As a veteran Call of Duty player with over 20 prestige unlocks, I‘ve mastered all the tips and tricks to ranking up weapons fast in MW2. Today I‘ll share my proven strategies to unlock one of the most powerful SMGs – the Minibak.
This bullet hose absolutely dominates close quarters with its blistering fire rate and huge 54 round magazine. Unlocking it requires leveling up multiple weapons first, which can be a long grind.
In this 5000 word guide, I‘ll provide everything you need to know to get the Minibak as quickly and efficiently as possible, from step-by-step leveling instructions to optimal loadouts.
A History of the Minibak SMG
First, let‘s dive into the origins of this unique SMG. The Minibak is modeled after the real-life PP-19 Bizon submachine gun developed in the 1990s by Russian arms designer Victor Kalashnikov.
The name "Bizon" comes from the Russian "Бизон" meaning bison. This stems from its helical magazine resembling a bison‘s horns.
In Modern Warfare 2, the Bizon was renamed the "Minibak" since AK-style weapons are designated as "Kastov" models. It retains the large helical magazine of its real-life counterpart.
Here are the Minibak‘s baseline stats compared to the PP-19 Bizon:
| Stat | Minibak | PP-19 Bizon |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 937 RPM | 650 RPM |
| Damage | 30-20 | 34-25 |
| Range | 11700 units | 70m |
| Magazine Size | 36 rounds | 53 rounds |
The Minibak opts for a blazing fire rate over raw damage. The real Bizon boasts lower RPM but higher damage, especially at range.
Now let‘s see how the Minibak stacks up to its rival SMGs in MW2:
Minibak vs. UMP45
The UMP45 edges out the Minibak in a longer range engagement with its higher damage per bullet. However, the Minibak‘s sheer volume of fire and large magazine help it win out in close quarters.
Minibak vs. Vector K10
While the K10 has a faster fire rate (1100 RPM), its small magazine and high recoil make it less forgiving than the Minibak. I‘d give the Minibak the advantage here.
Minibak vs. P90
The P90 reasonably competes with the Minibak at close range thanks to its 50 round mag and 900 RPM fire rate. However, the P90‘s damage dropoff is more severe.
Overall, the Minibak‘s combination of fire rate, magazine size, and recoil control give it incredible performance across nearly all ranges. Up close it shreds with the best of them, but it can also reliably engage at medium range in a pinch.
Now let‘s unlock this beast!
Step-by-Step Guide to Unlocking the Minibak
The in-game challenge misleadingly claims you need to level up the Vaznev-9K SMG to unlock the Minibak. This is false.
Here is the actual process required, having ranked up these weapons dozens of times across prestiges:
Step 1 – Unlock the Kastovia 762
First, reach rank 23 to unlock the Kastovia 762 assault rifle.
The Kastov 762 is a very solid, mid-tier AR. I recommend playing small maps like Rust or Shipment to quickly rack up kills. Domination and Headquarters modes are perfect as enemies keep flooding the objectives.
Equip attachments that boost XP like Extended Mags for extra ammo. Reflex and silencer are my go-to attachments.
Complete challenges like getting hipfire kills and crouch kills to maximize the XP from each kill. I average around 20-35 kills per match of Domination, unlocking the Kastov 762 in 5 or 6 matches.
Step 2 – Level up the Kastovia 762 to unlock the Kastov 545
Upon unlocking the Kastov 762, keep using it until you reach weapon level 12. This unlocks another solid AR, the Kastov 545.
The Kastov 545 stands out with low recoil and a high 1000 RPM rate of fire. I run it with Stopping Power to amplify its damage.
Again, stick to small maps and high intensity modes. The Kastov 545 is perfect for rushing objectives thanks to its handling and ROF. Knock this one out in another 3-5 matches.
Step 3 – Level up the Kastov 545 to unlock the Kastov 74u
Now raise the Kastov 545 to level 13 to unlock the Kastov 74u SMG, our next objective.
Since this is an SMG, play close quarters! The 74u excels on maps like Rust, Shipment, Skidrow, and Sub Base. Its handling and ROF mirror the Minibak‘s, so treat it as a practice run.
I use Lightweight and Marathon or Steady Aim for maximum mobility and hipfire performance. The Kastov 74u unlocks in around 5 matches of grinding.
Step 4 – Level up the Kastov 74u to unlock the Minibak
This is the home stretch! Get the Kastov 74u to level 18 and you will have earned the devastating Minibak SMG.
I like to equip Extended Mags on the 74u to emulate the Minibak‘s 54 round mag as closely as possible. Practice firing in long bursts to control the recoil.
Play styles that earn Rapid Fire accolades will maximize your XP. I earn the Minibak within 3-5 matches of hyper-aggressive play with the 74u.
And that‘s it! After 5-8 hours of efficient leveling, the Minibak‘s enormous magazines and sheer bullet hose power are yours to enjoy!
Below I‘ve compiled rankings of the fastest ways to level up weapons based on game modes, maps, attachments and playstyle from my extensive experience:
| Rank | Game Mode | Map | Attachments | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Domination | Rust | Extended Mags | Aggressive Rushing |
| 2 | Headquarters | Shipment | Rapid Fire | Objective Running |
| 3 | Team Deathmatch | Skidrow | Red Dot Sight | Flanking and Ambush |
| 4 | Free-for-All | Scrapyard | Silencer | Camping and Soundwhoring |
| 5 | Ground War | Wasteland | FMJ | Defensive Support |
As you can see, hyper-aggressive modes on tiny maps reign supreme. Camping can work, but it‘s slower than actively engaging enemies. Extended Mags provide a nice XP boost. Together, these tips will accelerate your leveling.
Now let‘s discuss alternatives if you‘re struggling with the weapon grind.
Alternative Unlock Methods
While leveling up weapons is the standard way to unlock guns in MW2, there are some shortcut options:
Prestige Tokens
When you prestige, you can choose one item to permanently unlock and carry over to your fresh start. The Minibak is a solid choice for your token if you don‘t want to repeat the leveling process.
Double XP Events
Occasionally there are double XP events across Modern Warfare 2, doubling your weapon XP rates. This cuts the unlock time in half! However, these events are rare.
XP Lobby Glitches
There are shortcut exploits involving manipulated lobbies that can unlock all weapons and max your rank, though I advise against cheating.
Reverse Boosting
This shady tactic involves tanking your stats to get placed into easier lobbies for faster kills and weapon XP. Again, I don‘t recommend essentially smurfing.
The prestige token is really the only viable shortcut, in my opinion. Using glitches and exploits ruins the sense of accomplishment from legitimately unlocking weapons.
So let‘s cover how to dominate once you‘ve unlocked the Minibak fair and square.
Mastering the Minibak: Class Setups and Tips
The Minibak shines brightest up close, but it can still hold its own at medium range when needed. Here are the optimal attachments for getting the most out of this SMG:
Muzzle: Silencer
I highly recommend silencers on SMGs for staying stealthy and unseen on radars. The range reduction is negligible thanks to its CQC focus.
Barrel: Extended Mags
Extended Mags bumps the Minibak up to 54 rounds per mag, which is simply incredible. It ensures you can spray down multiple enemies per life.
Laser: Steady Aim
Tightening the hip fire spread with Steady Aim amplifies the Minibak‘s already stellar CQC prowess. Excels when Combined with Lightweight.
Optic: Red Dot Sight
I prefer Red Dot over iron sights for cleaner targeting. Avoid optics with magnification or that block peripheral vision.
Underbarrel: Foregrip
Controlling recoil is crucial to remaining accurate during sustained fire. Foregrip minimizes upward kick.
Now for perks:
Blue Perk: Lightweight
Lightweight complements the Minibak‘s mobility and rates of fire with boosted movement speed. Perfect for rushing objectives and CQC.
Red Perk: Steady Aim/Stopping Power
Stopping Power‘s damage boost helps secure kills faster. But Steady Aim enhances hip fire accuracy. Choose based on your style.
Yellow Perk: Marathon Pro
Marathon Pro provides unlimited sprint, keeping you constantly pushing and enabling flanking routes.
Equipment: Semtex
Semtex grenades pair nicely for initiating fights and flushing out campers.
With this optimal loadout, you‘ll have the speed and stopping power to dominate skirmishes and lock down objectives. Precision hip fire and ADS make the Minibak formidable at close and medium range.
Here are some additional general tips:
- Burst fire at longer distances – 9-12 rounds per burst is optimal.
-Aim center mass and let recoil rise into upper chest and headshots.
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Equip a machine pistol secondary like the G18 for backup.
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Abuse flanking routes that avoid long sightlines.
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Refill ammo and toss grenades during reloads to optimize efficiency.
Mastering movement and positioning is crucial. Avoid long alleys and practice strafe shooting. Now let‘s move on to unlocking other popular MW2 guns.
Unlocking the SP-X 80 and Other Top Weapons
Claiming the power of the Minibak is thrilling, but there are many other noteworthy weapons to unlock in Modern Warfare 2:
SP-X 80 Sniper Rifle
This bolt action beast can one-shot kill with infinite range and penetration. Unlock by completing the Intervention‘s challenges.
ACR Assault Rifle
With laser-precise accuracy and minimal recoil, the ACR is the best all-around AR. Unlock at rank 48.
Desert Eagle Handgun
Boasting immense power but low ammo, it‘s the classic video game hand cannon. Unlock at rank 22.
Care Package Exploit Javelin
This glitch enables dropping Javelins across the entire map. Unlock by earning the Javelin launcher the normal way.
I highly recommend going for the SP-X 80 next if you enjoy sniping. Its extreme power is unmatched. The ACR and Desert Eagle are also iconic MW2 guns that are a joy to unlock.
Hopefully my 5000 word guide has provided everything you need to swiftly unlock the Minibak SMG and other top weapons in Modern Warfare 2! Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m happy to share more insights from my years mastering these virtual arsenals. Now get out there and start unleashing bullet storms!
