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Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 2 weapon buffs and nerfs

Modern Warfare 3 player holding guns inside house
Credit: Activision
By Jon NicholsonFPS Editor

Modern Warfare 3 player holding guns inside house
Credit: Activision

Mastering the Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 2 buffs and nerfs makes all the difference in multiplayer and the battle royale.

Season 2 of Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone is here and the latest update sees the arrival of the BP50 assault rifle and the RAM-9 submachine gun. Alongside the new weaponry, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software have adjusted other weapons to ensure a level playing field is maintained.

Before we reveal all of the Season 2 weapon buffs and nerfs, check out the best MW3 ranked play loadouts and the best Warzone Pulemyot 762 loadout.

Modern Warfare 3 weapon buffs and nerfs

Weapons and attachments

  • Decreased melee lunge distance of all MWIII Weapons to align with MWII standards.
  • Increased movement speeds of all MWII Weapons to align with MWIII standards.
  • Added gun kick control and recoil control benefits in Tactical Stance for all Weapons.

Assault rifles

  • Holger 556
    • Increased aim down sight time from 260ms to 270ms (+4%).
  • MCW
    • Increased aim down sight time from 240ms to 265ms (+10%).
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 241ms to 252ms (+5%).
    • JAK Raven Kit
      • Increased maximum damage from 31 to 33 (+6%).
      • Decreased medium damage from 23 to 22 (-4%).
      • Decreased minimum damage from 22 to 20 (-9%).
      • Decreased maximum damage range from 20.3m to 19.8m (-3%).
      • Increased near-medium damage range from 29m to 35.6m (+23%).
      • Increased medium damage range from 40.6m to 45.7m (+13%).
      • Increased headshot damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.5x (+7%).
      • Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1.01x to 1.1x (+9%).
      • Decreased hipfire spread while sliding.
      • Decreased recoil and gun kick significantly.

Battle rifles

  • BAS-B
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 231ms to 252ms (+9%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 260ms to 270ms (+4%).
    • Increased hipfire spread minimum from 2.3deg/s to 2.9deg/s (+26%).
  • Sidewinder
    • Increased bullet velocity from 540m/s to 600m/s (+11%).
    • Decreased recoil and gun kick significantly.
    • JAK Thunder LMG Kit
      • Increased delay before accelerated rate of fire begins to decay from 200ms to 500ms (+150%).
      • Decreased accelerated rate of fire decay rate from 300rpm/s to 240rpm/s (-20%).
      • Increased gun kick control and recoil control by 35%.
  • TAQ-V (MWII)
    • Increased maximum damage range from 35.6m to 43.2m (+21%).
    • Increased near-medium damage range from 48.3m to 55.9m (+16%).

Submachine guns

  • Striker
    • Increased near-medium damage range from 19.1m to 21.6m (+13%).
    • Increased medium damage range from 25.4m to 27.9m (+10%).
  • AMR9
    • JAK Ettin Double Barrel Kit
      • Added missing hipfire crosshair.
  • WSP-9
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 240ms to 220ms (-8%).
    • Increased maximum damage range from 16.5m to 18.5m (+12%).
    • Increased near-medium damage range from 22.9m to 25.1m (+10%).
    • Broodmother .45 Kit
      • Decreased aim down sight time from 270ms to 241ms (-11%).
      • Decreased movement speed penalties by 50%.

Shotguns

  • Lockwood 680
    • Lockwood Defender Heavy Long Barrel
      • Increased sprint to fire time penalty from 8% to 30% (+22%).
  • KV Broadside (MWII)
    • Decreased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 189ms (-10%).
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 330ms to 240ms (-27%).

Light machine guns

  • TAQ Eradicator
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 252ms (+20%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 330ms to 340ms (+3%).
  • RAAL MG (MWII)
    • Decreased sprint to fire time from 216ms to 199ms (-8%).
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 390ms to 330ms (-15%).
  • 556 Icarus (MWII)
    • Decreased sprint to fire time from 250ms to 235ms (-6%).
  • RPK (MWII)
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 410ms to 380ms (-7%).

Marksman rifles

  • MCW 6.8
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 271ms to 245ms (-10%).
    • Decreased all damage ranges by 18%.
    • Decreased bullet velocity from 1016m/s to 930m/s (-8%).
    • Decreased hipfire spread minimum from 5deg/s to 4.1deg/s (-18%).
    • Decreased hipfire spread maximum from 12.1deg/s to 10deg/s (-17%).
  • DM56
    • Decreased near-medium damage from 42 to 41 (-2%).
    • Decreased minimum damage from 39 to 38 (-3%).
  • MTZ Interceptor
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 252ms to 262ms (+4%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 265ms to 280ms (+6%).
    • Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.62x to 1x (-38%).
  • SP-R 208 (MWII)
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 19.6m to 13m (-34%).
    • Increased upper-arm damage multiplier from 1.15x to 1.5x (+30%).
  • Lockwood Mk2 (MWII)
    • Increased maximum damage from 110 to 125 (+14%).
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 8.9m to 6.4m (-29%).
  • LM-S (MWII)
    • Decreased intensity of aim down sight idle sway.
  • SA-B 50 (MWII)
    • Increased maximum damage from 110 to 120 (+9%).
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 14.2m to 10.4m (-27%).

Sniper rifles

  • Longbow
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 550ms to 520ms (-5%).
  • Signal 50 (MWII)
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 48.5m to 35.1m (-28%).
  • SP-X 80 (MWII)
    • Increased aim down sight time from 521ms to 545ms (+5%).

Pistols

  • Renetti
    • JAK Ferocity Carbine Kit
      • Decreased movement speed penalties by 50%.
  • Basilisk (MWII)
    • Increased maximum damage range from 6.9m to 8.4m (+22%).
    • Increased near-medium damage range from 15.2m to 22.9m (+50%).
    • Increased medium damage range from 22.9m to 35.1m (+53%).
    • Increased far-medium damage range from 35.1m to 41.9m (+20%).
    • Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.2x (+20%).

Launchers

  • Stormender
    • Addressed an issue preventing some Killstreaks from being destroyed and/or disabled.

Melee

» Melee «

  • Gutter Knife
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Karambit
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Combat Knife (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Dual Kodachis (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Dual Kamas (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Pickaxe (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.

Attachments

» Attachments «

  • JAK BFB Muzzle
    • Decreased gun kick control benefit from 60% to 55% (-5%).
    • Decreased vertical recoil control benefit from 40% to 35% (-5%).
    • Increased aim down sight time penalty from 12% to 15% (+3%).
    • Increased sprint to fire time penalty from 11% to 14% (+3%).
    • Increased aim walking speed penalty from 14% to 17% (+3%).
    • Added 18% bullet velocity penalty.
Modern Warfare 3 player holding sniper rifle
expand image
Credit: Activision

Warzone Season 2 weapon buffs and nerfs

General

  • We’ve reduced the recoil on all weapons while using them in Tac Stance.
  • A number of improvements have been made to Modern Warfare II weapons:
    • Assault Rifles
      • Increased movement speed while aiming down sights.
    • Battle Rifles
      • Increased movement speed while aiming down sights and while crouched.
    • Marksman Rifles
      • Increased movement speed while aiming down sights and while crouched.
    • Light Machine Guns
      • Increased movement speed while aiming down sight, while crouched, and while strafing.
    • Sniper Rifles
      • Increased movement speed while aiming down sight, while crouched, and while strafing.

Assault rifles

  • RAM-7 (MWIII)
    • Mid Damage reduced to 24, down from 28.
    • Min Damage reduced to 22, down from 25.
  • MCW (MWIII)
    • Increased aim down sight time to 265ms, up from 240ms.
    • Increased sprint to fire time to 252ms, up from 241ms.
  • Holger 556 (MWIII)
    • Increased aim down sight time to 270ms, up from 260ms.
  • TR-76 Geist (MWII)
    • Headshot Damage Modifier reduced to 1.25x, down from 1.3x.
    • Upper Torso Damage Modifier increased to 1.15x, up from 1.05x.
    • Arm and Hand Damage Modifier increased to 1.15x, up from 0.96x.

Battle rifle

  • BAS-B (MWIII)
    • Max Damage reduced to 30, down from 35.
    • Increased sprint to fire time to 252ms, up from 231ms.
    • Increased aim down sight time to 270ms, up from 260ms.
    • Increased hipfire spread minimum to 2.9deg/s, up from 2.3deg/s.
  • MTZ-762 (MWIII)
    • Semi-Auto damage override has been removed.
      • The weapon now does the same damage in semi-auto as it does in automatic.
  • Sidewinder (MWIII)
    • Increased bullet velocity to 600m/s, up from 540m/s.
    • Decreased recoil and gun kick significantly.
    • JAK Thunder LMG Kit
      • Increased delay before accelerated rate of fire begins to decay to 500ms, up from 200ms.
      • Decreased accelerated rate of fire decay rate to 240rpm/s, down from 300rpm/s.
      • Increased gun kick control and recoil control by 35%.

Submachine guns

  • HRM-9 (MWIII)
    • Max Damage Range reduced to 12.9m, down from 16.5m.
  • WSP-9 (MWIII)
    • Max Damage Range increased to 18m, up from 16.5m.
    • Near-Mid Damage Range increased to 26.7m, up from 22.9m.
    • Decreased aim down sight time 220ms, down from 240ms.
    • Broodmother .45 Kit
      • Decreased aim down sight time to 241ms, down from 270ms.
      • Decreased movement speed penalties by 50%.

Shotguns

  • Lockwood 680 (MWIII)
    • Mid Damage reduced to 30, down from 44.
    • Defender Heavy Long Barrel
      • Increased sprint to fire time penalty to 30%, up from 8%.
  • Haymaker (MWIII)
    • 12 Gauge Dragon’s Breath
      • Max Damage Range decreased to 2.9m, down from 3.5m.
      • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 4.1m, down from 4.8m.
  • Riveter (MWIII)
    • Near-Mid Mid Damage Range reduced to 5.5m, down from 6.3m.
    • .410 Gauge Incendiary
      • Max Damage Range decreased to 2.5, down from 3.0m.
      • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 3.3, down from 3.8m.
  • Bryson 890 (MWII)
    • Mid Damage Range reduced to 10.4m, down from 13.2m.
  • KV Broadside (MWII)
    • Decreased sprint to fire time to 189ms, down from 210ms.
    • Decreased aim down sight time to 240ms, down from 330ms.
  • Lockwood 300 (MWII)
    • 12 Gauge Dragon’s Breath
      • Max Damage Range decreased to 2.6m , down from 3.3m.
      • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 5.3m, down from 7.1m.
  • MX Guardian (MWII)
    • 12 Gauge Dragon’s Breath
      • Max Damage Range decreased to 2.9m, down from 3.5m.
      • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 4.8m, down from 5.5m.

Light machine guns

  • Pulemyot 762 (MWIII)
    • Jak Annihilator Bullpup Kit
      • Near-Mid Damage set to 32. New Variable
      • Near-Mid Damage Range set to 38.1m. New Variable
      • Min Damage reduced to 30, down from 34.
  • TAQ Evolvere (MWIII)
    • Max Damage increased to 34, up from 26.
    • Max Damage Range reduced to 30.5m, down from 45.8m.
    • Near-Mid Damage 29. New Variable
    • Near-Mid Damage Range 45.8m. New Variable
    • Min Damage increased to 26, up from 20.
  • TAQ Eradicator (MWIII)
    • Increased sprint to fire time to 252ms, up from 210ms.
    • Increased sprint to fire time to 340ms, up from 330ms.
  • 556 Icarus (MWII)
    • Decreased sprint to fire time to 235ms, down from 250ms.
  • RAAL MG (MWII)
    • Decreased sprint to fire time to 199ms, down from 216ms.
    • Decreased aim down sight time to 330ms, down from 390ms.
  • RPK (MWII)
    • Decreased aim down sight time to 380ms, down from 410ms.

Marksman rifles

  • KVD Enforcer (MWIII)
    • Decreased headshot multiplier to 1.4x, down from 1.8x.
  • MTZ Interceptor (MWIII)
    • Increased sprint to fire time to 262ms, up from 252ms.
    • Increased aim down sight time to 280ms, up from 265ms.
    • Decreased neck multiplier to 1.0x, down from 1.62x.
  • MCW 6.8 (MWIII)
    • Decreased aim down sight time to 245ms, down from 271ms.
    • Decreased hipfire spread minimum to 4.1deg/s, down from 5deg/s.
    • Decreased hipfire spread maximum to 10deg/s, down from 12.1deg/s.
    • Decreased bullet velocity to 930m/s, down from 1,016m/s.
  • LM-S (MWII)
    • Reduced intensity of aim down sight idle sway.
  • Crossbow (MWII)
    • Neck Damage Multiplier increased to 3x, up from 1.2x.
    • Lower limb Damage Multipliers increased to 1x, up from 0.9x.

Sniper rifles

  • XRK Stalker (MWIII)
    • Now one-shot downs to the head within its Max Damage Range
    • Max damage range increased to 50.8 meters.
  • Longbow (MWIII)
    • Min Damage reduced to 73, down from 75.
    • Decreased aim down sight time to 520ms, down from 550ms.
  • Signal 50 (MWII)
    • Near-Mid Damage Range reduced to 62.3m, down from 67.4m.
  • SP-X 80 (MWII)
    • Increased aim down sight time to 545ms, up from 521ms.

Pistols

  • Renetti (MWIII)
    • JAK Ferocity Carbine Kit
      • Reduced movement speed penalties by 50%.
  • WSP Stinger (MWIII)
    • Max Damage increased to 24, up from 20.
    • Near-Mid Damage increased to 22, up from 16.
    • Min Damage increased to 20, up from 14.
  • .50 GS (MWII)
    • Max Damage increased to 78, up from 72.
  • Basilisk (MWII)
    • Lower Torso Damage Modifier increased to 1.2x, up from 1.0x.

Melee

  • Gutter Knife (MWIII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Karambit (MWIII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Combat Knife (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Dual Kodachis (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Dual Kamas (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Pickaxe (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.

Attachments

  • JAK BFB Muzzle
    • Decreased gun kick control benefit to 55%, down from 60%.
    • Decreased vertical recoil control benefit to 35%, down from 40%.
    • Increased aim down sight time penalty to 15%, up from 12%.
    • Increased sprint to fire time penalty to 14%, up from 11%.
    • Increased aim walking speed penalty to 17%, up from 14%.
    • Added 18% bullet velocity penalty.

There you have it, that's all of the Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 2 buffs and nerfs. For more, head over to our Call of Duty page for all the latest battle royale and multiplayer intel.