Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 3 has arrived and there’s plenty of new content to dive into. Before you do so, you want to make sure your loadouts are up to scratch by getting acquainted with the weapon buffs and nerfs exclusive to MW3.
The most notable changes here are nerfs to the popular MCW assault rifle and Rival-9 submachine gun. As they both feature in the regular multiplayer and Ranked Play meta, some adjustments may have to be made to these loadouts.
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MW3 Season 3 weapons buffs and nerfs
Here are the full list of adjustments made in the weapon balancing update that went live alongside Season 3.
Assault Rifles
- RAM-7
- Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.3x to 1x (-23%).
- Holger 556
- Decreased upper leg, lower leg, and foot damage multipliers from 1x to 0.85x (-15%).
The Holger 556 now requires shots to land above the waist for a 4-shot kill.
- MCW
- Decreased headshot damage multiplier from 1.3x to 1.1x (+15%).
With the MCW, 1 headshot will no longer result in a 4-shot kill.
- DG-56
- Increased sprint to fire time from 178ms to 199ms (+12%).
Battle Rifles
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- SOA Subverter
- Increased sprint to fire time from 256ms to 268ms (+5%).
- Increased aim down sight time from 270ms to 290ms (+7%).
- BAS-B
- Decreased rate of fire from 667rpm to 600rpm (-10%).
- Decreased recoil center speed by 6%.
- JAK Outlaw-277 Kit
- Decreased sprint to fire time from 252ms to 226ms (-10%).
- Decreased aim down sight time from 300ms to 240ms (-20%).
- Decreased aim down sight rate of fire penalty from 150% to 135%.
- Increased medium damage from 74 to 90 (+22%)
- Increased minimum damage from 70 to 90 (+29%).
The JAK Outlaw-277 Kit is now a maximum of 2-shots to kill to all body locations.
- Sidewinder
- Decreased sprint to fire time from 231ms to 210ms (-9%).
- Increased bullet velocity from 600m/s to 770m/s (+28%).
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Submachine Guns
- RAM-9
- Decreased sprint to fire time from 178ms to 147ms (-17%).
- AMR9
- Decreased sprint to fire time from 189ms to 136ms (-28%).
- Rival-9
- Increased sprint to fire time from 93ms to 110ms (+18%).
- Decreased near-medium damage from 27 to 25 (-7%).
- Decreased medium damage from 25 to 23 (-8%).
- Decreased lower torso, lower arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1.1x to 1x (-9%).
- HRM-9
- Increased sprint to fire time from 94ms to 110ms (+17%).
- Striker 9
- Increased sprint to fire time from 100ms to 103ms (+3%).
- Striker
- Increased sprint to fire time from 100ms to 110ms (+10%).
- WSP-9
- Increased sprint to fire time from 88ms to 110ms (+25%).
- WSP Swarm
- Increased sprint to fire time from 88ms to 99ms (+13%).
Shotguns
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- Added Long Haul 50 and Wolfcall 300 Muzzle Attachments to MWIII Shotguns.
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Light Machine Guns
- TAQ Evolvere
- Increased sprint to fire time from 245ms to 257ms (+5%).
- Increased aim down sight time from 385ms to 415ms (+8%).
- 7.62 Belt Magazines
- Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.2x (-14%).
- 5.56 Belt Magazines
- Decreased rate of fire from 857rpm to 789rpm (-8%).
- Bruen Mk9
- Decreased aim down sight time from 410ms to 350ms (-15%).
- RAAL MG (MWII)
- Increased sprint to fire time from 199ms to 216ms (+9%).
- Increased aim down sight time from 330ms to 380ms (+15%).
- Increased neck damage multiplier from 1x to 1.3x (+30%).
- Increased upper torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.2x (+20%).
- Increased leg and foot damage multipliers from 0.9x to 1x (+11%).
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Marksman Rifles
- MTZ Interceptor
- Increased aim down sight time from 280ms to 300ms (+7%).
- Decreased medium damage from 88 to 83 (-6%).
- Decreased minimum damage from 84 to 77 (-8%).
- Decreased near-medium damage range from 44.5m to 38.1m (-14%).
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Sniper Rifles
- XRK Stalker
- Increased aim down sight time from 580ms to 600ms (+3%).
- KV Inhibitor
- Increased aim down sight time from 540ms to 580ms (+7%).
- SP-X 80 (MWII)
- Increased sprint to fire time from 270ms to 310ms (+15%).
- Increased aim down sight time from 570ms to 590ms (+4%).
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Handguns
- TYR
- 12.7x55mm Snake Shot Ammunition
- Increased minimum damage range and bullet termination range from 14.5m to 19.6m (+35%).
- 12.7x55mm Snake Shot Ammunition
- WSP Stinger
- Akimbo WSP Stinger Rear Grip
- Increased rate of fire from 600rpm to 750rpm (+25%).
- Akimbo WSP Stinger Rear Grip
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Attachments
- Added initial aim accuracy benefit to all Heavy Bolts for Sniper Rifles.
- Cronen INTLAS MSP-12 Optic
- Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
- SL Razorhawk Laser Light
- Flashlight is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
- Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
- CS15 Scarlet Box Laser
- Laser is no longer visible to enemies.
- Verdant Hook Box Laser
- Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
- VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor Muzzle
- Increased sprint to fire speed penalty from 2% to 5%.
- L4R Flash Hider Muzzle
- Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit from 13% to 10%.
- DR-6 Handstop Underbarrel
- Decreased aim down sight movement speed benefit by 3-4%, dependent upon Weapon Class.
- Bruen Heavy Support Grip Underbarrel
- Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit from 12% to 8%.
Now you know all the MW3 weapon buffs and nerfs, you’re ready to take on the battlefield!