How to unlock guns in MW3 – best ways to get guns in Modern Warfare 3

Amassing a diverse arsenal in any shoot ’em up is the first step you’ll need to take before you can completely dominate the competition, so we’re here to show you how to unlock guns in MW3. Though all the default weapons are powerful in their own right, most guns that continue to dominate the meta are locked until you complete specific objectives, which we’ll cover below.

Of course, simply unlocking guns won’t be enough to cut it; you’ll also have to equip each one with optimal builds, like the best Striker loadout in MW3 and the best MCW loadout in MW3. If you’ve already decided on your own custom loadouts, though, keep reading to find out how you can unlock more guns in the game instead.

How to unlock guns in MW3

You can unlock guns in MW3 by doing the following:

• Level your account up
• Complete Armory Unlocks Challenges
• Extract guns through Zombies
• Purchase bundles with blueprints through the in-game store

Level your account up

The most straightforward method you can use to unlock guns in MW3 is to simply level your account up. Access to new guns is directly tied to certain ranks, so you’ll need to keep playing matches until you reach the required level. For instance, the fast-firing Striker SMG is locked until you reach level 4, while the powerful MCW assault rifle is locked until level 12.

To make leveling up even less of a grind, you can make the process quicker by using Double XP tokens or completing Daily Challenges. Once used or finished, these provide a handy boost to your experience gains, which means you’ll earn access to the weapons you want even faster.

Complete Armory Unlocks Challenges

MW3 Armory Unlocks is a new system that enables you to access weapons, equipment, perks, and cosmetics much earlier than usual. However, this feature only becomes available once you’ve reached level 25. Once you have, all you’ll need to do is to complete as many daily challenges as possible in multiplayer, Warzone, or Zombies, and your progress will count towards the Armory Unlocks Challenges you’ve decided to prioritize.

Extract guns through Zombies mode

Another way you can get guns without having to grind out levels is by extracting the weapons you want from the new Zombies mode. Before you jump in and mow down undead hordes with your squad, though, you’ll need to make sure you know how to exfil in MW3 zombies. Otherwise, you may end up running around the map carrying a rucksack full of weapons with no way to get out.

Purchase bundles with blueprints through the in-game store

The least practical method of unlocking guns is, of course, by purchasing bundles containing Weapon Blueprints from the in-game store. With Sledgehammer Games having brought over MW2 items to the latest installment through the Modern Warfare 3 carry forward feature, you’ll have access to several bundles that contain different blueprints, like the Sardaukar Annihilator and the Lasrifle, which are available via the Dune Part Two: Sardaukar Pack set.

That’s all you need to know for now about how to unlock guns in MW3. If you want to learn more, take a look at our pages on how to level up fast in MW3, how to unlock Covert Sneakers in MW3, and how to unlock the Breacher Drone in MW3.

How to unlock guns in MW3 FAQs

How do you unlock the armory in MW3?

To unlock the armory in MW3, you’ll need to reach level 25.

What is the best gun in MW3?

The best gun in MW3 currently is either the MCW or the Striker SMG.