Best Ranked Play loadouts for Modern Warfare 3

Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play offers players a taste of competitive CoD, but jumping in unprepared is a bad idea. Here are the best MW3 Ranked Play loadouts so you know the best guns, Perks, and Equipment to make it through each Skill Division quickly.

Following the MW3 Season 2 Reloaded update, players continue to battle it out in the competitive Ranked Play mode, as fans of the CDL get the chance to 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 throughout Season 2.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play Primary weapons

The meta MW3 Ranked Play primary weapons are the MCW and Rival-9, but some players also use the Striker-9 following buffs to the SMG. While pro players briefly tested both the BP50 and RAM-9, the weapons are restricted in Ranked Play.

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. On February 13, a MW3 update added all Snipers to the list of restricted weapons in Ranked Play, making the previously accessible KATT-AMR unusable.

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

Best 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 2 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.

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.

Best 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.

Best Striker-9 class MW3 Ranked Play

The Striker-9 offers excellent damage range for an SMG.

Muzzle: L4R Flash Hider
Barrel: Striker Recon Long Barrel
Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
Stock: RB Crotalus Assault Stock
Rear Grip: Sakin ZX Grip

The Striker-9 received a significant buff on February 13, making it a viable weapon in MW3 Ranked Play, for players looking to utilize a Rival-9 alternative.

The RB Crotalus Assault Stock is a unique attachment as it sacrifices sprint to fire speed to boost both recoil control and ADS speed. With this, the SMG can maintain its quick ADS speed and become easy to control at the same time.

The Striker Recon Long Barrel, Sakin ZX Grip, and L4R Flash Hider combine to further increase recoil control, making the Striker-9 an excellent medium-range weapon. However, we don’t want to lose too much mobility and speed, so the DR-6 Handstop will help balance things out in this area.

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.

Best 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.

Both the Frag Grenade and Semtex are viable options in Ranked Play. The Frag Grenade will appeal to players who know the best nade spots on each competitive map. Meanwhile, the benefit of the Semtex is that it can stick to enemy players, guaranteeing a kill.

Next, we have the Stun Grenade and Smoke Grenade. The Stun Grenade will slow down players as a key piece of utility, while the Smoke Grenade is key for blocking crosses on Search and Destroy maps like Terminal, Invasion, and Karachi. Keep in mind that the Smoke Greande is banned in Control and Hardpoint.