Best MW3 loadouts for the current meta

Our tried-and-tested best Modern Warfare 3 loadouts for the current meta, including weapon setups, perks, and equipment, will give you a competitive edge.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 

What are the best MW3 loadouts? You can have all the skill in the world, but if your guns and equipment let you down at the most vital moment of a match, you’ll be left ruing another loss. We’ve tested and listed out the best Modern Warfare 3 loadouts so you can go into every game primed and ready to win.

The Modern Warfare 3 release date is finally here, and there is no better time to perfect these meta MW3 guns. Whether you opt for a mobile SMG class or prefer to take out your opponents from range with a powerful assault rifle, we have the best Modern Warfare 3 loadouts here.

Best Modern Warfare 3 loadouts

Here are the best loadouts in MW3, including the optimal equipment and perks:

  • XRK Stalker and Cor-45
  • MCW and Renetti
  • DG-58 and Tyr
  • MTZ 556 and Renetti
  • SVA 545 and Cor-45
  • Rival 9 and Cor-45
  • Striker and Renetti

Best MW3 loadouts: a sniper rifle, beige color, with no rear stock.

Quickscope XRK Stalker

With the Season 1 battle pass came the XRK Stalker, and with these attachments, you can bring back the glory days of quickscoping. The XRK Stalker is a force to be reckoned with once you get the rhythm of your shots down.

Attachments

  • Barrel: Handler LKP Short Barrel
  • Laser: FSS OLE-V Laser
  • Stock: No Stock
  • Bolt: XRK Stalker Light Bolt
  • Rear Grip: XRK Stalker Factory Grip

Equipment and Perks

  • Lethal: Frag Grenade
  • Tactical: Stun Grenade
  • Field Upgrade: Trophy System
  • Vest: Demolition Vest
  • Gloves: Quick-Grip Gloves
  • Climbing Boots: Climbing Boots
  • Gear: Mission Control Comlink

Set up your zone of destruction, utilizing the Trophy System to ensure you don’t get poked from range with explosives. The Mission Control Comlink should keep you in killstreaks, with the Quick-Grip Gloves available to switch to your secondary if things get a little hairy.

Best Mw3 loadouts: weapon with labelled attachments,

MCW

The MCW is a hard-hitting assault rifle, capable of taking out opponents at mid-long range. With our best MW3 MCW loadout, we nail down that recoil to ensure your shots always stay on target.

Attachments

  • Muzzle: Casus Brake
  • Optic: MK.23 Reflector
  • Rear Grip: RB Talon-X3 Grip
  • Barrel: Second Line Mammoth Heavy
  • Underbarrel: Chewk Angled Grip

Equipment and Perks

  • Lethal: Frag Grenade
  • Tactical: Flash Grenade
  • Field Upgrade: Munitions Box
  • Perks: Quick-Grip Gloves, Stalker Boots, EOD Padding, Bone Conduction Headset

Make your opponents think twice about pushing you with the flash and frag grenades, and always stay stocked up on ammunition with the Munitions Box. The Bone Conduction Headset will enable you to hear an approaching enemy much clearer, and the Quick-Grip Gloves can be vital in swapping to your Renetti for those close-range encounters.

DG-58

The DG-58 is arguably the best assault rifle in MW3 right now thanks to its incredible damage output with a single burst of fire. By default, the DG-58 fires in bursts of three, meaning if you point directly at an enemy’s head using our loadout, they will fall to the ground after just one click.

Attachments

  • Muzzle: Sonic Suppressor
  • Optic: Slimline Pro
  • Rear Grip: Extended TP-9 Buttplate
  • Barrel: DG-56 LS18 Barrel
  • Comb: FSS Last Stand Comb

Equipment and Perks

  • Lethal: Frag Grenade
  • Tactical: Stun Grenade
  • Field Upgrade: Trophy System
  • Vest: Demolition Vest
  • Gloves: Quick-Grip Gloves
  • Climbing Boots: Climbing Boots
  • Gear: Mission Control Comlink

What makes this loadout so deadly is the demolition vest which supplies you with two lethal grenades. Even if you blindly throw a frag grenade in the direction of an enemy squad, you’re almost certainly going to get a kill. Pair these explosives with the Mission Control Comlink to reduce the number of kills needed for killstreaks. We’ve also equipped the Trophy System to stop any incoming grenades from spoiling your fun if you find yourself holed up somewhere for protection.

Best MW3 loadouts: a gun with a desert camo.

MTZ 556

The MTZ 556 is a superb all-around assault rifle, with decent movement speed and finds success in mid-range skirmishes. Our best MW3 MTZ 556 loadout serves to reduce the gun kick and extend the range of the AR, so you’ll always come out on top.

Attachments

  • Muzzle: HMRES Mod Suppressor
  • Underbarrel: Bruen Heavy Support Grip
  • Ammunition: 5.56 NATO High Grain
  • Magazine: 50-Round Drum
  • Stock: RB Crotalus Assault Stock

Equipment and Perks

  • Lethal: Frag Grenade
  • Tactical: Flash Grenade
  • Field Upgrade: Munitions Box
  • Perks: Quick-Grip Gloves, Stalker Boots, EOD Padding, Bone Conduction Headset

With frag and flash grenades at your disposal, you’ll be able to keep enemies at arms reach, and a munitions box will ensure you never run out of ammunition. Keep a keen ear out for pushing enemies with the Bone Conduction Headset – your EOD Padding should keep you safe against incoming grenades, and utilize the Quick-Grip Gloves to switch to your secondary in the blink of an eye.

Best MW3 loadouts: an assault rifle with added attachments.

SVA 545

The SVA 545 has incredible burst potential, with the first two rounds of your trigger pull firing almost simultaneously. We take this instant damage and push it even further with our best MW3 SVA 545 loadout, extending the range of the assault rifle, and adding a suppressor so you’ll always be off the minimap.

Attachments

  • Muzzle: HMRES Mod Suppressor
  • Stock: FT TAC-Elite Stock
  • Ammunition: 5.45 High Grain
  • Rear Grip: Demo-X2 Grip
  • Magazine: 45-Round Mag

Equipment and Perks

  • Lethal: Frag Grenade
  • Tactical: Flash Grenade
  • Field Upgrade: Munitions Box
  • Perks: Quick-Grip Gloves, Stalker Boots, EOD Padding, Bone Conduction Headset

With the Quick-Grip gloves, you can swap to your secondary in an instant if your enemies get too close for comfort – if they do crowd your space, utilize the Bone Conduction Headset to pinpoint exactly where they are, and push through their explosives with the EOD Padding.

Best MW3 loadouts: a gun with a woodland color scheme.

Rival 9

The Rival 9 is an SMG that, out of the box, lacks a decent amount of range, so our best MW3 Rival 9 loadout looks to extend the effective damage range of the gun so you can take on more fights.

Attachments

  • Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
  • Underbarrel: XRK Edge BW-4 Handstop
  • Stock: Bruen Flash V4 Stock
  • Rear Grip: Rival Vice Assault Grip
  • Magazine: 50-Round Drum

Equipment and Perks

  • Lethal: Semtex
  • Tactical: Flash Grenade
  • Field Upgrade: Munitions Box
  • Perks: Scavenger Gloves, Lightweight Boots, EOD Padding, Bone Conduction Headset

Utilize your flash grenades before entering a tight area, and stick anything that moves with your semtex. Your Scavenger Gloves and Lightweight boots mean that you can stay hyper-mobile, and never run out of ammunition. If you are running low, with nobody to scavenge from, drop a Munitions Box and you’ll be good to go.

Best MW3 loadouts: a gun with a long barrel.

Striker

If you value mobility over sheer firepower, then the Striker SMG is ideal. With our best MW3 Striker loadout you’ll have increased movement, strafe, and ADS speed, so you can run circles around your enemies.

Attachments

  • Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
  • Barrel: Striker Recon Long Barrel
  • Stock: Lachmann Mk2 Light Stock
  • Underbarrel: XTEN TX-12 Handstop
  • Magazine: 60-Round Drum

Equipment and Perks

  • Lethal: Semtex
  • Tactical: Flash Grenade
  • Field Upgrade: Munitions Box
  • Perks: Scavenger Gloves, Lightweight Boots, EOD Padding, Bone Conduction Headset

Running Semtex will help you stick players at close range, and flashing a room before you enter is always a good habit to get into. Your Bone Conduction Headset will allow you to pinpoint enemy footsteps with greater accuracy, so you can go on the hunt, utilizing your Scavenger Gloves to stay stocked up with ammunition at all times.

Best MW3 loadouts: a pump action shotgun.

Lockwood 680

If getting up close and personal with your enemies is your style, you can’t go far wrong with our best MW3 Lockwood 680 loadout. A shotgun with incredible power, our loadout focuses on increasing movement speed and extending the range of your weapon so you can take on all-comers.

Attachments

  • Barrel: Bryson Hammerforged Long Barrel
  • Underbarrel: XRK Edge BW-4 Handstop
  • Stock: Sawed Off Mod
  • Bolt: Express Light Bolt
  • Guard: Matuzek Xray Skeletonized Guard

Equipment and Perks

  • Lethal: Frag Grenade
  • Tactical: Battle Rage
  • Field Upgrade: Munitions Box
  • Perks: Infantry Vest, Quick grip gloves, Lightweight boots, EOD Padding

With the Infantry Vest and Lightweight Boots, you’ll be exceptionally mobile on the battlefield, and with the EOD PAdding, you’ll be able to shake off any explosives that your opponents might throw your way. Battle Rage can keep your health topped up if you find yourself in a sticky situation, and the Quick-Grip Gloves will help you swap to your secondary in an instant.

Best MW3 loadouts: a handgun with an outer 3D printed shell.

Renetti

With the MW3 aftermarket parts conversion kit, the Renetti is transformed from a run-of-the-mill handgun to a powerful SMG. The best Renetti loadout is the perfect pairing for one of the heavier assault rifles on the list, or as a primary, if you want the maximum amount of movement speed possible.

Attachments

  • Aftermarket Parts: Jak Ferocity Carbine Kit
  • Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
  • Optic: Slate Reflector
  • Ammunition: High Grain
  • Magazine: 50-Round Drum

Equipment and Perks

  • Lethal: Semtex
  • Tactical: Flash Grenade
  • Field Upgrade: Munitions Box
  • Perks: Quick-Grip Gloves, Lightweight Boots, EOD Padding, Bone Conduction Headset

Get in and out quickly with battle rage, and tag people with your semtex at close range to secure some easy kills. You’ll mainly find that the Renetti performs best as a secondary, so equipping Quick-Grip Gloves can be a lifesaver when you have to switch out instantly.

Those are the best loadouts in MW3 right now, so give yourself the best chance at taking home the win by equipping the one that best matches your playstyle. You may find that what works in one of the MW3 maps or MW3 game modes doesn’t work in another, so experiment and find out what works for you.

When he's not writing guides at PCGamesN, PK is usually found waiting for the respawn timer in League of Legends, hanging around a tavern in Baldur's Gate 3, or fighting his way through the Settled Systems in Starfield. PK's extensive knowledge of video games is matched only by his extensive wardrobe of flannel shirts, which he has been curating since he was born, proving he was always meant to be a games journalist. He watches an episode of Star Trek every night before bed, and he loves toast, even though it makes him feel a bit sick. Buttery goodness exacts a heavy toll, one that he's willing to pay.