Best Rival-9 loadout for Modern Warfare 3 Season 3

❘ Updated: 2024-03-01T17:02:42

Activision

The Rival-9 SMG has been a popular meta pick in Modern Warfare 3 since launch, and that remains true in Season 3. Here’s the best Rival-9 loadout in MW3, with the optimal attachments, Perks, and Equipment.

While new Modern Warfare 3 weapons are quick to rise in the meta rankings, tried and true options like the Rival-9 have been on top since launch. Thanks to its incredible damage range and mobility, the Rival-9 SMG remains a major threat in Season 3.

Here’s the best Rival-9 loadout in Modern Warfare 3 Season 3.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Rival-9 loadout attachments
Best Modern Warfare 3 Rival-9 Perks & Equipment
How to unlock Rival-9 in Modern Warfare 3
Best Rival-9 alternatives in Modern Warfare 3

The best Rival-9 loadout dominates close-range fights.

Best MW3 Rival-9 loadout attachments

Muzzle: Purifier Muzzle Brake S
Barrel: Rival-C Clearshot Barrel
Rear Grip: Rival Vice Assault Grip
Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
Stock: MTZ Marauder Stock

The best Rival-9 loadout for MW3 focuses on improving recoil and mobility for close-range fights. However, the Rival-9 also has excellent damage range for an SMG, so steady shooters can even beam enemies from across the map.

We kick off the best Rival-9 loadout with the Purifier Muzzle Brake S, Rival-C Clearshot Barrel, and MTZ Marauder Stock. These attachments work in tandem to vastly increase the SMG’s recoil control, aiming stability, gun kick control, and bullet velocity. However, they will lower the movement speed slightly, but we’ll use other attachments to balance that out.

The Rival Vice Assault Grip will further improve the gun kick control and aiming stability, and finally, the DR-6 Handstop Underbarrel will significantly boost your ADS and aim walking speeds, while also improving your sprint to fire and movement speeds.

The Rival-9 is my go-to choice in MW3 Ranked Play, and these attachments will do the trick in the competitive mode as well.

Best MW3 Rival-9 Perks & Equipment

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

When it comes to the set of Perks and Equipment for the best Rival-9 loadout in Modern Warfare 3, the goal is to maximize speed and movement.

For starters, the Infantry Vest will buff your Tac Sprint by reducing its cooldown and extending its duration. Then, the Marksman Gloves will reduce weapon sway and flinch while you ADS. These Gloves have saved my life many times when taking on fights at longer ranges with the Rival-9.

Next, the combination of Covert Sneakers and Ghost T/V Camo Gear will help with fast-paced stealth gameplay, allowing you to run around the map freely. The Boots will silence your footsteps, while Ghost will allow you to evade enemy UAVs when you’re moving. With the Rival-9 in hand, you’ll want to constantly be on the move.

The Flash Grenade remains a popular option in MW3 multiplayer matches.

Quickly throwing your Flash Grenade and Semtex around will add to the speedy gameplay that this class facilitates. The Trophy System will increase your survivability by blocking incoming enemy Equipment.

How to unlock Rival-9 in Modern Warfare 3

In Modern Warfare 3, you can unlock the Rival-9 SMG by reaching Level 25 to access Armory Unlocks, and then completing three Daily Challenges.

If you’ve already completed three Daily Challenges then don’t worry, wins will also count, so play the objective and you’ll hopefully knock off all of the Armory Unlocks soon enough.

Best Rival-9 alternatives in Modern Warfare 3

If the Rival-9 isn’t suiting your style in Modern Warfare 3, we recommend trying the HRM-9 SMG as an alternative. However, if you’re looking to move away from SMGs altogether, then the MCW Assault Rifle continues to be one of the best and easiest-to-use weapons in the game.

For more Modern Warfare 3 content, check out some of our other guides: