[TIPS] Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Weapon Choices

Favorite weapons for each kit, along with % confidence that they will stay that way (100% confidence = I am absolutely positively sure this is the best weapon for me, and probably the best weapon for people that play like me):


Assault
Weapon: XM8 prototype
Confidence: 90%

Runner up: AN-94
Confidence: 80%

The XM8 is the best overall assault rifle, in my opinion. Relatively low recoil combined with decent damage, accuracy and rate of fire make it effective in almost all situations. It's effective on the go in short bursts from the hip or in close range spray fests. At longer ranges semi-automatic fire has moderate effectiveness. It's enough to kill a stationary target or prevent a sniper from hitting you, but I wouldn't get into long range duels. With the XM8 I strive to keep encounters at short and medium distances.

The AN-94 has one of the highest damage per bullet weapons in the game. However, it's mediocre at best on the move, and after a few bursts the recoil makes it horribly inaccurate. It's also clumsy at close range fighting. However, it really shines at medium/long range fights, especially if you have the luxury of staying stationary. You'd be hard pressed outdueling a AN-94 with any non-explosive weapon if they're ready for you.

The M16A2 fails the test because while the first burst is very accurate, the second burst sucks ass and the third burst is practically useless. The M416 carbine feels like a less accurate version of the XM8 (much more recoil).

Recon
Weapon: M24
Confidence: 95%

Runner up: M95
Confidence: 85%

The M24 is a beast. It's the most accurate sniper rifle and has the 2nd highest damage behind the M95. At close ranges it will kill in one shot to the chest. Give it magnum ammo and that range extends out a little further. It's accurate enough to move, quick scope/stand still and fire. A lot of the other sniper rifles have trouble maintaining dead on accuracy in those situations. You can even noscope with it while moving to a degree.

The M95 is the runner up because it's basically a M24 clone that has a lower rate of fire, lower accuracy and slightly higher damage. It's basically a close combat weapon ironically, since it's accuracy sucks (compared to the M24) at long distances but it can one shot kill from a further distance.

The semi-auto sniper rifles basically all suck. I have like 2000 deaths and maybe five of them were to semi-auto sniper rifles. The first hit isn't the problem, it's getting the kill that's insanely hard. A hit from a M24 or M95 will always leave them in critical health (giving you the critical kill assist if somebody else finishes them off) where a pistol round or two will kill them, and it has a nearly guaranteed kill chance against injured opponents. The semi-autos stand no chance.

Medic
Weapon: M249 SAW
Confidence: 80%

Runner up: M60
Confidence: 65%

The SAW is very accurate, has low recoil and mediocre damage per bullet. But who cares? It takes only 2-3 bursts to drop someone from short to medium-long distance, and at longer ranges you can semi-auto or do two round bursts to drop them. It's not a great close combat weapon due to the low bullet damage (while the rate of fire is high, it has a large spread so most bullets will miss) but you shouldn't be getting that close to the enemy without the advantage of surprise. The biggest advantage is the 200 round clip. Not only do you not need to reload, but you can spray people through walls happily. The SAW is a great "all hell breaks loose weapon". The recoil is low enough that you can rapidly change targets quickly (which is useful for when enemies stream in from all directions) and the clip is large enough that you know you'll go down shooting.

The M60 is the higher damage brethren to the SAW. In exchange, it has MUCH higher recoil. Doing anything more than semi-auto at range is madness. The fact that it does 4 shot kills at close range and 5 at long range is veryyyy tempting, though. If I get used to the recoil I might end up changing to the M60 full time.


Engineer
Weapon: SCAR-L/UMP
Confidence: 85%

Runner up: XM8 Compact
Confidence: 80%

The SCAR is a great close combat weapon and a decent medium range one. While it has a high damage falloff (like all SMGs, the bullets do WAY less damage at range) it's got great rate of fire and low recoil. Why is the UMP also listed? The UMP is identical to the SCAR in damage and rate of fire, but has 5 fewer bullets in the magazine. However, my early testing seems to indicate that the UMP is more accurate/has lower recoil. If this is really true, the UMP would be my favorite over the SCAR.

The XM8 is similar to the SCAR but does less damage and has higher rate of fire. Frankly, I'll take the lower ROF and more damage.

Pistol
Weapon: M1911
Confidence: 95%

Weapon: MP-412 revolver
Confidence: 60%

The M1911 is the best pistol. Period. Low recoil, high accuracy, high damage. I've won plenty of duels against people with ASSAULT RIFLES. It won't kill in one headshot but it'll come pretty damn close, too. The M1911 is devastating in close/medium range combat with rapid semi-automatic fire, but has the accuracy to be used to snipe injured enemies at a distance too. The M1911 is also very accurate when you're moving, too.

The MP-412 is really only good at close range and against an injured opponent. 40 damage shots are nothing to be laughed at (and I believe it's a one headshot kill, one of the few weapons to boast that) but the recoil is insane. It also sucks at medium-range fighting while you're moving.