Reworked MW3 LMG is now one of the best weapons in multiplayer
A surprise patch for Modern Warfare 3 saw several weapons buffed, nerfed, and even a few entirely reworked. One of the LMGs to receive such a rework has been transformed into one of the best guns in MW3.
Following the initial Season 2 update on February 7, Modern Warfare 3 developer Sledgehammer Games released another surprise patch on February 13.
This was not a minor patch either with seeing several weapons being rebalanced with notable buffs being given to the Striker 9, Longbow, and WSP Stinger.
However, it was none of these weapons that benefitted most from the patch but instead, an LMG that has not only gone on to dominate Warzone but also emerged as a top-tier option in multiplayer.
Reworked LMG is amongst MW3’s best weapons
The February 13 patch saw the TAQ Evolvere receive a massive rework that fundamentally changed how the previously overlooked LMG functions.
Both its default ammunition and 5.56 Belt conversions got overhauled with the former affecting Warzone and the latter giving the LMG a spot in the multiplayer meta.
ActivisionThe changes to the 5.56 Belt were as follows:
- Increased movement speed benefit by 16%.
- Added 40% hipfire spread reduction benefit.
- Increased aim down sight time benefit by 15%.
- Increased aim down sight movement speed benefit by 17%.
- Added rate of fire benefit at 857rpm.
- Decreased maximum damage from 34 to 30 (-12%).
- Decreased medium damage from 30 to 24 (-20%).
- Increased head, neck, and upper-torso damage multipliers from from 1.1x to 1.2x (+9%).
After the rework, equipping the 5.56 Belt results in the TAQ Evolvere transforming into a highly mobile, rapid-fire LMG that is devastating at close to medium range. In fact, it has a TTK of just 210 ms in its maximum damage range, the fastest of any automatic weapon in MW3.
Keep in mind that despite its impressive Aim Walking Speed, massively improved hip-fire accuracy, and faster fire rate, the TAQ Evolvere still has a relatively slow ADS speed. This limits its potential somewhat but it can still excel if used correctly.
This buff hasn’t gone unnoticed with it currently being the fourth most used gun in MW3 with a 7.16% usage rate as of February 16, according to WZRanked. That places the TAQ Evolvere behind only the SVA 545, WSP-9, and MCW.