Best Modern Warfare 3 Combat Knife loadout

Modern Warfare 3 - combat knife weapon
Credit: Activision

Modern Warfare 3 - combat knife weapon
Credit: Activision

On the hunt for the best Combat Knife loadout in Modern Warfare 3? In this guide, we'll be breaking down all be best equipment and perks to bring alongside the Combat Knife, to help make this challenging weapon viable. Also, we'll be passing our judgment on whether the Combat Knife will stand a chance of breaking into the Modern Warfare 3's meta.

The Combat Knife is a classic melee weapon, featured in many previous Call of Duty loadouts. Fast, quiet, and deadly, use the Combat Knife to turn your multiplayer lobbies into a bloodbath.

Before we take a look at the best Combat Knife loadout, check out our guide on how to obtain the ray gun in MW3 Zombies, or our walkthrough on the best Crossbow loadout in Modern Warfare 3. You can find these guides and many more in our dedicated Modern Warfare 3 walkthrough hub.

Modern Warfare 3 - soldier with two knives runs away from an explosion
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Credit: Activision

What is the best Modern Warfare 3 Combat Knife loadout?

In Modern Warfare 2, players were unable to add attachments to the Combat Knife, and this remains the case for Modern Warfare 3. Your loadout is mainly determined by which primary weapon and equipment you choose to pair with the Combat Knife.

We’ll be updating this guide with our thoughts on the best loadout for the Combat Knife shortly, as soon as we've had a chance to play Modern Warfare 3 and experiment with some of the game's other weapons. Make sure to check back here later to get our complete thoughts.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Combat Knife attachments

In Modern Warfare 3, players have the freedom to significantly alter how their weapon behaves and looks by using the Gunsmith. However, this doesn't apply to the Combat Knife; as mentioned earlier, you cannot equip attachments to the Combat Knife in Modern Warfare 3.

If the status of the Combat Knife’s attachments changes at all, we'll be updating this section with the top attachments for the weapon.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Combat Knife perks and equipment

Below, we’ve got the best perks and equipment to help you get the most out of the Combat Knife in Modern Warfare 3.

Perks

  • Vest: Overkill
  • Gloves: Ordnance
  • Boots: Covert Sneakers
  • Gear: Bone Conduction Headset

With the Combat Knife, we think that the overkill vest works best. This is largely thanks to it giving you an even greater boost to your mobility, as well as allowing you to quickly draw your secondary to take ranged fights with. Also, the ordnance gloves will give your tactical and lethal equipment a greater range, giving you another potential avenue of attack.

For the boots, the covert sneakers are widely considered to be the best in Modern Warfare 3, and that claim is upheld regarding the Combat Knife. These boots muffle all of your character's sound, meaning you can run around the map stabbing enemies without them knowing you're there. Lastly, these shoes pair well with the Bone Conduction Headset, which will increase the volume of enemy movements.

Equipment

  • Lethal: Frag Grenade
  • Tactical: Flash Grenade

The frag grenade is the most versatile, yet easy-to-use, option of your lethal equipment. With a bit of practice, you'll be able to master the timing and the range of your frag grenade throws. Additionally, with the ordnance gloves, you can get even more range out of your frag grenade throws.

For your tactical equipment, flashbangs offer a dynamic and classic piece of utility for you to bring alongside your Combat Knife loadout. You can use these to ambush enemies, before shanking them from behind with your Combat Knife.

Is the Modern Warfare 3 Combat Knife meta?

It's safe to say that the Combat Knife won't become a meta pick any time soon. Most of the time, you won't stand a chance against an opponent with an assault rifle or a submachine gun. However, if you desperately want to bring a melee weapon with you in Modern Warfare 3, the Dual Kodachis are arguably a better pick.

That’s all there is to know about the Combat Knife and its best loadout. For more Modern Warfare 3 content like this, why not check out our guide to the game's ranks system and weapon unlocks, or perhaps our deep dive into all the mystery box locations in MW3 Zombies? Alternatively, we’ve also got a complete list of all the guns and weapons in Modern Warfare 3, to help you design your next loadout.