Overview
The purpose of this guide is to help the anyone and any who wants to level up faster in mw3
Introduction
So I have yet to see hardly any actually helpful guides for mw3, let alone one relating to leveling up, and with as much trouble as I had figuring it out im sure It’s a serious pain in the A** for a lot of people. I had a terrible time attempting to level up in mw3, with a combination of bad leveling strategies and extremely rampant hackers I gave up and tried to use a level hack which got a vac ban on my main account and lost 2 prestiges.
My goal here is to make leveling in this game a lot faster for anyone who wants it so they don’t encounter the same sort of frustration I had and won’t be in nearly as much pain as I had trying to play the game
Most of the information I’m going to be using is from a variety of sources, mainly:
[link]
with small additions from:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCCC452D804219529 and the mw3 cod wiki
Basic Leveling
my first advice is to win. You get double the XP match bonus for winning. How much XP you get is determined by this formula:
MxTx((R+6)/12)
M=match result
T=Length of game in seconds
R=your current rank
the Second advice I can give is to STOP PLAYING TDM. It is the worst gamemode for leveling by far. Even if you win all other gamemodes significantly less then then TDM in almost every scenario it is by far the worst gamemode for leveling. So what gamemodes should you play?
There are 3 key gamemodes for leveling:
Domination, Search and Destroy, and kill confirmed
Search and destroy: Search and destroy is pretty much dead on PC, so its not really a option anymore. On top of that when there is a active match your going to get into is going to be people with acrs and mp7s with sitrep crouchwalking. This is a serious problem as the major point of snd is the 500XP you get from kills, which wont be happening a lot with the current meta.
Kill Confirmed: Kill confirmed can be pretty good for leveling, especially if your not a great player. Why? Because you can getting a ridiculous amount of XP for denying and confirming tags as well as 250XP for getting your own tag. I once got 5000+ score from a single game with only around 25 kills because the enemy never picked up my own tag (well placed tactical insertions can help a lot with that). But KC is only active during peak hours and connections aren’t always the best.
Domination: Dom is by far the most available of the 3 key gamemodes and my personal favorite. while you get 50XP for kills you get 150XP for capping a point and THERES NO KILL CAP. This part is extremely important as it means you absurd amount of kills and not have the game end because of it(don’t play TDM). Despite the 50xp per kill you can go through gun levels and the corresponding XP much faster then other gamemodes.
Weapons
Primary:
weapon leveling is a key part of leveling in mw3. If you do the math you get the certain amounts of extra XP for kills with with weapons due to marksmen challenges:
Marksman 1[10 kills]: 25XP (250XP)
Marksman 2[25 kills]: 66.67XP (1,000XP)
Marksman 3[75 kills]: 40.00XP (2,000XP)
Marksman 4[150 kills]: 66.67XP (5,000XP)
Marksman 5[300 kills]: 66.67XP (10,000XP)
Marksman 6[500 kills]: 50XP (10,000XP)
Marksman 7[750 kills]: 40XP (10,000XP)
Marksman 8[1,000 kills]: 40XP (10,000XP)
At first it looks like 300 kills per weapon is the way to go, but this discounts the Mastery challenge( unlock all attachments) which is in between 300-500 kills with most weapons and Veteran Gun challenges:
Veteran Gun 1[500 kills]: 20XP (10,000XP)
Veteran Gun 2[1,000 kills]: 20XP (10,000XP)
Veteran Gun 3[2,500 kills]: 12XP (10,000XP)
With these in mind the optimal amount of kills is actually 500 (once you have Veteran Gun challenges unlocked) with 76.5XP per kill.
(sidenote: snipers get mastery at or around 300 kills which can make leveling faster as with can get an astounding extra 94.167XP per kill on top of the extra 100XP for One shot, one kill and gives you something fresh to play with if the game gets stale. Your KD with definitly drop though and a lot of challenges will be out of the question, mainly 2nd tier perks as quickdraw is basically required for snipers)
But you can additional XP when using your weapon from attachment and proficiency challenges:
Proficiency 1 [15/kills/tasks]: 33.34XP (500XP)
Proficiency 2 [30 kills/tasks]: 50XP (1000XP)
Proficiency 3 [60 kills/tasks]: 66.67XP (2500XP)
Proficiency 4 [120 kills/tasks]: 75XP (5000XP
Proficiency 5 [300 kills/tasks]: 63.34XP (10,000XP)
Proficiency 6 [750 kills/tasks]: 38.67XP (10,000XP)
As we can see you should change your proficiency after 120 kills/tasks, otherwise the XP you earn takes a HUGE dropoff, plus you shouldn’t be getting 750 kills with ones weapon anyway.
Note:I’m only putting in proficiencies right now and I might add all the math for attachments sometime later (theres a lot). Basically complete XP challenges for all attachments except for the really bad ones like the GL and the underbarrel shotgun, or ones that are really hard for you
Secondaries:
I might put in the actual XP breakdown sometime later but here’s what you need to know:
you get 10,000XP for unlocking Mastery, which you get at 75 or 50 kills on all the pistols and around 150 kills for the machine pistols. I get Mastery on every pistol and machine pistol except for the deagle(to much recoil and it unlocks so late), skorpion (pretty bad and only good akimbo which is painful to unlock) and the g18s (unlocked to late and so much recoil).
Perk Introduction
Perks have a lot of stuff to them, so I’m going to be splitting them up into the 3 different tiers so I can cover them all as well as easy ways to get each. To start, the XP you earn dramaticly drops off once you get the pro version of a perk. But In some cases the extra challenges you unlock with a perks pro version will give you more XP per kill together to justify continious use. For example scavanger just wants you to kill people, which is extremely simple and straightforeward. That being said, you should try and unlock pro versions of every perk, with a few exceptions.
I also will not be covering what the perks do, as there’s already plenty of resources, videos and steam guides that cover these. I will also not be giving the the XP stats (XP per kill and how much you get) as you should be getting the pro version for basically every perk. I also will be listing the perk challenges by the name and with pro at the end to symbolize whether its the challenges for the pro version (just the name) or whether its the challenge you get after unlocking the pro version (name with pro on it).
Perk Tier 1
Recon:
[paint 3/10/20/40/100/250 enemies with explosive damage while using Recon]
While the challenges for this perk looks difficult it is extremely easy with the right setup. All you need is flashbangs, grenade launchers and the xm25 while playing dom. I got the the pro version in 2-3 games by basically spamming chokepoints and dom flags.
Recon Pro:
[Paint 15/30/60/120/300/750 enemies with bullet damage while using Recon Pro]
I never use Recon Pro past 300, as 750 kills can be spent on other perks, but this a super super easy challenge.. You can even use a sniper, as for some reason, even 1 shot kill weapons still count.
Sleight of Hand:
[Get x kills while using Sleight of Hand]
I always get the pro version of SoH but stop there, as the max is 750 kills and there are other perks to work on.
Sleight of Hand Pro:
[ get x kills shortly after swapping weapons while using Sleight of Hand Pro]
I suggest moving onto different perks but if you want to complete sleight of hand challenges I suggest to constantly swap your weapons, as well as swap weapons before running into a room or into chokepoints.
Blind Eye:
[ Destroy 3/10/20/40/100/250 enemy killstreak rewards while using Blind Eye]
Wait until you unlock the stinger and run it until you get the pro version. I suggest you stop at the pro version (but always have a stinger class incase you getting annhilated). I say this because a lot of map in MW3 make it hard to see the most common and prevalent streaks, UAV’s CUAV’s and ADV UAV. Making this challenge deceptivily hard.
Blind Eye Pro:
[ Destroy 3/10/20/40/100/250 enemy killstreak rewards by locking on while using Blind Eye Pro]
Like I said above, I wouldn’t recommend going for Blind eye challenges after getting the pro version. If you do stick with it I would stop at 40 or 100 challenge, as i find it extremely unlikely you would be able to destroy 250 streak in a single prestige
Extreme Conditioning:
[ Sprint x miles while using Extreme Conditioning]
Run around a bunch. you can stack this with the mp9, usas12 or the skorpion. these weapons give you 75% more sprint on top of extreme conditioning.
GOTTA GO FAST
Extreme Conditioning Pro:
[ Mantle 3/10/20/40/100/250 objects while using Extreme Conditioning Pro]
Try and stack this with the Dead Silence Pro challenge (Fall 2/5/10/20/50/100 times that would have normally caused you damage while using Dead Silence Pro) which can net you 30,000 XP in a single game. I would stop after the 100 mantle challenge as the 250 mantles needs at least 2 games, which could be spent on better things. I also find it very very grating.
Scavanger:
[ Resupply 10/25/50/100/250/500 times while using Scavenger]
Run and get those blue ammo packets. Not much advice I can get you besides to run and get the ammo packets. Once you get the pro version I the challenges can become a lot harder due to the fact that you have max ammo and don’t have the need/use for more ammo.
Scavanger Pro:
[ Get 15/30/60/120/300/750 kills while using Scavenger Pro]
Despite scavangers base challenge getting harder after you get the pro version the pro challenge is extremely easy. I almost always get this challenge, as its my favorite perk and is extremely easy.
Perk Tier 2
Quickdraw:
[ Get 10/20/40/80/200/500 kills within a few seconds of aiming down your sights while using Quickdraw]
Extremely easy kill challenge for a extremely amazing perk. I almost always max this challenge out because of how good this perk is. For an extra boost you can stack this with the base stalker challenges.
Quickdraw Pro:
[ Get x kills with your offhand weapon while using Quickdraw Pro]
The offhand weapon it refers to is you lethal/tactical weapon, so I never ever get this. Unless you are extremely good with nades, c4 or claymores (the latter 2 you dont unlock until much later) I wouldn’t even brother trying.
Blast Shield:
[ Survive 2/5/10/20/50/100 explosions while using Blast Shield]
One of the few perks I don’t go for. I find quickdraw or assassin much much more helpful and useful then using blast shield. If you do want to use it I would suggest a SMG or shotgun class and rush dom objectives.
Blast Shield Pro:
[ Get 2/5/10/20/50/100 kills shortly after being flashed or stunned while using Blast Shield Pro]
I find MW3 pretty light on the stun and flash spam. Most people are using things like tac inserts and portable radars, or just dont even remember to use them. when people do it’s going to be in dom with flash and nade spam on the flags.
Hardline:
[ Get 10/20/40/80/200/500 pointstreaks while using Hardline]
Use this with the specialist scorestreak. 1 kill for a perk which gives you a advantage, XP and counts towards a challenge. I always, ALWAYS get all the challenges for this perk, it is extremely easy with specialist.
Hardline Pro:
[ Get 10/20/40/80/200/500 assists to count as kills while using Hardline Pro]
You can couple this with recon for maximum effect. Also explosive spam can help with this as well. I would not recommend going all the way and would stop at 80/200 as assists aren’t common enough to justify constantly using Hardline and you can spend your time on other perks.
Assassin:
[ Get 2/5/10/20/50/100 kills while enemy UAV is active and using Assassin]
SOOOO easy. Because it’s a passive challenge just equip and play until you finish all the challenges. On top of that It’s one of the best perks in the game making it even easier. Just kill people and wait for the UAV spam, especially in dom. a silencer can also help a lot with this if your having trouble.
Assassin Pro:
[ Get 2/5/10/20/50/100 kills while enemy Counter UAV or EMP is active and using Assassin Pro]
Not as easy to get as the base challenge due to the higher streak requirements but still easy. Once again it’s passive so use a silencer and just play.
Overkill:
[ Get 15/30/60/120/300/750 kills with your secondary primary weapon]
You have to use bare weapons and the secondaries a plenty good enough. Dont use overkill.
Overkill Pro:
[ Get 15/30/60/120/300/750 kills with your secondary primary with an attachment while using Overkill pro]
What did I JUST say?
Perk Tier 3
Marksman:
[ Get 5/10/25/50/125/250 kills while holding breath and using Marksman]
This perk is extremely hard to get with snipers for some reason. It seems that you must hold your breath for atleast second while sniping for the kill to register. Instead use the breath proficiency on a assualt rifle and a red dot and you complete all the marksman challenges easily. Once again I would recommend you stop at 125 or 50 as there are other perks to work on.
Marksman Pro:
[ Get 2/5/10/20/50/100 long distance kills while using Marksman Pro]
Not very easy to get unless your using a gun with short range like an SMG or something with low recoil like the ACR. I wouldn’t bother trying to get these.
Stalker:
[ Get 15/30/60/120/300/750 kills while aiming down the sights and using Stalker]
Best with AR’s and LMG’s. An amazing perk and one of my crutch perks (the other being sitrep). Use with quickdraw for maximum XP. I would also recommend you stop at 300, as 750 kills is alot and there are other perks to work on.
Stalker Pro:
[ Trip 2/5/10/20/50/100 enemy explosives and survive while using Stalker Pro]
Well you cant equip both sitrep and stalker unless you want to use specialist and even then equipment that kills people is so rare that any attempt to complete this challenge should be the farthest thing from your mind.
Sitrep:
[ Destroy 5/10/25/50/125/250 enemy devices while using Sitrep]
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, the challenge for this perk is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hard. The soundwhoring power of the pro perk is well worth it but don’t bother with 125 or god forbid 250. I tried to go for 250 and I literally had to use the perk for 90% of my prestige, I then had to stop prestiging in order to get to 250.
Something that I found helps is a AR with acog and deep impact. What you can do is basically ADS and check spots far away that would’ve been to out of Sitreps normal detection radius. Once again dom is great for this, as tac inserts and equipment are plentiful in dom.
Sitrep Pro:
[ Get 15/30/60/120/300/750 kills with Sitrep Pro]
A super easy challenge. Once again I recommend you stop at 300 to work on other perks but the godlike soundwhoring power you get from it can justify going for 750.
Steady Aim:
[ Get 15/30/60/120/300/750 hipfire kills using Steady Aim]
slap on a shotgun,SMG with rapidfire, or akimbo maching pistols and spam away. Again, I would stop at 300 to work on other things.
Steady Aim Pro:
[Get 10/20/40/80/200/500 kills shortly after sprinting while using Steady Aim Pro]
if you want you could couple this with extreme conditioning but I find the SMG’s need Soh or scavanger much more. If your gonna go for this stop at 80 kills. Other things to work on and from my personal experience around 60-80% of the kills you get will qualify with heavy rushing.
Dead Silence:
[ Get 5/10/25/50/125/250 close range kills using Dead Silence]
the max distance is 10 feet(3 meters). run SMG’s or shotguns, and remember to knife because those count as well. I have difficulty getting this challenge for some reason so I save the challenge for small maps like dome and hardhat where im more likely to get close range kills. Once I get Dead Silence Pro i complete the pro challenge and then move on.
Dead Silence Pro:
[ Fall 2/5/10/20/50/100 times that would have normally caused you damage while using Dead Silence Pro]
Combo this with Extreme Conditioning Pro and you can get 30,000XP in a single (dom) game.
Potential Future additions
So I had some other additions planned, but because of how long making the base guide took to make (~6 hours), I might add them later.
1. The math for attachments:
Honestly I probably won’t add this because you have enough time with the 500 kill limit you can complete every attachment challenge besides the really bad ones.
2. The math for perk challenges:
Once again I probably won’t add this. Mainly because you have enough time and levels to justify completing the challenges for every perk, especially the really easy ones.
3. 1-30 31-60 61-80 leveling guide:
Something I’ve been thinking about for a while. I think most people can create optimal classes on their own taking time to create some really efficient ones might help.
4. class loadouts;
Similar reasoning to #3. Basically pointing out really good weapon-perk-equipment combinations for XP stacking.
5 Scorestreaks:
completely forgot to add this one. I’ll add scorestreaks (and some of the relevent math) sometime later
I hope you all found the guide useful and got something out of it. If you want to contact me for whatever reason I’m online on my main account much more often. I have added it as a contributor to the guide.
-Dontreadthis