MW3 & Warzone Oct 21 Update: Playlist Changes & Reclaimer Nerf

As the final season of Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone draws to a close, Activision has released one of the last major updates for both games.

In Season 4 Reloaded, Sledgehammer Games brought back the iconic SPAS-12 shotgun, now known as the Reclaimer 18. Although initially underwhelming, Season 6 introduced a new JAK Devastators conversion kit, allowing players to dual-wield the shotguns with an akimbo attachment. This turned the weapon into a powerhouse, dealing 180 damage and allowing a one-shot kill within a 3.8-meter range. Despite its limited range, players quickly began to exploit the Reclaimer 18 in Warzone and MW3 multiplayer.

In response, Raven Software issued a significant nerf, reducing the shotgun’s max damage, range, and near-to-mid damage, giving other close-range weapons a chance to dominate again.

Alongside the weapon adjustments, Sledgehammer Games made final tweaks to Modern Warfare 3‘s multiplayer playlists as Black Ops 6 approaches its October 25 release. Players can now access permanent modes like Small Map Mosh Pit, All the Shipments, and Get Higher, along with a variety of other classic game modes.

Here’s a breakdown of the full patch notes from the October 21 update.

MW3 October 21 Update Patch Notes

Global Changes

• Stability & Performance: Fixed specific server-side issues affecting performance and stability.
• Customization:
  • Adjusted colors for WZ Season 6 Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Camos.
  • Corrected display issues for the “Light Your Outer Fire” Emblem and “The Tinker” Calling Card.
  • Fixed icon errors for the Flit and Float Camo in Gunsmith.
  • Addressed incorrect animations for the “Revolution Rising” Calling Card.
  • Resolved a placeholder image issue for the “American Gothic” Blueprint in the Store.

Playlist Updates

As the live season for Modern Warfare III comes to a close, the following modes are now permanently available:

• Small Map Mosh Pit (+ Hardcore)
• All the Shipments! 24/7 (+ Hardcore)
• Team Gun Game
• Domination, Hardpoint, Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed
• Capture the Flag, One in the Chamber, Havoc, Minefield
• G3T_H1GH3R Mosh Pit (MW2 Maps Only)
• 10v10 Mosh Pit, War Mode, Cutthroat
• Blueprint Gunfight, Ground War, & Invasion

Additionally, players can now add these game modes to their Quick Play filters:

• Capture the Flag, Demolition, Cyber Attack (+ Hardcore), Escort, Defuse or Destroy, Gun Game, Infected, Vortex Mosh Pit.

UI and Bug Fixes

• Added a preview model for Enhanced Vision Goggles in the Loadout editor.
• Fixed issues with locked Loading Screens being marked as Favorites.
• Corrected the incorrect naming of the Tectonic Herald Light Barrel in Killcams.
• Adjusted spawn logic in Kill Confirmed to be more in line with Team Deathmatch.

Map Fixes

• Subbase: Resolved an exploit allowing players to exit the playable zone near the North Dock.

Weapon & Attachment Adjustments

• Shotguns: Reclaimer 18:
  • Reduced shot termination distance from 30.5m to 26.7m (-13%).
  • Reduced water shot range from 7.6m to 5.1m (-33%).
  • Increased ADS spread by 40%.
  • Reduced far-medium damage from 35 to 25 (-29%).
• Handguns: .50 GS (MWII):
  • Increased minimum damage from 55 to 68 (+24%).

Killstreak Adjustments

• Juggernaut Recon: Fixed an exploit that allowed Kills to give double Score in Free-for-All.
• Missile Drone: Adjusted flight path in Invasion mode to avoid building collisions.
• Gunship: Fixed an issue where the visual overlay persisted after being destroyed by Stormender.

Warzone October 21 Update Patch Notes

Customization Fixes

• Adjusted colors for WZ Season 6 Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Camos.
• Resolved display issues for the “Light Your Outer Fire” Emblem and “The Tinker” Calling Card.
• Corrected icon display for the Flit and Float Camo in Gunsmith.
• Fixed incorrect animations for the “Revolution Rising” Calling Card.
• Fixed placeholder image for the “American Gothic” Blueprint in the Store.

Weapon Changes

• Reclaimer 18 (Akimbo):
  • Reduced Max Damage Range from 3.81m to 2.54m.
  • Max Damage reduced from 45 to 35.
  • Near-Mid Damage reduced from 20 to 15.

As Black Ops 6 is just around the corner, this update serves as one of the final significant patches for Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone, setting the stage for the new era of Call of Duty. Stay tuned for any last-minute updates before the next title’s launch!

@dexerto