Best Ranked Play loadouts for Modern Warfare 3

Here are the best MW3 Ranked Play loadouts with the top guns, Perks, and Equipment to climb up each Skill Division quickly in Season 3 Reloaded.

As MW3 Ranked Play players attempt to climb Skill Divisions, using the best loadouts in Modern Warfare 3 is key to winning. The Ranked Play meta has been established by the CDL‘s top players. With Ranked Play following the bans and restrictions of the league, you’ll want to know which weapons to use.

Here are the best MW3 Ranked Play loadouts to secure all of the rewards up for grabs in Season 3 Reloaded.

Contents

• Best Ranked Play Primary weapons
  • MCW
  • Rival-9
• Best Ranked Play Secondary weapons
  • Renetti
• Best Ranked Play Lethals & Tacticals
• Best Ranked Play Perks
• Best Ranked Play Field Upgrades

Best Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play Primary weapons

The meta MW3 Ranked Play weapons are the MCW and Rival-9 in Season 3 Reloaded.

From April 16 to April 23 Treyarch allowed players to test the previously restricted HRM-9, RAM-9, MTZ-556, Holger 556, and BP50 in Ranked Play. Now that the testing period is over, players are waiting to see if any of the tested weapons will join the weapon pool throughout Season 3 Reloaded.

In addition, players can no longer use the WSP Swarm as the weapon was added to the list of banned guns as of April 23.

Several weapons are restricted in Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play while playing 4v4 matches of Hardpoint, Search and Destroy, and Control. To make things easier, here are the best Primary weapons for Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play.

Best MCW class MW3 Ranked Play

Standard MCW

• Muzzle: L4R Flash Hider
• Barrel: 16.5″ MCW Cyclone Long Barrel
• Optic: Slate Reflector or Mk. 3 Reflector
• Underbarrel: XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop or DR-6 Handstop
• Rear Grip: RB Claw-PSL Grip

Fast MCW

• Muzzle: T51R Billeted Brake
• Barrel: 16.5″ MCW Cyclone Long Barrel
• Optic: Slate Reflector or Mk. 3 Reflector
• Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
• Rear Grip: RB Rapidstrike Grip

The MCW remains Modern Warfare 3’s best Assault Rifle for Ranked Play in Season 3 Reloaded. We’ve provided two recommended MCW loadouts for players to try, so feel free to test them out and decide which one is best for you.

There are a few variations you can pick from when it comes to the attachments. For starters, the Mk.3 Reflector or Slate Reflector comes down to personal preference. Then, the DR-6 Handstop offers more mobility, while the XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop offers more recoil control.

In addition, players can also pick between the use of a Muzzle like the L4R Flash Hider or T51R Billeted Brake.

Best Rival-9 class MW3 Ranked Play

• Muzzle: Purifier Muzzle Brake S
• Barrel: Rival-C Clearshot Barrel
• Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
• Stock: MTZ Marauder Stock
• Rear Grip: Rival Vice Assault Grip

Compared to the MCW, the best Rival-9 loadout for MW3 Ranked Play offers less variety when it comes to the ideal choice of attachments.

While the Rival-9 is all about speed and dominating close-range fights, attachments like the Rival Vice Assault Grip, Purifier Muzzle Brake S, and Rival-C Clearshot Barrel will help keep the weapon’s recoil under control and boost its range.

However, we don’t want the SMG to become too sluggish, so the DR-6 Handstop and MTZ Marauder Stock will bring a vital boost to speed and mobility.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play Secondary weapons

Modern Warfare 3 players have two viable options when it comes to the best Secondary weapons to use in Ranked Play matches, so let’s check them out below.

Best Renetti class MW3 Ranked Play

Activision

• Muzzle: ZEHMN35 Compensated Flash Hider
• Barrel: MLX Short Competition Barrel
• Optic: Slate Reflector (optional)
• Rear Grip: EXF Eclipsor Grip

The Renetti is the optimal choice for MW3 Ranked Play matches, as the Secondary weapon can be devastating in close quarters.

CDL pros have banned the use of certain mobility-boosting attachments when it comes to the Renetti, and some of those restrictions have appeared in MW3 Ranked Play. At the moment, the MLX Short Competition Barrel, EXF Eclipsor Grip, and ZEHMN35 Compensated Flash Hider are the best choices for this Renetti loadout.

The Slate Reflector has made my life easier when trying to hit shots outside of the Renetti’s close-range sweet spot, but players can choose not to equip an Optic for a cleaner ADS view.

MW3 Ranked Play Gutter Knife & Karambit

While the Gutter Knife or Karambit can be an excellent option in MW3 Ranked Play, these weapons have fallen under CDL players’ Gentleman’s Agreement, meaning players have enforced their own ban on the weapon.

The devs decided to keep them in the game after nerfing their damage in Ranked Play. Melee weapons require two hits to kill enemies in MW3 Ranked Play. I often use the Gutter Knife or Karambit to reach key Search and Destroy power positions faster when a round starts.

Best MW3 Ranked Play Lethals & Tacticals

Both the Frag Grenade and Semtex are viable Lethal options in MW3 Ranked Play. The Frag Grenade will appeal to players who know the best nade spots on each competitive map. Meanwhile, the benefit of the Semtex is that it can stick to enemy players, guaranteeing a kill.

Next, we have the Stun Grenade and Smoke Grenade. The Stun Grenade will slow down players as a key piece of utility, while the Smoke Grenade is vital for blocking crosses on Search and Destroy maps like Highrise, Invasion, and Karachi. Keep in mind that the Smoke Grenade is banned in Control and Hardpoint.

Best MW3 Ranked Play Perks

Unlike the best weapons in the game, the best Perks to use in MW3 Ranked Play offer players more wiggle room to experiment. At the moment CDL players are using a combination of the following:

• Infantry Vest
• Assault Gloves or Marksman Gloves
• Lightweight Boots or Covert Sneakers
• EOD Padding

Feel free to decide what works best for your playstyle after getting through a few matches in MW3 Ranked Play. You’ll want to opt for Covert Sneakers over Lightweight Boots in Search and Destroy matches, as silent movement is vital in the mode.

Best MW3 Ranked Play Field Upgrades

When it comes to the best Field Upgrades in MW3 Ranked Play, you’ll want to choose between the Trophy System and Dead Silence.

The Trophy System is sure to be a popular pick, and you may not even need to equip Dead Silence unless you’re swapping away from the Covert Sneakers Perk.

For more Modern Warfare 3, check out some of our other guides:

Best Sniper Rifles in Modern Warfare 3 | How to get MGB Tactical Nuke Killstreak in Modern Warfare 3 | How to slide cancel in Modern Warfare 3 | Best controller settings for Modern Warfare 3 | How to fix packet burst in Modern Warfare 3 | Best FOV settings for Modern Warfare 3