The Season 1 Reloaded update for Modern Warfare 3 added the new Ranked Play competitive mode. Ranked Play uses the official rules, maps, and game modes of the 2024 Call of Duty League, meaning this mode restricts much of the game's perks, weapons, and attachments. Here we guide you through creating the best loadouts available to use in Ranked Play.
Best primary weapon for Ranked Play
Ranked Play features 4v4 gameplay of Hardpoint, Control, and Search and Destroy. The primary weapon you decide to equip will be determined by the role you prefer to play. If you're looking to hold down a lane in a slayer role, then the MCW assault rifle is the choice of the pros, while the Rival-9 submachine gun is the preferred pick for close-quarters action near the objective.
MCW Ranked Play loadout
The MCW is the assault rifle used by the pros in the Call of Duty League, and this is a really powerful straight-shooter with the right attachments on it. The recommended attachments for the MCW is the same build used by pro players on Atlanta FaZe.
The choice between muzzles will depend on preference. You'll want to choose the T51R Billeted Brake for best handling at the slight sacrifice of the gun's range, or use the L4R Flash Hider for best range option with slightly more recoil. Additionally, some pros use the Slate Reflector while others use the MK.3 Reflector, so pick what feels best for you.
Recommended MCW Ranked Play attachments:
- Muzzle: L4R Flash Hider or T51R Billeted Brake
- Barrel: 16.5" MWC Cyclone Long Barrel
- Optic: Slate Reflector or MK.3 Reflector
- Stock: RB Regal Heavy Stock
- Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
Rival-9 Ranked Play loadout
The Rival-9 is the submachine gun used by the pros, and their recommended attachments will help you make the most of this powerful gun. This exact build is used by most pro players, including Simp and aBeZy of Atlanta FaZe and CleanX of Toronto Ultra.
The pros prefer the DR-6 Handstop for faster strafe speed and more aggressive movement, but you could always swap the DR-6 for the XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop to get slightly better handling and snappier aim.
Recommended Rival-9 Ranked Play attachments:
- Muzzle: Purified Muzzle Brake
- Barrel: Rival-C Clearshot Barrel
- Stock: MTZ Marauder Stock
- Rear Grip: Rival Vice Assault Grip
- Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
Renetti Ranked Play loadout
The Renetti is the pistol used in the Call of Duty League, and it's a very powerful secondary weapon. To make sure the pistol isn't too overpowered, the CDL pros have banned most attachments except for those that help with movement speed.
Recommended Renetti Ranked Play attachments:
- Barrel: MLX Short Competition Barrel
- Optic: Slate Reflector
- Rear Grip: EXF Eclipsor Grip
Ranked Play equipment
For the unrestricted equipment, you can choose between two options for your tactical, lethal and field upgrade.
You can equip frag or semtex lethal grenades, and both options are viable and used by pro players. The frag grenade is really popular for long tosses, and if you've ever watched the CDL pros play, then you probably already know plenty of "nade spots" to use frags on the competitive maps. Semtex is great for closer range damage and potentially sticking the grenade to your opponent.
Tactical equipment options are stuns or smoke grenades. You'll likely want a class for each, as these are going to be situational. Stuns are used to slow down enemy players in Hardpoint and Control game modes, while smokes are used in Search and Destroy to make sneaky plays.
For the field upgrade, you can choose between Dead Silence or a trophy system. The trophy system is great for combating the stuns and grenades while trying to hold a hill on Hardpoint or for defense on Control, and Dead Silence is great for taking a flanking route or making a ninja-like play in Search and Destroy.
Best Ranked Play perks
The most commonly used perks for the CDL are:
- Vest: Infantry Vest
- Gloves: Quick-Grip Gloves
- Boots: Lightweight Boots or Covert Sneakers
- Gear: EOD Padding
The Quick-Grip Gloves give an important speed buff for throwing your lethals and tacticals and give you a faster weapon swap speed. The Boots category is likely the most situational gear pick in Ranked Play. Lightweight Boots give you a movement buff, while Covert Sneakers keep the enemy from hearing your steps. EOD Padding is used to help survive grenade damage.
This loadout guide should help you get set up to play like the pros, but if you're looking for suggested weapon builds for battle royale, make sure to check out our recommended Warzone loadout guide.
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