Leveling up fast in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is your gateway to unlocking powerful weapons, perks, and killstreaks that can turn the tide of battle. Whether you’re on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, mastering the art of rapid progression means focusing on completing daily challenges, playing objective-based modes like Hardpoint or Domination, and maximizing XP gains with tokens and smart weapon use. Dive into the fight, prioritize objectives, and watch your rank soar as you unlock the full arsenal and features waiting at every level up.
We have a list of the best guns that will certainly pique your interest, but when the weapon at the top of the list (the MCW is our top pick at launch) isn’t unlocked until level 44, and then you have to level up the weapon itself, knowing the fastest methods will come in handy.
There’s no quick trick to climb multiple levels in one go in multiplayer, but we do have multiple methods here that you can employ to maximize your XP gains. One thing to bear in mind however, is that prestige isn’t possible ahead of the Season 1 launch, so there is no harm taking your time leveling up if need be.
Use double XP tokens
To level up quickly in Modern Warfare 3, using Double XP tokens is one of the most effective methods. These tokens come in different durations-15, 30, 45 minutes, or one hour-and are available for Rank XP, Weapon XP, and Battle Pass XP. To activate them, go to the multiplayer menu and press the left stick (L3) on a controller or Shift on a keyboard to open the token menu. Select the token you want to use, and the countdown will start immediately, even if you are not in a match. It’s best to use Rank and Weapon XP tokens first and save Battle Pass tokens for special occasions. Using these tokens strategically while playing objective-based modes will significantly boost your leveling speed in the game.
We’ll get the obvious one out of the way nice and early: use double XP tokens. These come in three different forms; double rank XP, double weapon XP, and double battle pass XP. Of course, these all speak for themselves as to what they actually do, but how do you get more of them?
They come in four time frames – 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or one hour – and the main way of acquiring them is via the battle pass. Loads of sectors on the map have double XP tokens as rewards, and while some of them are in the free tiers of the battle pass, you do need to fork out some real money for the paid version if you want to get as many as possible.
You can also net some double XP tokens in Modern Warfare 3 by completing the campaign, which is only around four hours long, give or take, so you can smash it out in one evening.
Play objective modes
Playing objective modes in Modern Warfare 3 is one of the fastest ways to level up quickly. Modes like Hardpoint, Domination, and Kill Confirmed reward you with significant XP not only for kills but also for capturing and defending objectives, which often yields more XP than kills alone. Engaging actively with the objectives ensures continuous action and XP gain throughout the match. Additionally, War Mode offers a relaxed skill-based matchmaking environment where you can complete objectives while racking up kills, making it ideal for fast weapon and player leveling. Focusing on these objective-based game modes accelerates your progression through ranks and unlocks new weapons, perks, and equipment efficiently.
When it comes to specific modes for the most rank XP, you’ll want to play Search and Destroy. Because kills are so few and far between, you earn way more XP per kill than the respawn modes in the game, along with more XP for winning matches. The gains are even better if you’re playing the objective and planting or defusing the bomb too.
However, if you’re after weapon XP, perhaps to level up the AMR9 which has its best attachments in its final levels, play a respawn objective mode such as Domination or Hardpoint. You’ll be able to pick up far more kills in these modes, and if you play the objective too, you can earn a fair amount of rank XP. Kill Confirmed also offers a lot for collecting tags, while Ground War is another excellent shout thanks to the number of objectives available to you.
Rack up scorestreaks
To rack up scorestreaks quickly in Modern Warfare 3, focus on playing objective-based game modes like Domination or Hardpoint, where you earn points not only from kills but also from completing objectives and assists. Switching to the Scorestreaks system instead of traditional Killstreaks allows you to accumulate streak progress through all point-earning actions, making it easier to reach powerful rewards. Make sure to engage actively in objectives and support your team to maximize score gains, which in turn helps you unlock and deploy scorestreaks more frequently, enhancing your overall impact in matches.
Scorestreaks don’t directly affect your ability to earn XP, but because they allow you to earn killstreaks by playing the objective, it incentivizes you to jump on those flags and stand in those hardpoints more often. Over time, this adds up, and you can very slightly improve it even further by running the ACS Field Upgrade, because when it’s on an objective, it will passively earn you some XP.
Of course, getting those streaks is a good source of XP in and of itself, as you’ll get XP when your helicopter or Sentry Gun kills enemies, and you’ll even earn XP whenever a teammate gets a kill while your UAV is active.
Ultimately, the better you are at Modern Warfare 3, the faster you’ll be able to level up, but the most important thing is to play the objective – because the game rewards players who contribute to the team’s victory.
Complete challenges
Completing challenges is a crucial way to level up fast in Modern Warfare 3. The game offers a variety of challenges, including Daily and Weekly Challenges, Weapon Camo Challenges, and Career Challenges across Multiplayer and Zombies modes. These challenges reward significant Player XP upon completion, helping you unlock new weapons, perks, equipment, and other features more quickly. For example, weapon challenges like getting kills without dying or achieving headshots contribute to weapon XP, while Daily Challenges refresh regularly and provide consistent XP boosts. Engaging actively with these challenges, alongside using XP tokens and playing modes like War Mode, can greatly accelerate your progression in the game.
Focus on your challenges. Every day, you’ll have three new daily challenges to complete, each netting you 2,500 XP, plus a bonus challenge once you’ve completed those three. There are also a bunch of weekly challenges, ranging from 2,500 to 10,000 XP each, and if you play Zombies, there are unique challenges there too. Completing daily challenges also contributes towards your armory unlocks, so it kills two birds with one stone, so-to speak.
Farm the undead in Zombies
To farm the undead effectively in Modern Warfare 3 Zombies, focus on using the exfiltration points to your advantage. Call in the helicopter to trigger a horde of zombies, then eliminate them to quickly gain weapon XP. This method allows you to level up your weapons rapidly, as every zombie kill contributes to your weapon’s experience, even without firing your main arsenal-using equipment like energy mines or explosive perks can speed up the process. Move between exfil points to keep the zombies grouped and maximize kills, while collecting ammo and bonuses dropped by the undead. This strategy is efficient for fast leveling and gaining valuable loot in the chaotic zombie environment.
Finally, one of the fastest ways to specifically level up weapons is to not play multiplayer at all. Instead, head over to Zombies, and insure the weapon you want to level up. Pack-a-punch it as quickly as possible – the fastest method to earn $5000 to pay for this is to complete a couple of contracts (which is also a good way to get schematics) – then head over to an exfil location in the first zone of the map, where the zombies are weakest.
Call in the helicopter and a huge swarm of zombies will spawn. Kill all of these enemies then do not extract. Instead, every time you call the helicopter in, another horde of zombies will hunt you down, and you can slay all of them for super quick weapon XP gains. If you equip a double weapon XP token, you can level a weapon to max in around an hour, give or take.
Want to discover the fastest ways to level up in Modern Warfare 3 on PC and consoles
To level up fast in Modern Warfare 3 on PC and consoles, focus on playing the War Mode game mode, which offers relaxed skill-based matchmaking and objective-based gameplay that yields high XP gains quickly. Using XP Tokens is essential-they boost your Rank XP, Weapon XP, and Battle Pass XP for durations from 15 minutes to an hour, so activate them during uninterrupted play sessions to maximize gains. For rapid weapon leveling, playing Zombies mode is highly effective due to the large number of enemies and opportunities for kills, especially when using strategies like repeated exfiltration to trigger massive zombie waves. Additionally, objective-based modes such as Hardpoint, Domination, and Ground War provide steady XP through kills and completing objectives, while playing on smaller maps like Shipment or Rust can accelerate weapon XP farming, especially when combined with decoy grenades and killstreaks like UAVs for passive XP. Combining these methods with daily challenges and double XP events will further speed up your progression across all platforms.
What is the most effective mode for fast leveling in MW3 multiplayer
The most effective multiplayer mode for fast leveling in Modern Warfare 3 is War Mode, thanks to its relaxed skill-based matchmaking and condensed objective zones that concentrate player engagements, allowing for more kills and consistent XP gains. Following closely are Ground War, which offers more players and objectives for increased XP opportunities, and objective-focused modes like Hardpoint, Domination, and Kill Confirmed, where frequent kills near objectives yield substantial XP. Additionally, Zombies mode is highly effective for fast weapon leveling due to the sheer volume of enemies and XP farming strategies like repeated exfiltration. For maximizing XP, combining these modes with XP tokens and scorestreaks that reward points for objectives rather than just kills is recommended.
