Among the headline changes in Warzone and Modern Warfare 2 Season 4 Reloaded was a new shotgun. It’s fully automatic and dropped hot, so here are the best MX Guardian builds for Warzone and MW2.
Shotguns have been experiencing something of a renaissance in Warzone and MW2 after the Season 4 update buffed the weapon class almost entirely. The KV Broadside remains a fan favorite, but it could now have competition after the addition of the MX Guardian in Season 4 Reloaded.
Best Warzone MX Guardian Build
The shotgun, unsurprisingly, flourishes at the closest of ranges. Activision described it as “versatile” and have revealed it can be used semi-auto, fully-auto or with a burst-fire mechanic.
We’ve used it a lot now and can honestly say it’s more difficult to use than you’d imagine. It’s not got the best range (even for a shotgun) and there’s a lot of recoil to contest with.
As a result, we’ve tweaked our recommended loadouts, with the Lockgrip Precision-40 standing out as crucial. It improves hip fire accuracy, recoil steadiness and aim walking steadiness. In short, it’s easier to use and better if you’re not ADS.
After that, the MX Pro Mag comes in. There’s no ammo-increasing option here, but the MX Pro decreases ADS time and keeps 15 Rounds, so it’s a win win on the MX Guardian.
It’s joined by the Bruen B60 and HYP-LM. Both improve recoil stability significantly, making it more accurate and easier to use. In Warzone, when enemies might be further off, this is crucial.
- Underbarrel: Lockgrip Precision-40
- Barrel: HYP-LM
- Magazine: MX Pro Mag
- Rear Grip: Bruen B60
- Laser: ST0VL TAC Laser
Finally, the ST0VL TAC Laser comes in thanks to it’s boosts to hip fire, in terms of accuracy and control. It means you can rely on the MX Guardian even when you’re caught off guard and not ADS.
Best MW2 Loadout
In Modern Warfare 2, there’s probably not the need for the range boosting attachments. You won’t be coming up against enemies with three armor plates to tear through, and the average shotgun encounter in multiplayer will be at the closest of ranges.
To that end, we’re swapping out the barrel for the MX DCP-0 stock to make your shotgun quicker.
- Underbarrel: Lockgrip Precision-40
- Stock: MX DCP-0
- Magazine: MX Pro Mag
- Rear Grip: XRK Rush
- Muzzle: XTEN Modified Choke
For the same reason, the Bruen B60 rear grip is also out in favor of the XRK Rush, which makes ADS even faster for those close-range and frequent engagements in MW2 multiplayer.
We’re also swapping out the RMGE-7 Muzzle for the XTEN Modified Choke, tightening pellet spread and increasing the lethality of your Guardian. It means you’ll have to be accurate, but centering enemies will reward you with even faster eliminations.
The remainder of the build stays the same for now, with the Lockgrip Precision-40 and MX Pro Mag carrying over to balance out speed with control.
We’re not fans of the semi-automatic or burst-fire trigger options, with the MX Guardian doing insufficient damage to really justify slowing the fire rate so much. It could change in the future though, especially with Season 5 approaching.
How To Unlock
As has become standard for new weapons in MW2 and Warzone, the MX Guardian is unlockable via the seasonal Battle Pass. Specifically, players need to use their Battle Pass Tokens to unlock Sector D0.
This is unlocked by completing one adjacent sector – any of D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, or D7. Most will already have one of these unlocked, meaning they can get to completing the Sector’s challenges to earn the MX Guardian.
There’s five challenges to complete in total. The first four each unlock something and get you closer to the new shotgun. They are:
- Get 10 ADS Operator Kills with Shotguns (rewards Dependable Emblem)
- Get 10 Hipfire Operator Kills with Shotguns (rewards Gunfire Calling Card)
- Get 10 Headshot Operator Kills with Shotguns (rewards Fanning Hutch Loading Screen)
- Get 10 one shot Operator Kills with Shotguns (rewards 1 Hour Double Weapon XP Token)
Earning all of the above rewards unlocks the final challenge, for which the reward is the weapon itself.
- Get 30 Point Blank Operator Kills with Shotguns (rewards the MX Guardian shotgun)
As is also standard with new weapons, unlocking the MX Guardian in one game will translate to the other. If you only play MW2 and unlock it by playing the annual instalment, you’ll still be able to use it in Warzone (and vice-versa).
You can also purchase a bundle with a MX Guardian Blueprint in it. This automatically unlocks the new shotgun across all titles. It does cost real world money though. Assuming you’ve already got the seasonal Battle Pass, you can unlock it for free by completing the challenges above.
We recommend dropping into a small map (like Shipment 24/7) with a reliable one-hit shotgun (like the Bryson 890) and getting to work. It should only take you a few games to complete all the challenges needed.
That’s how to unlock and use the MX Guardian to its maximum in Warzone and MW2. Be sure to check out the related content below for everything else CoD.
