Meta Guns in Season 1 Reloaded - Best Loadouts and Class Setups

MW3 meta in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 2023 (CoD MW3 2023). Includes best loadouts, best guns, best class setups, best build, and weapons tier list.

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Meta & Best Guns Tier List

Weapons Being Considered for Adding or Changing the Tier List [As of January 19]

HRM-9	Considering adding to tier list This is a new weapon added in the Season 1 Reloaded update. Although the recoil is a bit strong, it can make a 5-shot kill no matter where the bullet hits the target, and in this case the TTK is as fast as 272ms. The range is also long among SMGs, making it a very powerful weapon.
Striker 9	Considering adding to tier list Torso damage has been increased from 29 to 31, allowing for a 5-shot kill if the bullet hits from the torso up. The TTK has also been improved to 280 ms. It is not quite a meta weapon, but it has become a powerful SMG.
FR Avancer	Considering adding to tier list The damage to the torso has been increased from 27 to 31, allowing for a 5-shot kill, and the fastest TTK has been significantly reduced to 260ms. This is comparable to the TTK of SMGs. It should be noted that the effective range has been reduced from 34.9m to 24.8m, but it has the potential to be a new meta weapon.
Victus XMR	Considering adding to tier list Lower torso damage has been increased from 107 to 153, making it easier to get one-shot kills. It can now be used as a sniper rifle with slightly less mobility than the XRK Stalker, but with a longer range than that.
WSP Swarm	Considering moving up in tier The close to mid maximum damage range has been increased significantly, and depending on the build, it is now possible to have the fastest TTK (220ms) up to about 10 meters.
DG-56	Considering removing from tier list The range has been gutted and the semi-auto fire rate has been reduced. Even if you use macros (not that we recommend it), you can no longer get the TTK you used to.
KV Inhibitor	Considering removing from tier list Previously, one-shot kills were possible if the bullet hit the head, upper torso, or arm, regardless of the distance from the target. But now, outside the minimum damage range (61m), one-shot kills are no longer possible except for headshots. This does not change affect the use of this weapon on smaller maps, but you should consider the disadvantage it has on larger maps.

In addition to the above, other weapons such as Lachmann-762, Cronen Squall , and FTAC Recon have been buffed and are being considered for inclusion in the tier list. These are weapons that show their true value when used in semi-automatic mode, so while their power depends on the user's ability to tap fire at high speed, they have generally received good buffs this time around.

MW3 Meta [Updated January 12, 2024]

S Tier (Meta)
▼BAS-B	▼MCW	▼Rival-9
▼TYR New
A Tier
▼COR-45	▼DG-56	▼Holger 556
▼KV Inhibitor	▼Lockwood 680	▼Longbow
▼M13B	▼MTZ-556	▼RAM-7
▼Renetti	▼Striker	▼SVA 545
▼WSP Swarm	▼XRK Stalker

▼Rate Your Favorite Weapons!

Weapons Tier List Description

S Tier (Meta)

Weapons that deal high damage tend to have bad recoil control or are heavy and slow. These S Tier weapons are well balanced with little recoil while also having a decent fire rate and damage.

A Tier

A Tier weapons are also one of the best weapons in the game but may not be as well balanced or easy to use as S Tier weapons. However this can be adjusted using certain attachments.

S Tier Best Gun Loadouts & Class Setups

[S Tier] BAS-B

Best Loadout / Class Setup

The BAS-B has a high damage output and also a long range, making it easy to use for both beginners and experienced players. This build further enhances its firepower at mid to long range, making it even more effective.

The stock magazine limits its ability to keep enemies pinned down, so having a 30 or 45 Round Mag is a must. Choose whichever suits you. If you also prefer having an Optic, you can sacrifice some mobility by leaving out the DR-6 Handstop Underbarrel to equip an Optic.

[S Tier] MCW

Best Loadout / Class Setup

The MCW has less recoil especially compared to other Assault Rifles, making it very easy to use. So you may think this weapon is for beginners, but the TTK will become a lot worse with its limited damage output if you aren't able to land enough headshots. This weapon is best for intermediate to advanced players who have consistent aiming.

This build improves recoil control even further while making up for the short Effective Damage Range using the Second Line Mammoth Heavy Barrel.

[S Tier] Rival-9

Best Loadout / Class Setup

The Rival-9 is an SMG that has both high damage output at close range and easy handling. You can get a kill with 5 shots almost consistently as long as you are within the Effective Damage Range, which makes the TTK very fast.

The recoil is quite strong, moving upwards in an S-shaped curve, so we recommend using the EXF Close Quarters Assault Stock which is great for Recoil Control. However this does slightly lower the ADS Speed, so you may also want to consider using the MTZ Marauder Stock if you want to avoid that.

[S Tier] TYR

Best Loadout / Class Setup

This is an extremely powerful handgun that can get a one shot kill if you hit the target in the head, upper body or arm as long as you are within the Effective Damage Range. The range became a lot longer because now you can equip the JAK Beholder Rifle Kit. It will allow you to play like a sniper with high mobility.

The Effective Damage Range is 5.6 meters at default but this build stretches that to 22.2 meters, giving you a much bigger advantage. If the target is further than 22.3 meters away, you'll need to land a headshot to get a one shot kill so we recommend using an Optic. You can choose the magnification to your preference. Even if you don't get a headshot, you still only need 2 shots in total to get a kill so you can still make it work.

Lastly, a note regarding the Snake Shot Ammunition. Using it for an Akimbo setup and treating it like a Shotgun can be effective, but we don't recommend using the Snake Shot for a single weapon since you won't be able to get a one shot kill.

A Tier Best Gun Loadouts & Class Setups

[A Tier] COR-45

Best Loadout / Class Setup

This gun is only fit for experienced players, but at close range and long range, the TTK is among the best of all weapons in the game. At mid range, the TTK is close to an average Assault Rifle. You need to be able to tap fire rapidly for this build to shine, so its only recommended if you're confident with your tap firing skills.

You can maximize the fire rate by changing the Trigger Action to the XRK Lightning Fire but it is extremely difficult to tap fire at 750 rpm and you will also lose some Sprint to Fire Speed, so the XRK V21 Heavy Match is recommended for most players.

[A Tier] DG-56

Best Loadout / Class Setup

This is a burst-firing Assault Rifle which can kill an enemy with 3 shots if you land 2 head shots. It can be very powerful for players that are confident with their aiming skills, but the TTK will be a lot worse without headshots so it's recommended for experienced players only.

This build mainly enhances Damage Range and ADS Speed. This weapon heavily relies on being able to land headshots so you'll want an Optic, but if you don't need one you can equip a 40 Round Mag instead so you don't have to reload so often. You can also equip High Grain Rounds instead to improve your Damage Range.

[A Tier] KV Inhibitor

Best Loadout / Class Setup

KV Inhibitor has a high Fire Rate and is easy to take down enemies with a single shot. No matter how far away you are from the target, you will get a 1 shot kill if you hit them in the head, chest or arm.

This build improves the ADS Speed and overall Mobility. The Kastovia LPM-12 gives you a shorter range, but with this weapon you can still get 1 shot kills even if the target is not inside the Minimum Damage Range as long as you hit them in the head, chest or arm so this won't be a problem.

[A Tier] Holger 556

Best Loadout / Class Setup

This weapon has been nerfed badly after the update. Now you need to land 2 headshots to kill an enemy in 3 shots, which took away the biggest advantage of this weapon. However the TTK still isn't that bad and it also has good recoil so it is still easy to handle.

Although it has been nerfed it can still kill enemies in 4 shots if they are within 47 meters. The Chrios-6 Match Barrel can extend this up to 56 meters, so this build can also cover for that.

[A Tier] Lockwood 680

Best Loadout / Class Setup

Shotguns in general are slightly underpowered in MW3, but the Lockwood 680 can be very powerful if you choose the right attachments. This build mainly improves the range and ADS Speed. If you aim for the chest, you can get a 1 shot kill at 10 meters using ADS and at about 7 meters using Hipfire.

You can choose the Barrel depending on your preference. The Bryson Hammerforged Long Barrel gives you a much longer range while improving the ADS Speed. Use that if you want to prioritize Mobility and have something easy to handle.

The Lockwood Defender Heavy Long Barrel will give you slower ADS Speed but the number of projectiles in one shell (pellet count) will go up from 6 to 10 while also increasing the magazine size to 10 rounds. This will make it easier to deal damage even when you aim is off with less need to reload.

[A Tier] Longbow

Best Loadout / Class Setup

The Longbow has a great Fire Rate and Mobility (especially ADS Speed and Sprint To Fire Speed). But its range is very short compared to other Sniper Rifles, making it impossible to 1 shot kill enemies further than 22 meters unless you can land a headshot. However stay within the mid to short range and it will be unmatched.

This build is focused on the short to mid range, greatly improving its Mobility and Handling. It won't be any good at long range like the other Sniper Rifles, so you may want one more weapon that can shoot long range.

[A Tier] M13B

Best Loadout / Class Setup

This has one of the highest Fire Rates out of all the Assault Rifles and can even be compared to an average SMG. In addition, the default Effective Damage Range is quite long at 33.5 meters, giving it a decent TTK even at mid range. The recoil also is pretty controllable.

This build maintains the Handling of the M13B while making up for its only disadvantage, the Bullet Velocity. The range is also improved, so it is good for close to mid range combat. Can be recommended for both beginners and experienced players.

[A Tier] MTZ-556

Best Loadout / Class Setup

Both the Damage and Handling is balanced at a high level. This weapon can be recommended for both beginners and experienced players. Other powerful Assault Rifles were nerfed in the past updates, making this relatively stronger.

This build further enhances the advantages of the MTZ-556. We recommend using an Optic since the Iron Sight is hard to use, but it can easily run out of bullets with its high Fire Rate so you can also leave out the Optic and use a 50 Round Drum magazine instead.

[A Tier] RAM-7

Best Loadout / Class Setup

RAM-7 is much like the MCW but with a higher damage output and stronger recoil. This makes it hard to use for beginners, but if you are confident in your aiming skills you can get really good TTK with consistent headshots.

This build has many attachments that improves the strong recoil. As mentioned, this weapon heavily depends on getting head shots so you'll want to have an Optic equipped.

[A Tier] Renetti

Best Loadout / Class Setup

This Handgun is a Burst gun. Its good Recoil and Mobility is much like any other Handgun, but its Damage is outstanding. You can get a kill in 2 shots (hitting at least 4 rounds) if you can manage to get headshots. You can deal with any average Assault Rifle if you are within 20 meters.

Since this build is mainly for using as a backup when your primary weapon is out of ammo or to make up for the short range of a Shotgun, we selected the Renetti Wood Grain Grip to be able to swap weapons faster. It also has attachments to improve its range, so it may also be possible to use as a primary weapon.

Best Akimbo Loadout / Class Setup

This is the Akimbo build for the Renetti. There won't be too many places where this can prove to be powerful, but on the other hand you won't find any trouble fighting enemies indoors or on small maps. Use the high Mobility to run around the map faster than your opponents to catch them off guard.

This build greatly improves Hipfire accuracy. The FTAC Satus Folding Stock makes the Hipfire Spread Max worse while the other attachments improve it, but without it the recoil would be too much to control. It is better to have this Stock so that you can still win at a longer range.

[A Tier] Striker

Best Loadout / Class Setup

It is possible to get a 4 shot kill with this weapon. If you are at close to mid range, hitting 4 shots is often enough to get a kill with this SMG. The advantage is being able to win any fight as long as you shoot the upper body, but the TTK will go down significantly if you only hit the lower body so be careful.

This build balances and improves the overall stats of this weapon. We didn't include an Optic since it will mainly be used close to mid range, but since the Iron Sight is hard to use you can leave out the Magazine or Underbarrel and use an Optic instead.

[A Tier] SVA 545

Best Loadout / Class Setup

This weapon fires a 2 round burst only for the first shot, so the TTK is one of the highest of all the weapons in the game as long as you hit the enemy with the first shot. However, you'll likely lose if you miss your first shot, so this is not recommended for beginners.

This build slightly improves Bullet Velocity, Mobility and Handling so you should try getting close to your targets before engaging to land your first shot. You can shoot long range with almost no recoil if you tap fire on Full Auto mode, so use Full Auto at close range and tap fire with Full Auto at long range. This will give you an advantage at any distance.

[A Tier] WSP Swarm

Best Loadout / Class Setup

The Damage is outstanding at close range. Hit the upper body (higher than the legs) and this SMG will give you one of the best TTK out of all the weapons in the game.

This build maintains the high Mobility and ADS Speed of the WSP Swarm while improving the short range and small magazine. By using the WSP Reckless-90 Long Barrel you will get better range and fire rate, but to make up for the lowered ADS Speed we selected the WSP Ruthless-L Barrel.

[A Tier] XRK Stalker

Best Loadout / Class Setup

This Sniper Rifle can 1 shot kill an enemy within about 50 meters as long as you hit them on the upper body including the arms. The KATT-AMR is also great since it can 1 shot kill an enemy no matter where you hit them, but the XRK Stalker is a lot easier to use if you consider its Mobility and Handling (especially ADS Speed).

This build mainly improves the ADS Speed so it will feel faster, but it is still a lot heavier than other weapon types so remember you always want to strike before they do.

Best Guns by Type [User Reviews]

Best Assault Rifles

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Rank	Weapon	User Rating
	SVA 545
	MTZ-556
	MCW
	Holger 556
	DG-56
	FR 5.56
	ISO Hemlock
	Kastov-74u
	Kastov 762
	STB 556
	M4
	TAQ-56
	M13B
	Lachmann-556
	Kastov 545
	Chimera
	M16
	Tempus Razorback
	M13C
	FR Avancer
	TR-76 Geist
	RAM-7

Best Battle Rifles

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Rank	Weapon	User Rating
	MTZ-762
	BAS-B
	Sidewinder
	FTAC Recon
	SO-14
	TAQ-V
	Lachmann-762
	Cronen Squall

Best SMGs

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Rank	Weapon	User Rating
	Rival-9
	AMR9
	Striker
	WSP Swarm
	WSP-9
	Striker 9
	PDSW 528
	VEL 46
	Fennec 45
	BAS-P
	Lachmann Sub
	MX9
	FSS Hurricane
	Minibak
	Vaznev-9K
	ISO 45
	Lachmann Shroud
	ISO 9mm
	HRM-9

Best Shotguns

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Rank	Weapon	User Rating
	Riveter
	Lockwood 680
	Haymaker
	Expedite 12
	Lockwood 300
	Bryson 890
	KV Broadside
	Bryson 800
	MX Guardian

Best LMGs

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Rank	Weapon	User Rating
	Holger 26
	Pulemyot 762
	DG-58 LSW
	Bruen Mk9
	TAQ Eradicator
	RAAL MG
	SAKIN MG38
	HCR 56
	RPK
	RAPP H
	556 Icarus
	TAQ Evolvere

Best Marksman Rifles

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Rank	Weapon	User Rating
	MTZ Interceptor
	MCW 6.8
	KVD Enforcer
	DM56
	Lockwood Mk2
	TAQ-M
	SA-B 50
	Crossbow
	SP-R 208
	EBR-14
	LM-S
	Tempus Torrent

Best Sniper Rifles

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Rank	Weapon	User Rating
	Longbow
	KV Inhibitor
	KATT-AMR
	MCPR-300
	Victus XMR
	Signal 50
	LA-B 330
	SP-X 80
	Carrack .300
	FJX Imperium
	XRK Stalker

Best Handguns

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Rank	Weapon	User Rating
	WSP Stinger
	Renetti
	COR-45
	TYR
	Basilisk
	P890
	.50 GS
	X13 Auto
	X12
	9mm Daemon
	GS Magna
	FTAC Siege

Best Launchers

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Rank	Weapon	User Rating
	PILA
	STRELA-P
	JOKR
	RPG-7
	Stormender

Best Melee

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Rank	Weapon	User Rating
	Gutter Knife
	Karambit
	Riot Shield
	Combat Knife
	Dual Kodachis
	Dual Kamas
	Tonfa
	Pickaxe

CoD: MW3 Related Guide

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