MW2 and Warzone Season 3 nerfs and buffs

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Modern Warfare 2 Season 3 is finally here, bringing new maps, guns, operators and, of course – weapon balancing. Every season, some of the guns in the game are adjusted – nerfed or buffed – depending on feedback in a patch. Its a nerve-wracking time, after all, many Cod fans have their favourite weapons they tend to stick with throughout the game’s lifecycle.

Sadly, if your favourite gun is the ISO Hemlock, then you may want to look away now. The gun has become a meta for a load of gamers in Season 2 and with the correct attachments is absolutely deadly at short to medium range. With massive damage output, easy-to-control recoil and a decent fire rate, the ISO Hemlock was a hit with a load of casuals and veteran players alike.

Sadly, though, the ISO Hemlock has just been nerfed into Oblivion (along with some other fan favourites, which we touch on in a second). The Hemlock has receive downgrades in:

• All Damage Ranges reduced
• Lower Torso Damage reduced

In other words, it’s lost power across all ranges – and will now be a fraction of the gun it was. But it gets worse. The M13B has had its headshot stopping power stripped back, while the TAQ-56 – one of our favourite guns for Ranked Play in MW2 Season 3 has had Headshot Damage Decreased (although it was previously stated it had been buffed).

Elsewhere, another fan-favourite, the Tempus Torrent marksman rifle was also nerfed to within an inch of its life. The patch notes state the gun has had the following:

• All Damage Ranges reduced slightly
• Close-mid Damage reduced slightly
• Headshot Damage reduced

So, as is the case with every season, it’s going to take some readjusting to your favourite guns. Who knows, maybe it’ll be time to say goodbye to your favourite loadout? Here are the full list of nerfs and buffs for Season 3.

MW2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 nerfs and buffs

Assault Rifles

• ISO Hemlock
  • All Damage Ranges reduced
  • Lower Torso Damage reduced

• M13B
  • Headshot Damage slightly reduced
  • Lower Torso Damage increased
  • Mid-range Damage distance increased 
  • Upper Torso Damage slightly reduced

• STB 556
  • Headshot Damage increased
  • Leg Damage increased
  • Lower Torso Damage increased
  • Mid-range Damage distance increased
  • Mid-range Damage reduced 

• TAQ-56
  • Headshot Damage decreased

Battle Rifles

• FTAC Recon
  • Movement Speed increased
  • Semi-Auto Leg Damage increased
  • Semi-Auto Minimum Armor Damage increased  | Warzone 2.0 Only
  • Semi-Auto Upper Torso Damage increased 

• Lachmann 762
  • Movement Speed increased

• SO-14
  • Movement Speed increased
  • Semi-Auto Minimum Armor Damage increased  | Warzone 2.0 Only

• TAQ-V
  • Minimum Armor Damage increased  | Warzone 2.0 Only
  • Movement Speed increased
  • Semi-Auto Lower Leg Damage increased

Handguns

• Basilisk
  • Minimum Armor Damage reduced  | Warzone 2.0 Only

Light Machine Guns

• RAAL MG
  • Headshot Damage reduced
  • Minimum Armor Damage added to Semi-Auto Firing Mode  | Warzone 2.0 Only
  • Semi-Auto Headshot Damage increased
  • Semi-Auto Upper Torso Damage increased
  • Semi-Auto Lower Torso Damage increased 

• RPK
  • Close-mid Damage slightly reduced 

Marksman Rifles

• Tempus Torrent
  • All Damage Ranges reduced slightly
  • Close-mid Damage reduced slightly
  • Headshot Damage reduced

Submachine Guns

• Submachine Gun Hip Spread accuracy increased

• BAS-P
  • ADS Move Speed increased
  • All Damage Ranges increased
  • Minimum Armor Damage added to Semi-Auto Firing Mode  | Warzone 2.0 Only

• Lachmann Sub
  • Headshot Damage decreased 
  • Burst-Fire Leg Damage increased
  • Burst-Fire time between shots decreased
  • Burt-Fire Torso Damage increased

• MX9
  • Sprint to Fire Speed increased 

• Vaznev-9K
  • Headshot Damage decreased

• VEL 46
  • Headshot Damage decreased

Attachments

Ammunition

• Basilisk
  • .500 Snakeshot
    • Maximum Armor Damage added  | Warzone 2.0 Only
• Explosive
  • Bolt-Action Weapons equipped with Explosive Ammunition are now able to down fully armored Players in one shot  | Warzone 2.0 Only
  • Explosive Ammunition has been added to the MCPR-300 progression tree
• ISO Hemlock
  • .300 Blackout (All Types)
    • Headshot Damage increased
    • Hip Spread accuracy while prone increased
    • Initial Recoil increased slightly
    • Long-range Damage decreased
    • Mid-range Damage increased
    • Minimum Armor Damage added to Semi-Auto Firing Mode  | Warzone 2.0 Only
    • Recoil violence increased 

Barrel

• Heavy Barrels
  • ADS Speed penalty slightly reduced
• Light Barrels
  • Muzzle Velocity penalty reduced
• Short Barrels
  • ADS Speed benefit increased 
  • Damage Range penalty reduced
  • Hip Spread accuracy benefit increased while moving and firing
  • Hip Spread accuracy penalty for Shotguns decreased while moving and firing

Bipod

• ADS Speed penalty reduced 

Laser

• Laser brightness increased 

Magazine

• Large Magazines
  • Light Machine Guns (Global)
    • Handling and Movement penalties reduced 
  • Kastov 545
    • 60 Round Magazine
      • Handling penalty reduced
  • Kastov 762
    • 40 Round Magazine
      • Handling penalty reduced
  • Lachmann Sub
    • 50 Round Drum
      • Handling penalty reduced
  • M13B
    • 60 Round Magazine
      • Handling penalty reduced
  • M16
    • 60 Round Magazine
      • Handling penalty reduced
  • Vaznev-9K
    • 45 Round Magazine
      • Handling penalty reduced 
  • VEL 46
    • 50 Round Magazine
      • Handling penalty reduced
    • 60 Round Magazine
      • Handling penalty reduced

Small Magazines

• Movement Speed increased 

• Sprint to Fire Speed increased

• Fennec 45
  • Fennec Double Tap Mod (Benefits from Small Magazine buffs)
    • Damage increased
    • Damage Ranges reduced
    • Minimum Armor Damage added  | Warzone 2.0 Only
    • Time between bursts reduced
• STB 556
  • Single Tap Mod (Benefits from Small Magazine buffs)
    • Damage increased
    • Mid-range Damage distances increased
    • Minimum Armor Damage added  | Warzone 2.0 Only
    • Time between shots increased 

Rear Grip

• Basilisk
  • Akimbo Basilisk
    • Maximum Armor Damage added  | Warzone 2.0 Only 

Stock

• Heavy Stocks
  • ADS Move Speed penalty reduced
  • Aiming Stability benefit increased
  • Aim Walking Steadiness benefit increased