MW3 Season 6 patch notes: Vaznev-9K buff, Static-HV & STG44 nerfs, The Haunting event

MW3 Season 6 is the game’s last major update, sending off Modern Warfare 3 once and for all, and there’s plenty to get excited about.

With Black Ops 6 right around the corner, MW3 has one last hoorah before its time is up. This comes in the form of Season 6, an update that will deliver a variety of content, including two new weapons, a new 6v6 map, several map variants, four returning modes, and The Haunting event.

Naturally, there are also a range of balance changes, with the wide range of buffs and nerfs changing up Modern Warfare 3’s meta once again, forcing you to reconsider what guns to use.

Here are the full patch notes for MW3 Season 6, breaking down everything you can expect from the game’s last big update.

MW3 Season 6 update release date & time

Modern Warfare 3 Season 6 will be released on September 18, 2024, at 9 AM PT/12 PM ETC/5 PM BST. In addition to adding a range of exciting content, this update will also remove the Black Ops 6 beta files, freeing up additional storage space.

Once the update drops, the Season 5 Battle Pass will be replaced, introducing a new set of Halloween-themed rewards. Otherwise, a new set of weekly challenges will be released, and any unlocks from the past season will be moved to the armory.

New weapons: DTIR 30-06 & Kastov LSW

Two new weapons were added in Season 6: DTIR 30-06 and Kastov LSW. Both of these are available from the Season 6 Battle Pass, unlocked from Sector 6 and Sector 9, respectively.

The DTIR 30-06 is a battle rifle with 20 levels that is described as a “steady and powerful” weapon that “works wonders in the hands of a skilled Operator,” while the Kastov LSW is an unusual LMG with 16 levels that “encourages closing the distance” thanks to its high fire rate, “incredible accuracy in Tactical Stance,” and fast reload speed.

Activision

New maps: Drive Thru, Mad Cow, Shipment variants

Drive Thru is the lone brand new map of Season 6, with this clown-themed restaurant being small and offering plenty of fast-paced fun. However, it is joined by Mad Cow, a reskin of Meat that gives the map an even bloodier aesthetic.

This update also adds five different variants of Shipment: Arena Shipment, Bit-ment, Ghost Ship, Stay High, and Sunny Shipment. All of these retain the map’s classic layout but offer different themes to keep things fresh.

Activision

The Haunting event

The Haunting has returned in MW3 Season 6 with new rewards for you to earn. In multiplayer, you’ll have to play the Trick ’r Treat: Candy Hunt Event and steal your enemy’s candy before cashing them in for “killer rewards.”

Additionally, this event will see the return of themed game modes like Infected and Hordepoint. These will be joined by Arcade and Mutation, giving players plenty to get involved with throughout the season.

MW3 Season 6 patch notes

Global

Stability & Performance

• Addressed several causes of server-side stability and performance degradation.
• Fixed a crash that occurred while editing Loadouts on a fresh account.

Customization

• Increased animation rate and emissive intensity of the Orion MWII Mastery Camo.
• Added a scrolling animation to the Penny Camo.
• Removed a duplicate Suited Aegis Calling Card from the selection menu.

Multiplayer

UIX

• Locked MWII Weapon Mastery Calling Cards are now visible in the Customization menu.
• Bug Fixes
  • Fixed an issue causing an incorrect mode icon to be displayed during map voting.
  • Fixed a menu performance degradation that occurred when tracking Challenges.
  • Fixed an issue causing parties to disband upon transitioning to Warzone.

Progression

• Added several static and animated Calling Cards and Emblems to Armory Unlocks.

Modes

• Cyber Attack
  • Fixed an issue causing the icons indicating death and bomb carrier to not be visible on the scoreboard in Hardcode mode.
  • Fixed an issue causing enemy pings to not transition to an inactive state upon death.
  • Fixed an issue causing Enhanced Vision Goggles to draw red outlines on dead enemies.
  • Fixed a crash that occurred when a player using the Juggernaut Recon Killstreak is killed.
  • Fixed an issue causing the Spear to become unusable after being revived.
• Infected
  • Fixed an issue preventing the Final Survivor health bonus from working in Private Matches.
  • Final Survivor health bonus will no longer be removed upon another Survivor joining the ongoing match.
  • Players will no longer forcibly activate the Dead Silence Field Upgrade upon becoming the First Infected.
  • Disabled UAV sweeps for the Infected to allow Survivors to hide.
  • Additional time is now only added for the first 5 Survivor deaths, effectively capping the maximum match duration at 5 minutes.
  • Reintroduced the majority of available maps to the Infected Playlist.
  • Improved Infected Loadouts to coincide with Survivor Loadout adjustments.
    • First Infected
      • Primary: Same as Survivors
      • Secondary: Same as Survivors
    • Regular Infected
      • Primary: Combat Knife (Melee)
      • Secondary: Fists (Melee)
    • All Infected Loadouts
      • Field Upgrade: Dead Silence
      • Lethal: Throwing Knife x2
      • Tactical: Tactical Insertion
      • Vest: Infantry Vest
      • Gloves: Ordnance Gloves
      • Boots: Lightweight Boots
      • Gear: Bone Conduction Headset
      • Gear: Blacklight Flashlight
  • Overhauled Survivor Loadouts to increase effectiveness against the Infected.
    • Survivor Loadout 1
      • Primary: Kastov LSW (Light Machine Gun)
        • Bombast T54 Short Barrel
        • Bracefire-HC Underbarrel Grip
        • 150 Round Magazine
        • State50 Rear Grip
        • No Stock
      • Secondary: COR-45 (Handgun)
        • XRK IP-V2 Conversion Kit
        • Mk. 3 Reflector Optic
        • 30 Round Magazine
        • .45 Auto AET Rounds Ammunition
        • Kimura RYN-03 Underbarrel Vertical Grip
    • Survivor Loadout 2
      • Primary: Haymaker (Shotgun)
        • JAK Maglift Conversion Kit
        • Corvus PEC Beam-5 Laser
        • Imperator Long Barrel
        • Crown Breaker Choke
        • GRV-Z Short Underbarrel Grip
      • Secondary: Renetti (Handgun)
        • JAK Ferocity Carbine Conversion Kit
        • Mk. 3 Reflector Optic
        • 30 Round Magazine
        • 9mm AET Rounds Ammunition
        • XTEN Sidearm-L400 Laser
    • Survivor Loadout 3
      • Primary: Holger 556 (Assault Rifle)
        • JAK Backsaw Conversion Kit
        • Ignis F43 Stock
        • Intruder Rear Grip
        • Cario LAZ-44 v3 Laser
        • JAK Glassless Optic
      • Secondary: COR-45 (Handgun)
        • Akimbo COR-45 Rear Grip
        • 40 Round Drum Magazine
        • XTEN Sidearm-L400 Laser
        • XRK Lightning Fire Trigger Action
        • .45 Auto AET Rounds Ammunition
    • Survivor Loadout 4
      • Primary: FJX Horus (Submachine Gun)
        • JAK Scimitar Conversion Kit
        • Kimura RYL33 Laser Light
        • Paracord Underbarrel Grip
        • Ripper Light Stock
        • Lull-9mm Rear Grip
      • Secondary: TYR (Handgun)
        • JAK Beholder Rifle Conversion Kit
        • Mk. 3 Reflector Optic
        • Ullr’s Fury Trigger Action
        • FJX DIOD-70 Laser
        • FSS Sharkfin 90 Underbarrel
    • Survivor Loadout 5
      • Primary: Longbow (Sniper Rifle)
        • JAK Tyrant 762 Conversion Kit
        • FSS OLE-V Laser
        • Demo 650 Rear Grip
        • DR-6 Underbarrel Handstop
        • JAK Glassless Optic
      • Secondary: WSP Stinger (Handgun)
        • Akimbo WSP Stinger Rear Grip
        • WSP Factory Stock
        • 32 Round Magazine
        • XTEN Sidearm-L400 Laser
        • 9mm AET Rounds Ammunition
    • All Survivor Loadouts
      • Lethal: Claymore
      • Tactical: Scatter Mine
      • Field Upgrades: Munitions Box
      • Vest: Infantry Vest
      • Gloves: Scavenger Gloves
      • Boots: Lightweight Boots
      • Gear: Mag Holster
      • Gear: Data Jacker
• Private Match
  • Added the following Maps to the available selection.
    • Airborne
    • Arena Shipment
    • Bit-ment
    • Bitvela
    • Breenbergh Hotel (MWII)
    • Celship
    • Crown Raceway (MWII)
    • Das Gross
    • Dome (MWII)
    • Drive Thru
    • Farm 18 (MWII)
    • Get High
    • Ghost Ship
    • Hangover
    • Ink House
    • Mad Cow
    • Mercado Las Almas (MWII)
    • Satan’s Quarry
    • Shipmas
    • Shipment (MWII)
    • Shoot House (MWII)
    • Skidgrow
    • Sporeyard
    • Stay High
    • Sunny Shipment
    • Tetanus
    • Toonoxide

Weapons & Attachments

Assault Rifles

• STG44
  • Decreased maximum damage from 36 to 33 (-8%).
  • Decreased maximum damage range from 44.5m to 36.8m (-17%).
  • Decreased near-medium damage range from 51.8m to 44.5m (-14%).
  • Decreased medium damage range from 61m to 53.3m (-13%).

Within its maximum damage range, the STG44 is no longer capable of a 3-shot kill.

• M4 (MWII)
  • Increased near-medium damage from 26 to 29 (+12%).
  • Increased minimum damage from 24 to 25 (+4%).
  • Increased head and neck damage multipliers from 1.1x to 1.15x.
• Chimera (MWII)
  • Increased minimum damage from 20 to 23 (+15%).
  • Increased maximum damage range from 16m to 25.4m (+59%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 31.8m to 41.9m (+32%).
• Tempus Razorback (MWII)
  • Increased maximum damage from 29 to 30 (+3%).
  • Increased near-medium damage from 26 to 27 (+4%).
  • Increased minimum damage from 20 to 23 (+15%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 32.2m to 39.4m (+22%).
• M13C (MWII)
  • Decreased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 189ms (-10%).
  • Decreased recoil gun kick from 35.6deg/s to 28.7deg/s (-19%).
  • Increased maximum damage range from 25.4m to 36.8m (+45%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 39.4m to 47m (+19%).
  • Increased medium damage range from 49.8m to 57.4m (+15%).
• TR-76 Geist (MWII)
  • Decreased aim down sight time from 280ms to 240ms (-14%).
  • Increased maximum damage range from 24.1m to 33m (+37%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 36.8m to 44.5m (+21%).
  • Increased medium damage range from 48.3m to 55.9m (+16%).

Battle Rifles

• Lachmann-762 (MWII)
  • Decreased horizontal recoil from 10.8deg/s to 9.6deg/s (-11%).
  • Decreased vertical recoil from 53.6deg/s to 48.2deg/s (-10%).
  • Increased firing aim stability.
• Cronen Squall (MWII)
  • Decreased horizontal recoil from 6.9deg/s to 6deg/s (-13%).
  • Decreased vertical recoil from 52deg/s to 47.7deg/s (-8%).
  • Increased firing aim stability.
• FTAC Recon (MWII)
  • Decreased horizontal recoil from 5.8deg/s to 4.7deg/s (-19%).
  • Decreased vertical recoil from 63.9deg/s to 53.5deg/s (-16%).
• TAQ-V (MWII)
  • Decreased aim down sight time from 290ms to 260ms (-10%).
  • Increased firing aim stability.
• SO-14 (MWII)
  • Increased maximum damage range from 19.3m to 22.3m (+16%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 31.8m to 34.9m (+10%).
  • Increased medium damage range from 39.6m to 45.7m (+15%).

Submachine Guns

• Superi 46
  • Decreased near-medium damage from 27 to 26 (-4%).
  • Decreased maximum damage range from 18.8m to 13.7m (-27%).
  • Decreased near-medium damage range from 30.5m to 22.9m (-25%).
  • Decreased medium damage range from 41.4m to 33m (-20%).
• Static-HV
  • Decreased maximum damage from 33 to 30 (-9%).
  • Decreased near-medium damage from 30 to 28 (-7%).
  • Decreased medium damage from 28 to 26 (-7%).
  • Removed far-medium damage range.

Within its maximum damage range, the Static-HV is no longer capable of a 4-shot kill without a headshot.

• ISO 45 (MWII)
  • Increased near-medium damage from 27 to 29 (+7%).
  • Increased minimum damage from 22 to 24 (+9%).
  • Increased maximum damage range from 9.1m to 11.7m (+28%).
  • Increased arm, hand, leg, and foot damage multipliers from 0.95x to 1x.
• ISO 9mm (MWII)
  • Increased maximum damage from 24 to 25 (+4%).
  • Increased near-medium damage from 22 to 23 (+5%).
  • Increased medium damage from 20 to 22 (+10%).
  • Increased minimum damage from 17 to 20 (+18%).
• PDSW 528 (MWII)
  • Increased maximum damage from 30 to 33 (+10%).
  • Increased near-medium damage from 25 to 30 (+20%).
  • Increased medium damage from 24 to 25 (+4%).
  • Increased minimum damage from 20 to 22 (+10%).
  • Decreased near-medium damage range from 20.6m to 12.7m (-40%).
  • Removed far-medium damage range.
  • Increased headshot damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1.3x.

Adjustments to damage ranges are to compensate for the decreased number of shots to kill.

• Fennec 45 (MWII)
  • Increased maximum damage from 25 to 27 (+8%).
  • Increased near-medium damage from 20 to 26 (+30%).
  • Increased medium damage from 18 to 23 (+28%).
  • Increased minimum damage from 17 to 20 (+18).
  • Decreased maximum damage range from 12.7m to 5.1m (-60%).
  • Decreased near-medium damage range from 17.3m to 12.7m (-26%).
  • Decreased medium damage range from 22.6m to 20.3m (-10%).

Adjustments to damage ranges are to compensate for the decreased number of shots to kill.

• BAS-P (MWII)
  • Increased near-medium damage from 27 to 28 (+4%).
  • Increased neck and upper torso damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x.
• Vaznev-9K (MWII)
  • Increased maximum damage from 31 to 33 (+6%).
  • Increased medium damage from 25 to 28 (+12%).
  • Increased far-medium damage from 23 to 24 (+4%).

Light Machine Guns

• RPK (MWII)
  • JAK Cataclysm Conversion Kit
    • Decreased maximum damage from 140 to 130 (-7%).
    • Decreased near-medium damage from 130 to 120 (-8%).
    • Decreased minimum damage from 120 to 100 (-17%).
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 35.6m to 27.9m (-21%).
    • Decreased near-medium damage range from 50.8m to 40.6m (-20%).
    • Decreased head damage multiplier from 2.1x to 1.5x.
• 556 Icarus (MWII)
  • Increased near-medium damage from 27 to 28 (+4%).
  • Increased maximum damage range from 24.1m to 33m (+37%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 40.6m to 45.7m (+13%).
  • Increased neck and upper torso damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x.
  • Increased leg and foot damage multipliers from 0.9x to 1x.

Marksman Rifles

• EBR-14 (MWII)
  • Increased neck and upper torso damage multipliers from 1.27x to 1.35x.
  • Increased lower torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.27x.
• SP-R 208 (MWII)
  • Increased maximum damage range from 13m to 20.3m (+57%).
  • Increased lower torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.5x.
• Tempus Torrent (MWII)
  • Increased minimum damage from 37 to 43 (+16%).
  • Increased neck, upper torso, and upper arm damage multipliers from 1.1x to 1.2x.
• LM-S (MWII)
  • Increased neck and upper torso damage multipliers from 1.25x to 1.35x.
• SA-B 50 (MWII)
  • Increased maximum damage range from 10.4m to 17.8m (+71%).

Sniper Rifles

• Carrack .300 (MWII)
  • Increased maximum damage from 128 to 140 (+9%).
  • Increased near-medium damage from 95 to 128 (+35%).
  • Increased medium damage from 90 to 95 (+6%).
  • Increased minimum damage from 70 to 73 (+4%).
  • Decreased near-medium damage range from 30.7m to 25.4m (-17%).

Handguns

• Basilisk (MWII)
  • Increased maximum damage range from 8.4m to 11.4m (+36%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 22.9m to 30.5m (+33%).

Melee

• Spear
  • Fixed an issue causing Fists to retain increased damage after depleting thrown Spears.

Attachments

• Kimura RYL33 Laser Light
  • Removed duplicate Attachment entries for the Bryson 800 and Bryson 890 Shotguns.
• JAK Volk Conversion Kit
  • Fixed an issue causing incompatible Attachments to be equipped when applying the Flammable Fury Blueprint.

Field Upgrades

• Enhanced Vision Goggles
  • Fixed an exploit involving the Juggernaut Killstreak that allowed red enemy outlines to persist through battery depletion.

Zombies

Gameplay

• Fixed an issue causing Shock Sticks to prevent the Entity encounter from progressing.
• Fixed a crash that occurred when throwing a Spear at a Hellhound.

Weapons & Attachments

Shotguns

• Reclaimer 18
  • JAK Devastators Conversion Kit
    • Fixed an issue preventing damage from being dealt to Mercenary enemies.

Be sure to also check out the Warzone patch notes to see what’s happening in Call of Duty’s battle royale, which features its own version of The Haunting event.