Unlocking every mastery camo in Modern Warfare 3, including the elusive Interstellar and Borealis, is the ultimate test of skill and dedication for any player. From conquering over 140 base camo challenges to grinding through the tiered mastery sets-Gilded, Forged, Priceless, and finally Interstellar-this guide will walk you through the complete journey to adorn your weapons with the most coveted animated finishes in Multiplayer and Zombies modes across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Ready to elevate your arsenal’s style and show off your mastery? Let’s dive into the step-by-step process to unlock them all.
What are mastery camos in Modern Warfare 3?
Mastery camos in Modern Warfare 3, also known as Completionist Camos, are special weapon skins that showcase a player’s skill and dedication. Each weapon has two sets of Mastery Camos to unlock-one for Multiplayer and one for Zombies mode. Unlocking these camos requires completing progressively difficult challenges, starting with base camo challenges and advancing through tiers such as Gilded, Forged, Priceless, and finally Interstellar for Multiplayer weapons. Zombies mode features its own unique sets, including Borealis and others. These camos are not universal and must be earned individually for each weapon, serving both as a decorative feature and a badge of mastery.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was the first to introduce mastery cameos – though they weren’t called that back then – with one golden weapon per category that was available once you unlocked all the other camos on the weapons in that category.
Now, however, unlocking mastery camos is a much more involved process, with various challenges to complete with every weapon in the game, leading all the way to Interstellar and Borealis (in multiplayer and Zombies respectively).
The golden camo from back in the day still remains, however – albeit under the name of Gilded.
As you go, know that of the base camos for each weapon are completely unique, although you can equip any camo you like to any gun once it is unlocked.
Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer mastery camos list
Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer features a set of mastery camos that players can unlock by completing specific challenges for each weapon. The progression starts with the Gilded camo, a gold finish unlocked after completing all base camo challenges for a weapon. Following that is the Forged camo, which requires completing all Gilded challenges within a weapon class and then a unique Forged challenge per weapon. The Priceless camo is an animated finish unlocked after completing multiple Forged challenges across weapons. Finally, the Interstellar camo, another animated camo, is awarded automatically after unlocking 36 Priceless camos, marking the pinnacle of multiplayer weapon mastery. These mastery camos are weapon-specific and not universal, encouraging players to fully master each weapon individually.

There are four mastery camos in Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer that can be unlocked on every gun:
- Gilded: Complete all base camo challenges for that weapon, plus one extra challenge.
- Forged: Unlock Gilded on all weapons in that category, plus one extra challenge.
- Priceless: Unlock Forged on all base 36 MW3 weapons, plus one extra challenge.
- Interstellar: Unlock Priceless on all base 36 MW3 weapons.
Modern Warfare 3 Zombies mastery camos list
In Modern Warfare 3 Zombies, the mastery camos are a series of progressively challenging weapon skins that players can unlock by completing specific kill and task requirements. The Zombies mastery camos include Golden Enigma, Zircon Scale, Serpentinite, and Borealis. To unlock these, players must first complete base camo challenges and then achieve increasing kill counts with the weapon equipped with the previous mastery camo, such as 100 kills for Golden Enigma, 300 kills for Zircon Scale, 900 kills for Serpentinite, and finally 1,200 kills for Borealis. Additionally, some mastery camos require special tasks like killing special or elite zombies or successfully extracting in a single deployment. Borealis is the final mastery camo in Zombies mode, unlocked after completing all Serpentinite challenges, and it grants unique emblems and calling cards as rewards.

There are also four mastery camos in Modern Warfare 3 Zombies that can be unlocked on every gun:
- Golden Enigma: Complete all base camo challenges for that weapon, plus one extra challenge.
- Zircon Scale: Unlock Golden Enigma on all weapons in that category, plus one extra challenge.
- Serpentine: Unlock Zircon Scale on all 36 MW3 weapons, plus one extra challenge.
- Borealis: Unlock Serpentine on all 36 MW3 weapons.
How to get Interstellar and Borealis in Modern Warfare 3
To unlock the Interstellar and Borealis Mastery Camos in Modern Warfare 3, you need to complete extensive weapon challenges across all base weapons in the game. For Interstellar, you must fully complete the Priceless camo challenges on 36 different MW3 weapons, which involves progressing through multiple camo tiers including Gilded, Forged, and Priceless for each weapon. Once all 36 Priceless camos are unlocked, Interstellar is automatically awarded without additional challenges. Borealis requires completing 37 Serpentinite challenges on MW3 weapons, which is another high-level mastery camo grind. Efficiently unlocking these camos involves focusing on weapon categories you enjoy and leveraging daily challenges and weapon XP events to speed up progression.
To unlock Interstellar or Borealis, you have to fully max out every base weapon in Modern Warfare 3. This does not include the guns that have carried over from Modern Warfare 2, or any of the additional weapons in the seasons that follow. Even then, this makes for a grand total of 36 weapons in multiplayer or Zombies mode respectively.
For example, this is the process for the MCW assault rifle in multiplayer:
- Razor Feather: Get 50 kills
- Skullflagration: Get 50 kills while ADS
- Abyssal Fox: Get 15 headshot kills
- Menelaus Blue: Get 25 tactical stance kills
- Gilded: Get 3 kills with 1 magazine 10 times
- Forged: Get 3 kills without dying 10 times (once Gilded is unlocked on all six assault rifles)
- Priceless: Get 5 kills without dying 10 times (once Forged is unlocked on all 36 MW3 weapons)
- Interstellar: Unlock Priceless on all 36 MW3 weapons.
Here’s some tips for fast tracking your way to Interstellar in particular:
- Save your double weapon XP tokens for whenever you switch to a new weapon in your grind, as they only apply for the actual leveling process, rather than contributing towards any challenges. We also have a guide on how to level up fast that will come in handy.
- Adapt your playstyle to the challenge at hand. For example, if you need tactical stance kills, kit your gun out to be strong up close and put yourself in close-quarters combat, rather than taking on engagements from afar.
- If the map isn’t a good fit for the gun you’re working on, search for a new match. There’s no point trying to get shotgun kills on Derail or Estate. If there’s a playlist available that limits the map pool, even better.
All base Modern Warfare 3 camo challenges in multiplayer
In Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer, all base camo challenges require players to complete a set of four specific objectives per weapon, such as getting a certain number of kills, headshots, or kills under particular conditions like aiming down sights or hipfire kills. These base challenges must be completed first to unlock the weapon’s mastery camo challenges. Each weapon category-assault rifles, battle rifles, SMGs, shotguns, and others-has its own unique base camo challenges that test different skills and playstyles. Completing these base challenges is essential for progressing towards the more prestigious mastery camos like Gilded, Forged, Priceless, and Interstellar, which demand increasingly difficult feats across multiple weapons.

Here are all of the base camo challenges for each weapon category in Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer:
Assault Rifles
- Get 50 kills
- Get 50 ADS kills
- Get 15 headshot kills
- Get 25 tactical stance kills
Battle Rifles
- Get 50 kills
- Get 50 fully automatic kills
- Get 10 kills with a magnification scope
- Get 15 headshot kills
SMGs
- Get 50 kills
- Get 25 hipfire kills
- Get 10 kills while crouching or sliding
- Get 15 kills on operators affected by your tactical
Shotguns
- Get 50 kills
- Get 50 hipfire kills
- Get 10 kills while ADS
- Get 15 double kills
LMGs
- Get 50 kills
- Get 10 penetration kills
- Get 10 kills with full attachments
- Get 10 double kills
Marksman Rifles
- Get 50 kills
- Get 50 headshot kills
- Get 10 kills with no attachments
- Get 2 kills without dying 15 times
Sniper Rifles
- Get 50 kills
- Get 50 kills shortly after ADS
- Get 3 kills with 1 magazine 10 times
- Get 15 one shot kills
Handguns
- Get 50 kills
- Get 50 kills while ADS
- Get 10 kills while moving
- Get 15 kills with the akimbo attachment equipped
Launchers
- Get 25 kills
Melee
- Get 50 kills
As for Zombies, while plenty of challenges are similar between weapons in the same category, they’re not identical like they are in multiplayer. Do note that the base camo challenges aren’t available as soon as you unlock the weapon; each one is unlocked at a different level, so you can’t start ticking off the fourth challenge from the get-go.
How can I unlock the Interstellar and Borealis mastery camos in MW3 quickly
To unlock the Interstellar and Borealis mastery camos quickly in Modern Warfare 3, focus on efficiently completing camo challenges on a strategic selection of weapons rather than trying to do all at once. For Interstellar, you need to fully max out 36 weapons by completing their Priceless camo challenges, which involves finishing all base and mastery camo challenges on those weapons; Borealis requires completing 37 Serpentinite camo challenges, typically in Zombies mode.
A recommended fast approach is to prioritize weapon categories that are easier and faster to grind, such as handguns, LMGs, shotguns, SMGs, and assault rifles. Complete all camo challenges in these categories first to quickly reach the required number of weapons for Interstellar. Avoid weapon categories you dislike to maintain efficiency and motivation. This method allows you to unlock Interstellar on your favorite weapons faster without having to grind every single weapon category fully. Similarly, for Borealis, focus on preferred weapons in Zombies to complete the Serpentinite challenges more quickly.
Additionally, take advantage of double weapon XP events and tokens, which significantly speed up weapon leveling and camo challenge progression. Use the Armory system to unlock new Modern Warfare 3 weapons efficiently and avoid wasting progress on older weapons from Modern Warfare 2, as they do not count toward these mastery camos. Keep an eye on seasonal weapon additions, which can replace some older weapons in the grind, potentially reducing the total number needed.
In summary, the fastest way is to:
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Focus on completing all camo challenges on a select set of easier weapon categories (handguns, LMGs, shotguns, SMGs, assault rifles).
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Use double weapon XP and Armory unlocks to level up weapons fast.
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Avoid weapons you dislike to maintain grind efficiency.
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Track progress carefully to know when you have completed enough weapons to unlock Interstellar and Borealis.
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For Borealis, prioritize Zombies mode weapons and challenges.
This targeted and strategic approach will get you the Interstellar and Borealis camos much faster than grinding all weapons indiscriminately.
What weapons should I focus on to unlock Interstellar fastest in MW3
To unlock the Interstellar mastery camo fastest in Modern Warfare 3, you should focus on the following weapon categories, which are generally considered easier and quicker to grind:
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Assault Rifles (ARs)
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Submachine Guns (SMGs)
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Light Machine Guns (LMGs)
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Shotguns
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Handguns
These categories have challenges that are more straightforward and less tedious compared to others like sniper rifles, launchers, and melee weapons, which are often recommended to skip or delay. Completing all camo challenges on weapons in these categories will quickly get you to the required 36 weapons with Priceless camo to unlock Interstellar.
A practical approach is to start with handguns to get them out of the way, then move on to LMGs, shotguns, SMGs, and assault rifles. This sequence helps maintain momentum and efficiency. Avoid weapon classes you find difficult or unenjoyable, such as sniper rifles or launchers, as struggling with them can slow your progress.
Additionally, take advantage of double weapon XP events and the Armory unlock system to level up weapons faster. Keep an eye on new seasonal weapon additions, which can sometimes replace older weapons in the grind, giving you more flexibility in your weapon choices.
In summary, focusing on assault rifles, SMGs, LMGs, shotguns, and handguns, while skipping or delaying sniper rifles, launchers, and melee weapons, is the fastest way to unlock Interstellar camo in MW3.
