Best controller for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 in 2023 – Xbox and PlayStation picks

To hammer a nail into your opponent, having the best controller for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 is vital.

Aside from becoming insanely good at the game, you’ll find that having a hardware advantage in your gameplay will be the next best thing to improve your competitive edge, and while regular controllers can do the job, there are a number of excellent pre-orientated selections that are worth checking out.

Many of these are built with customization in mind and feature unique additions such as back-paddles, adjustable and swappable thumbsticks, adaptive triggers, and even cooling, non-slip grips. It’s not just the third-party brands that are doing it either, with both Xbox and Sony releasing arguably some of the best controllers on the market for serious gamers.

Here, we’ve used our love for all things tech and gaming to bring you the best controllers specifically for MW3, Warzone 2, and MW2. If you want to really get to best performance possible in the COD, you’ll want to pair these controllers with the best gaming headset for MW3, and the best monitor for MW3. We’re constantly updating this page with the latest products, so you can stay one step ahead of the game at all times.

Let’s take a closer look at what we think are some of the very best controllers for the game for different consoles, budgets, and design tastes.

Best controller for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 on PS5

DualSense Edge Wireless Controller

Compatibility

PS5, PC

Button

Standard PlayStation layout, 2 x Function keys, 2 x Interchangeable paddles, 2 x Trigger sensitivity slider

Connectivity

Wireless, Wired

Ports

USB-C (Power, data)

Weight

Approx 325g

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The DualSense Edge is the long-awaited pro controller from Sony and has gone down a real treat with both PS5 and PC gamers alike. It features interchangeable paddles a trigger sensitivity slider, and swappable analog sticks, so you can really adjust this to your own gaming and combat style.

One slight gripe of the standard DualSense was that the adaptive triggers could sometimes interfere with competitive first-person shooters, especially when pressed with force. The DualSense Edge gives you customization of this, so you can take more control when it comes to trigger pulls. Considering every millisecond matters in MW2, this is a real plus.

We think it’s great, and a solid choice for most gamers playing on PS5 or PC. You can read our full DualSense Edge wireless controller review for an even deeper dive.

Best controller for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 on Xbox Series X/S and PC

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2

Compatibility

Xbox Series X/S, PC

Connectivity

Wired/ Wireless

Battery

40h rechargeable battery

Weight

1lbs

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The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 is a great controller for the Xbox Series X/S not only due to its adjustable thumbsticks, adjustable trigger pressure, grip, and interchangeable components but also the Xbox Design Lab which allows you to design the appearance of your controller down to a tee.

Xbox advertises limitless button mapping potential on the Xbox Elite 2, so the potential for 3 different profiles is a really handy feature.

Aside from that, the customizable interchangeable components such as the replaceable thumbstick caps, D-Pads, and back paddles allow you to choose from a range of buttons and styles.

The controller comes with a thumbstick tension adjustment tool which allows you to choose the tension and resistance the thumbstick has. This allows you to calibrate look sensitivity in the game without having to faff around with in-game settings and allows you to standardise your gameplay across a range of devices.

With just under 40 gameplay hours of rechargeable hours, this controller offers a huge span value and utility for how much it costs – which you can find out here.

Best custom controller for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 on PS5 and PC

HexGaming Rival Pro 4

Compatibility

PS5

Button

Remap Keys, Switch Profiles, Interchangeable Thumbsticks

Connectivity

Wireless

Weight

380g

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We think that one of the best custom controllers for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 on PS5 and PC is the HexGaming Rival Pro 4.

Something that is underrated in a gaming controller is the weight. Strangely enough, the heavier a controller often adds a strange paradigm of quality. The Hexgaming Rival weighs in at 380 grams, nearly 100 grams more than the controller it’s designed after – the official DualSense Controller.

But what makes this unique is its wide array of differently designed coverings, that really allow you to express your own style. They’re pretty out there, mind you!

Fully compatible with PS5 and PC, this controller brings all of the qualities of the stock PS5 controller to a high level of customization and quality that only the upcoming DualSense Edge can offer.

Best custom controller for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 on Xbox Series X/S and PC

SCUF Instinct Pro

Compatibility

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Mobile

Connectivity

Wired/ Wireless

Weight

269 grams

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When you’re talking about custom gaming controllers, it’s hard not to mention SCUF. The SCUF Instinct Pro was knocking about long before Xbox’s own Elite 2 controller, and despite the popularity of the latter, the Instinct Pro has stood up for itself against its elite competition, and it doesn’t look ready to tap out yet.

When I first picked up the Instinct Pro and played around with it for a bit – the most impressive feature was the quality of the trigger control. With a slider on the back of the controller, you can switch the Instinct Pro’s triggers between full reflexivity and binary – essentially it turns the triggers into a mouse click button so you can fire your weapon in Call of Duty at a moment’s notice, rather than having to go through the whole ordeal of actually squeezing the trigger.

The reconfigurable buttons are a staple of the custom controller – so, the remappable paddles on the back allow for a configuration of up to 16 functions.

Aside from the functions, the appearance and feel of the controller feel premium. The rubberized grip and the weight of the controller really make it feel professional – and the color scheme is the final nail in the coffin.

Best budget controller for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 on PC

HyperX Clutch

Compatibility

PC, Mobile

Connectivity

Bluetooth, USB

Weight

267 grams

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You might recognise HyperX if you’re a PC gamer. Now acquired by HP, HyperX Fury RAM was a household name for computer hardware fanatics. Now, HyperX has shifted to the beautiful world of gaming peripherals – and the HyperX Clutch is their first attempt at a gaming controller.

Though the controller doesn’t look to offer the same level of customizability and modularity as the formerly mentioned controllers, as far as a unique entry-level controller for a decent price, it’s worth considering.

How to choose the best controller for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2?

We have decided on the best controllers for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 by observing a few key features:

• Adjustable triggers
• Back paddles
• Modular thumbsticks
• Profiles
• Feel: Grip, weight, ergonomics
• Appearance

Adjustable triggers

The triggers are one of the most important features in a controller, especially when you play a game such as MW2 or Warzone 2.0 in which the triggers literally define life and death moments.

The problem with standard controller triggers is that they are pressure activated and the moment of activation depends on you firing the trigger to a certain pressure point. If you can adjust this and change the moment of activation, you have total control over when your gun fires. In competitive e-sports games where frames decide matches, gamers will be seeking out ultra-precise gameplay.

Controllers such as the SCUF Instinct Pro allow you to effectively transform the trigger into a button, meaning that you can press it with super low pressure, and the button clicks.

Back paddles

If you’re an e-sports player, you probably already know that most stock controllers have nowhere near the right amount of buttons for all the different commands that most games can have.

Back paddles provide a solution to this as they’re configurable buttons mapped to whatever command you desire.

Modular thumbsticks

Gamers already know how hardcore gaming sessions obliterate both the feel and function of thumbsticks.

Third-party controllers offer a solution to this through the replaceable caps and in some, replaceable thumbstick modules altogether.

Profiles

You could have a controller perfectly configured for MW2, and then suddenly your friend invites you to a game of Warzone 2.0. You don’t want to have to reconfigure your controller profile each time you load a new game, so the solution that competitive gaming controllers offer is saveable profiles that can be loaded for different games.

This means that one profile will have a certain action bound to a paddle or a different trigger pressure for a different game.

Do custom controllers make a difference in MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2?

Having a custom controller actually does make a world of difference in MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2.

Customer controllers allow you to assign specific profiles to a controller, so for different classes and load-outs in-game, you can program your controller to respond differently to them. This can give you such an advantage as you’ll be able to have dynamically changing, responsive play-styles.

Why get a controller for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2?

The gap between controller vs mouse & keyboard is slowly closing as controller manufacturers are leveling up their games.

Whether you’re gaming on PC, Xbox, or PlayStation, there’s no longer the same chatter around the skill cap a controller limits you with. For MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2, having a customer controller such as the ones above will allow you a huge range of customization so you’ll never find yourself handicapped by your peripherals.

Customer controller for MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 FAQs

Controller vs Mouse & Keyboard

If you’re gaming on PC, you’re likely used to using a keyboard and mouse. For FPS games, having a mouse gives you an immediate advantage due to its simplicity. However, modern custom controllers are now reaching the same levels of sensitivity adjustment. The choice is yours.

Why are custom controllers so expensive?

Custom controllers are often expensive due to their high quality modular components.

Is PlayStation DualSense Edge worth it?

The DualSense Edge controller feels amazing with a number of impressive new features. If you can afford it, why not? It will help make your gaming experience more immersive.

Does MW3, Warzone 2 and MW2 have controller support?

Yes, although a mouse and keyboard combo is potentially better suited to FPS games, there is controller support for MW2.