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All buffs and nerfs in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 3

Modern Warfare 3 players standing with opponents pointing weapons at them
Credit: Activision
By Jon NicholsonFPS Editor

Modern Warfare 3 players standing with opponents pointing weapons at them
Credit: Activision

Mastering the Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 3 buffs and nerfs is essential for those looking to gain the upper hand.

As part of the Season 3 update for Call of Duty's multiplayer and battle royale, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software have applied an extensive dose of weapon balancing to both titles to maintain a somewhat level playing field following the arrival of the MORS and FJX Horus.

Before we take a closer look at the Season 3 buffs and nerfs, check out our other guides showcasing how Squad Rage works and all the MW3 Season 3 ranked rewards up for grabs.

Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 buffs and nerfs

With plenty of weapons receiving changes, we've got the full list of adjustments for Modern Warfare 3 below:

» Assault Rifles «

  • RAM-7
    • Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.3x to 1x (-23%).
  • Holger 556
    • Decreased upper leg, lower leg, and foot damage multipliers from 1x to 0.85x (-15%).
  • MCW
    • Decreased headshot damage multiplier from 1.3x to 1.1x (+15%).
  • DG-56
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 178ms to 199ms (+12%).
MW3 players
expand image
Credit: Activision

Battle rifles

  • SOA Subverter
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 256ms to 268ms (+5%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 270ms to 290ms (+7%).
  • BAS-B
    • Decreased rate of fire from 667rpm to 600rpm (-10%).
    • Decreased recoil center speed by 6%.
    • JAK Outlaw-277 Kit
      • Decreased sprint to fire time from 252ms to 226ms (-10%).
      • Decreased aim down sight time from 300ms to 240ms (-20%).
      • Decreased aim down sight rate of fire penalty from 150% to 135%.
      • Increased medium damage from 74 to 90 (+22%)
      • Increased minimum damage from 70 to 90 (+29%).
  • Sidewinder
    • Decreased sprint to fire time from 231ms to 210ms (-9%).
    • Increased bullet velocity from 600m/s to 770m/s (+28%).

SMGs

  • RAM-9
    • Decreased sprint to fire time from 178ms to 147ms (-17%).
  • AMR9
    • Decreased sprint to fire time from 189ms to 136ms (-28%).
  • Rival-9
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 93ms to 110ms (+18%).
    • Decreased near-medium damage from 27 to 25 (-7%).
    • Decreased medium damage from 25 to 23 (-8%).
    • Decreased lower torso, lower arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1.1x to 1x (-9%).
  • HRM-9
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 94ms to 110ms (+17%).
  • Striker 9
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 100ms to 103ms (+3%).
  • Striker
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 100ms to 110ms (+10%).
  • WSP-9
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 88ms to 110ms (+25%).
  • WSP Swarm
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 88ms to 99ms (+13%).

Shotguns

  • Added Long Haul 50 and Wolfcall 300 Muzzle Attachments to MWIII Shotguns.

LMGs

  • TAQ Evolvere
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 245ms to 257ms (+5%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 385ms to 415ms (+8%).
    • 7.62 Belt Magazines
      • Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.2x (-14%).
    • 5.56 Belt Magazines
      • Decreased rate of fire from 857rpm to 789rpm (-8%).
  • Bruen Mk9
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 410ms to 350ms (-15%).
  • RAAL MG (MWII)
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 199ms to 216ms (+9%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 330ms to 380ms (+15%).
    • Increased neck damage multiplier from 1x to 1.3x (+30%).
    • Increased upper torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.2x (+20%).
    • Increased leg and foot damage multipliers from 0.9x to 1x (+11%).

Marksman rifles

  • MTZ Interceptor
    • Increased aim down sight time from 280ms to 300ms (+7%).
    • Decreased medium damage from 88 to 83 (-6%).
    • Decreased minimum damage from 84 to 77 (-8%).
    • Decreased near-medium damage range from 44.5m to 38.1m (-14%).

Sniper rifles

  • XRK Stalker
    • Increased aim down sight time from 580ms to 600ms (+3%).
  • KV Inhibitor
    • Increased aim down sight time from 540ms to 580ms (+7%).
  • SP-X 80 (MWII)
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 270ms to 310ms (+15%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 570ms to 590ms (+4%).

Handguns

  • TYR
    • 12.7x55mm Snake Shot Ammunition
      • Increased minimum damage range and bullet termination range from 14.5m to 19.6m (+35%).
  • WSP Stinger
    • Akimbo WSP Stinger Rear Grip
      • Increased rate of fire from 600rpm to 750rpm (+25%).

Attachments

  • Added initial aim accuracy benefit to all Heavy Bolts for Sniper Rifles.
  • Cronen INTLAS MSP-12 Optic
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • SL Razorhawk Laser Light
    • Flashlight is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • CS15 Scarlet Box Laser
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies.
  • Verdant Hook Box Laser
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor Muzzle
    • Increased sprint to fire speed penalty from 2% to 5%.
  • L4R Flash Hider Muzzle
    • Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit from 13% to 10%.
  • DR-6 Handstop Underbarrel
    • Decreased aim down sight movement speed benefit by 3-4%, dependent upon Weapon Class.
  • Bruen Heavy Support Grip Underbarrel
    • Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit from 12% to 8%.

The most notable nerf is for the Rival-9. Whether it's casual or competitive, the SMG has dominated since Modern Warfare 3 launched. We'll have to wait and see if another SMG has the characteristics to spice up the meta.

Warzone Season 3 buffs and nerfs

Assault rifles

RAM 7

  • Max Damage decreased to 32, down from 36.
  • Near-Mid Damage decreased to 28, down from 30.
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 24.13 meters, down from 26.67.
  • Head Modifier decreased to 1.2x, down from 1.3x.
  • Neck Modifier decreased to 1x, down from 1.3x.

DG-56

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 199ms, up from 178ms.

Lachmann 556

  • Max Damage increased to 28, up from 24.
  • Near-Mid Damage increased to 24, up from 21.
  • Neck Modifier increased to 1.1x, up from 1.06x.
  • Upper Torso Modifier increased to 1.1x, up from 1.06x.
  • Arm and Hand modifier increased to 1.1x, up from 1x.

M13C

  • Max Damage Range increased to 21.59 meters, up from 17.78.

FR Avancer

  • Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1.12x, up from 1.06x.

Tempus Razorback

  • Max Damage increased to 28, up from 27.
  • Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1x, up from 0.9x.

Battle rifles

  • Decreased rate of fire to 600rpm, down from 667rpm.
  • Decreased recoil center speed by 6%.
  • JAK Outlaw-277
    • Max Damage decreased to 90, down from 100.
    • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 25.4 meters, down from 27.94.
    • Head Modifier decreased to 1.4x, down from 1.6x.
    • Upper Torso and Arms Modifiers decreased to 1.1x, down from 1.3x.
    • Decreased sprint to fire time to 226ms, down from 252ms.
    • Decreased aim down sight time to 240ms, down from 300ms.
    • Decreased aim down sight rate of fire penalty to 135%, down from 150%.

MTZ 762

  • Max Damage decreased to 38, down from 40.
  • Near-Mid Damage decreased to 35, down from 38.

SOA Subverter

  • Max Damage Range decreased to 22.86 meters, down from 25.4.
  • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 41.91 meters, down from 46.23.
  • Increased sprint to fire time to 268ms, up from 256ms.
  • Increased aim down sight time to 290ms, up from 270ms.

Sidewinder

  • Decreased sprint to fire time to 210ms, down from 231ms.
  • Increased bullet velocity to 770m/s, up from 600m/s.

SMGs

RAM 9

  • Max Damage decreased to 27, down from 30.
  • Decreased sprint to fire time to 147ms, down from 178ms

AMR9

  • Max Damage decreased to 27, down from 31.
  • Min Damage decreased to 22, down from 25.
  • Near-Mid Damage decreased to 25, down from 27.
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 17.78 meters, down from 22.86.
  • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 34.29 meters, down from 40.64.
  • Decreased sprint to fire time to 136ms, down from 189ms.

Rival-9

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 110ms, up from 93ms.

HRM-9

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 110ms, up from 94ms.

Striker

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 110ms, up from 100ms.

Striker 9

  • Max Damage Range increased to 12.19 meters, up from 10.67.
  • Increased sprint to fire time to 103ms, up from 100ms.

WSP-9

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 110ms, up from 88ms.

WSP Swarm

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 99ms, up from 88ms.

MX9

  • Near-Mid Damage increased to 28, up from 26.
  • Max Damage Range increased to 11.17 meters, up from 9.65.

Lachmann Sub

  • Max Damage increased to 28, up from 27.
  • Max Damage Range increased to 9.65 meters, up from 8.25.

BAS-P

  • Max Damage increased to 28, up from 26.

LMGs

Bruen MK9

  • Min Damage decreased to 24, down from 26.
  • Decreased aim down sight time to 350ms, down from 410ms.

TAQ Eradicator

  • Max Damage increased to 30, up from 28.

TAQ Evolvere

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 257ms, up from 245ms.
  • Increased aim down sight time to 415ms, up from 385ms.
  • 5.56 Belt Magazines
    • Decreased rate of fire to 789rpm, down from 857rpm.

RAPP H

  • Upper Torso & Neck Modifier increased 1.1x, up from 1.08x.
  • Arm and Hand Modifier increased to 1.1x, up from 0.95x.

HCR 56

  • Max Damage Range increased to 33.65 meters, up from 30.73.
  • Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1.1x, up from 0.99x.
  • Leg Modifier increased to 1x, up from 0.95x.

RAAL MG

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 216ms, up from 199ms.
  • Increased aim down sight time to 380ms, up from 330ms.

Marksman rifles

Tempus Torrent

  • Max Damage decreased to 70, down from 74.

Sniper rifles

XRK Stalker

  • Increased aim down sight time to 600ms, up from 580ms.

KV Inhibitor

  • Increased aim down sight time to 580ms, up from 540ms.

SP-X 80

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 310ms, up from 270ms.
  • Increased aim down sight time to 590ms, up from 570ms.

Handguns

Renetti

  • Max Damage Range increased to 12.95 meters, up from 11.68.

WSP Stinger

  • Akimbo WSP Stinger Rear Grip
    • Increased rate of fire to 750rpm, up from 600rpm.

Attachments

  • Heavy Bolts
    • Added initial aim accuracy benefit to all Heavy Bolts for Sniper Rifles.
  • Cronen INTLAS MSP-12 Optic
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • SL Razorhawk Laser Light
    • Flashlight is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • CS15 Scarlet Box Laser
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies.
  • Verdant Hook Box Laser
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor Muzzle
    • Increased sprint to fire speed penalty to 5%, up from 2%.
  • L4R Flash Hider Muzzle
    • Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit to 10%, down from 13%.
  • DR-6 Handstop Underbarrel
    • Decreased aim down sight movement speed benefit by 3-4%, dependent upon Weapon Class.
  • Bruen Heavy Support Grip Underbarrel
    • Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit to 8%, down from 12%.

There you have it, that's all of the Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 3 buffs and nerfs. For more, check out how to get the Stasis Operator and everything there is to know about the Rebirth Island POIs.