Best MW3 Ranked Play loadouts for Season 3

To play like the pros in Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play, you need the best possible loadouts. Here is a full list of every AR, SMG, and pistol class setup worth considering.

For the first two Call of Duty League splits, competitive CoD had a two-gun meta featuring the MCW AR and Rival-9 SMG. Treyarch decided to shake that up by launching a weapon evaluation to test the BP50, Holger 556, MTZ-556, HRM-9, and RAM-9. From April 16-23, players will have a chance to use the weapons in Ranked Play. Like the previous map evaluation, the devs will use a combination of feedback and data to determine if any weapons will be added to the official rule set.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best-ranked play loadouts.

Best MW3 Ranked Play loadouts

Holger 556

• Muzzle: Casus Break
• Barrel: Chrios-6 Match
• Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
• Optic: MK.3 Reflector
• Stock: R8 Addle Assault Stock

There will be contentious debates over the Holger 556’s place in Ranked Play. At the start of MW3, the pros were forced to ban the weapon quickly, as it stood head and shoulders above every other weapon. A few nerfs have brought the Holger back in line with other weapons, but it still has the best time-to-kill speed for ARs from 15-35 meters. We believe that this is the best AR in MW3 Ranked Play at the moment, but we will see if its too strong.

BP50

• Barrel: Lore-9 Heavy Barrel
• Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
• Optic: MK.3 Reflector
• Stock: Forebearer Heavy Stock
• Rear Grip: TRST-IV Grip Tape

The BP50 provides an interesting alternative to the Holger 556. The easy-to-use AR has a faster time-to-kill speed than the Holger 556 in gunfights, between zero and 15 meters. If you are an aggressive player, this might just be the AR for you.

MTZ-556

• Muzzle: Casus Break
• Barrel: MTZ Clinch Pro Barrel
• Optic: MK.3 Reflector
• Stock: MTZ Marauder Stock
• Rear Grip: Bruen TR-24 Assault Grip

After using the MTZ-556 in a few Ranked Play matches, we don’t think it can get added to the official ruleset. The AR has an impressive fire rate and easy-to-control recoil pattern, but it doesn’t quite match the firepower of other options.

MCW

• Muzzle: L4R Flash Hider
• Barrel: 18.5″ MCW Cyclone Barrel
• Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
• Optic: MK.3 Reflector
• Rear Grip: R8 Claw PSL Grip

After a nerf in the Season 3 update, it now takes four headshots instead of three for the MCW to get its fastest possible kill. The Holger 556 is a better all-around weapon at all ranges, and the BP50 also has comparable stats. Pro players who mainly used an AR have already voiced their displeasure over the most recent update, and one of the new options may take its spot. In saying all of that, the MCW is still a very strong weapon, but it’s lost most of its original luster.

HRM-9

• Muzzle: Purifier Muzzle Break
• Barrel: Princeps Long Barrel
• Underbarrel: Kimura RYN-03 Verticle Grip
• Rear Grip: PCS-90 Assault Grip
• Stock: Hatchet Light Stock

Some pro players already believe that the Rival-9 is too powerful, and that’s before even looking at the HRM-9 and RAM-9. Both weapons are part of the weapon evaluation, and an argument can be made that they are even more powerful. The HRM-9 is currently the most popular weapon in Warzone, and it’s easy to see why. The HRM-9 dominates every SMG in time-to-kill speed for any engagement within 0-10 meters and still stays relatively close to the Rival-9 for medium range gunfights.

RAM-9

• Muzzle: Purifier Muzzle Break
• Barrel: DR-6 Handstop
• Stock: HVS 3.4 Pad
• Comb: Recon Comb
• Rear Grip: Retort 90 Grip Tape

While we believe the HRM-9 is probably the best SMG in Ranked Play, the RAM-9 deserves to be considered for taking over the throne. The RAM-9 has an incredibly fast time-to-kill speed up close and outclasses the Rival-9 in medium-range engagements.

Rival-9

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

At the end of this weapon evaluation, we fully expect that the Rival-9 will still be the only SMG used. The weapon is well-balanced and does a little bit of everything. Players have already grown comfortable using this weapon, and we don’t expect that to deviate any time soon.

Best MW3 Ranked Play secondary loadout

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

CDL pros have only used the Renetti since launch as the pistol shreds through enemies in close-range engagements. The fast-firing sidearm is the perfect side-kick for any AR player when they run out of bullets or need to push into a building.