Modern Warfare 3 best guns (up to date for season 2)

The meta for the best guns in Modern Warfare 3 has developed significantly since launch, and has developed considerably because the Feb. 7 rollout of Season 2.

From the get-go, there have been a plethora of guns to select from within the newest Call of Duty as a result of each gun from Modern Warfare 2 was additionally made accessible, alongside a bunch of recent weapons. We’re not together with these as there are far too many to select from, and for essentially the most half, the brand new MW3 guns are stronger anyway.

So in the event you’re seeking to dominate MW3 multiplayer in Season 2, look no additional than these 10 guns.

Modern Warfare 3 best guns to make use of in Season 2

The best weapons in Modern Warfare 3 are as follows:

1. MCW (assault rifle)
2. Rival-9 (SMG)
3. WSP Swarm (SMG)
4. RAM-7 (assault rifle)
5. BAS-B (battle rifle)
6. RAM-9 (SMG)
7. HRM-9 (SMG)
8. Holger 556 (assault rifle)
9. XRK Stalker (sniper rifle)
10. SVA 545 (assault rifle)

Believe it or not, the MCW continues to be the best gun in Modern Warfare 3 and has been since launch. It’s essentially the most jack-of-all-trades gun you’ll discover, as you possibly can package it out for long-range engagements — which our urged attachments beneath are apt for — or to cope with enemies in shut quarters if wanted.

However, the record has been shaken up just a little with the introduction of some new guns and steadiness modifications by Season 1 and Season 2, skyrocketing the Rival-9 (the best SMG in Modern Warfare 3) into second place. The WSP Swarm isn’t far behind it, although, and the RAM-7 continues to be a strong assault rifle regardless of its vital recoil.

The BAS-B is by far the best battle rifle and the optimum selection if you wish to interact in for much longer distance firefights, whereas the RAM-9 and HRM-9 had been seasonal additions which have shortly discovered their place within the meta. The Holger 556 continues to be very sturdy, the XRK Stalker sniper rifle is the best selection for any marksmen or quick-scopers, and the SVA 545 excels due to its skill to shoot the primary two bullets nearly concurrently.

(As an apart, for anybody returning to this record from Season 1, the AMR9 and Riveter have each been dropped in favor of the Rival-9 and RAM-9, and the HRM-9 has been added to around the record out to a strong 10 entries.)

Let’s undergo our up to date picks for the best guns in Modern Warfare 3 one-by-one.

1. MCW (assault rifle)

Image: Activision by way of Polygon

Kicking issues off is the MCW, which is unlocked at rank 44. Modern Warfare 3 doesn’t have actual weapon names, so the MCW is best often called the ACR from earlier installments. Which is all to day, the MCW is a really dependable assault rifle that’s totally computerized, with constant vary, recoil, and harm.

Essentially, with the correct attachments, the MCW turns into a laser beam. Any of the heavy barrels do the job — we’d suggest the 16.5” MCW Cyclone Long Barrel — together with any vertical grip, although we discovered the Bruen Pivot to be the best (which requires leveling the SVA 545 to degree 12 first). As for the remainder of the attachments, an optic is all the time a great shout for enhanced visibility, alongside any mixture of muzzle/inventory/rear grip that help with recoil management and bullet velocity.

For extra on how one can package out this weapon, see our devoted MCW loadout web page.

2. Rival-9 (SMG)

Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision by way of Polygon

The Rival-9 wasn’t thought-about to be one of many best guns in MW3 on launch, but it surely has shortly risen to the highest due to its quick hearth charge. It packs an enormous punch whenever you rise up shut and private. As the meta has developed, working and gunning has solidified itself as a really sturdy type of play, notably in Season 2.

Bearing that in thoughts — that you simply received’t typically be partaking with enemies past a number of meters away — you wish to handle the recoil to an extent whereas additionally sustaining the weapon dealing with and mobility. We suggest the Rival Vice Assault Grip within the rear grip attachment slot, together with the Rival IGS-800 Barrel to cope with a lot of the recoil points. Make positive you additionally stick the 9mm High Velocity ammunition on to deal essentially the most harm.

3. WSP Swarm (SMG)

Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision by way of Polygon

Next up we now have the WSP Swarm, the second SMG on our record of the best guns in Modern Warfare 3. This gun is critically highly effective, however as you’d count on given its machine pistol kind, it has a boatload of recoil. This means it fits a really aggressive type of play, and whereas the Akimbo attachment could also be tempting to dual-wield hip-fire these unhealthy boys, we’re going for one thing a little extra dependable.

Your complete intention must be to scale back the recoil whereas additionally not hindering the mobility an excessive amount of, so look for muzzle and/or barrel attachments that attempt towards that purpose. Much just like the RAM-7 beneath, the WSP Swarm has a really quick charge of fireplace, so you possibly can’t go incorrect with an prolonged journal both. You positively don’t want an optic although, because the iron sights are completely fantastic and, to be trustworthy, you’ll typically end up hip-firing — in the event you can scale back the hip hearth unfold with any attachments, even higher.

4. RAM-7 (assault rifle)

Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision by way of Polygon

The RAM-7 was launched in Season 1 and shortly discovered itself as a mainstay within the meta. It kicks like a mule however offers some severe harm. As such, you don’t wish to package it out for extraordinarily lengthy vary, but it surely is among the best decisions at quick to mid vary for an assault rifle. A barrel or muzzle attachment that ideally silences the gun and helps with harm at vary is essential.

Alongside this, we suggest placing on an prolonged journal due to how shortly the gun fires, then aiming to strike a steadiness between mobility, dealing with, and harm for the remaining.

Tweak the attachments till you discover the precise match that works for you, or take a look at our information to the best RAM-7 loadout in MW3.

5. BAS-B (battle rifle)

Image: Activision by way of Polygon

All the weapons on this record are pretty comparable: totally computerized guns which can be best at various ranges. The BAS-B isn’t any completely different. The first and solely battle rifle on the record, that is the gun you wish to swap to if our MCW construct above nonetheless doesn’t have sufficient vary for you. It doesn’t hearth fairly as shortly because the MCW, however every bullet packs far more of a punch, and upon getting some recoil-managing attachments on there, you possibly can put a longer-range optic on it, reminiscent of one of many 2.5x choices.

When you’re within the opening ranges of utilizing the BAS-B although, we now have only a few really useful attachments. The Bruen Venom Long Barrel is a no brainer due to the vary it provides, and the 30-round magazine — or the 45-round when you unlock it — ensures you possibly can mow down a number of enemies without having to reload. We’d additionally suggest the Ravage-20 Heavy Stock, which you unlock as soon as the BAS-B has reached degree seven.

For extra on how one can package out this weapon, see our devoted BAS-B loadout web page.

6. RAM-9 (SMG)

Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision by way of Polygon

The RAM-9 was launched initially of Season 2, and is the most recent weapon on this record of the best guns in Modern Warfare 3. It’s one other SMG with a speedy hearth charge, however the recoil will be managed just a little higher than the Rival-9 above, so that is higher suited for barely longer engagements. The must-use attachments are the ZEHMN35 Compensated Flash Hider muzzle attachment and the HVS 3.4 Pad inventory due to how they help with recoil.

Make positive you equip an underbarrel grip of some description too — our advice is the SL Skeletal Vertical Grip — and we discovered a rear grip additionally does the job, ideally the Retort 90 Grip Tape. The iron sights are usable right here, however in the event you’d quite equip an optical sight for higher visibility, any pink dot sight will work.

For extra clarification on these attachment decisions and particulars on the best class to make use of with this SMG, take a look at our devoted RAM-9 loadout information.

7. HRM-9 (SMG)

Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision by way of Polygon

The ultimate SMG on the record, the HRM-9 with our construct is definitely very sturdy at a barely additional distance than you’d count on most SMGs to be efficient. With that in thoughts, the Sonic Suppressor S muzzle attachment is a godsend because it buffs the bullet velocity, harm vary, and it makes you undetectable by radar when firing.

It does imply the recoil management takes a minor hit although, so that you wish to use different attachments that assist convey that again up. Any underbarrel grip geared in the direction of that may do the job — our selection is the VX Pineapple — together with a rear grip and inventory attachment. We’d suggest an optical sight right here too, although a fundamental one just like the Slimline Pro or Slate Reflector is sweet sufficient.

Our full HRM-9 loadout information has extra particulars on how one can best make the most of this SMG and the attachments to package it out with.

8. Holger 556 (assault rifle)

Next up, we now have the Holger 556, which is unlocked at degree 37. Now, to be frank, there’s not a complete lot particular concerning the Holger; it’s a dependable, totally computerized assault rifle that isn’t fairly nearly as good because the MCW or RAM-7. However, in the event you keep in mind (and cherished) the G36C from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, that is very harking back to that.

As all the time, you’ll wish to deal with recoil administration and harm output when kitting out the Holger. Find barrel, muzzle, and underbarrel attachments that help with that, then stick your optic of selection on and also you’ll be good to go. It has a better base harm however slower hearth charge than each the MCW and SVA, so bear that in thoughts when discovering the best attachments.

9. XRK Stalker (sniper rifle)

Image: Sledgehammer Games/Activision by way of Polygon

With its introduction in Season 1, the XRK Stalker took the crown from the Katt-AMR to be the best sniper rifle in Modern Warfare 3, and that’s due to its spectacular harm and mobility, making it the prime selection for these quick-scopers amongst you. This is a place it’s held by the launch of Season 2.

Your purpose must be to enhance the ADS velocity, re-chambering velocity, and dash to fireplace velocity so you possibly can pull up your gun and one-shot enemies with ease. To this finish, we’d suggest having the No Stock inventory attachment, alongside the Light Bolt and FT Match Grip. You must also equip an optic that isn’t fairly so zoomed in because the default, as you’re unlikely to be sniping at vary.

For extra on how one can spec this gun, take a look at our information to the best XRK Stalker loadout in MW3.

10. SVA 545 (assault rifle)

Image: Activision by way of Polygon

The SVA 545 is the primary assault rifle you’ll unlock within the sport, so when you’re grinding for the MCW and AMR9, it’s the one you wish to be utilizing. As quickly as you unlock create-a-class you possibly can equip it, and it comes with one very fascinating perk: the primary shot fires two bullets, nearly concurrently. This isn’t simply the primary shot of the journal although; in the event you faucet hearth, you possibly can guarantee each shot is a twofer. It’s not overpowered or something, however it’s a nifty trick if you will get the hold of it.

As is all the time the case with assault rifles, you’ll wish to handle the recoil on this, so we suggest an underbarrel grip such because the VX Pineapple, a barrel attachment that may enhance the vary and harm, and different attachments that help recoil administration. It’s one of many solely guns within the sport with first rate iron sights although, so that you don’t want to stay an optic on it.

Check out our best SVA 545 loadout with our devoted information.