Modern Warfare 2 Weapons Get Surprising Buffs in Latest MW3 Update

A recent update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has introduced surprising balance changes to several iconic weapons from Modern Warfare 2, with a host of shotguns, handguns, marksman rifles, and others receiving significant buffs.

With the release of Black Ops 6 just weeks away, it seems that developer Sledgehammer Games is eager to give Modern Warfare 3 an exciting farewell by reintroducing some classic weaponry into the gameplay.

Kicking off October, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software launched a fresh update for both Warzone and Modern Warfare 3, implementing various bug fixes and balance tweaks for these beloved first-person shooters.

While the latest Warzone update notably enhanced the Crossbow from Modern Warfare 2—boosting its bolt velocity and reducing the effects of gravity—it’s Modern Warfare 3 that has seen a large number of previously less popular weapons become strong contenders in multiplayer matches.

According to the official patch notes, several weapons from the 2022 installment have received notable enhancements in this latest update. For instance, the M13C assault rifle has had its maximum damage upped from 31 to 32, enabling it to achieve a four-shot kill if at least one bullet hits the head, as noted by Sledgehammer.

Additionally, a variety of shotguns have benefited from significant buffs. The KV Broadside, Lockwood 300, Expedite 12, Bryson 800, and Bryson 890 all saw increases in their damage range, though the specifics, such as maximum damage and near-medium damage range, differ among the various models.

Buffs to Modern Warfare 2 Weapons in Latest MW3 Update

While the focus of this update largely revolves around enhancing classic weapons from Modern Warfare 2, it also includes a nerf for the DTIR 30-06 battle rifle, which was introduced in Season 6. This rifle quickly rose to become a dominant choice in both Warzone and Modern Warfare 3.

Unfortunately, the beloved battle rifle has been hit with a significant nerf: its torso damage multiplier has been reduced from 1.3x to 1x in Modern Warfare 3, and its recoil kick has increased from 27.5 degrees per second to 32 degrees in Warzone. Various attachments for the DTIR 30-06 have also been adjusted in the Warzone version of the weapon.

Though this isn’t the first occasion that Modern Warfare 2 weapons have been buffed in Modern Warfare 3, the October 1 update marks one of the most substantial adjustments in quite some time.

Earlier this year, Warzone had already minimized the distracting visual effects on Modern Warfare 2 weapons, aligning them more closely with their Modern Warfare 3 counterparts. With these latest buffs, many shotguns, handguns, and more are now viable choices in the 2023 shooter. However, whether these enhanced weapons will dominate the Modern Warfare 3 meta remains uncertain, especially with Black Ops 6 looming on the horizon.