Unveiling the Weapon Balance Tweaks and More in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Patch

The most recent update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III has been released, introducing a range of weapon balance adjustments, bug fixes, and stability enhancements.

Regarding weapon balance changes, Sledgehammer Games has stated that the primary focus of the update was to weaken the FR 5.56 and DG-58. Both now require two headshots to eliminate an enemy with a single three-round burst. Additionally, submachine guns have been altered, with the Striker's maximum damage range expanded and the AMR9's sprint-to-fire time reduced by 30%.

The updates to SMGs by Sledgehammer are intended to improve their consistency and viability compared to other weapons in the same category. Additionally, the update addresses an exploit that allowed players to equip specific weapon camos without meeting the unlock requirements. The Ghoulie camo has also been adjusted to appear less bright in dark environments.

Zombies will now primarily spawn on the ground, reducing the likelihood of encountering zombies on rooftops and other elevated areas. Check out the complete patch notes for the November 21 update on the official Call of Duty website.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

Moving forward, Sledgehammer has several additional changes planned, including the temporary removal of the controversial "evil Groot" skin.

GLOBAL

Resolved a crash that could occur while viewing Weapon Challenges.

UIX

Bug Fixes

Fixed a loophole that enabled players to equip Weapon Camos they have not yet unlocked.

Resolved a problem that was preventing players from equipping the Borealis Weapon Camo after unlocking it.

COSMETICS

The Dragonfly Blueprint for the M4 (MWII) is now displaying correctly on all platforms.

Fixed an issue where the appearance of the Io Operator (MWII) was not dynamically changing as intended.

Adjusted the Ghoulie Camo (MWII) to prevent it from becoming excessively bright in low-light settings.

MULTIPLAYER

Wins will now progress Armory Unlocks without first completing Daily Challenges.

UIX

Today’s update includes UI modifications to reflect this previously-implemented change.

Bug Fixes: Players will no longer encounter graphical issues when switching between the Field Upgrades and Social menus. Additionally, XP requirements in the Progression menu will no longer appear as negative values in specific circumstances.

PROGRESSION

Incompatibility of Attachments

Weapons can no longer be equipped with attachments that are incompatible with the current selection.

PROGRESSION

Challenges

The description of the Gilded Camo challenge for the MTZ-556 (Assault Rifle) has been updated to accurately reflect the intended requirements.

Weekly Challenges requiring Triple Kills and Quad Kills will now properly track completion.

MAPS

DerailAdjusted environmental fog to increase contrast, improving visibility.

EstateDecreased grime on windows of the Lodge to improve clarity.

WEAPONS

Holger 556 (Assault Rifle)Decreased headshot damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.3x.

Decreased neck, upper-torso, arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1.1x to 1x.

Increased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 231ms (+10%).

DG-58 (Assault Rifle)Decreased maximum damage from 44 to 40 (-9%).

Decreased medium damage from 35 to 33 (-6%).

Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.1x.

Increased burst delay from 100ms to 120ms (+20%).

FR 5.56 (Assault Rifle)Decreased maximum damage from 44 to 43 (-2%).

Decreased near-medium damage from 40 to 36 (-10%).

Decreased minimum damage from 36 to 33 (-8%).

Decreased headshot damage multiplier from 1.5x to 1.4x.

Decreased leg and foot damage multipliers from 1x to 0.9x.

Increased aim down sights time from 240ms to 260ms (+8%).

Increased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 231ms (+10%).

Striker (Submachine Gun)Increased maximum damage range from 9m to 19m (+114%).

Increased near-medium damage from 33 to 36 (+9%).

Increased far-medium damage from 27 to 33 (+22%).

Decreased aim down sights time from 240ms to 230ms (-4%).

AMR9 (Submachine Gun)Increased lower-torso, lower-arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x.

Decreased sprint to fire time from 294ms to 206ms (-30%).

Striker 9 (Submachine Gun)Decreased maximum damage from 32 to 27 (-16%).

Decreased aim down sights time from 275ms to 225ms (-18%).

PERKS

Ordnance GlovesRemoved undocumented reduction to the cook duration of Frag Grenades.

ZOMBIES

GAMEPLAY

Missions

Storm the Castle

The warlord kill credit is now based on your squad, and the required mission item will spawn when a member of your squad kills the target.

Interceptor

The completion of Destroy Mercenary Convoy is now accurately tracked.

When a player picks up a Keycard from a mercenary at the convoy, it will always contribute to mission completion. Also, if a player exfils while in last stand, Tombstones will no longer appear in the next session.

The GeneralEssence can no longer be stored.

Fixed a problem where newly stored items, acquisitions, or schematics would be replaced and lost with previously sold items during a swap item menu interaction.

Closed various exploits related to the use of Cymbal Monkeys.

Closed an exploit that permitted duplication of scorestreaks.

ENEMIES

Zombies

The spawn priority of zombies has been modified to prioritize increased ground spawning. Players will notice a decrease in ambient zombie spawns on rooftops and higher elevations.

Terminus Outcomes

All Mercenaries

The damage inflicted by mercenaries on player armor has been decreased.

Shielded SoldiersShielded Soldiers will experience a reduced rate of fire during combat.

WEAPONS

Pack-A-PunchResolved an interaction and UI issue that was displaying Pack-A-Punch Level III as Pack-A-Punch Level IV incorrectly.

STABILITY

Various stability fixes.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, I am thrilled with the latest patch. The weapon balance changes, bug fixes, and stability enhancements have significantly improved the overall gameplay experience.

The adjustments to the FR 5.56 and DG-58 were necessary to bring them in line with other weapons in their class. The Striker's increased maximum damage range and the AMR9's reduced sprint-to-fire time have made these SMGs more competitive options. Additionally, the fix for the exploit involving weapon camos and the adjustment to the Ghoulie camo have addressed some frustrating issues for players.

Furthermore, the changes to zombie spawning will make the game more challenging and engaging. The removal of the controversial "evil Groot" skin shows that Sledgehammer Games is listening to player feedback and is committed to providing a positive gaming experience.

Overall, this patch has addressed many of the concerns raised by the community and has made Modern Warfare 3 an even more enjoyable game. I am excited to see what future updates bring and look forward to continuing to enjoy the game with my fellow fans.