Best Loadouts in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3

The best loadouts in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 can make a huge difference across all your matches in both Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer. Everyone has their favourite guns, but certain builds tend to become the consensus best, or 'meta' loadouts. This list was put together with this in mind.

After hours of play and delving into the deepest reaches of the online community, here are our recommendations for the best loadouts in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3. We have grouped each loadout to reflect different playstyles and to give you options based on the map and mode you're playing.

We're also providing a build approach for both Warzone and MW3, making this a perfect guide regardless of which game you're playing.

On this page:

• Best general loadout
• Best sniper loadout
• Best assault loadout
• Best shotgun loadout
• Best highspeed loadout

Best general loadout in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3

Here is our recommendation for the best general purpose loadout in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3:

The DG-56 Meta kit

While we would argue the MCW is the better gun, there is no doubt the COD community is gravitating towards the DG-56. It’s lethal at all ranges, easy to use, and has a fast time-to-kill (TTK). It’s the perfect piece for a general 'do everything' loadout. We go into greater detail about how to set up the gun in our dedicated DG-56 guide, but an ideal setup of the weapon makes for an exceptionally lethal assault rifle with minimum recoil, and it can be used in any game type or role effectively.

Read on for our recommended loadout for using the DG-56 as part of a balanced playstyle in Warzone:

Best Warzone Loadout for a Balanced Playstyle

• Perk 1: Scavenger
• Perk 2: Double Time
• Perk 3: Quick Fix
• Perk 4: High Alert
• Tactical: Frag Grenade or Player Preference
• Lethal: Flash or Stun Grenade, or Player Preference

Since resources like ammo and armour will be key elements to keep stocked up on, Scavenger is a great perk with the ability to replenish these. Keeping mobility and survivability as high as possible, Double Time will provide extra buffs like an increased Tac Sprint duration and reduced cooldown, whilst Quick Fix will grant health regeneration when killing players or slotting in an armour plate. Rounding this off is High Alert, a perk that'll notify you when an enemy outside of your vision spots you.

As for equipment, it's all up to you though we'd recommend going for Frag and Flash/Stun Grenades if you're looking to keep it as balanced and focused as possible.

In terms of MW3, with different tools to play with, we'll be looking at how to replicate the above whilst seting you up with a slew of perks that'll give your playstyle an all-round and balanced approach for core Multiplayer.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Loadout for a Balanced Playstyle

• Weapon: DG-56
• Vest: Infantry Vest
• Perk 1 – Gloves: Commando Gloves
• Perk 2 – Boots: Lightweight Boots
• Perk 3 – Gear: Threat Identification System
• Field Upgrade: Munitions Box
• Tactical: Stun Grenade
• Lethal: Frag Grenade

Infantry Vest will let you sprint more as you seek out new targets. Commando Gloves will let you reload while you do so, and Lightweight Boots will get you around quickly. Threat Identification System will be of great help as it marks targets while you aim-down-sights, and if you run low on ammo after all these gunfights you can drop your Munitions Box to refill. The Stun Grenade is a great way to start a fight, while the Frag can control the field, or be a parting gift as you sprint to the next spot.

In both the Warzone and MW3 approach to this loadout, feel free to swap out the primary weapon to something like the MCW or Holger 556 if you'd rather have a solid, full-auto weapon as your main weapon.

Best sniper loadout in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3

Below you'll find our recommendation for the best sniper rifle loadout in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3:

The mixed-range Longbow build

The Longbow is an interesting sniper. Naturally it can one shot with head shots, and even torso hits at medium range, but properly kitted has enough handling and rate of fire to compete with other guns in more mobile stand up gunfights. Checkout our Longbow loadout guide to see exactly how best to set it up.

Read on for our recommended loadout for using the Longbow as part of a balanced playstyle in Warzone:

Best Warzone Loadout for a mixed-range Sniper Playstyle

• Perk 1: E.O.D
• Perk 2: Focus
• Perk 3: Cold-Blooded or Stalker
• Perk 4: Ghost
• Tactical: Stim
• Lethal: Breacher Drone

When taking a sniper into Warzone, you'll generally be using it at long ranges, and with the Longbow you might want to consider a longer scope with the gun to help with that.

When it comes to perks however, we're recommending a slew of bonuses that'll help for resistance, target acquisition, accuracy, and stealth. The resistance here comes from E.O.D., protecting you from enemy explosives, whilst Focus is going to reduce flinch and increase your 'Hold Breath' time to allow you to line up shots better.

Granting some stealth aspects to this class are Cold-Blooded and Ghost. The former hides you from thermal optics, Tactical Cameras, and Recon Drones and prevents you from triggering other players' High Alert and Combat Scout effects. The latter on the other hand will hide you from enemy UAvs and radars.

As an alternative, if you'd rather a bit more accuracy, you could swap out Cold-Blooded for Stalker which grants increased strafe and ADS movement speed.

For more on the Tactical and Lethal recommendations, or if it's MW3 you're looking for, keep reading for our recommended setup on how best to complement the Longbow in core Multiplayer:

Best Modern Warfare 3 Loadout for a mixed-range Sniper Playstyle

• Weapon: Longbow
• Vest: CCT Comms Vest
• Perk 1 – Gloves: Marksman Gloves
• Perk 2 – Boots: Covert Sneakers
• Perk 3 – Gear: Bone Conduction Headset
• Field Upgrade: Dead Silence
• Tactical: Stim
• Lethal: Breacher Drone

Kill fast, and don’t be seen when you don’t want to be. Covert Sneakers make sure nearby enemies can’t find you from footstep sounds, while Bone Conduction Headset lets you know if they are getting too close. The CCT Comms Vest enhances the radar and map, making it easier to know where your next shot should be directed, and the Marksman Gloves help make that shot an accurate one. If the fight gets too close for comfort, pop a Stim for the health regen and running ability, and let your Breach Drones find (and explode) the enemy while you get out of there.

If you're looking for alternatives, check out our recommendations for the best sniper rifle loadouts.

Best assault loadout in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3

Here's our recommendation for the best assault rifle loadout in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3:

The aggressive MCW build

The MCW is our choice for best gun in Warzone and MW3. It’s perfect for running and gunning. It has amazingly little recoil, meaning all three shots from its burst hit the same spot. It can drop multiple enemies extremely fast if you assemble the gun properly, which our MCW loadout will help you achieve, and in skilled hands completely turn the tide of gun fights.

Read on for our recommended loadout for using the MCW as part of an aggressive playstyle in Warzone:

Best Warzone Loadout for an Aggressive Playstyle

• Perk 1: Scavenger
• Perk 2: Sleight of Hand
• Perk 3: Quick Fix
• Perk 4: Resolute
• Tactical: Stun Grenade
• Lethal: frag Grenade

With focusing on more of a aggressive playstyle, you'll want perks that are going to be heavily supportive, each assisting and pushing forward the offensive intention of the class.

Starting from the top, Scavenger is going to be a perk that'll constantly keep you replenished and stocked up on ammo, armour, and cash when defeating enemies. Beyond that, Sleight of Hand grants quicker reload, helping you stay in the fight and be the oppressive force this class is focused on. Furthermore, with Quick Fix, you'll be keeping your health in the green thanks to health regen on any kill or armour-plate-equip. To round it off and give another in-fight bonus, Resolute provides increased movement speed when taking gunfire damage.

All together, this class will keep you focused on the enemies, and whilst it isn't the stealthiest approach, you'll certainly be ready for any fight that comes your way, espcially if you pair this with a solid shotgun backup, like the Lockwood 680 or full-auto Riveter.

For more on the Tactical and Lethal recommendations in this loadout, or if it's MW3 you're looking for, keep reading for our recommended setup on how best to complement the MCW in core Multiplayer:

Best Modern Warfare 3 Loadout for an Aggressive Playstyle

• Weapon: MCW
• Vest: Gunner Vest
• Perk 1 – Gloves: Commando Gloves
• Perk 2 – Gear: Mission Control Comlink
• Field Upgrade: Munitions box
• Tactical: Stun Grenade
• Lethal: Frag Grenade

Gunner Vest is great here for the extra ammo and reload speed, and losing access to boots isn’t a big loss for this build. Commando Gloves will let you reload while sprinting from place to place. This kit is meant to focus on kills, and equipping the Mission Control Comlink will make all kills streak rewards cost less. You’ll want the extra ammo from the Munitions Box before long, and the versatility of basic Stun and Frag grenades is hard to pass up.

If you're looking for alternatives, check out our recommendations for the best assault rifle loadouts.

Best shotgun loadout in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3

Below you'll find our recommendation for the best shotgun loadout across both Warzone and Modern Warfare 3:

The up close and personal Lockwood 680 build

There’s a clear king of the shotguns in Warzone and MW3, and that’s the Lockwood 680. You can see a full breakdown in our Lockwood 680 loadout guide. This gun is exceptionally lethal with more range than one might expect, and it’s particularly handy for objective based games that force close engagements.

Read on for our recommended loadout for using the Lockwood 680 as part of a close-quarters playstyle in Warzone:

Best Warzone Loadout for an up-close and personal shotgun playstyle:

• Perk 1: Sleight of Hand or E.O.D.
• Perk 2: Double Time
• Perk 3: Tracker
• Perk 4: Flex
• Tactical: C4 or Frag Grenade
• Lethal: Shock Stick or Flash Grenade

We'll explain more about the chosen tactical and lethal equipment in our MW3 recommendation section below, though we should call out that for Warzone, you might want to take C4 or Shock Stick in those slots, just for a bit of support for any vehicular encounters you may end up running into.

When it comes to the rest of the build, whilst a shotgun may not be the best weapon for many of the encounters you may have during Warzone matches, it doesn't mean there's absolutely no place for shotguns to thrive, even if it means taking a backup weapon to cover other ranges - we'd recommend a solid SMG or AR like the Striker or MCW for example. When it comes to perk builds, we're focusing primarily on mobility and a suite of perks that'll boost your close-quarters efficacy.

For your first pick, it's ultimately up to you out of our two recommended options - if you want some explosive damage resistance, a handy attribute to boost for any hectic area-of-effect damage that may come your way, E.O.D. is the way to go in the first perk slot. However, since shotguns like the Lockwood 680 are reloaded one shell at a time, Sleight of Hand might be the better pick, allowing you to reload your empty mag much faster.

As for the other perk slots, we're looking at options that are focused heavily on those close-quarters encounters. For example, Double Time is going to increase your Tac Sprint duration and reduce its cooldown, boosting your overall mobility, whilst Tracker lets you spot trails of enemy footprints, creating a hunter aspect to the class. It even hides kill markers from the enemy team, chucking a bit of stealth in there too. Rounding the loadout off is Flex, a perk that lets you delay triggered explosives like Claymores and Proximity Mines, as well as warning you of enemy equipment and reducing your overall combat noise.

There's a similar approach to the MW3 approach to this class, retaining certain elements like explosive damage resistance for example - keep reading to see our full MW3 recommendation.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Loadout for an up-close and personal shotgun playstyle:

• Vest: Gunner Vest
• Perk 1 – Gloves: Quick-Grip Gloves
• Perk 2 – Gear: EOD Padding
• Field Upgrade: Trophy System
• Lethal: Frag Grenade
• Tactical: Flash Grenade

The Gunner Vest takes away your boot option, but it’s worth it to enable a second primary weapon for longer encounters, especially if you take advantage of the faster swap speed from the Quick-Grip Gloves. The EOD Padding will help protect you from explosives, while the Trophy System lets you deploy gear to take out enemy equipment while you hold narrow spaces. A standard grenade set is perfect to round out the kit.

If you're looking for alternatives, check out our recommendations for the best shotgun loadouts.

Best high speed loadout in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3

Here's our recommendation for the best high speed loadout in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3, letting you quickly defeat your foes:

The overwhelming WSP Swarm build

Outmaneuver, out position, and outplay the competition; that’s the idea of this build. WSP Swarm is an SMG that fires rivers of bullets. It’s fast, light, and handles like a breeze.

With a different loadout setup and slew of perks to choose from, there's a different approach to the Warzone version of this class compared to how we're recommending it in MW3, however it's still very much pushing the core intent of this run-and-gun playstyle.

Read on for our recommended loadout for using the WSP Swarm as part of a high-speed, mobile playstyle in Warzone:

Best Warzone Loadout for a high-speed and mobile playstyle:

• Perk 1: Sleight of Hand
• Perk 2: Scavenger
• Perk 3: Stalker
• Perk 4: Resolute
• Tactical: Battle Rage
• Lethal: Throwing Knife

With the idea of speed and mobility leading this class, we're picking a selection of perks that complement the WSP Swarm, particularly with its high handling and fire rate stats.

First off, it's best to pick Scavenger with this weapon because - especially as you begin to get used to it - its high fire rate will no doubt lead to you running out of ammo fairly quickly. Once you become more acclimated to the gun, you might find you're ready to switch out another perk. If that's the case, Double Time might be a good pick, leaning more into the mobility aspects of the class.

In terms of the other perks however, mobility is the core focus. Sleight of Hand boosts your reload speed, Stalker grants increased strafe and ADS movement speed, and Resolute provides a movement speed buff upon taking damage. Pair all of this with Battle Rage and a Throwing Knife, and you'll be moving fast around the battlefield, not only being a harder target to hit, but all whilst being able to stay on target with your shots.

If you're here for how to build the class in MW3, be sure to keep reading and learn how you can use this loadout to carve a path through core Multiplayer and become nothing but a nightmare for other teams to deal with:

Best Modern Warfare 3 Loadout for a high-speed and mobile playstyle:

• Vest: Overkill Vest
• Perk 1 – Gloves: Scavenger Gloves
• Perk 2 – Boots: Lightweight Boots
• Perk 3 - Gear: Ghost T/V Camo
• Field Upgrade: Dead Silence
• Lethal: Battle Rage
• Tactical: Throwing Knife

This is all about moving fast, and being hard to predict. Lightweight Boots make you run faster. Ghost T/V Camo makes you hard to locate by concealing you from UAVs, radars, and sensors, while Dead Silence makes you quiet as a ninja. Throwing Knives will save your life if you run out of ammo in front of an enemy, while Scavenger Gloves keep you stocked up by harvesting knives and bullets off dead enemies. Just activate your Stim for health regen and a limitless sprint meter, and you will be able to menace enemies all over the battlefield.

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That's it for now! If you're looking for more Warzone or MW3 content, check out our best guns guide covering what's hot across the Call of Duty sphere right now, as well as our guides on Reactor weapon and item locations guide or our Crash Site weapon and item locations page to help you with loadouts. Also, check out our Campaign Mission list and rewards page if you feel like following the story!