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
