How to play Ranked Play in MW3

Here's how to play.

MW3 Ranked Play
Image via Activision

Ranked Play finally went live in Modern Warfare 3 on Jan. 18, 2024, offering players a chance to prove their mettle online against the best in the world.

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Developed by Treyarch, CoD: MW3’s Ranked Play includes skill divisions and ranks, plus the same rules, restrictions, maps, and modes that are played by the Call of Duty League professionals throughout the 2024 season with big money and a championship on the line.

Here’s how to play Ranked in MW3, along with all of the rules, game modes, and restrictions you need to know about before loading into a match.

How to play Ranked in MW3

CDL Ranked Play menu
Navigate here. Screenshot by Dot Esports

To play Ranked in MW3, navigate to the MW3 menu in Call of Duty HQ, and scroll to the Ranked Play playlist. Enter here, read the rules, make a good Ranked Play loadout, and then get ready to rank up.

Ranked Play is way different from public matches in MW3. It has some pretty intense and restrictive rules, including big-time limits on what weapons and equipment can be used, and it’s only played on a specific set of maps and modes.

Here’s everything there is to know about before queuing into Ranked Play in MW3.

MW3 Ranked Play rules

CDL Ranked Play rules image
Play by the rules. Screenshot by Dot Esports

The rules are strict, so be prepared to use very few weapons, like the MCW and Rival-9, with the majority of the game’s arsenal completely banned.

Restricted weapons

  • All MW2 guns
  • Holger 556
  • All Battle Rifles
  • All Shotguns
  • All Marksman Rifles
  • All LMGs
  • RGL-80

Restricted Attachments

  • All MW2 attachments
  • All Suppressors and Silencers
  • All Thermal and Night Vision optics
  • All Ammunition
  • Burrow 500 Drill Charge underbarrel

Restricted equipment

  • Shock Stick
  • Decoy Grenade
  • Stim
  • Snapshot Grenade
  • Tear Gas
  • Flash Grenade
  • EMD Grenade

MW3 Ranked Play ranks and divisions

CDL Ranks and Divisions image
Rank up. Screenshot by Dot Esports

These are the skill divisions to rank up through, with the main goal of becoming in the Top 250 in the entire world in MW3 Ranked Play.

MW3 Ranked Play Skill Divisions

  • Bronze
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Platinum
  • Diamond
  • Crimson
  • Iridescent
  • Top 250

MW3 Ranked Play modes and maps

The maps and modes available in Ranked Play are the same exact ones available in the Call of Duty League.

Search and Destroy

  • Highrise
  • Invasion
  • Karachi
  • Skidrow
  • Terminal

Hardpoint

  • Invasion
  • Karachi
  • Skidrow
  • Sub Base
  • Terminal

Control

  • Highrise
  • Invasion
  • Karachi
Author
Image of Scott Duwe
Scott Duwe
Senior Staff Writer & Call of Duty lead. Professional writer for over 10 years. Lover of all things Marvel, Destiny 2, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and more. Previous bylines include PC Gamer, Red Bull Esports, Fanbyte, and Esports Nation. DogDad to corgis Yogi and Mickey, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.