weapon tier list.
How many maps are in MW2? – COD: MW2 maps
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II currently has ten total maps for the 6v6 multiplayer, and a further four maps for Invasion and Ground War matches, bringing the total up to 14. Two of those are smaller portions of the upcoming Al Mazrah. Of course there will be more maps in the future, and Warzone 2.0 is due later this month, which will bring Al Mazrah into play properly.
We haven’t included Ground War or Invasion maps in this list, but here they are for anyone curious:
- Guijarro
- Sa’id
- Santa Seña
- Sarrif Bay
Breenbergh Hotel – COD: MW2 maps
While it might be in some legal hot water, there’s a lot to love about Breenbergh Hotel. The open roof allows aerial killstreaks to make their way in, but there are still plenty of enclosed rooms and spaces, meaning you can feel relatively safe while sprinting through the complex with an SMG. Once you’re used to routes in and out of rooms, you’ll be able to guard objectives with ease, making this one of the most solid overall maps in MW2.
Farm 18 – COD: MW2 maps
Farm 18 is a bit more like a factory, but that name might’ve been used a few times already for maps in Call of Duty’s history. This has a large central building with – you guessed it – an open roof, in addition to two long sightlines running alongside the building, finished off with some nice opportunities for combat encounters along the edges of the map. This map has it all, plenty of places for interesting encounters, sniper sightlines, close-quarters areas for shotgun ambushes, you name it. A great map for all kinds of game modes.
Mercado Las Almas – COD: MW2 maps
This map is perfect for objective-based game modes. It’s not too big, which helps, but has a long alleyway down the middle, perfect for sniper shots. Those not wishing to get gunned down will stick to the sides, where we have different buildings and alleyways to set up in. This will likely be the premier map for Search and Destroy matches.
Embassy – COD: MW2 maps
If you want a great map for Domination, here it is. Embassy has two large car parks on both sides, with two buildings in the center. Both buildings have two layers, with one best used for its balcony overlook – hello, sniper fans – and the other containing two narrow floors, ideal for close-range gunplay. With multiple paths to get everywhere, this map is great for any weapon choice and game mode.
Zarqwa Hydroelectric – COD: MW2 maps
This map gives MW2’s swimming mechanics a chance to shine. While there are essentially three lanes to choose from and a home base on each side, you can cross between the three lanes by using underground waterways to swim between them. Poking your head out isn’t always a smart move, but it can pay off in dividends in the right situation.
El Asilo – COD: MW2 maps
Another map with a central building that’ll house most of the conflicts, but there’s a decent amount to see elsewhere too. Mind, at least one side of this map is often left neglected unless there’s a very cheeky sniper or objective up there. If this map had its sides trimmed just a little bit, it would be a standout, but as of right now the edges of this map just feel superfluous.
Crown Raceway – COD: MW2 maps
This map might be a bit too big for 6v6 engagements, but it’s still good fun. The sounds of zooming engines will distract enemies from your stomping feet, and this map is quite varied. Two long sightlines – one practically unbroken – allow snipers a chance to shine, while cheeky close-quarters fighters can stick to side buildings and corridors in order to get ahead. Despite its size, players get funneled through pretty efficiently during matches, so you won’t be waiting too long between engagements.
Santa Seña Border Crossing – COD: MW2 maps
A small portion of the Santa Seña map, the Border Crossing is basically a road blocked up with cars, a narrow tunnel, and a side street with a few more cars. It’s densely packed, meaning you can potentially run straight through the main street without fear of being immediately picked off by a sniper. In fact, snipers will find this map to be a bit awkward. This map isn’t terrible, but the two ends and almost always empty, meaning all encounters take place in the same few areas as players rush to meet in the center.
Al Bagra Fortress – COD: MW2 maps
This map can get messy, fast. The center is multi-layered, and even if you have a UAV in play it can be very difficult to figure out where enemies are which way they’re moving. It’s not large, but it’s dense, and encounters here end up feeling very chaotic thanks to sightlines moving in seemingly every direction. Things calm down a lot during objective-based games, but even then it can be hard to predict movement and execute a good play with your team.
Taraq – COD: MW2 maps
Taraq is too big and doesn’t have much going on. There’s a lot of sand in Taraq, and a bunch of small, broken buildings. You’ll spend most of your time hiding behind rubble as snipers perch from every rooftop. Taraq isn’t a terrible map, but it certainly limits the kinds of weapons you can use, and that makes it a tough map to enjoy, let alone recommend.
Written by Dave Aubrey on behalf of GLHF.
