Best MCW loadout in MW3 and MCW 6.8 guide – our top attachments, class build, and perks

Want to know the best MCW loadout in MW3? While it has a new name, this is the ACR, a returning fan-favorite from earlier Call of Duty titles. So it only makes sense that you’re going to want to use this gun. We’ve got the best attachments and perks you’ll want to use in-game to dominate matches in Modern Warfare 3.

The MCW is what you’d expect when you think about an assault rife. It’s able to take engagements at a medium range better than anything else. And when you land your shots, it packs a serious punch. So overall, we’re going to pick attachments that boost our damage range, bullet velocity, reduce recoil, and an optic to make ADS a bit more manageable. With that said, you might also want to check out our best Striker loadout in MW3 for a nimble SMG. Our Modern Warfare 3 review praised its solid multiplayer. We spent a great deal of time across its maps and modes.

Best MCW Loadout and attachments in MW3

Here are the best attachments to wreck foes with the MCW in MW3:

• Barrel: Second Line Mammoth Heavy
• Muzzle: HMRES Mod Suppressor
• Stock: MCW Lancer Tactical Stock
• Grip: RB Talon-X3 Grip
• Optic: QTG Reflex Sight

These four attachments for the moment are going to be the best options, with the fifth attachment being a toss-up based on your playstyle. The Second Line Mammoth Heavy barrel gives you increased damage range, which is perfect for those longer-range fights. Now the recoil on this weapon is already fairly low, but the RB Talong-X3 Grip will bring that in line even further making this a laser beam. Our choice of the MCW Lancer Tac Stock gives us a bit more mobility with the gun. Finally, the 40-round mag is an essential add-on due to the increased player health in the game.

For the fifth attachment, you have a couple of options. If you’re a controller player and can leverage aim assist, then we’d recommend going with the HMRES Mod Suppressor in the Muzzle. This will keep you quiet on the map while providing a bit of bullet velocity and range. This is also a decent option if you’re a fan of the MCW’s iron sights and are a mouse and keyboard player. If you don’t like the irons and are using a mouse and keyboard, then going with the QTG Reflex Sight will give you the cleanest optic. Note that any optic will do the trick so pick one you’re accustomed with.

✓ Antony’s annotation

The MCW is one of the best rifles in MW3

Thanks to its low TTK (Time To Kill), solid fire rate, and reliable damage, the MCW is a solid weapon in MW3.

Best MCW perks and equipment in MW3

Here are the best equipment options to pair with the MCW in MW3:

• Vest: Infantry
• Gloves: Scavenger
• Gear: EOD Padding
• Boots: Covert
• Lethal: Semtex
• Tactical: Flash Grenade
• Field Upgrades: Trophy System

For our equipment, we have the ability to kit out our operator. For our vest, we’re going to pick Infantry, which buffs our Tactical Sprint. Then the Scavenger gloves are great to keep our ammo economy up as we knock down enemy players. EOD Padding reduces the impact of explosives and fire, which can keep you alive against a random grenade. Finally, we’re using the Covert boots to dampen our footsteps.

For our lethal equipment, we like the Semtex, but a lot of the options you have access to are fantastic. Similarly, for your Tactical options, we’re going to recommend Flash Grenades. There are some very cool options for you to try out, including the Scatter Drone, but you can’t go wrong with Flashes. We round out the kit with a Trophy System which is a great defensive option to keep you alive.

How to unlock MCW in MW3

In order to unlock the MCW in Modern Warfare 3, you’ll simply need to reach level 44. This is the base version of the gun, and additional frame variants will be unlocked by leveling up the gun. Leveling up the gun will also unlock attachments that come native to the MCW to be used on other weapons as well. Note that this can take a while. The SVA 545 will be the first assault rifle you can get your hands on. But if you keep track of the double XP weekend in MW3, you should be able to get here without spending too much time. It’s in our best MW3 assault rifles list for good reason.

But now, let’s take a look at the best loadout for the MCW’s Marksman Rifle cousin, the MCW 6.8.

Best MCW 6.8 loadout and attachments in MW3

• Stock: MCW Lancer Tactical Stock
• Barrel: Orchestra-40 Short Heavy Barrel
• Muzzle: Demon Helix T7
• Rear Grip: RB Solarflare 35 Grip
• Optic: KR V4 1X Riser

The essential attachments of any good Marksman Rifle loadout are those that increase its aim-down sight speed and sprint-to-fire speed. For this reason, we recommend equipping the Orchestra-40 Short Heavy Barrel, the RB Solarflare 35 Grip, and the MCW Lancer Tactical Stock, as these pieces can give you the draw advantage you need to win gunfights.

Since the MCW 6.8 also lacks in ammo capacity, you’ll need to attach the 30-round Mag to at least enable you to frag out without reloading all the time. Lastly, the KR V4 1X Riser can give you better target acquisition and slightly boost your ADS speed, making it the perfect Optic attachment for this loadout.

Best MCW 6.8 gear and equipment in MW3

• Vest: Gunner Vest
• Tactical: Flash Grenade
• Lethal: Frag Grenade
• Field Equipment: Trophy System
• Gloves: Quick-Grip Gloves
• Gear: Mission Control Comlink

Since the MCW 6.8 is relatively slow-firing compared to its in-game counterparts, you’ll need another quick-hitting primary weapon to complement it. That means you’ll have to equip the Gunner Vest to do just that since this is the only piece of gear that lets you bring another powerful gun. The Quick-Grip Gloves are a must-have since they increase your weapon swap speed.

As always, the Flash and Frag Grenade are mainstays in the Tactical and Lethal equipment slot of any MW3 loadout. And to round it all off, you can place the Trophy System in your Field Equipment slot to negate any enemy grenades that come your way. Alternatively, you can use the Comm Scrambler instead to hinder your opponents’ in-game capabilities further.

How to unlock MCW 6.8 in MW3

To unlock the MCW 6.8 in MW3, you will need to reach level 25 in MW3. Once you do, you’ll be able to use this Marksman Rifle after getting it from the Armory Unlock system. This lets you unleash this rifle on the field. Just remember to pick challenges in advance before entering matches. That’s how the Armory Unlock system works. This lets you pick the gear you want to work towards. If you forget to select an unlock to work towards, your kills won’t count towards it.

Are the MCW and MCW 6.8 worth it in MW3

While I’m partial to assault rifles, both the MCW and the slower MCW 6.8 are solid options in the game. Slower rifles tend to hit harder and take foes down in fewer hits so more accurate players may prefer the MCW 6.8. With that being said, the right attachments can turn both rifles into lethal powerhouses. I have fond memories of my time with the ACR in MW2 (2009) so I was able to pick the MCW up near-instantly. It’s a great weapon in the right hands. The MCW and MCW 6.8 are great at medium-range engagements.

That covers the best MCW loadout in MW3. If you need more loadout options, see our best Pila loadout in MW3 or even our best Holger 26 loadout. For an enhanced gaming experience, you might want to go over our best controller settings for MW3 as well. MW3 is out on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

Best MCW and MCW 6.8 loadout MW3 FAQ

Is the MCW the ACR?

Yes, the MCW is the return of the ACR from the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Is the MCW a good weapon in MW3?

While it’s not the best ACR weapon in the gun, the MCW is a powerful gun that could keep you alive long enough in even the most heated matches.

How do I unlock the MCW in MW3?

You can unlock the MCW by reaching level 44 in MW3.