Best Rival-9 loadout for MW3 Season 4 Reloaded

While new Modern Warfare 3 weapons are quick to rise in the meta rankings, tried and true options like the Rival-9 have been on top since launch. Thanks to its incredible damage range and mobility, the SMG remains a major threat in Season 4 Reloaded.

If you’re struggling to pick attachments for the weapon, here’s the best Rival-9 loadout to make things easier.

Best MW3 Rival-9 attachments

• Muzzle: Purifier Muzzle Brake S
• Barrel: Rival-C Clearshot Barrel
• Rear Grip: Rival Vice Assault Grip
• Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
• Magazine: 40 Round Mag

The best Rival-9 attachments focus on improving recoil control and mobility for close-range fights. However, the Rival-9 also has excellent damage range for an SMG, so steady shooters can even beam enemies from across the map.

We kick things off with the Purifier Muzzle Brake S and Rival-C Clearshot Barrel. This combination works in tandem to vastly increase the SMG’s recoil control, aiming stability, gun kick control, and bullet velocity. However, they will lower the movement speed slightly, but we’ll use other attachments to balance that out.

The Rival Vice Assault Grip will further improve the gun kick control and aiming stability and the DR-6 Handstop Underbarrel will significantly boost your ADS and aim walking speeds while also improving your sprint to fire and movement speeds.

I tend to equip the 40 Round Mag when taking on standard multiplayer lobbies, but feel free to swap it out for the MTZ Marauder Stock, which replicates the recommended build for Ranked Play.

Best Perks & Equipment

• Vest: Infantry Vest
• Gloves: Marksman Gloves
• Gear: Ghost T/V Camo
• Boots: Covert Sneakers
• Lethal: Semtex
• Tactical: Flash Grenade
• Field Equipment: Trophy System

When it comes to the set of Perks and Equipment to use with the Rival-9, the goal is to maximize speed and movement.

For starters, the Infantry Vest will buff your Tac Sprint by reducing its cooldown and extending its duration. Then, the Marksman Gloves will reduce weapon sway and flinch while you ADS. These Gloves have saved my life many times when taking on fights at longer ranges with the Rival-9.

Next, the combination of Covert Sneakers and Ghost T/V Camo Gear will help with fast-paced stealth gameplay, allowing you to run around the map freely. The Boots will silence your footsteps, while Ghost will allow you to evade enemy UAVs when you’re moving. With the Rival-9 in hand, you’ll want to constantly be on the move.

Quickly throwing your Flash Grenade and Semtex around will add to the speedy gameplay that this class facilitates. The Trophy System will increase your survivability by blocking incoming enemy Equipment.

How to unlock Rival-9

You can unlock the Rival-9 SMG by reaching Level 25 to access Armory Unlocks and then completing three Daily Challenges.

If you’ve already completed three Daily Challenges then don’t worry, wins will also count, so play the objective and you’ll get it in no time.

Best alternatives

If the Rival-9 doesn’t suit your style, we recommend trying the FJX Horus SMG as an alternative. However, if you’re looking to move away from the SMG category, then the MCW Assault Rifle continues to be one of the best and easiest-to-use weapons in the game.

If you’ve unlocked Season 4’s Kar98k and Superi 46, you might want to give them a try as they’ve shot up the best Marksman Rifle and SMG rankings respectively.