Best Guns Meta Tier List (August 2024)

This tier list ranks all the best guns and weapons for multiplayer based on the Season 5 meta of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3). Learn the top 10 best guns to use in multiplayer, an overall tier list of the best guns, and the best guns to equip for each game mode!

Best Meta Guns in Season 5

1. MCW

The MCW is still widely considered as the best gun for Season 5 of Modern Warfare 3. With a default statline that rivals most meta Assault Rifle loadouts, this gun, when kitted, will offer excellent damage, an easy-to-control recoil pattern, and exceptional long-range accuracy.

To turn this menacing Assault Rifle into an unstoppable killing machine, we recommend equipping the L4R Flash Hider to further improve recoil and be able to gun your opponents from afar. Partner this with the 16.5" MCW Cyclone Long Barrel which should increase the maximum distance that your bullets can travel.

MCW Best Loadout and Build

2. Kar98k

A new weapon introduced in the previous season that still holds up well in Season 5, the Kar98k is one of the most versatile Marksman Rifles available in MW3. You can kit this out to be a quickscoping beast of a weapon, or you can build it like a sniper rifle by attaching a long-range scope on it.

Overall, players should have a great time using this high precision bolt-action rifle in multiplayer due to its superb damage output.

Kar98k Best Loadout and Build

3. Superi 46

The Superi 46 is an SMG that shares some similarities with Assault Rifles, such as being able to gun enemies down at long-range with superb accuracy. If you're looking for a gun that has good Time-to-Kill (TTK) and range, then this gun is suited for you.

Despite its strengths, you will be sacrificing a lot of mobility and you'll be slower than other SMG users on the field.

Superi 46 Best Loadout and Build

4. BP50

The BP50 is still a menacing Assault Rifle in Season 5 with its impressive damage and accuracy, but is catered to a slower playstyle due to its poor mobility and ADS speed.

Nonetheless, you can still go for risky offensive plays by equipping the Xten Phantom-5 Handstop and Reliant-IX Comb, so that you can fire through aiming-down-sights almost instantly after sprinting.

With the MOAT-40 Stock, you'll greatly improve your mobility, which should solve the issue with slow movement speed that comes with this weapon.

Best BP50 Loadout and Build

5. Static-HV

Out of all the SMGs, the Static-HV has the fastest rate-of-fire that allows you to kill your opponents without giving them time to react. This weapon is suited for players who prefer to roam around the map, rather than camping, and catching enemies off guard with their aggressive playstyle.

Due to the infamous nerf of the WSP Swarm, the Static-HV serves as a great alternative for those looking to rush straight to their enemies in multiplayer matches.

Static-HV Best Loadout and Build

6. Rival-9

The Rival-9 is great for small maps like Rust and Meat as it lets you quickly kill your foes at close-ranged and also lets you move around faster as it has the fastest mobility and rate-of-fire out of all the SMGs.

While the damage output is certainly not the strongest, its Time-to-Kill (TTK) is impressive and quick enough for you to retaliate and eliminate an enemy if they spot and fire at you first—letting you play more aggressively during a match.

Similar to other SMGs, you'll mostly be sprinting around the map so make sure to have attachments like the DR-6 Handstop and Rival-38E Fire Starter Barrel to improve the Sprint-to-Fire statline.

Rival-9 Best Loadout and Build

7. STG44

The STG44 is quite similar to the MCW, but with slightly better accuracy. For those who enjoy Ground War and Invasion, or any large-sized maps in 6v6, the STG44 is a great pick up as you can laser your enemies from afar without suffering from recoil control.

Not only that, but the damage output is good enough that you can challenge snipers or marksmen trying to snipe you down from long distance.

STG44 Best Loadout and Build

8. SVA 545

The SVA 545 is still one of the best Assault Rifles to use in Season 5 due to its overall balanced weapon stats with a slight kick in accuracy and fire-rate, making it one of the most versatile guns to use to date.

But one thing that should make this weapon a deadly force to be reckoned with, is the addition of the HMRES Mod Suppressor for stealthy platstyles since it completely hides you on the mini-map when firing, leaving your opponents confused on where they're getting killed from.

Since the suppressor punishes your recoil control, be sure to throw in a Demo 650 Grip and Mane V6 Stock to make up for it as these two attachments should help with gun control.

Best SVA 545 Loadout and Build

9. XRK Stalker

The XRK Stalker still outperforms the KATT-AMR in Season 5 when it comes to playing aggressively as the former has the ability to choose the No Stock attachment which speeds up the Sprint-to-Fire stat, allowing players to do quickscopes often.

In a game like Call of Duty, everything is fast-paced and you'll want to a Sniper Rifle that lets you move around the map with ease while also retaining a sniper's core aspects such as long-range capabilities and one-shot kill potential.

Best XRK Stalker Loadout and Build

10. Bas-B

The BAS-B allows you to kill an enemy fast without even aiming for a headshot as this heavy-hitting weapon has an impressive damage output partnered with a high rate of fire.

This gun is also perfect for those with average aim as they can also hit opponents at medium-range, and can even be improved to long-range as long as they have the Bruen Venom Long Barrel, Bruen Venom Long Barrel, and VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor L attachments equipped!

Perhaps the Bas-B's primary weakness is the slow movement due to its lackluster mobility stats. However, players can make up for this by smart positioning and patience.

Bas-B Best Loadout and Build

Best Guns Tier List (Season 5)

Overall Guns Ranked

Tier	Guns
S Tier	・ MCW (Assault Rifle) ・ Kar98k (Marksman Rifle) ・ Superi 46 (SMG) ・ BP50 (Assault Rifle) ・ Static-HV (SMG) ・ Rival-9 (SMG) ・ STG44 (Assault Rifle) ・ SVA 545 (Assault Rifle) ・ XRK Stalker (Sniper Rifle) ・ Bas-B (Battle Rifle)
A Tier	・ M4 (Assault Rifle) ・ Striker 9 (SMG) ・ Kastov 545 (Assault Rifle) ・ WSP Swarm (SMG) ・ Holger 26 (LMG) ・ TAQ Eradicator (LMG) ・ Bruen Mk9 (LMG) ・ KATT-AMR (Sniper Rifle) ・ Kastov 762 (Assault Rifle) ・ TAQ-56 (Assault Rifle) ・ Riveter (Shotgun) ・ Longbow (Sniper Rifle)
B Tier	・ AMR9 (SMG) ・ Pulemyot 762 (LMG) ・ HCR 56 (LMG) ・ M16 (Assault Rifle) ・ M13B (Assault Rifle) ・ Lachmann-556 (Assault Rifle) ・ Holger 556 (Assault Rifle) ・ Cronen Squall (Battle Rifle) ・ Haymaker (Shotgun) ・ Renetti (Handgun)
C Tier	・ MX9 (SMG) ・ RAAL MG (LMG) ・ RAPP H (LMG) ・ MTZ-556 (Assault Rifle) ・ SO-14 (Battle Rifle) ・ DG-58 LSW (LMG) ・ TYR (Handgun)
D Tier	・ FR 5.56 (Assault Rifle) ・ FTAC Recon (Battle Rifle) ・ Lachmann-762 (Battle Rifle) ・ Bryson 890 (Shotgun) ・ Lockwood 680 (Shotgun) ・ Bryson 800 (Shotgun) ・ KV Broadside (Shotgun) ・ MX Guardian (Shotgun) ・ Lockwood 300 (Shotgun) ・ Expedite 12 (Shotgun)

All guns from Modern Warfare 2 (2022) are available in MW3 via the Carry Forward mechanic.

Best Guns Tier List Criteria

Full Criteria

The guns are ranked according to firepower, accuracy, and time-to-kill (TTK) in Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer. Take note that the stats are based from the vanilla version of the weapons with no attachments included.

Best Guns for Each Game Mode

Domination

SMGs like the Striker, Rival-9, and RAM-9 are the best guns to use for Domination due to their mobility as you'll need to be quick on your feet transitioning between different capture points sprawled all over the map.

Domination Tips and Best Strategies

Team Deathmatch

Team Deathmatch requires you to rack up a lot kills, thus using some of the assault rifles like the MCW and SVA 545 should be more than enough as you'll have all-around weapons that's useful for fighting from close to long-range distances.

Team Deathmatch Tips and Best Loadouts

Kill Confirmed

Besides eliminating opponents in Kill Confirmed, you'll also need to collect their dog tags, this is where the Rival-9 comes in as getting close-ranged kills allows you to instantly pick up enemy dog tags instantly.

If you're depending on your teammates to get the tags, you can focus on killing by using powerful rifles like the MCW or the BP50.

Hardpoint

In Hardpoint, the Pulemyot 762 and Riveter are great defensive weapons that can hold down objectives. They're both useful in sweeping out multiple enemies at once attempting to take the target area.

Hardpoint Rotations, Spawns, and Best Strategies

Search and Destroy

Search and Destroy requires you to both attack and defend an objective, thus having an AMR9 for attacking, XRK-Stalker for defending, and the Bas-B for versatile gameplay are the best weapons that you should bring in your loadout when playing this game mode.

Ground War and Invasion

In large-scaled maps in Ground War and Invasion modes, you'll need long-range weapons such as the Longbow and KV Inhibitor sniper rifles to fend off enemies attacking you from afar.

If sniping isn't your bread and butter, you can opt for an STG44 for an all-around tactical gameplay while traveling across the battletorn maps.

Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) Related Guides

List of All Guns and Weapons

All Guns and Weapon Guides

All Guns and Weapons by Type