How to get Barebones Kills fast in MW3

✓ At a glance

• Get Barebones Kills by killing an enemy with a weapon that doesn’t have attachments.
• These let you work towards challenges to earn a Kar98k camo or the JAK Maglift Kit.
• To get these fast, opt for hardcore mode, small maps, and the right weapons and game modes.

Getting Barebones Kills is a challenge you’ll run into while clearing one of the new Kar98k marksman rifle’s camo challenges in Season 4. While they’re not particularly difficult to obtain, you can get them quickly by picking the right maps and modes to fight foes in. This will let you work towards Aftermarket Parts and other neat upgrades in-game. Here’s what you need to know about Barebones Kills.

What are Barebones Kills?

Defeat a player with a weapon that doesn’t have attachments to secure a Barebones Kill. This isn’t always easy to accomplish as custom weapons offer advantages like quicker reloads, clear sights, and damage buffs. But these Operator kills will let you work towards weekly challenges in the game. For instance, Season 2 Week 3 had a challenge where you needed 30 Barebones Kills with the Haymaker shotgun to earn the JAK Maglift Kit. This lethal conversion kit focuses on fire rate, damage, and recoil control while boosting magazine ammo capacity.

Pick Hardcore mode

While your health is lowered in this mode, so is the health of your enemies. This means that you can clear foes with a shot or two, negating some of the advantages that attachments bring. Use Hardcore playlists to rack up Barebones Kills.

Select smaller maps

Maps like Shipment, Meat, and Rush are great choices when it comes to getting these kills. You can also opt for the Small Map Moshpit for a higher chance of dropping into smaller multiplayer maps. 

Choose appropriate weapons

While some challenges specify a weapon, you might not be forced into picking a certain weapon. Shotguns and SMGs are great at close range even without attachments so consider them while picking maps with tight corridors. As for arenas with longer sightlines, use a sniper rifle or marksman rifle to pick enemies off from a distance. Similarly, equipment like the Ghost T/V Camo (hide from radar), Lightweight Boots (faster movement), and Stun Grenades can also help you against players.

Pick the right game modes

Choosing the right playlist and game mode will let you quickly clear this challenge in Modern Warfare 3. My personal favorite is the new Hyper Cranked mode in Season 4. While the regular Cranked mode will enhance your movement speed, reload, and aim after your first kill, this mode gives you this buff right from the start. This means you’re pretty capable with any weapon, even without attachments. It’ll even the playing field and enemies will prowl the map more as this mode eliminates players who don’t secure kills quickly. Other game modes like Kill Confirmed are great as you can lie in wait near fallen dog tags and snipe out unsuspecting foes.