Modern Warfare 3 is fully underway and players are eager to find out the game’s weapon meta to dominate. If you’re wondering about the best guns you should level up first, we’ve put together the early meta weapon list in MW3.
Modern Warfare 3 has finally launched worldwide allowing players to enjoy all the new gameplay features and movement adjustments alongside the reintroduction of MW2 2009’s map roster.
Fans will also have access to a wide array of weapons in MW3, including classic guns from the franchise and brand-new additions. To maximize your chances of winning, it’s crucial to equip your loadouts with the best guns in MW3.
Here are the best Modern Warfare 3 guns for the game’s early meta.
- Best MW3 weapons for early game meta
- Best guns in Modern Warfare 3
Best MW3 weapons for early game meta
Before we highlight the best guns in Modern Warfare 3, let’s first look at the early meta weapon list in the game. Keep in mind that this early list will evolve as players continue to discover the best attachment combinations and weapons to use in MW3.
- MCW
- Striker
- DG-58
- MTZ-556
- Rival-9
- Longbow
Best guns in Modern Warfare 3
6. Longbow

The Longbow has a special blueprint players can acquire by purchasing MW3’s Vault edition.
The Longbow stands alone as the only Sniper Rifle currently ranking among the top six weapons in Modern Warfare 3. This formidable gun combines remarkable speed and firepower, making it exceptionally great at swiftly killing enemies.
It’s dominant in long-range engagements as an ideal choice for big maps such as Estate and Wasteland. If you’re looking to cover long distances and avoid exposing yourself, this should definitely be your pick.
5. Rival-9

The Rival-9 is Modern Warfare 3’s version of MW 2019’s CX-9.
MW 2019’s CX-9 has made a comeback in Modern Warfare 3, now called the Rival-9. Similar to the Striker, this powerful gun has impressive mobility, maneuverability, and a high fire rate, making it easy to use no matter your experience in the game.
This SMG maintains minimal recoil and excels in close-quarters battles, which is ideal for medium to small maps like Rust or Scrapyard.
4. MTZ-556

The MTZ-556 AR is a solid choice in MW3.
When embarking on a new CoD multiplayer experience, easy-to-use Assault Rifles like the MTZ-556 tend to be the preferred choice, and Modern Warfare 3 is no different.
If you’re seeking a dependable and adaptable weapon that excels in accuracy and user-friendliness, this gun should be your pick. Great damage and range values make it ideal for excelling in both close-quarters and long-range combat scenarios.
3. DG-58

The DG-58 Assault Rifle captivated players with its incredibly low recoil.
Modern Warfare 3’s DG-58 is a powerful Assault Rifle with exceptional accuracy at long distances, capable of effectively eliminating enemies. Due to its impressively fast TTK at almost every range, this weapon has rapidly gained popularity becoming a fan-favorite choice.
Although this AR will be quickly dominating the game’s matches, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the developers decide to nerf it soon due to its massive strength, especially in terms of damage, bullet velocity, and low recoil.
2. Striker

The Striker is a Modern Warfare classic choice for short-range combat.
The beloved Striker returns in Modern Warfare 3 keeping its legendary name. This powerful SMG offers a fantastic TTK, a rapid rate of fire, and exceptional mobility, making it incredibly effective when your shots hit the mark.
Remaining faithful to its original version, this gun boasts low recoil and despite its excellence in close-quarters combat, it performs surprisingly well in mid-range engagements as well, establishing itself as a versatile and well-rounded SMG.
1. MCW

Modern Warfare 3’s MCW resembles the fan-favorite MW2 ACR.
The ACR, an absolute CoD classic makes its return in Modern Warfare 3 as the MCW. Players are delighted to see it maintaining its dominance in the meta. It’s not surprising to see this gun on top after it garnered significant attention during the multiplayer beta.
This Assault Rifle is the perfect choice if you’re looking for exceptional damage range, very low recoil, and the unique fan-favorite iron sight.