Forgotten Warzone 2 LMG loadout rivals Cronen Squall meta with “phenomenal” TTK

Nathan Warby
Warzone 2 Operator using 556 Icarus LMG

The Cronen Sqaull has dominated Warxone 2 since arriving in Season 3, but CoD expert WhosImmortal has found that players are “sleeping on” an underrated LMG that can go toe-to-toe with the Battle Rifle to become a meta contender.

The Warzone 2 meta evolves with each new update, buffing and nerfing weapons to drastically alter which are the most popular among players. The RPK dominated the early weeks, while the ISO Hemlock was the go-to after it arrive.

Since dropping in Season 3, the Cronen Squall has emerged as the meta option in Warzone 2, consistently topping the pick rates as many consider it to be the best gun in the game. Even a nerf in the May 31 update wasn’t enough to knock the Battle Rifle off its perch.

However, Warzone 2 guru WhosImmortal has shown off an LMG loadout that he says “fries” just as quickly as the Cronen Squall.

In his June 5 video, WhosImmortal broke down the stats of the 556 Icarus LMG compared to the Cronen and other meta weapons. Despite, its low 0.2% pick rate on WZ Ranked, the results were surprisingly close.

warzone 2 556 icarus lmg
The 556 Icarus has been an unpopular pick ever since Warzone 2 launched.

The YouTuber found that the 566 Icarus had the superior TTK over up to around 25 meters, and after dropping off in the mid-range, virtually matches the meta Battle Rifle from 48 meters onwards.

“Beyond 48 meters, that is a difference you’re really not going to notice,” he explained. “Which is absolutely insane considering how much easier the Icarus is to use versus the Cronen Squall.”

WhosImmortal then tested the 556 Icarus in a match and described it as “phenomenal,” capable of holding its own against the very best guns in the game. Check out Whosimmortal’s best 556 Icarus loadout in Warzone 2 below.

WhosImmortal’s best 556 Icarus loadout for Warzone 2

  • Muzzle: Echoless-80
  • Barrel: FTAC Coldforge 16″ Barrel
  • Optic: AIM OP-V4
  • Underbarrel: FTAC Ripper
  • Ammunition: 5.56 High Velocity

WhosImmortal began his best 556 Icarus loadout with the Echoless-80 muzzle and FTAC Coldforge 16″ barrel, which buff the LMG’s damage range and bullet velocity to make it a monster at long range. Then, he picked the FTAC Ripper for improved recoil stabilization to keep the weapon on target.

In terms of optic, the YouTuber AIM OP-V4 but urged players to pick whichever sight they are most comfortable with. Finally, he added 5.56 High Velocity rounds for better consistency over longer distances.

With this build, WhosImmortal added that he expects the 556 Icarus to become a meta contender, especially later down the line when the likes of the Croenen Squall are nerfed.

“The stats show it and the gameplay show it, the Icarus is actually a genuinely competitive weapon that you can pick up right now and fry with,” said the content creator. “Master this gun, and it’s going to have very high upsides. It could be something we’re sleeping on now, but could be top tier in a few updates time.”

For more on Warzone 2, be sure to check out the best Ranked Play loadouts, as well as everything we know about the new Vondel loadout.

About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].