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The MCW is arguably the most versatile out of the new assault rifles introduced in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Its out-of-the-box performance is superb, capable of comfortably winning duels against kitted weapons and dominating opponents at close to medium range.

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Building the MCW only makes the gun better in all respects. It may not always win against more accurate or faster-firing guns, but it gives skilled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 players the edge they need to win the vast majority of firefights. Here's a build that doubles down on what the MCW is already good at.

Updated June 3, 2024 by Marc Santos: The MCW has remained a strong mid-range weapon in Modern Warfare 3, especially after it got buffed in Season 3, where the gun saw an increase to its effective range. As such, this guide has been updated to lean further into the MCW's identity as the premium weapon for steady shooters by including new attachments that make the weapon better at its intended range. A new segment has also been added for the MCW's JAK Raven conversion kit.

MW3 MCW Build

Season 4 build for the MCW in MW3

The MCW is the very definition of an all-purpose gun. It doesn't spit bullets out as quickly as the MTZ-556 nor does it have the long-ranged dueling potential of the FR 5.56, but it can still win with those weapons in their intended ranges as long as the MCW's user is accurate enough with their shots. It's not a bad gun by any stretch of the imagination, but it definitely requires a steady hand.

The good thing about this weapon is that it is extremely easy to handle. Its recoil pattern is almost completely vertical, which means players don't need to think too much about its attachments. The following setup should reduce the MCW's kick significantly, making it substantially more user-friendly:

  • Muzzle: T4LR Saber Compensator
  • Barrel: SL Crater Heavy Barrel
  • Underbarrel: FTAC SP-10 Angled Grip
  • Rear Grip: RB Claw-PSL Grip
  • Stock: JAK Cutthroat

This setup almost completely eliminates the MCW's horizontal recoil while significantly boosting its mobility while players are aiming down sights. The extra movement speed (which is mostly granted by the JAK Cutthroat) should give players an extra edge when fighting against opponents using MW3's SMGs like the Striker or WSP Swarm.

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The BP50 along with its JAK Revenger Kit​​​​ has become popular in the Warzone & MW3 meta, and here is the best build and class setup for it.

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For the rest of the class build, players can go with anything they want. However, the following is highly recommended for those who want to contest objectives and win more duels:

  • Vest: Infantry
  • Tactical: Scatter Mine/Shock Stick
  • Lethal: Semtex
  • Gloves: Commando
  • Boots: Stalker
  • Gear: EOD

The Infantry vest's buff to Tac Sprint lets players reach strong positions more quickly, giving them the chance to setup a killzone before the opponents can. Meanwhile, Stalker boots improve strafe speed while aiming down sights, making players harder to hit in a one-on-one fight. Shock Sticks or cleverly-placed Scatter Mines in MW3 can make capture zones and objectives harder to contend, while Semtex gives players the chance to push occupied areas.

MCW JAK Raven Build

CQB JAK Raven build for MW3
  • Conversion Kit: JAK Raven
  • Stock: JAK Cutthroat
  • Muzzle: JAK BFB
  • Barrel: Kimura Blackiron Heavy Short Barrel
  • Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop

This setup aims to tame the JAK Raven's recoil while still making it feel light and snappy. The combination of attachments above will make this weapon feel like the Chimera in MW3, albeit with far less recoil and slightly slower ADS speeds. You can expect this to feel more like an in-your-face dueling weapon, contrasting the MCW's usual style of holding down lanes.