Call of Duty

Every weapon buff and nerf in MW3 & Warzone Season 5

Nathan Warby
Captain Price with Shotgun in MW3 and WarzoneActivision

The Warzone and MW3 Season 5 update has arrived, which means another batch of weapon buffs and nerfs have given the meta a refresh.

After Season 4 was dominated by the Superi 46 and Kar98k, these balancing changes aim to level the playing field and make room for the new guns.

Here are all the weapon buffs and nerfs in MW3 and Warzone Season 5.

All buffs and nerfs in Warzone & MW3 Season 5

Warzone

ASSAULT RIFLES

  • MCW
    • Lower Torso Modifier increased to 1.1x, up from 1x

This brings it to the same TTK as the upper torso and arms, leading to more consistent long range engagements.

  • SVA 545
    • Max Damage Range increased to 36.83 meters, up from 31.75.
  • BAL-27
    • Max Damage Range increased to 26.67 meters, up from 21.59.
    • Decreased horizontal recoil magnitude, allowing greater predictability during sustained fire.
    • Decreased overall recoil magnitude to aid in long-range effectiveness.
    • Decreased overall recoil deviation, ensuring a more predictable pattern that is easier to control at range.
  • MTZ-556
    • Near-Mid Damage Range increased to 60.96 meters, up from 50.8.
  • M4 (MWII)
    • Min Damage increased to 21, up from 17.
    • Near-Mid Damage increased to 24, up from 21.
    • Max Damage Range increased to 30.48 meters, up from 25.4.

BATTLE RIFLES

  • BAS-B
    • Max Damage Range increased to 40.64 meters, up from 35.56.
  • TAQ-V (MWII)
    • Leg Modifier increased to 0.9x, up from 0.85x.

SUBMACHINE GUNS

  • AMR9
    • Max Damage Range increased to 12.7 meters, up from 10.67.
    • Near-Mid Damage Range increased to 21.59 meters, up from 17.78.
  • FJX HORUS
    • Max Damage Range decreased to 8.63 meters, down from 10.16.
    • Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 17.27 meters, down from 20.32.
    • Mid Damage Range decreased to 25.91 meters, down from 30.48.
    • Increased sprint to fire time to 110ms, up from 93ms.
  • SUPERI 46
    • Decreased movement speed to 4.9m/s, down from 5m/s.
    • Decreased crouched movement speed to 1.9m/s, down from 2m/s.
    • Decreased sprint speed to 5.8m/s, down from 5.9m/s.
    • Decreased ADS movement speed to 3.4m/s, down from 3.6m/s.
  • WSP-9
    • Legs Modifiers decreased to .9x, down from 1x.

The WSP-9 is a great longer range SMG option, but we wanted to ensure you need to be more accurate with your shots to hit the intended TTK.

  • MINIBAK (MWII)
    • Min Damage increased to 26, up from 21.
    • Max Damage Range increased to 11.43 meters, up from 8.38.
    • Near-Mid Damage Range increased to 21.59 meters, up from 19.05.
    • Lower Torso Modifiers increased to 1.1x, up from 1x.
    • Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1.1x, up from .95x.
  • PDSW 528 (MWII)
    • Min Damage increased to 19, up from 16.
    • Near-Mid Damage increased to 24, up from 22.
  • VEL-46 (MWII)
    • Near-Mid Damage increased to 22, up from 20.
    • Min damage increased to 16, up from 15.
    • Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1.1x, up from 1x.
  • VAZNEV-9K (MWII)
    • Mid Damage increased to 27, up from 25.
    • Min Damage increased to 23, up from 20.
    • Max Damage Range increased to 11.43 meters, up from 8.89.

LIGHT MACHINE GUNS

  • BRUEN MK9
    • Max Damage Range increased to 36.83 meters, up from 31.75.
  • HOLGER 26
    • Lower Torso Modifier decreased to 1x, down from 1.1x.

The Holger 26 was a dominant long range choice this past season and while we want to keep it a viable long range option, it was slightly overperforming. This change makes it so you have to be a bit more accurate to get that intended TTK.

  • PULEMYOT 762
    • Max Damage Range increased to 34.29 meters, up from 27.94.
    • Upper and Lower Arm Modifiers increased to 1.1x, up from 1x.
  • TAQ ERADICATOR
    • Min Damage increased to 28, up from 24.
    • Max Damage Range increased to 39.37 meters, up from 33.02.
  • TAQ EVOLVERE
    • Leg Modifier increased to 1.07x, up from 1x.

SHOTGUNS

  • RECLAIMER 18
    • Fixed an issue causing inconsistent damage dealt to enemies in both fire types.
    • Semi-auto
      • Increased rate of fire to 200rpm, up from 182rpm.
  • KV BROADSIDE (MWII)
    • JAK Jawbreaker Conversion Kit
      • Decreased vertical recoil by 20%.

HANDGUNS

  • COR-45
    • Decreased rate of fire to 240rpm, down from 375rpm.
    • XRK v6 Match Trigger Action
      • Decreased rate of fire to 264rpm, down from 438rpm.
    • XRK v21 Heavy Match Trigger Action
      • Decreased rate of fire to 272rpm, down from 545rpm.

MELEE

  • SLEDGEHAMMER
    • Decreased movement speed by 22%.
    • Decreased heavy swing melee range to 3.2 meters, down from 5.3.
mw3 operator crouching with gun in warzone mapActivision
Season 5 introduces a ton of weapon balancing changes.

MW3

Assault Rifles

  • BAL-27
    • Decreased horizontal recoil magnitude, allowing greater predictability during sustained fire.
    • Decreased overall recoil magnitude to aid in long-range effectiveness.
    • Decreased overall recoil deviation, ensuring a more predictable pattern that is easier to control at range.

Submachine Guns

  • Superi 46
    • Decreased movement speed from 5m/s to 4.9m/s (-2%).
    • Decreased crouched movement speed from 2m/s to 1.9m/s (-5%).
    • Decreased sprint speed from 5.9m/s to 5.8m/s (-2%).
    • Decreased ADS movement speed from 3.6m/s to 3.4m/s (-6%).
  • FJX Horus
    • Increased sprint to fire time from 93ms to 110ms (+18%).
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 13.7m to 11.4m (-17%).
    • Decreased near-medium damage range from 22.9m to 19m (-17%).
    • Decreased medium damage range from 29.7m to 25.4m (-15%).
    • Decreased far-medium damage range from 36.6m to 30.5m (-17%).

Shotguns

  • Reclaimer 18
    • Fixed an issue causing inconsistent damage dealt to enemies in both fire types.
    • Semi-Auto Fire Type
      • Increased fire rate from 182rpm to 200rpm (+10%).
      • Increased hipfire spread by 12%.
    • Pump Action Fire Type
      • Increased hipfire maximum damage from 80 to 220 (+175%).
      • Increased hipfire maximum damage range from 2m to 3m (+50%).
      • Increased hipfire near-medium damage from 20 to 25 (+25%).

Using the Pump Action Fire Type, the Reclaimer 18 is now capable of killing enemies with one shot within its maximum damage range, and 2-shot kills are now more consistent.

  • KV Broadside (MWII)
    • JAK Jawbreaker Conversion Kit
      • Decreased vertical recoil by 20%.
  • MX Guardian (MWII)
    • Removed the ability to equip the incompatible GRV-Z Short Grip Underbarrel Attachment.

Light Machine Guns

  • Pulemyot 762
    • Increased upper arm and lower arm damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x.

Marksman Rifles

  • MTZ Interceptor
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 30.5m to 22.9m (-25%).
    • Decreased lower torso, upper arm, lower arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1x to 0.9x.
  • EBR-14 (MWII)
    • SO-90 Factory Stock
      • Fixed an issue causing players to become unable to move while aiming down sights.

Sniper Rifles

  • XRK Stalker
    • Increased upper leg, lower leg, and foot damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x.

Within its maximum damage range, the XRK Stalker is now capable of a one-shot kill regardless of hit location.

  • Carrack .300 (MWII)
    • Increased maximum damage range from 12.7m to 17.8m (+40%).
    • Increased near-medium damage range from 30.7m to 66m (+115%).
    • Removed medium damage range.

Handguns

  • COR-45
    • Decreased rate of fire from 375rpm to 240rpm (-36%).
    • XRK v6 Match Trigger Action
      • Decreased rate of fire from 438rpm to 264rpm (-40%).
    • XRK v21 Heavy Match Trigger Action
      • Decreased rate of fire from 545rpm to 272rpm (-50%).

COR-45 Trigger Action Attachments were previously more beneficial than intended. Due to negligible downsides, fire rate increases are generally kept below 50%. We’ll continue to monitor player feedback for potential improvements to base Handguns.

  • TYR
    • Increased maximum damage range from 5.6m to 8.9m (+14%).
    • Increased near-medium damage range from 11.4m to 15.2m (+33%).
  • GS Magna (MWII)
    • Removed the ability to equip the incompatible JAK NRG-IV Optic Attachment.

Melee

  • Sledgehammer
    • Decreased movement speed by 22%.
    • Decreased heavy swing melee range from 5.3m to 3.2m (-40%).

Only time will tell how these changes shake up the meta in MW3 and Warzone. But with the STG and Static-HV also being thrown into the mix, players have more powerful options than ever before in Season 5.

Source: Call of Duty

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