Summary
A major new update forCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3makes several weapon balance changes to various assault rifles, such as the DG-58 and FR 5.56. According to Sledgehammer Games, the new update targets overperforming assault rifles while improving the consistency of SMGs inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Like previousCall of Dutygames,Modern Warfare 3receives weekly updates that rotate playlists and brings balance changes.Modern Warfare 3’sNovember 16 playlist updatebrought multiple maps from 2022’sModern Warfare 2, and a new Experimental Playlist lets players try out new features that Sledgehammer Games has been developing, such as a colored outline for enemy combatants in multiplayer. The following day, Sledgehammer Games released a subsequent update that reduced the delay for sprinting after a slide, making overall player movement feel more responsive inModern Warfare 3. In a Reddit AMA held on November 20, the developers revealed even more changes forModern Warfare 3arriving in the coming weeks.
The officialCall of Dutyblog revealed patch notes for the November 21Modern Warfare 3update, which features multiple weapon changes for assault rifles and SMGs. Firstly, the Holger 556 assault rifle received nerfs to damage multipliers for head, neck, upper-torso, arm, and hand damage. The Holger 556’s sprint to fire time was increased from 210ms to 231ms, so players will notice a slight delay when proceeding to fire the assault rifle directly after sprinting. The FR 5.56 received the exact same sprint to fire nerf as the Holger 556 with the former getting multiple damage nerfs and damage multiplier reductions. What’s more, Sledgehammer Games nerfed the DG-58 assault rifle’s overall damage and increased the burst delay from 100ms to 120ms.
The latest update appears to raise the viability of SMGs intheModern Warfare 3meta, since the Striker, AMR9, and Striker 9 received notable changes. The Striker SMG’s maximum damage range has been increased from just 9 m to 19 m, which is a 114% increase. Near-medium and far-medium damage for the Striker was also increased, and the Striker’s aim down sights (ADS) time was reduced to 230ms. The Striker 9 also received a reduction in ADS timing, but the SMG’s maximum damage was decreased by 16%. Slight adjustments to the AMR9 brought its damage multipliers up to 1.1x, and its sprint to fire time was reduced by 30% to 206ms. Overall, these SMGs should feel more responsive and consistent in the meta going forward.
Sledgehammer Games also applied several bug fixes to weapon challenges and camos, including a lighting adjustment toModern Warfare 2’scoveted Ghoulie camo. An exploit involving locked weapon camos was fixed as well, so players who previously used this exploit must continue leveling up their favorite weapons to unlock those camos as intended.
Player feedback will likely be incorporated for future weapon buffs and nerfs as Sledgehammer Games continues to work on new multiplayer and Zombies content forModern Warfare 3Season 1. Assault rifles still appear to be the most viable weapon category for newcomers inModern Warfare 3, but the buffs to SMGs could make them another solid option for those wanting to run-and-gun their opponents in Mosh Pit and other popular playlists.
The highlight of this balance pass is a reduction to the lethality of the FR 5.56 and DG-58. Both Weapons will now require two headshots to kill an enemy with a single 3-round burst fire. Additionally, these changes aim to improve the consistency and viability of Submachine Guns to the intended target for the class.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
WHERE TO PLAY
The war has changed. Call of Duty returns with an all-new campaign, modernized versions of classic Multiplayer maps and an open-world PvE Zombies experience. The campaign, a direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, sees Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against ultranationalist war criminal Vladimir Makarov as he extends his grasp across the world. In Multiplayer, the 16 maps that launched with Modern Warfare 2 in 2009 return with upgraded graphics, new modes and innovative gameplay features. In Modern Warfare Zombies, team up with other squads for the first time ever as you work together to survive in the largest Zombies map yet
