Best Haymaker loadout, attachments and perks in MW3 and Warzone

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Looking for the best Haymaker loadout in MW3? You’ve come to the right place. Activision’s latest CoD installment boasts an extensive collection of weapons, many of which are carry-forward guns from Modern Warfare 2. 

Modern Warfare now includes over 100 weapons to choose from and the game’s seasonal updates continue to add new guns for players to use. So before we dive into our best Haymaker loadout in MW3, you might want to go over our MW3 maps and get yourself familiar with them and then see our MW3 multiplayer tips and tricks guides as well. Check out the new Season 2 MW3 battle pass now that it’s out.

A screenshot of the Haymaker loadout in MW3, showcasing a powerful weapon in the video game.
Haymaker Loadout in MW3/Image taken by VideoGamer

Best Haymaker loadout and attachments in MW3 

  • Muzzle: Crown Breaker Choke
  • Barrel: Imperator Long Barrel
  • Laser: Corvus PEQ Beam-5
  • Magazine: 12 Round Mag
  • Stock: No Stock Mod

For your Barrel, we’ve opted for the Imperator Long Barrel to increase the Haymaker’s range and velocity while the Crown Breaker Choke Muzzle provides you with Tac Stance spread and better hipfire spread for more accurate shots. 

As for your Stock, the No Stock Mod does well to boost the weapon’s mobility and handling with limited range. If you combine this with the Corvus PEQ Beam-5 Laser, you can improve the Haymaker’s overall recoil control and bullet spread. The 12-Round Mag will give you more ammunition, reducing the number of times you reload the weapon. 

Best Haymaker loadout perks and equipment in MW3 

  • Vest: Infantry Vest
  • Gloves: Commando Gloves 
  • Boots: Covert Sneakers 
  • Gear: Ghost T/V Camo
  • Lethal: Semtex 
  • Tactical: Flash Grenade
  • Field Upgrade: Trophy System

The Infantry Vest is a good choice to improve the weapon’s Tac Sprint while the Commando Gloves will boost the Haymaker’s movement, allowing you to reload while sprinting. You can then use the Covert Boots and Ghost T/V Camo to move in silence and avoid being detected by enemy UAVs. This combo forms the foundation of our best Haymaker class setup.

Then you can use the Semtex for your Lethal while the Flash Grenade will work just fine as Tactical equipment to disorient and take out enemies quicker. For the Field Upgrade, you should use the Trophy System to protect yourself as you attempt to complete objectives using our best Haymaker loadout in MW3.

A screenshot showcasing the weapons in Call of Duty Black Ops 2, including the Haymaker.
Image taken via VideoGamer

How to unlock Haymaker in MW3 and Warzone

You can unlock the Haymarker in Modern Warfare by reaching level 39. If you’re playing zombies mode you can unlock the weapon by performing a successful exfil with it.

Best secondary weapon for the Haymaker in MW3

While you can get by with the COR-45 or Renetti handguns, consider the Gunner Vest if you want to pack some serious damage potential. This gives you the Overkill perk, letting you bring another primary weapon along. Since the Haymaker is great at close range, you can consider focusing on medium-range weaponry like the Pulemyot 762 LMG.

Alternatives to the Haymaker in MW3

In the shotgun department, the Riveter and Lockwood 680 excel with solid damage and bullet velocity. Remember that missing these shots can be costly though, especially since you’ll be right next to your enemy.

Haymaker Multiplayer Camo Challenges

Here are all the slick camos you can earn for the Haymaker in MW3:

  • Pink Sands – (Get 50 kills with the Haymaker)
  • Guts – (Get 50 Hipfire Kills with the Haymaker)
  • Palette Tropics – (Get 10 kills with Aiming Down Sights with the Haymaker)
  • Smooth Satin – (Get 15 Double Kills with the Haymaker)
  • Gilded – (Get 2 kills shortly after Sprinting in 1 life with the Haymaker)
  • Forged – (Get 3 hip-fire kills with one mag 15 times with the Haymaker) 
  • Priceless – (Get 10 double kills while in Tactical Stance with the Haymaker)
  • Interstellar – Complete 36 Priceless Camo Challenges

Haymaker Zombie Camo Challenges

Earn these camos in MW3 Zombies for the Haymaker:

  • Burnt Sands – (Get 250 kills with the Haymaker)
  • Below Zero – (Get 250 kills while having at least 4 perks active with the Haymaker)
  • Palette Buried – (Get 250 kills with the Haymaker in the medium or High threat zone)
  • Inkblot – (Get 10 kills in five seconds 10 times with the Haymaker)
  • Golden Enigma – (Get 100 Kills and Successfully Extract with the Haymaker in a Single Deployment) 
  • Zircon Scale – (Get 300 Kills with the Haymaker while it’s Pack-A-Punched)  
  • Serpentinite – (Get 10 Special or Elite Zombie Kills with the Haymaker) 
  • Borealis – Complete 36 Serpentinite Camo Challenges
✓ isa’s remark

A powerhouse

The Haymaker shotgun is a powerhouse that delivers devastating damage at close range. Its automatic fire mode allows you to take out multiple enemies with ease. However, the weapon’s limited range and high recoil require a strategic approach and a steady hand, so be sure to practice and experiment with different loadouts and playstyles to get the most out of Haymaker.

That’s it from us on the best Haymaker loadout in MW3. For more weapon loadouts, see our guide on the best Striker loadout or even the best Holger 26 loadout in Modern Warfare 3. You should also take a look at our MW3 Ranked Play rewards guide to prepare yourself for the challenge.

Haymaker loadout FAQs in MW3

Are there any downsides to using the Haymaker? 

Like all shotguns, the Haymaker has a limited range, so you’ll need to be careful about getting too close to your enemies.

Is the Haymaker the best shotgun in MW3?

That depends on your playstyle! The Haymaker excels in fast-paced close-quarters combat, but other shotguns offer different strengths.

About the Author

Isa Muhammad

Isa is a Guides Writer for Videogamer with 5+ years experience as a Games Journalist. If he's not reading, playing games or catching up on his favourite TV series, he's writing about them.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

  • Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series X
  • Genre(s): Action, Shooter