Best Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 loadout

Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 SMG on black background
Credit: Activision


Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 SMG on black background
Credit: Activision
January 8, 2024: With the MW3 cycle well underway, we've updated the best Rival 9 loadout and the strongest attachments to use.

The best Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 loadout has quickly established itself as one of the more popular loadouts in Sledgehammer Games' latest release thanks to its incredible mobility and strong damage output.

Despite plenty of buffs and nerfs impacting the extensive arsenal of weaponry, the Rival 9 continues to hold its place among the best guns and weapons. With the right set of attachments equipped, it's easy to see why it's quickly become a fan-favourite.

Before we reveal more about the best Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 loadout, check out our other guides showcasing how to slide cancel and all of the movement changes that allow you to fly around the maps.

What is the best Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 loadout?

  • Perks: Infantry / Quick-Grip / Covert Sneakers / EOD Padding
  • Grenades: Semtex / Flash Grenade

This build is all about enhancing the damage range and making the most of the Rival 9's exceptional mobility.

It may not have the firepower to contend with an assault rifle, but its superior performance in close-quarters engagements is guaranteed to score plenty of kills over the course of a match.

Modern Warfare 3 player firing Rival 9 at nearby opponent
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Credit: Activision

Best Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 attachments

Thanks to the Modern Warfare 3 gunsmith, there's a huge range of attachments you can use to gear any weapon to suit your style of play. But, there are some that are much better than others. Here's the full list of the best Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 attachments:

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

Kicking things off is the pairing of the Rival-C Clearshot Barrel and the Purifier Muzzle Brake S for enhancements to bullet velocity, damage range, and recoil control.

To keep the unpredictable kick of the Rival 9 in check, the MTZ Marauder Stock and the Rival Vice Assault Grip maintain stability while firing the SMG for any length of time and stop unwanted bouncing throwing off your accuracy during the heat of battle.

Lastly, the DR-6 Handstop guarantees the fastest reaction times thanks to faster aim-down sight speeds and a reduction in sprint-to-fire time.

Best Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 perks and equipment

Once the best Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 attachments are ready for battle, switch your attention to all of the perks and equipment that are capable of improving your in-game performance even further. Here are our recommendations.

Perks

  • Vest: Infantry
  • Gloves: Quick-Grip Gloves
  • Boots: Covert Sneakers
  • Gear: EOD Padding

This set of perks is perfect for a run-and-gun style of play. The Infantry vest extends the length of Tactical Sprint while Quick-Grip Gloves give you the option to switch your secondary weapon as fast as possible.

The last thing you want to put a halt to the running and gunning is footstep audio, which is where Covert Sneakers come into their own. With no footstep audio, it's very easy to get behind enemy lines and make a play.

Equipment

  • Lethal: Semtex
  • Tactical: Flash Grenade
  • Field Equipment: A.C.S

Semtex is a surefire way to deal some extra explosive damage over the course of a match, while the Flash Grenade is a great tool to throw around a corner in case a crafty camper is sat waiting for you to fly into their crosshairs.

We've selected the A.C.S as our Field Equipment of choice as it allows you to capture an objective without being on it. Throw it on a Domination flag then head to battle to lend a hand to the objective work.

Is the Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 meta?

In the very early stages of the Modern Warfare 3 cycle, the Rival 9 is one of the very best SMGs to use in multiplayer. As there are still a few weeks until the full release, there's a chance it receives a nerf, so ensure you make the most of its impressive firepower while you can!

That's everything there is to know about the best Modern Warfare 3 Rival 9 loadout. For more Call of Duty, be sure to head over to our Warzone page for all the latest battle royale intel.

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