Black Ops 2 Attachment Guide - Best Attachments for Every Weapon

Introduction

Attachments in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 can transform an average weapon into a competitive powerhouse. The Pick 10 system forces tough choices — two attachments mean two fewer points for perks or equipment. Knowing which attachments provide the most value per point is essential for creating effective classes.

This guide covers every attachment category in BO2, ranks them by effectiveness, and provides recommended combinations for each weapon class.

Optic Attachments

| Attachment | Effect | Best For | Rating | |------------|--------|----------|--------| | Red Dot Sight | Clean reflex sight, minimal zoom | All-purpose | A | | EOTech Sight | Holographic reticle, slightly more zoom | Medium range | A | | ACOG Scope | 2.4x magnification | Long range, LMGs | B | | Target Finder | Highlights enemies with red diamond | LMGs, beginners | Banned in competitive | | Hybrid Optic | Switches between reflex and 2.4x | Versatile players | B | | Variable Zoom | 3x-12x adjustable zoom | Snipers only | A | | MMS Scanner | See enemies through thin cover | Niche | C |

Best Optic Choice by Weapon Class

• Assault Rifles: Red Dot Sight or iron sights (save the point)
• SMGs: Iron sights (SMGs excel up close; optics are unnecessary)
• LMGs: EOTech or Target Finder for holding lanes
• Sniper Rifles: Variable Zoom or Ballistics CPU (reduces sway)
• Shotguns: Never use an optic — save the point

Barrel Attachments

| Attachment | Effect | Best For | |------------|--------|----------| | Suppressor | Hide from minimap when firing | Stealth, flanking | | Long Barrel | Increases effective damage range | SMGs, shotguns | | FMJ | Increased bullet penetration | LMGs, wallbanging |

Suppressor vs Long Barrel — The Great Debate

Choose Suppressor When:

• You play aggressively and flank often
• You want to stay off enemy radar
• The map has many flank routes (Standoff, Raid)
• You play Search & Destroy

Choose Long Barrel When:

• You main an SMG and want AR-range damage
• The map has long sightlines (Turbine, Carrier)
• You play anchor or defensive positions

The Meta Answer: For SMGs, Long Barrel is generally better (extends the 3-shot kill range significantly). For ARs, the decision depends on your playstyle.

Underbarrel & Handling Attachments

| Attachment | Effect | Best For | Tier | |------------|--------|----------|------| | Quickdraw Handle | Faster ADS time | Every weapon | S | | Stock | Faster movement while ADS | ARs, LMGs | S | | Fore Grip | Reduced recoil | High-recoil weapons | B | | Grenade Launcher | Underbarrel explosive | Fun, not competitive | D |

Quickdraw Handle — The Universal S-Tier

Quickdraw speeds up your aim-down-sights time by approximately 30%. In a game where fractions of a second decide gunfights, this is the single most valuable attachment in Black Ops 2. It should be on nearly every serious class.

Stock — Essential for AR Players

Stock allows you to strafe at near-walking speed while aiming down sights. This makes you significantly harder to hit during AR duels. If you are an AR main and only have one attachment point, choose Stock over Quickdraw — the survivability from strafing is irreplaceable.

Magazine & Ammo Attachments

| Attachment | Effect | Best For | |------------|--------|----------| | Extended Clip | +30-50% magazine capacity | SMGs, LMGs | | Fast Mag | Faster reload | Snipers, shotguns | | Dual Mag | Faster reload on every other reload | ARs | | Select Fire | Switch between auto/burst/semi | FAL OSW, burst weapons |

Extended Clip vs Fast Mag

• Extended Clip is better on weapons with moderate magazine sizes (30 rounds → 40-45) where those extra bullets prevent you from being caught mid-reload.
• Fast Mag excels on weapons with slow base reloads (LMGs, sniper rifles). Cutting a 3-second reload to 1.5 seconds is game-changing.
• Dual Mag is the budget option — fast reload every other reload for 1 point instead of 2 for Extended Clip + Fast Mag.

Attachment Combinations by Weapon Class

Best AR Attachments

| Tier | Combination | Points | |------|------------|--------| | S | Stock + Quickdraw | 2 | | S | Stock + Quickdraw + Suppressor | 3 (with Primary Gunfighter) | | A | Stock + Red Dot Sight | 2 | | A | Quickdraw + Suppressor | 2 |

Best SMG Attachments

| Tier | Combination | Points | |------|------------|--------| | S | Quickdraw + Long Barrel | 2 | | A | Quickdraw + Suppressor | 2 | | A | Quickdraw + Extended Clip | 2 | | B | Laser Sight + Long Barrel | 2 (hipfire build) |

Best LMG Attachments

| Tier | Combination | Points | |------|------------|--------| | S | Quickdraw + Stock | 2 | | A | Target Finder + Quickdraw | 2 | | A | FMJ + Extended Clip | 2 |

Best Sniper Attachments

| Tier | Combination | Points | |------|------------|--------| | S | Ballistics CPU + Fast Mag | 2 | | A | Variable Zoom + Fast Mag | 2 | | B | Suppressor + Ballistics CPU | 2 |

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Grenade Launcher worth using?

In public matches, it can be fun. In serious play, the grenade launcher wastes a Pick 10 point that should go toward an optic, handling attachment, or extra perk. It also has only 2 grenades by default (no Scavenger resupply).

What is the best attachment for beginners?

Red Dot Sight on assault rifles helps new players acquire targets faster. As you improve, graduate to iron sights and use the saved point for Stock or an extra perk.

Does FMJ increase damage?

No. FMJ only increases bullet penetration through walls and surfaces. It does not increase base damage. It is situational — useful on maps with lots of thin cover (Hijacked, Nuketown) but wasted on open maps.

Conclusion

Attachments are force multipliers, not replacements for skill. The right attachment setup makes a good player better; it does not make a bad player good. Focus on the handling trio — Quickdraw, Stock, and Suppressor — as your foundation, and experiment with different combinations based on your weapon, map, and playstyle.

Your Pick 10 points are precious. Spend them on attachments that directly improve your time-to-kill or survivability. Flashy optics and underbarrel launchers may look cool, but Stock and Quickdraw win gunfights.