Modern Warfare 2 Perk system explained

Luca Di Marzo
Modern Warfare 2 Perks

Thanks to the Call of Duty Next event, players got their first look at the new Perk system in Modern Warfare 2. Here’s a detailed explanation of what to expect from Perk Packages.

Perks have been an integral part of Call of Duty multiplayer since the franchise’s inception, and that will continue to be the case in Modern Warfare 2. While the game’s new weapons will certainly garner a ton of attention, the importance of Perks is not to be underestimated.

The Call of Duty Next event has revealed plenty of details concerning Modern Warfare 2’s Perk system. Players will have to come to grips with a new Perk Packages system, which they’ll encounter for the first time in the Modern Warfare 2 beta.

Here’s a guide to help you understand Modern Warfare 2’s Perk system.

What are Perk Packages in Modern Warfare 2?

The Modern Warfare 2 Perk system is being compared to MW3’s and those familiar with the Call of Duty title of the past will notice similarities.

When creating a class, you’ll be able to build a Perk Package that contains four Perks. Two of the four Perks are known as base Perks. Meanwhile, the third and fourth Perks are known as bonus and ultimate Perks respectively.

Base Perks don’t require activation, but bonus and ultimate Perks will not activate until later on in a match.

The timing of their activation will fluctuate from player to player: “By default, in non-round-based modes, a Bonus Perk is earned four minutes into the match, while an Ultimate Perk is earned eight minutes into the match. Those timers can be sped up by earning score – via kills, assists, objective play, and more – during a match; every 10 points shaves a second off.”

In other words, the better you play in a given match, the faster your Perks will activate, increasing the tools at your disposal.

You’ll have the choice to “edit your Perk Package in your Loadout or utilize the several premade Default Perk Packages.”

Perks are still split up into numbered sections like most Call of Duty games. When creating a Perk Package, you’ll have to select two Perks from slot one, one Perk from slot two, and one Perk from slot three.

It’s also been confirmed that Dead Silence will be a Field Upgrade and not a Perk in Modern Warfare 2.


For more, check out the PC requirements needed to enjoy the Modern Warfare 2 beta, or find out if beta progress will carry over to the full game at launch.

Image Credit: Activision

About The Author

Luca is an Associate Editor at CharlieIntel. An accomplished, writer with interests in sports and gaming alike, Luca is focused on Call of Duty and FIFA as a content creator. After earning his BA in English Literature at Concordia University, he began writing for Gamelevate, OddsShark, and H4X. Luca joined CharlieIntel in 2021. You can reach Luca at [email protected], or via X @TheLucaDiMarzo.