[MW2] Understanding Recoil Mechanics (Steadiness, Stabilization ect)

All right folks, the idea of how recoil works in Modern Warfare 2 didn't really change, they did change the nomenclature, but this is stuff that has been in CoD games before but they actually are revealing the stats now. A lot of this is due to the unpopularity of ADS Bloom mechanics that were introduced in Vanguard - now instead of effecting the final step which is the rounds down range, they put effects into the first step which is the sight picture. The more things change, the more things stay the same.

There are six attributes that govern a weapons recoil - traditional horizontal and vertical recoil, control, steadiness, stabilization, smoothness, and idle sway.

In conjunction with those we have magnitude and centering speed. Magnitude is the max distance a weapon will travel in a recoil pattern. Centering speed is how quickly the sights will return to center (down).

These all come from attachments which means for the most part they function the same and with the same values across weapons with a few minor deviations in there. The sharkfin seems to have a greater impact on AR Stabilization vs SMG stabilization - this is most likely is because SMGs are by default more stable. Anyways, that's all marginal crap.

Vertical Recoil - Vertical recoil determines the speed in which the rifle muzzle will travel upward to the max magnitude. By raising or lowering vertical recoil you either increase or decrease the speed it takes to reach the maximum recoil range. It seems to also slightly lower total vertical magnitude.

Horizontal Recoil- Horizontal recoil determines the speed in which the rifle muzzle will travel left or right to the max magnitude. By raising or lowering horizontal recoil you either increase or decrease the speed it takes to reach the maximum recoil range. It seems to also slightly lower total horizontal magnitude. This one varies from gun to gun.

Stabilization - Slight reduction to vertical magnitude but a larger reduction in horizontal magnitude. Effects the side to side bounce.

Steadiness - Slight reduction to total recoil magnitude and slight reduction to vertical and horizontal recoil control.

Smoothness - Slight reduction to idle sway when firing and a slight increase in centering speed.

Idle Sway - How much the reticle moves when ADS, different stances influence this as well as moving. A big change here is idle sway will stay active while shooting.

Control - Slight reduction to total recoil magnitude, more of reduction to Vertical Recoil.

Fear's Notes:

It looks like your standard vertical and horizontal recoil control will gain bigger buffs if you couple it with attributes that lower the magnitude of the recoil. On the other hand, it also seems that if you try to shrink the max magnitude you will start taking bad idle sway debuffs.

I think bad idle sway is far worse than having bad recoil - the problem with idle sway is the pattern is kind of randomized and besides swaying left and right it will bounce up-right and down-left which makes hold steady shots rough.

Good working combination Ive been enjoying it taking a combination of attachments that give me in order of most valuable: +Idle Sway, +Stabilization, +Vertical Recoil +Control