Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Full Season 1 Patch Notes

NEW MAPS

Look for the Meat 24/7 Playlist to debut during the first week of Season 1, with other exciting Playlists expected in the weeks ahead. Another all-new 6v6 map, Rio, is expected to launch in-season

• Greece

  • Test your mettle in a once-idyllic coastal town, where waters at the shore lap at the hull of a burning yacht, signaling disaster.

• Meat

  • Deploy to the West Coast for some fast-paced butchery, in a compact map centered around the East Bay Meats slaughterhouse.

• Training Facility (Gunfight)

  • Challenge another duo within the remains of an old warehouse, now repurposed as part of Konni Group’s training facilities.

NEW KILLSTREAKS

Do you have what it takes? Two all-new Killstreaks are available to dominate the battlefield in Season 1.

• EMP

  • Electromagnetic pulse to disrupt enemy killstreaks and equipment.

  • Earned via 13 Kills, 1,625 Score, or Care Packages.

• Swarm

  • Deploys a large number of mosquito drones to provide blanket coverage over the entire area.

  • Earned via 15 Kills, 1,875 Score, or Care Packages.

NEW PERK

The Assassin Vest is a powerful new addition to Loadouts in Season 1, but be wary, each Vest comes equipped with critical tradeoffs.

• Assassin Vest

  • Kills don't display skulls. Immune to UAV and enemy radar effects (including while stationary).

NEW MODES

Two fan-favorite Modes return at the start of Season 1! Gunfight is even equipped with its own selection of new and Carry-Forward Maps. Look for additional Modes throughout the Season.

• All or Nothing

  • Players start with Throwing Knives and an empty Pistol. Perks are earned by eliminating other players and staying alive.

• Gunfight

  • Small team, multi-round cage matches. First team to reach the round limit wins.

NEW WEAPONS

The following Weapons are new to the entirety of the Modern Warfare III offering as of Season 1.

• RAM-7 (Assault Rifle)

  • Exceptionally compact, this bullpup assault rifle sports a lightweight, polymer frame and is chambered in versatile 5.56.

  • Unlockable via Sector A7 of the Season 1 Battle Pass

• XRK Stalker (Sniper Rifle)

  • Stalk your prey and lay them out with this tactical sniper rifle chambered in .50 Cal.

  • Unlockable via Sector A4 of the Season 1 Battle Pass

• Stormender (Launcher)

  • This state-of-the-art weapon system fires a localized EMP on a slight delay. Destroys tactical and lethal equipment and temporarily disables other electronic devices.

  • Unlockable via Sector A12 of the Season 1 Battle Pass

NEW AFTERMARKET PARTS

In addition to new weaponry, players will see brand new Aftermarket Parts earned via the Battle Pass, Armory Unlocks, and Weekly Challenges.

• JAK Purifier

  • An underbarrel flamethrower. What more needs to be said? Burn it all down.

  • Compatible with: MTZ-556, Holger 556, DG-56, SVA 545, RAM-7, MTZ-762, BAS-B, Sidewinder, Riveter 

• JAK Ettin Double Barrel Kit

  • This kit creates two stacked barrels that fire simultaneously. This offers twice as much down-range damage at the cost of some accuracy. 

  • Compatible with: AMR9 (Submachine Gun)

• JAK Thunder LMG Kit

  • Dominate lanes and hold objectives with this LMG conversion kit that brings a large capacity magazine and ramps in fire rate the longer you hold down the trigger.

  • Compatible with: Sidewinder (Battle Rifle)

• JAK BRB

  • This compensator borders on excessive, offering a phenomenal reduction to recoil while significantly increasing muzzle report, resulting in an extended red dot on enemy radars.

  • Compatible with: Many Assault Rifles, Submachine Guns, Battle Rifles, Marksman Rifles, and Sniper Rifles. 

• JAK Bullseye

  • Very low-profile dot Optic. Limited interference from framework offers an exceptionally clear sight picture. 

  • Compatible with: Most weapon categories

• JAK Glassless Optic

  • This small, glassless reflex Optic offers a crisp and clear sight picture for snappy target acquisition. 

  • Compatible with: Most weapon categories

• JAK Signal Burst

  • A conversion kit designed for accuracy and controllability with four-round bursts.

  • Compatible with: Holger 556 (AR)

• JAK Beholder Rifle Kit

  • A long and heavy barrel that offers the best increase to range. Improves recoil control and damage range, converting this Handgun into a single-shot Rifle. 

  • Compatible with: TYR (Handgun)

• JAK Headhunter Carbine Conversion

  • Rival Assault Rifles with this three-round burst conversion kit that excels at mid range combat. 

  • Compatible with: Rival-9 (Submachine Gun)

NEW OPERATORS

Nolan and Dokkaebi, two KorTac Operators, lead the charge in the Season 1 offering… But a mysterious force, known only as Abolisher, looms in the background.

• Abolisher BlackCell (SpecGru)

  • [Redacted]

• Dokkaebi (KorTac)

  • Ari was born in South Korea to a family of gifted engineers. Tired of hiding from North Korean agents, she hacked into the South Korean Military’s private contacts and found the global Kortac Faction.

• Nolan (KorTac)

  • Recently anointed as Vladimir Makarov’s right hand man, Captain Andrei Nolan executes both plans and enemies with ferocious precision in the name of igniting a long-awaited war between East and West.

NEW EVENTS

We’ll be talking about what Zombie Santa is bringing to town in patch notes that will release closer to when the event launches over the holidays. Stay tuned!

NEW BATTLE PASS

A brand new Battle Pass arrives with the Season 1 bringing a variety of Operator Skins, Weapon Blueprints, and more.

For more information about the full Battle Pass offering and Black Cell Bundle, check out the full breakdown on the official Call of Duty blog here.

NEW PC FEATURES

GeForce RTX gamers can activate pre-game full ray tracing, also known as path tracing in pre-game lobbies, enabling you to see your characters, skins, vehicles, and weapons in an entirely new light.

All GeForce RTX gamers can activate Path Tracing via the Video options menu, and doing so will automatically enable NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 with DLSS Ray Reconstruction.

UIX

• New Features & Quality of Life

  • Player health and stamina are now represented by dynamic bars on the HUD.

    • Note: This feature is only available in Multiplayer and Zombies.

  • Faction assignment will now appear as a splash at the start of each match.

  • Added Upper Legs Damage and Empty Reload Quickness statistics to the Details widget in the Gunsmith.

  • Increased decimal precision of the Flinch Resistance stat in the Details widget in the Gunsmith.

  • Added icons in the Gunsmith to represent which title an Attachment originates from.

  • Reduced volume of the Multi-Kill and Medal splash sound effects.

GAMEPLAY

• Movement

  • Added a delay following multiple rapid stance transitions to prevent exploitable repetition.

    • Crouch to Stand: 150ms

    • Prone to Stand: 600ms

• Spawns

  • Improved spawn protection against enemy Equipment and Killstreaks.

  • In Hardpoint, several adjustments have been made to improve the flow of combat and increase control of team-owned areas.

We’ve introduced a delay to stance transitions to combat a movement exploit commonly referred to by players as “snaking.” We’ll monitor the impact of these changes and continue to address feedback where appropriate.

WEAPONS & ATTACHMENTS

• Decreased hipfire spread penalty incurred while firing/moving for all Submachine Guns.

» Assault Rifles «

• MTZ-556

  • Increased maximum hipfire spread while standing by 10%.

  • Increased maximum hipfire spread while crouched by 6%.

  • Increased hipfire spread penalty incurred while firing by 10%.

  • Increased hipfire spread penalty incurred while moving by 4%.

  • MTZ Natter Heavy Short (Barrel)

    • Decreased hipfire spread benefit by 5%.

  • Bruen Thunder V9 (Stock)

    • Decreased hipfire spread benefit by 6%.

» Battle Rifles «

• BAS-B

  • Increased damage multipliers in semi-auto fire type to intended values.

    • Lower-Torso: 1x to 1.2x

    • Arm & Hand: 1x to 1.35x

• Sidewinder

  • Decreased aim down sights time from 280ms to 265ms (-5%).

  • Tempus Predator Precision (Barrel)

    • Increased gun kick control benefit by 5%.

  • Huntsman Series-R Integrated Suppressor (Barrel)

    • Increased gun kick control benefit by 7%.

  • RB Borealis Grip (Rear Grip)

    • Increased gun kick control benefit by 5%.

» Submachine Guns «

• Striker

  • Decreased sprint to fire time from 110ms to 100ms (-9%).

  • Decreased aim down sights time from 230ms to 215ms (-7%).

  • Striker Stubby (Barrel)

    • Added 9% aim down sights time benefit.

• WSP Swarm

  • Decreased sprint to fire time from 110ms to 88ms (-20%).

  • Decreased aim down sights time from 190ms to 175ms (-8%).

• Striker 9

  • Decreased sprint to fire time from 110ms to 100ms (-9%).

  • Decreased aim down sights time from 225ms to 205ms (-9%).

  • Striker Stubby (Barrel)

    • Added 9% aim down sights time benefit.

» Shotguns «

• Lockwood 680

  • Tac-Stance will no longer reduce damage pellet count.

» Marksman Rifles «

• MCW 6.8

  • Equipping the Full-Auto Conversion Kit and 60rnd Drum Magazine will no longer result in a broken aim down sights animation.

» Melee «

• Riot Shield

  • Increased melee damage from 50 to 75 (+50%).

  • Added a 10% movement speed penalty while stowed.

» Attachments «

• S-37C DL Breacher Device (Muzzle)

  • Decreased hipfire spread benefit by 14%.

  • Resolved an issue that prevented one-hit melee kills in round-based Modes.

• Bruen Tactical Vertical Grip (Underbarrel)

  • Decreased hipfire spread benefit by 8%.

• Hollowpoint (Ammunition)

  • Decreased inflicted sprint penalty time from 800ms to 200ms (-75%).

Modern Warfare II (Carry-Forward)

• Increased reserve ammunition for all Weapons to MWIII standards.

• Decreased hipfire spread benefit of Underbarrel vertical grips by 5-12%.

• Decreased hipfire spread benefit of applicable Lasers by 2-5%.

» Assault Rifles «

• M4

  • Increased maximum damage from 28 to 35 (+25%).

  • Decreased head and neck damage multipliers from 1.37x 1.1x (-20%).

» Battle Rifles «

• TAQ-V

  • Increased lower-torso, leg, and foot damage multipliers from 0.8x to 1.1x (+38%).

» Submachine Guns «

• Vaznev-9K

  • Increased near-medium damage from 29 to 30 (+3%).

• ISO 45

  • Increased maximum damage from 30 to 33 (+10%).

» Shotguns «

• KV Broadside

  • Increased far-medium damage range from 9m to 10m (+8%).

  • Decreased aim down sights spread slightly.

» Light Machine Guns «

• RAAL MG

  • Decreased aim down sights time from 470ms to 390ms (-17%).

  • Decreased sprint to fire time from 375ms to 320ms (-15%).

  • Decreased tactical sprint to fire time from 496ms to 416ms (-16%).

• 556 Icarus

  • Increased maximum damage from 28 to 34 (+21%).

  • Decreased head damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.1x (-21%).

» Marksman Rifles «

• SP-R 208

  • Increased maximum damage range from 15m to 20m (+28%).

  • Decreased aim down sights time from 370ms to 340ms (-8%).

» Handguns «

• Basilisk

  • Increased maximum damage range from 5m to 7m (+35%).

  • Increased near-medium damage range from 6m to 15m (+140%).

  • Increased far-medium damage range from 17m to 23m (+32%).

PROGRESSION

• Corrected unlock requirement descriptions for multiple Weapon Attachments.

• Revised conditions for multiple unlocks that caused Attachments to be unavailable at the expected Weapon level.

• Associated weaponry will now be properly included in the Camo unlock splashes.

• Player Rank

  • Increased Level cap from 55 to 250, enabling players to reach Prestige 5.

    • At each Prestige, a new animated icon is unlocked.

CUSTOMIZATION

• Increased animation rate of the Priceless and Interstellar Completionist Camos.

MAPS

• Derail

  • Swapped Attacker and Defender initial spawn positions in Control.

• Estate

  • Improved bullet penetration through the staircase in the Lodge.

  • Adjusted collision to prevent players can accessing an unintended location near the Front Entrance of the Lodge.

• Highrise

  • Improved ambient audio reverberation in the Mechanical Room.

  • Deprioritized spawn points distant from the objective in Hardpoint.

• Karachi

  • Players will now spawn on the correct side of the map assigned to their team in Cutthroat.

• Quarry

  • Added collision near the Offices to prevent players from reaching unintended locations.

  • Addressed an issue that caused players to spawn in unfavorable conditions in the Hardpoint game mode.

• Skidrow

  • Enemy player nameplates are no longer visible through certain surfaces in the Apartments.

• Terminal

  • Added additional spawn points in Free-for-All mode to improve player experience.

  • Improved ability to gauge spawn selection quality in all Modes.

  • Relocated a spawn point that placed players outside of the playable area.

• Scrapyard

  • Reviewed objective capture points to prevent players from capturing from unintended locations in Hardpoint and Control modes.

  • Added additional spawn points in Free-for-All mode to improve player experience.

• Sub Base

  • Improved ambient audio reverberation in the Power Station.

  • Swapped Attacker and Defender initial spawn positions in Control.

• Orlov Military Base (Ground War)

  • Improved AI Bot ability to navigate the environment in Invasion mode.

• Operation Spearhead (War)

  • Added collision near the Hotel to prevent players from exiting the playable area.

  • Added collision near the Corner Shop to protect players in their spawn area.

  • Addressed an exploit involving environmental turrets that allowed players to reach unintended locations.

MODES

• Ground War

  • Pre-game lobby countdown timer will no longer reset when a player leaves.

• Search and Destroy

  • Increased Player XP earned for several score events.

    • Kill: 500 XP

    • Assist: 200 XP

    • Shield Assist: 400 XP

    • Headshot: 1,000 XP

    • Plant: 1,000 XP

    • Defuse: 1,000 XP (+ 250 XP for Last Alive)

    • Ninja Defuse: 1,250 XP (+ 250 XP for Last Alive)

• War

  • Players who join an in-progress match can no longer be placed on a full team.

  • Decreased tank escort phase time limit from 6m to 5m.

  • Joining an in-progress match during the ending cinematic sequence is no longer possible.

EQUIPMENT

• Throwing Star (Lethal)

  • Addressed an issue that allowed one-hit kills without a Headshot.

• EMD Grenade (Tactical)

  • Prompt to remove tracker will no longer persist after death.

FIELD UPGRADES

• Deployable Cover

  • Previous deployments will now be destroyed upon new deployment as the maximum has been limited to 1.

• Trophy System

  • Mosquito Drone (Killstreak) will no longer be targeted.

KILLSTREAKS

• Juggernaut Recon

  • Addressed an exploit that allowed players to fire Loadout Weapons with unlimited ammo.

• Precision Airstrike

  • Players will now properly look through the binoculars in third-person view.

• Remote Turret

  • Implemented safeguard measures to prevent players from becoming stuck with the tablet in hand.

VEHICLES

• NSTV

  • Increased traction control to improve handling on muddy surfaces.

• Razor Tank

  • Decreased maximum forward speed by 14%.

  • Increased maximum reverse speed by 20% to match forward speed.

  • Increased turn speed by 40% to allow for tighter turns.

  • Increased ability to accelerate on sloped surfaces.

Story Act and Mission

• Act IV and a new Story Mission are immediately available for all players at the start of Season 1.
• A massive gateway has appeared in the Exclusion Zone. Investigate the area and engage in new end-game content.

Dark Aether Rifts

• Dark Aether Rifts bring rewards to those who brave their challenges.
  • These otherworldly labyrinths are located inside the Dark Aether, where players and their squad have a limited time to complete a series of increasingly chaotic objectives to earn exceptional rewards. Find Sigils to enter the Dark Aether Rifts and face a new level of challenge!
• Dark Aether Rifts are unlocked by solving a hidden quest, which activates after completing the new Season 1 Story Mission.

Wonder Weapon: V-R11

• The V-R11 has been added to Modern Warfare Zombies.
  • Shoot zombies and transform them into humans, or blast humans to mutate them into friendly zombies.
  • Players receive a buff when shot.
  • The V-R11 has been added to the Mystery Box in Modern Warfare Zombies.
  • V-R11 Weapon Cases are now available via loot.

Acquisitions and Schematics

• Dog Bone
  • Consume the Dog Bone to summon the strongest friendly Hell Hound companion. The pet Hellhound will follow you and attack nearby threats until its health runs out.
• Golden Armor Plate
  • Consuming the new Golden Armor Plate replaces the Armor Carrier with Plates that automatically repair over time, in addition to providing the user additional damage resistances.
• Aether Blade
  • The Aether Blade is a special Throwing Knife with infinite ammo and a boomerang-like combat style. After striking an enemy, the Aether Blade locates the next nearest enemy to hit before returning to its Operator.

Prestige Challenges

• Season 1 allows you to level up past Rank 55 into Prestige Ranks that persist across seasons. 
• Beginning in Season 1, reaching Rank 56 will unlock Prestige 1. Achieving this unlocks rewards and a set of challenges in Modern Warfare Zombies — complete those challenges to unlock multiple exclusive Calling Cards.
• For more details on Prestige Challenges, visit the Challenges and Seasonal Progression section of the Season 1 Announcement Blog.

Season 1 Battle Pass Weapons

• The XRK Stalker, RAM-7, and Stormender are available in Modern Warfare Zombies loadouts once unlocked via the Season 1 Battle Pass.

Global Changes

• Season 1 updates are not limited to just Zombies! Please reference the Global Section above for weapon balancing changes and more.