Weapon Changes in MW3 Season 2
Image via Activision.

All Weapon Balance Changes in MW3 Season 2 Listed

Knives take a step back

Weapons across all categories received some extensive changes in Season 2 of Modern Warfare 3, which includes some of the most powerful options in the game. This guide will cover every single change that was implemented across all classes.

Recommended Videos

MW3 Season 2 – All Weapon Nerfs and Buffs

Some of the most notable changes were a nerf to the lunging distance of Modern Warfare 3 melee weapons and an ADS nerf to the MCW. Of course, that’s not all and you can find the full list of changes below.

WEAPONS AND ATTACHMENTS:

  • Decreased melee lunge distance of all MWIII Weapons to align with MWII standards.
  • Increased movement speeds of all MWII Weapons to align with MWIII standards.
  • Added gun kick control and recoil control benefits in Tactical Stance for all Weapons.

ASSAULT RIFLES:

  • Holger 556
    • Increased aim down sight time from 260ms to 270ms (+4%).
  • MCW
    • Increased aim down sight time from 240ms to 265ms (+10%).
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 241ms to 252ms (+5%).
    • JAK Raven Kit
      • Increased maximum damage from 31 to 33 (+6%).
      • Decreased medium damage from 23 to 22 (-4%).
      • Decreased minimum damage from 22 to 20 (-9%).
      • Decreased maximum damage range from 20.3m to 19.8m (-3%).
      • Increased near-medium damage range from 29m to 35.6m (+23%).
      • Increased medium damage range from 40.6m to 45.7m (+13%).
      • Increased headshot damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.5x (+7%).
      • Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1.01x to 1.1x (+9%).
      • Decreased hipfire spread while sliding.
      • Decreased recoil and gun kick significantly.

BATTLE RIFLES:

  • BAS-B
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 231ms to 252ms (+9%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 260ms to 270ms (+4%).
    • Increased hipfire spread minimum from 2.3deg/s to 2.9deg/s (+26%).
  • Sidewinder
    • Increased bullet velocity from 540m/s to 600m/s (+11%).
    • Decreased recoil and gun kick significantly.
    • JAK Thunder LMG Kit
      • Increased delay before accelerated rate of fire begins to decay from 200ms to 500ms (+150%).
      • Decreased accelerated rate of fire decay rate from 300rpm/s to 240rpm/s (-20%).
      • Increased gun kick control and recoil control by 35%.
  • TAQ-V (MWII)
    • Increased maximum damage range from 35.6m to 43.2m (+21%).
    • Increased near-medium damage range from 48.3m to 55.9m (+16%).

SUBMACHINE GUNS:

  • Striker
    • Increased near-medium damage range from 19.1m to 21.6m (+13%).
    • Increased medium damage range from 25.4m to 27.9m (+10%).
  • AMR9
    • JAK Ettin Double Barrel Kit
      • Added missing hipfire crosshair.
  • WSP-9
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 240ms to 220ms (-8%).
    • Increased maximum damage range from 16.5m to 18.5m (+12%).
    • Increased near-medium damage range from 22.9m to 25.1m (+10%).
    • Broodmother .45 Kit
      • Decreased aim down sight time from 270ms to 241ms (-11%).
      • Decreased movement speed penalties by 50%.

SHOTGUNS:

  • Lockwood 680
    • Lockwood Defender Heavy Long Barrel
      • Increased sprint to fire time penalty from 8% to 30% (+22%).
  • KV Broadside (MWII)
    • Decreased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 189ms (-10%).
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 330ms to 240ms (-27%).

LIGHT MACHINE GUNS:

  • Increased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 252ms (+20%).
  • Increased aim down sight time from 330ms to 340ms (+3%).
Weapon Changes Season 2 MW3
Image via Activision.

MARKSMAN RIFLES:

  • MCW 6.8
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 271ms to 245ms (-10%).
    • Decreased all damage ranges by 18%.
    • Decreased bullet velocity from 1016m/s to 930m/s (-8%).
    • Decreased hipfire spread minimum from 5deg/s to 4.1deg/s (-18%).
    • Decreased hipfire spread maximum from 12.1deg/s to 10deg/s (-17%).
  • DM56
    • Decreased near-medium damage from 42 to 41 (-2%).
    • Decreased minimum damage from 39 to 38 (-3%).
  • MTZ Interceptor
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 252ms to 262ms (+4%).
    • Increased aim down sight time from 265ms to 280ms (+6%).
    • Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.62x to 1x (-38%).
  • SP-R 208 (MWII)
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 19.6m to 13m (-34%).
    • Increased upper-arm damage multiplier from 1.15x to 1.5x (+30%).
  • Lockwood Mk2 (MWII)
    • Increased maximum damage from 110 to 125 (+14%).
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 8.9m to 6.4m (-29%).
  • LM-S (MWII)
    • Decreased intensity of aim down sight idle sway.
  • SA-B 50 (MWII)
    • Increased maximum damage from 110 to 120 (+9%).
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 14.2m to 10.4m (-27%).

SNIPER RIFLES:

  • Longbow
    • Decreased aim down sight time from 550ms to 520ms (-5%).
  • Signal 50 (MWII)
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 48.5m to 35.1m (-28%).
  • SP-X 80 (MWII)
    • Increased aim down sight time from 521ms to 545ms (+5%).

HANDGUNS:

  • Renetti
    • JAK Ferocity Carbine Kit
      • Decreased movement speed penalties by 50%.
  • Basilisk (MWII)
    • Increased maximum damage range from 6.9m to 8.4m (+22%).
    • Increased near-medium damage range from 15.2m to 22.9m (+50%).
    • Increased medium damage range from 22.9m to 35.1m (+53%).
    • Increased far-medium damage range from 35.1m to 41.9m (+20%).
    • Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.2x (+20%).

LAUNCHERS:

  • Stormender
    • Addressed an issue preventing some Killstreaks from being destroyed and/or disabled.

MELEE:

  • Gutter Knife
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Karambit
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Combat Knife (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Dual Kodachis (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Dual Kamas (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.
  • Pickaxe (MWII)
    • Decreased melee lunge distance by 30%.

Due to being new weapons, the BP50 and the RAM-9 won’t be on this list but they’re already proving to be powerful additions to MW3.


Prima Games is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Daniel Wenerowicz
Daniel Wenerowicz
Dan has been writing gaming guides, news, and features for three years after graduating with a BA in writing . You can find him covering Call of Duty for eternity, action-adventure games, and nearly any other major release.