Every weapon buff & nerf in MW3 & Warzone Season 3

Nathan Warby
MW3 and Warzone player aiming rifle in Season 3.

The Warzone and MW3 Season 3 update has arrived, bringing with it a ton of weapon balancing changes to completely shake up the in-game meta. Here’s a breakdown of every weapon buff and nerf in MW3 and Warzone Season 3.

Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 3 is one of the biggest updates to hit both games to date, leaving players stunned by the sheer amount of content. On top of all the new maps to learn and weapons to unlock, the patch also comes with plenty of balancing changes to the existing lineup of guns.

So, here is every weapon buff and nerf in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 3.

All buffs & nerfs in Warzone & MW3 Season 3

Check out the full slate of weapon buffs and nerfs in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 below, as shared by the devs in the official patch notes:

MW3

» Assault Rifles «

  • RAM-7
    • Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.3x to 1x (-23%).
  • Holger 556
    • Decreased upper leg, lower leg, and foot damage multipliers from 1x to 0.85x (-15%).

The Holger 556 now requires shots to land above the waist for a 4-shot kill.

  • MCW
    • Decreased headshot damage multiplier from 1.3x to 1.1x (+15%).

With the MCW, 1 headshot will no longer result in a 4-shot kill.

  • DG-56
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 178ms to 199ms (+12%).

» Battle Rifles «

  • SOA Subverter
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 256ms to 268ms (+5%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 270ms to 290ms (+7%).
  • BAS-B
    • Decreased rate of fire from 667rpm to 600rpm (-10%).
    • Decreased recoil center speed by 6%.
    • JAK Outlaw-277 Kit
      • Decreased sprint to fire time from 252ms to 226ms (-10%).
      • Decreased aim down sight time from 300ms to 240ms (-20%).
      • Decreased aim down sight rate of fire penalty from 150% to 135%.
      • Increased medium damage from 74 to 90 (+22%)
      • Increased minimum damage from 70 to 90 (+29%).

The JAK Outlaw-277 Kit is now a maximum of 2-shots to kill to all body locations.

  • Sidewinder
    • Decreased sprint to fire time from 231ms to 210ms (-9%).
    • Increased bullet velocity from 600m/s to 770m/s (+28%).

» Submachine Guns «

  • RAM-9
    • Decreased sprint to fire time from 178ms to 147ms (-17%).
  • AMR9
    • Decreased sprint to fire time from 189ms to 136ms (-28%).
  • Rival-9
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 93ms to 110ms (+18%).
    • Decreased near-medium damage from 27 to 25 (-7%).
    • Decreased medium damage from 25 to 23 (-8%).
    • Decreased lower torso, lower arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1.1x to 1x (-9%).
  • HRM-9
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 94ms to 110ms (+17%).
  • Striker 9
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 100ms to 103ms (+3%).
  • Striker
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 100ms to 110ms (+10%).
  • WSP-9
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 88ms to 110ms (+25%).
  • WSP Swarm
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 88ms to 99ms (+13%).

» Shotguns «

  • Added Long Haul 50 and Wolfcall 300 Muzzle Attachments to MWIII Shotguns.

» Light Machine Guns «

  • TAQ Evolvere
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 245ms to 257ms (+5%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 385ms to 415ms (+8%).
    • 7.62 Belt Magazines
      • Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.2x (-14%).
    • 5.56 Belt Magazines
      • Decreased rate of fire from 857rpm to 789rpm (-8%).
  • Bruen Mk9
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 410ms to 350ms (-15%).
  • RAAL MG (MWII)
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 199ms to 216ms (+9%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 330ms to 380ms (+15%).
    • Increased neck damage multiplier from 1x to 1.3x (+30%).
    • Increased upper torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.2x (+20%).
    • Increased leg and foot damage multipliers from 0.9x to 1x (+11%).

» Marksman Rifles «

  • MTZ Interceptor
    • Increased aim down sight time from 280ms to 300ms (+7%).
    • Decreased medium damage from 88 to 83 (-6%).
    • Decreased minimum damage from 84 to 77 (-8%).
    • Decreased near-medium damage range from 44.5m to 38.1m (-14%).

» Sniper Rifles «

  • XRK Stalker
    • Increased aim down sight time from 580ms to 600ms (+3%).
  • KV Inhibitor
    • Increased aim down sight time from 540ms to 580ms (+7%).
  • SP-X 80 (MWII)
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 270ms to 310ms (+15%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 570ms to 590ms (+4%).

» Handguns «

  • TYR
    • 12.7x55mm Snake Shot Ammunition
      • Increased minimum damage range and bullet termination range from 14.5m to 19.6m (+35%).
  • WSP Stinger
    • Akimbo WSP Stinger Rear Grip
      • Increased rate of fire from 600rpm to 750rpm (+25%).

» Attachments «

  • Added initial aim accuracy benefit to all Heavy Bolts for Sniper Rifles.
  • Cronen INTLAS MSP-12 Optic
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • SL Razorhawk Laser Light
    • Flashlight is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • CS15 Scarlet Box Laser
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies.
  • Verdant Hook Box Laser
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor Muzzle
    • Increased sprint to fire speed penalty from 2% to 5%.
  • L4R Flash Hider Muzzle
    • Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit from 13% to 10%.
  • DR-6 Handstop Underbarrel
    • Decreased aim down sight movement speed benefit by 3-4%, dependent upon Weapon Class.
  • Bruen Heavy Support Grip Underbarrel
    • Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit from 12% to 8%.

Warzone

Assault Rifles

RAM-7

  • Max Damage decreased to 32, down from 36.
  • Near-Mid Damage decreased to 28, down from 30.
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 24.13 meters, down from 26.67.
  • Head Modifier decreased to 1.2x, down from 1.3x.
  • Neck Modifier decreased to 1x, down from 1.3x.

DG-56

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 199ms, up from 178ms.

Lachmann 556 (MWII)

  • Max Damage increased to 28, up from 24.
  • Near-Mid Damage increased to 24, up from 21.
  • Neck Modifier increased to 1.1x, up from 1.06x.
  • Upper Torso Modifier increased to 1.1x, up from 1.06x.
  • Arm and Hand modifier increased to 1.1x, up from 1x.

M13C (MWII)

  • Max Damage Range increased to 21.59 meters, up from 17.78.

FR Avancer (MWII)

  • Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1.12x, up from 1.06x.

Tempus Razorback (MWII)

  • Max Damage increased to 28, up from 27.
  • Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1x, up from 0.9x.

Battle Rifles

BAS-B

  • Decreased rate of fire to 600rpm, down from 667rpm.
  • Decreased recoil center speed by 6%.
  • JAK Outlaw-277
    • Max Damage decreased to 90, down from 100.
    • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 25.4 meters, down from 27.94.
    • Head Modifier decreased to 1.4x, down from 1.6x.
    • Upper Torso and Arms Modifiers decreased to 1.1x, down from 1.3x.
    • Decreased sprint to fire time to 226ms, down from 252ms.
    • Decreased aim down sight time to 240ms, down from 300ms.
    • Decreased aim down sight rate of fire penalty to 135%, down from 150%.

MTZ-762

  • Max Damage decreased to 38, down from 40.
  • Near-Mid Damage decreased to 35, down from 38.

SOA Subverter

  • Max Damage Range decreased to 22.86 meters, down from 25.4.
  • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 41.91 meters, down from 46.23.
  • Increased sprint to fire time to 268ms, up from 256ms.
  • Increased aim down sight time to 290ms, up from 270ms.

Sidewinder

  • Decreased sprint to fire time to 210ms, down from 231ms.
  • Increased bullet velocity to 770m/s, up from 600m/s.

Submachine Guns

RAM-9

  • Max Damage decreased to 27, down from 30.
  • Decreased sprint to fire time to 147ms, down from 178ms.

AMR9

  • Max Damage decreased to 27, down from 31.
  • Min Damage decreased to 22, down from 25.
  • Near-Mid Damage decreased to 25, down from 27.
  • Max Damage Range decreased to 17.78 meters, down from 22.86.
  • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 34.29 meters, down from 40.64.
  • Decreased sprint to fire time to 136ms, down from 189ms.

Rival-9

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 110ms, up from 93ms.

HRM-9

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 110ms, up from 94ms.

Striker

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 110ms, up from 100ms.

Striker 9

  • Max Damage Range increased to 12.19 meters, up from 10.67.
  • Increased sprint to fire time to 103ms, up from 100ms.

WSP-9

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 110ms, up from 88ms.

WSP Swarm

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 99ms, up from 88ms.

MX9 (MWII)

  • Near-Mid Damage increased to 28, up from 26.
  • Max Damage Range increased to 11.17 meters, up from 9.65.

Lachmann Sub (MWII)

  • Max Damage increased to 28, up from 27.
  • Max Damage Range increased to 9.65 meters, up from 8.25.

BAS-P (MWII)

  • Max Damage increased to 28, up from 26.

Light Machine Guns

Bruen MK9

  • Min Damage decreased to 24, down from 26.
  • Decreased aim down sight time to 350ms, down from 410ms.

TAQ Eradicator

  • Max Damage increased to 30, up from 28.

TAQ Evolvere

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 257ms, up from 245ms.
  • Increased aim down sight time to 415ms, up from 385ms.
  • 5.56 Belt Magazines
    • Decreased rate of fire to 789rpm, down from 857rpm.

RAPP H (MWII)

  • Upper Torso & Neck Modifier increased 1.1x, up from 1.08x.
  • Arm and Hand Modifier increased to 1.1x, up from 0.95x.

HCR 56 (MWII)

  • Max Damage Range increased to 33.65 meters, up from 30.73.
  • Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1.1x, up from 0.99x.
  • Leg Modifier increased to 1x, up from 0.95x.

RAAL MG (MWII)

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 216ms, up from 199ms.
  • Increased aim down sight time to 380ms, up from 330ms.

Marksman Rifles

Tempus Torrent (MWII)

  • Max Damage decreased to 70, down from 74.

Sniper Rifles

XRK Stalker

  • Increased aim down sight time to 600ms, up from 580ms.

KV Inhibitor

  • Increased aim down sight time to 580ms, up from 540ms.

SP-X 80 (MWII)

  • Increased sprint to fire time to 310ms, up from 270ms.
  • Increased aim down sight time to 590ms, up from 570ms.

Handguns

Renetti

  • Max Damage Range increased to 12.95 meters, up from 11.68.

WSP Stinger

  • Akimbo WSP Stinger Rear Grip
    • Increased rate of fire to 750rpm, up from 600rpm.

» ATTACHMENTS «

  • Heavy Bolts
    • Added initial aim accuracy benefit to all Heavy Bolts for Sniper Rifles.
  • Cronen INTLAS MSP-12 Optic
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • SL Razorhawk Laser Light
    • Flashlight is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • CS15 Scarlet Box Laser
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies.
  • Verdant Hook Box Laser
    • Laser is no longer visible to enemies at the hip.
  • VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor Muzzle
    • Increased sprint to fire speed penalty to 5%, up from 2%.
  • L4R Flash Hider Muzzle
    • Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit to 10%, down from 13%.
  • DR-6 Handstop Underbarrel
    • Decreased aim down sight movement speed benefit by 3-4%, dependent upon Weapon Class.
  • Bruen Heavy Support Grip Underbarrel
    • Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit to 8%, down from 12%.

Those were all of the buffs and nerfs in the MW3 and Warzone Season 3 midseason patch. For more on both games, check out some of our other guides:

Best guns in Warzone Best Warzone controller settings | Best PC settings for Warzone | How to get a nuke in Warzone | Best Assault Rifles in Warzone | Best Sniper Rifles in Modern Warfare 3 | Best guns in MW3: Every Modern Warfare 3 weapon ranked | Best SMGs in Modern Warfare 3

About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].