Best Ranked Play loadouts for Modern Warfare 3

MW3 Ranked Play brings players a competitive experience in Season 1 Reloaded. Here are the best Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play loadouts to get you firing and flying up the Skill Divisions with ease.

The MW3 Season 1 Reloaded brought the highly anticipated Ranked Play mode and fans of the CDL can finally dive right into the competitive mode and play like the pros.

Given the level of competition as you work your way through each Skill Division, using the best loadouts in Modern Warfare 3 is key to winning. The Ranked Play meta has been established by the CDL’s top players. With Ranked Play following the bans and restrictions of the league, you’ll want to know which weapons to use.

Here are the best MW3 Ranked Play loadouts to secure all of the rewards up for grabs in Season 1 Reloaded.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play Primary weapons

MW3 Ranked Play debuted in Season 1, and while the meta certainly has time to shift before Season 2, pro players in the CDL have had their say on the top weapons in the game.

Keep in mind that certain weapons will be restricted in Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play while you take to playing 4v4 matches of Hardpoint, Search and Destroy, and Control. It’s important to factor in your playstyle, team composition, and how you aim to play the map when picking between an SMG or Assault Rifle.

To make things easier, here are the best Primary weapons for Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play.

MCW class MW3 Ranked Play

The MCW is MW3 Ranked Play’s top Assault Rifle choice.

Muzzle: L4R Flash Hider
Barrel: 16.5″ MCW Cyclone Long Barrel
Optic: Slate Reflector or Mk. 3 Reflector
Underbarrel: XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop or DR-6 Handstop
Rear Grip: RB Claw-PSL Grip

Barrel: 16.5″ MCW Cyclone Long Barrel
Optic: Slate Reflector or Mk. 3 Reflector
Rear Grip: RB Claw-PSL Grip
Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
Stock: RB Precision Heavy

Despite nerfs in the Season 1 Reloaded update, the MCW is still Modern Warfare 3’s best Assault Rifle for Ranked Play. We’ve provided two recommended MCW loadouts for players to try, so feel free to test them out and decide which one is best for you.

Most of the maps featured in MW3 Ranked Play favor long-range gunfights and an AR playstyle, so if you’re looking to settle into the mode, starting with the MCW is a great idea.

There are a few variations you can pick from when it comes to the attachments. For starters, the Mk.3 Reflector or Slate Reflector comes down to personal preference. Then, the DR-6 Handstop offers more mobility, while the XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop offers more recoil control.

In addition, players can also pick between the use of a Muzzle like the L4R Flash Hider or T51R Billeted Brake, or for a build that foregoes a Muzzle in favor of the RB Precision Heavy Stock.

Rival-9 class MW3 Ranked Play

The Rival-9 shreds in close quarters.

Muzzle: Purifier Muzzle Brake S
Barrel: Rival-C Clearshot Barrel
Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
Stock: MTZ Marauder Stock
Rear Grip: Rival Vice Assault Grip

Compared to the MCW, the best Rival-9 loadout for MW3 Ranked Play offers less variety when it comes to the ideal choice of attachments.

While the Rival-9 is all about speed and dominating close-range fights, attachments like the Rival Vice Assault Grip, Purifier Muzzle Brake S, and Rival-C Clearshot Barrel will help keep the weapon’s recoil under control and boost its range.

However, we don’t want the SMG to become too sluggish, so the DR-6 Handstop and MTZ Marauder Stock will bring a vital boost to speed and mobility.

XRK Stalker class MW3 Ranked Play

Activision

The XRK Stalker is not a restricted weapon in MW3 Ranked Play.

Barrel: Fission 60 Barrel
Stock: No Stock
Optic: Corio Eagleseye 2.5x
Rear Grip: FT Match Grip

Despite falling under pro player GAs, certain Sniper Rifles are not restricted in MW3 Ranked Play, leaving the XRK Stalker as the go-to option. The best XKR Stalker loadout for Ranked Play is as straightforward as it gets with the No Stock and FT Match Grip, boosting the Sniper’s mobility and ADS speed.

It’s quite heavy, so any attachments that boost speed should get you firing in Search and Destroy matches. Then, the Fission 60 Barrel will increase the chances of a one-shot kill with improved bullet velocity and range.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play Secondary weapons

Modern Warfare 3 players have two viable options when it comes to the best Secondary weapons to use in Ranked Play matches, so let’s check them out below.

Renetti MW3 Ranked Play class

Muzzle: ZEHMN35 Compensated Flash Hider
Barrel: MLX Short Competition Barrel
Optic: Slate Reflector (optional)
Rear Grip: EXF Eclipsor Grip

The Renetti is the optimal choice for MW3 Ranked Play matches, as the Secondary weapon can be devastating in close quarters.

CDL pros have banned the use of certain mobility-boosting attachments when it comes to the Renetti, and some of those restrictions have appeared in MW3 Ranked Play. At the moment, the MLX Short Competition Barrel, EXF Eclipsor Grip, and ZEHMN35 Compensated Flash Hider are the best choices for this Renetti loadout.

MW3 Ranked Play Gutter Knife or Karambit

While the Gutter Knife or Karambit can be an excellent option in MW3 Ranked Play, these weapons have fallen under CDL players’ Gentleman’s Agreement, meaning players have enforced their own ban on the weapon.

Nonetheless, the devs have decided to keep them in the game after nerfing their damage in Ranked Play. Melee weapons will require two hits to kill enemies in MW3 Ranked Play. You can still use the Gutter Knife or Karambit to reach key Search and Destroy power positions faster when a round starts.

🛠 #MW3RankedPlay
A minor update with balance adjustments to Secondary Melee weapons has been released.
▪ Secondary Melee weapons have been adjusted to require two hits to kill in Ranked Play.
— Call of Duty Updates (@CODUpdates) January 19, 2024

Best MW3 Ranked Play Lethals & Tacticals

MW3 Ranked Play players have two options for Lethals and Tacticals respectively when it comes to creating the best loadouts.