Call of Duty: World at War (2008)

World at War MG42

Machine GunsUnlocked at Level 33No weapon camos
Machine GunsMG42 — Call of Duty: World at War (2008) weapon render

How do you unlock the MG42?

The MG42 unlocks at Level 33 in Call of Duty: World at War (2008). It pours a 50-round belt drum through a route at very high speed. It is effective for close-to-medium suppression and multi-target pressure, but the same fire rate empties the magazine quickly and makes its long reload a major commitment. World at War multiplayer has no selectable weapon camos; Expert headshot challenges award XP only.

UnlockLevel 33
Weapon camosNot in this game

Reviewed July 26, 2026. Weapon ranks and Marksman requirements were checked against original World at War multiplayer rank and challenge tables plus contemporaneous platform guides; historical models were cross-checked against museum and firearm-reference records. Loadout advice is editorial. Multiplayer only — not Campaign, Zombies, Call of Duty: WWII (2017), or later games.

Sources: Official World at War manual · Prima official game guide sample · Contemporaneous multiplayer guide · World at War challenge reference · Weapon camouflage reference

How does the MG42 play in World at War?

RoleHigh-fire-rate suppressive machine gun
Real-world basisGerman MG 42 general-purpose machine gun
StrengthsVery high fire rate controls busy routes; Fifty rounds can handle several targets when bursts are disciplined
TradeoffsBurns ammunition rapidly; Lengthy reload and heavy handling punish poor positioning
AttachmentsBipod — 25 kills; Bipod is the only attachment and suits prepared suppression from cover
Challenge noteExpert I-III use 25, 75 and 150 headshots for 100, 500 and 1,000 XP. They unlock no weapon camo.
Use tipBurst even when deployed. Holding the trigger without a visible target spends the advantage before the next fight arrives.
Compared withIt fires much faster than the DP-28 and Browning; those alternatives are easier to ration across long sightlines.

No multiplayer weapon camos — Expert headshot challenges award XP, not skins. See the camo, perk and Pack-a-Punch distinctions.

Read the camo explainer

MG42 — common questions

What level does the MG42 unlock at in World at War?

The MG42 unlocks at Level 33 in Call of Duty: World at War (2008) multiplayer. The level cap is 65, and prestige is up to 10 on all main multiplayer platforms.

Does the MG42 take camos?

No — the MG42 cannot equip weapon camouflage in Call of Duty: World at War (2008). Its Marksman kill challenges unlock attachments, while Expert headshot challenges award XP only.

Can you unlock the MG42 for me?

Yes — our World at War Unlock All service covers prestige 1-10, max level 65, every weapon, attachment, perk and challenge unlocked, plus colored classes (Xbox 360), from $9.99. See the service.

More Machine Guns

All Call of Duty: World at War (2008) weapons →
Type 99 — Call of Duty: World at War (2008)Type 99Level 1 · Machine GunsBAR — Call of Duty: World at War (2008)BARLevel 4 · Machine GunsDP-28 — Call of Duty: World at War (2008)DP-28Level 13 · Machine GunsFG42 — Call of Duty: World at War (2008)FG42Level 45 · Machine GunsBrowning M1919 — Call of Duty: World at War (2008)Browning M1919Level 61 · Machine Guns

Skip the grind

Our World at War Unlock All service includes prestige 1-10, max level 65, every weapon, attachment, perk and challenge unlocked, plus colored classes (Xbox 360), from $9.99.

See World at War servicesSee exact inclusions on the service page