MW3 Ranked Play restrictions: Banned guns, attachments, more

❘ Updated: 2024-05-08T16:59:10

Activision

MW3 Ranked Play offers players a chance to play Call of Duty like the pros, but that means respecting certain loadout restrictions. Here’s a list of all the banned weapons, attachments, Perks, Equipment, and Killstreaks in MW3 Ranked Play.

Season 3 Reloaded brought new restrictions to MW3’s Ranked Play mode. The competitive mode allows fans of Call of Duty to play like the pros, but that also means following the CDL ruleset.

Here’s a full list of all of the banned weapons, attachments, Perks, Equipment, and Killstreaks you won’t have access to when building your loadout in MW3 Season 3 Reloaded’s Ranked Play mode.

MW3 Ranked Play banned guns
MW3 Ranked Play banned attachments
MW3 Ranked Play banned Perks
MW3 Ranked Play banned Equipment
MW3 Ranked Play banned Killstreaks
Why are Ranked Play restrictions in MW3 necessary?

All MW3 Ranked Play banned guns

When creating your loadout in MW3 Ranked Play, certain guns will be restricted based on the rules in the CDL. If you’re familiar with Ranked Play, you’ll know that Shotguns and LMGs are restricted, but check out the full list of restricted MW3 Ranked Play weapons below:

All MW2 weapons
Assault Rifles
- SVA-545
- RAM-7
- BP50
- Holger 556
- DG-58
- FR 5.56
- MTZ 556
SMGs
- WSP Swarm
- HRM-9
- RAM-9
- FJX Horus
Battle Rifles
- All
Shotguns
- All
Marksman Rifles
- All
LMGs
- All
Sniper Rifles
- All
Melee
- Riot Shield
- Soulrender
- Gladiator
Pistols
- WSP Stinger
- COR-45
- TYR
Launchers
- All

Following the conclusion of the latest weapon testing period between April 16 to April 23, Treyarch confirmed that the weapons made temporarily available in MW3 Ranked Play are restricted again.

However, the devs will now analyze data on the BP50, MTZ-556, Holger 556, RAM-9, and HRM-9: “Our teams will discuss findings and share an update after the launch of Season 3 Reloaded.” This could allow players to access a wider variety of guns to choose from.

All MW3 Ranked Play banned attachments

The CDL rules also dictate which attachments players can equip in MW3 Ranked Play. While most are fair game, the following attachments are restricted in Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play:

Muzzle
- All Suppressors
- All Melee Damage Muzzles
- JAK BFB
- JAK Bullseye
- Scratch 20-L Suppressor
Barrel
- All Silencers
Lasers
- All
Optics
- All Thermal
- All Night Vision
- JAK Glassless Optic
Ammunition
- All
Underbarrel
- All Launcher and Shotgun Underbarrels
Trigger Action
- All Fire Rate Triggers
Grip
- All Akimbo Grips
Aftermarket Parts
- All
MW2 attachments
- All

All MW3 Ranked Play banned Perks

With the revamped system in place, there are plenty of Perks to choose from in MW3, but not all of them are available in Ranked Play. So, here’s a list of all the restricted Perks in MW3’s Ranked Play:

Boots
- Tactical Pads
- Reinforced Boots
Vests
- Engineer Vest
- Demolition Vest
- CCT Comms Vest
- Overkill Vest
- Gunner Vest
- Modular Assault Rig Vest
- Compression Carrier Vest
- Gunslinger Vest
- Ninja Vest
- Rhino Modular Rig Vest
Gloves
- Scavenger Gloves
Gear
- Control Comlink
- Bone Conduction
- Blacklight Flashlight
- L/R Detector
- Threat Identification System
- Data Jacker
- Signal Jammer
- Hijacked IFF Strobe
- High-Gain Antenna
- Ghost T/V Camo

All MW3 Ranked Play banned Equipment

MW3 features a ton of Equipment including Tactical, Lethal, and Field Upgrades to use, however, Ranked Play limits the amount of picks players have available. So, here are all the restricted Equipment in MW3’s Ranked Play:

Lethal

Proximity Mine
Molotov Cocktail
C4
Claymore
Thermite
Throwing Knife
Drill Charge
Thermobaric Grenade
Throwing Star
Breacher Drone

Tactical

Shock Stick
Decoy Grenade
Stim
Snapshot Grenade
Tear Gas
Flash Grenade
EMD Grenade
Battle Rage
Scatter Mine
Smoke Grenade (Hardpoint & Control only)
EMD Mine

Field Upgrades

Tactical Camera
Inflatable Decoy
DDOS
Deployable Cover
Munitions Box
Loadout Drop
Portable Radar
Tactical Insertion
Recon Drone
Smoke Airdrop
Suppression Mine
Anti-Armor Rounds
Heartbeat Sensor
Comm Scrambler
Med Box
A.C.S
Enhanced Vision Goggles

All MW3 Ranked Play banned Killstreaks

Most of the powerful Killstreaks aren’t available in MW3’s Ranked Play, so here are all the restricted Killstreaks you can’t use in MW3’s competitive mode:

UAV
Mosquito Drone
Sam Turret
Bomb Drone
Care Package
Guardian-SC
Counter UAV
Cluster Mine
Precision Airstrike
SAE
Mortar Strike
Overwatch Helo
Juggernaut Recon
Wheelson-HS
VTOL Jet
Emergency Airdrop
Advanced UAV
Chopper Gunner
Gunship
Carpet Bomb
Remote Turret
SAE

Why are Ranked Play restrictions in MW3 necessary?

MW3’s Ranked Play restrictions follow the official COD League’s rules in order to achieve the fairest competitive mode possible. This means restricting content that could provide greater advantages to some players.

While much of this content would allow alternative ways to approach the competitive mode, MW3 devs must deliver all Ranked fans fair confrontations and competitiveness, relying more on players’ decisions and skills rather than on content benefits.

As new restrictions are added to the MW3’s Ranked Play mode each season, we’ll keep this list updated with any additional bans.

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