The legendary STG44 is back in Modern Warfare 3, and it’s not just nostalgia driving the hype-this iconic assault rifle has stormed into Season 5 with a vengeance, boasting a meta-defining loadout that’s turning heads across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Whether you’re chasing long-range dominance or close-quarters supremacy, discover how the right attachments can transform the STG44 into a laser-precise powerhouse and help you outgun the competition in every match.
Of course, there are assault rifles aplenty in Modern Warfare 3, so the STG44 has some seriously stiff competition. Can it dethrone the MCW as the jack-of-all-trades king as one of MW3’s best guns? That’s the angle our best loadout takes as we look to simply enhance its existing well-rounded stats, making the STG44 a beast at distance and up close and personal.
Here’s the best STG44 loadout in Modern Warfare 3and everything you need to know about how to get your hands on this gun in Season 5.
How to unlock the STG44 in MW3
To unlock the STG44 in Modern Warfare 3, you need to progress through the Season 5 Battle Pass and complete Sector 7. To reach Sector 7, start from Sector 1 and advance through Sectors 2 and 4, which requires a total of 20 Battle Pass Tokens. These tokens are earned by playing matches and leveling up your Battle Pass, or you can purchase them with COD Points. Once you unlock all rewards within Sector 7, the STG44 will be yours. Importantly, the weapon is available on the free track of the Battle Pass, so you do not need to spend real money to obtain it. If you want to unlock it faster, purchasing the Blackcell version of the Battle Pass grants you tier skips that can help you reach Sector 7 more quickly.
To unlock the STG44 in Modern Warfare 3 Season 5, you must complete Sector 7 of the battle pass. This is one cell below the very top left corner of the grid, so the fastest path is to unlock Sector 2, 4, then 7. As always with new weapons, while you can unlock it faster by buying the premium version of the battle pass, it is available for free if you have enough tokens.
Best STG44 loadout in MW3
The STG44 returns to Modern Warfare 3 in Season 5, quickly establishing itself as a top-tier assault rifle thanks to its balanced stats and controllable recoil. To maximize its potential, the best STG44 loadout focuses on improving recoil control, handling, and versatility for both close-quarters and long-range engagements. Recommended attachments include the EHMN Compens Flash H muzzle, Bruen Acrux Heavy Barrel, XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop underbarrel, XRK On-Point Optic, and Citadel Grip rear grip. This setup enhances the STG44’s already strong accuracy and stability, making it a reliable choice whether you’re pushing objectives or holding sightlines in multiplayer matches. For players seeking a slightly different build, options like the Shadowstrike Suppressor or Casus Brake muzzle and a 40 or 50-round magazine can further tailor the weapon to your playstyle.
Here is the best STG44 loadout in Modern Warfare 3:
- Muzzle: ZEHMN35 Compensated Flash Hider
- Barrel: Bruen Acrux Heavy Barrel
- Underbarrel: XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop
- Optic: XRK On-Point Optic
- Rear Grip: Citadel Grip
As mentioned above, the STG44 without any attachments is already a solid assault rifle that can hold its own in almost any scenario. So you simply want to improve this aspect with your attachments, most notably the damage, range, and recoil control. The Bruen Acrux Heavy Barrel is the perfect heavyweight attachment for this, because it provides a significant buff to the bullet velocity and damage range, while only dealing minor damage to the ADS speed.
The ZEHMN35 Compensated Flash Hider is a muzzle attachment that handles multiple jobs, but the most important one is how it improves the recoil control. Again, a minor hit to the ADS speed is the trade-off, as is a tiny range debuff, but you can make up for that with other attachments. (Bonus: It also shortens your radar pings when firing, making you harder to find for your foes.)
To counter these ADS speed debuffs, opt for the XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop underbarrel. This slightly affects the horizontal recoil and hipfire and tac stance spread, but the positives far outweigh the negatives thanks to the improved sprint to fire speed, ADS speed, vertical recoil, and gun kick control. That’s backed up by the Citadel Grip, which improves the recoil and gun kick control even further in exchange for a minor idle sway debuff.
Finally, we recommend the XRK On-Point Optic. But really, you can go for whichever optical sight tickles your fancy. The important thing is that you equip something here because the iron sights on the STG44 aren’t the friendliest and actually obscure your view somewhat. The XRK holographic zooms in a little further than a standard red dot, but your preference is most important here.
Best STG44 class in MW3
The best STG44 class in Modern Warfare 3 transforms this iconic assault rifle into a top-tier, versatile option for multiplayer and Warzone. The optimal build focuses on maximizing recoil control, range, and mobility, making the STG44 a reliable choice for both aggressive and tactical playstyles. A recommended setup includes the Casus Brake muzzle for superior recoil reduction, the Heinrichter C70 barrel to boost range and bullet velocity, and the DR79 Combo Stock to further enhance movement speed and recoil management. Pairing these with the Jak Glassless optic provides a clear sight picture and reduces visual recoil, while a 50 Round Drum ensures you have enough ammo for extended engagements. This configuration results in a hard-hitting, accurate rifle that excels in mid- to long-range fights, rivaling the best assault rifles in MW3’s current meta.
Here is the best class to use alongside the STG44 in Modern Warfare 3:
- Vest: Assassin Vest
- Handgun: Renetti
- Tactical: Stun Grenade
- Lethal: Frag Grenade
- Field Upgrade: Trophy System
- Gloves: Marksman Gloves
- Boots: Stalker Boots
- Gear: Tac Mask
For a jack-of-all-trades gun, you want a jack-of-all-trades class. What follows is as basic as it gets, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? The Assassin Vest means any kills you get don’t display skulls, and you’re completely immune to enemy UAV and radar effects. Stealth, baby.
The Renetti is the best handgun in the game so should almost always be your choice, while the Stun and Frag Grenade combo is a classic that can’t be beaten. Using a trophy system as your field upgrade is helpful whenever you’re posted up picking foes off from afar or defending an objective, as it destroys any throwables in mid-air.
The Marksman Gloves are always a safe bet for any gun that you’ll expect to use at mid-to-long range because they reduce your sway and flinch while aiming down the sights. While pretty much any footwear is a solid option for this class, we’ve found the Stalker Boots edge out the competition because they help you move quicker when strafing or aiming down the sights. Finally, the Tac Mask will reduce the strength of enemy tactical grenades whenever you don’t have a trophy system defending you.
For more Modern Warfare 3 guides, see how to switch to Tactical Stance, and check our guides on the best Static-HV loadout, best Kar98k loadout, best TAQ Evolvere loadout, best Striker loadout, best SVS 545 loadout, best XRK Stalker loadout, best MCW loadout, and best AMR9 loadout.
How can I unlock the most powerful STG44 loadout in MW3
To unlock the most powerful STG44 loadout in Modern Warfare 3, you first need to obtain the weapon by progressing through the Season 5 Battle Pass. The STG44 is located in Sector 7, which you can reach by unlocking all rewards in Sectors 1, 2, and 4 first, using Battle Pass Tokens. This path requires a total of 20 tokens. You can earn these tokens by playing the game or purchase tier skips with COD Points for faster access.
Once unlocked, equip the following attachments for a top-tier STG44 loadout in multiplayer:
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Muzzle: Shadowstrike Suppressor (or EHMN Compens Flash H for recoil control)
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Barrel: Bruen Acrux Heavy Barrel
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Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop (or XTEN Phantom-5 Handstop)
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Optic: XRK On-Point Optic (or your preferred sight)
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Rear Grip: Citadel Grip
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Magazine (Warzone): 40 or 50 Round Mag for extra ammo.
For the rest of your class, pair the STG44 with equipment and perks that boost tactical sprint, ammo resupply, and stealth, such as the Infantry Vest, Scavenger Gloves, Covert Sneakers, and Mag Holster.
This setup maximizes the STG44’s accuracy, recoil control, and handling, making it a dominant choice in both multiplayer and Warzone matches.
What is the fastest way to unlock the STG44 in MW3 Season 5
The fastest way to unlock the STG44 in MW3 Season 5 is to complete Sector 7 of the Season 5 Battle Pass, which requires progressing through Sectors 1, 2, and 4 first. This path takes a total of 20 Battle Pass tokens.
To speed up the process:
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Play game modes that yield high Battle Pass XP to quickly earn tokens.
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Alternatively, purchase Battle Pass tier skips with COD Points (each token costs 150 COD Points), or buy the BlackCell or premium version of the Battle Pass, which grants up to 23 tier skips instantly-enough to unlock the STG44 right away.
If you prefer not to spend money, focus on grinding matches and completing challenges for token rewards. The STG44 is available in the free track, so you do not need to purchase the Battle Pass to unlock it, just the tokens.
