The best guns in Modern Warfare 3 follow a pattern set by dozens of the series’ previous entries. If it’s an Assault Rifle, it’s top tier (mostly, anyway). Many of the game’s other weapons struggle to keep up. These are the best guns in MW3, ranked.
The Best Guns in MW3 Ranked
5. The Holger 556
Once the almost undisputed king of MW3 weapons, the Holger 556 has been brought to heel via a minor but still significant nerf to its range and damage. That doesn’t stop it from still being one of the best weapons in the game. Powerful up close and viable at medium-long range with the right build, there aren’t many situations where the Holger AR isn’t useful, despite its relative loss of potential following its adjustment. If you loved this weapon before, I still recommend it.
4. The BAS-B
Modern Warfare 3 doesn’t give you a tricked-out BAS-B as part of a default starting class for no reason. When I was still getting used to the game, and even after I’d unlocked a few weapons, I was still going back to that default class because everything about the BAS-B worked. That said, this gun without attachments is still fine, but equip this thing with all the right attachments, and it can hang with any other armament in the game.
3. The Riveter
Shotguns are in a bit of a pickle in Modern Warfare 3. Most of the pump action ones don’t have nearly enough range to reliably one-shot enemies. On the other, the Riveter exists. A semi-auto Shotgun with a huge magazine, one-shot potential, and a pretty high rate of fire? That’s a recipe for disaster that puts it on this best guns list. And that’s before you add attachments. I’ve not run into this thing too many times, but when I do, it’s on maps and in locations where a shotgun thrives, and it’s downright infuriating. Effective, but infuriating.
2. The SVA 545
Starting weapons in any game need to be good so new players aren’t at too much of a disadvantage. In Modern Warfare 3, the SVA 545 accomplishes that and much, much more. After a lot of the other powerful weapons were balanced, the SVA remains unchallenged as a top-tier choice that literally anyone in the game can use from the get-go. Unless it too gets the nerf hammer, I don’t expect it will stop being one of the best guns in the game.
1. The MCW
The ACR weapon family has always been some of the best in their respective games, and the MW3 MCW Assault Rifle is unequivocally the best weapon available, putting it at the top of my best guns list. Especially so after the other AR nerfs. And while it doesn’t have the fire rate of the MTZ-556 or the stopping power of the Holger 556, it exists in the best possible middle ground. The gun has negligible recoil, one of the most consistent time-to-kills in the game, and is effective in the hands of almost any player.
Those are our picks for the best weapons in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, pending any additions coming in seasonal content. For more on the latest in the Call of Duty series, check out our guides on the best KVD Enforcer loadout, the best Zombies guns, and more in our MW3 guides hub.
Liked this article? Check out our MW3 How to Get Uncommon Aether Tool Plans guide and dominate Uzbekistan by upgrading one weapon to Uncommon rarity.
