CoD: Warzone And MW3 Season 5 Reloaded Patch Notes Reveal RPK Nerf And New Warzone Features

The Season 5 Reloaded update arrives to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone today, and the latest patch notes detail all the big changes for the midseason. The update includes nerfs for popular weapons, killstreak changes for multiplayer, and a new Warzone contract.

Season 5 Reloaded adds two new DLC weapons, more game modes, new events, the final story mission for Zombies, and a crossover with The Crow. More on the new midseason content can be found here. This update also brings improvements to the Call of Duty app meant to reduce the overall file size, which includes reorganizing the game files, separating Warzone, and implementing new texture streaming tech.

MW3 map and mode changes

For the Season 5 Reloaded patch notes, the update brings changes to maps and modes for Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer.

An issue was fixed on the Dome map that previously prevented the Mosquito Drone killstreak from targeting enemy players. The Get High map received a change to correct the flight height of the Counter UAV killstreak to allow destruction, and it also provided a fix to ensure that the Mosquito Drone Killstreak could target enemy players.

Season 5's COD Warrior mode received a fix for an issue that could cause players to become stuck in a round transition state. A bug was also squashed in the Free-for-All mode that could cause the Guardian-SC, EMP, and suppression mine equipment to not impact enemy players.

RPK conversion kit nerf arrives

The RPK became a popular choice for multiplayer following Season 5's JAK Cataclysm conversion kit, which turned the light machine gun into a powerful one-shot sniper. However, players may want to reconsider this gun's converted build following this new update.

Season 5 Reloaded greatly increases the gun's flinch, hip-fire spread, and recoil when using the JAK Cataclysm conversion kit. These changes includes:

• 300% increase to incoming flinch
• 178% Increase to hip-fire spread minimum
• 56% increase to hip-fire spread maximum
• 67% increase to recoil gun kick
• 25% increase to horizontal recoil
• 67% increase to vertical recoil

More multiplayer weapon adjustments

The DG-56 assault rifle has received a buff with a 10% increase to the gun's lower-torso damage multiplier.

The BAS-B battle rifle also has a buff, with a 10% increase to the upper-leg, lower-leg, and foot-damage multipliers. The developer says this change allows shots that land below the waist to now deal damage equal to those that hit the torso.

Another notable buff is for the Pulemyot 762 light machine gun. Changes were made to make the gun more mobile and increase the damage potential. This includes:

• 8% decrease to the sprint-to-fire time
• 7% decrease to the aim-down-sight time
• 11% increase to the rate of fire
• 10% increase to the neck, lower-torso, and hand-damage multipliers

MP perk and killstreak changes

A change was made to the Infantry Vest perk to add a second gear perk slot. However, this change does not apply to Ranked Play.

A few changes were made to the multiplayer killstreaks. The I.M.S. streak now has an increased hitbox size to further allow counterability, a 25% increase to the enemy detection radius, and a 25% decreased duration for it's explosives to reach its vertical apex.

The Mortar Strike and Carpet Bomb streaks both have an issue fixed that previously prevented announcer voice lines from acknowledging kills.

For the Advanced UAV, enemy players equipped with Ghost T/V Camo Gear or Assassin Vest perks are no longer demoted to a dot indicator on the minimap.

New Warzone accolade

One new addition to Warzone is the new end-of-match accolade for personal records. When a player wins a match, they'll now earn a special accolade if they surpassed their personal kill record.

The developer says everyone will start fresh with the new accolade in Season 5 Reloaded, but the actual stats in the game's Combat Records remains untouched.

Elite contracts

Season 5 Reloaded adds the new Elite contract variant. This will offer one of Warzone's existing contracts with a shorter time limit (35% less) and better rewards. The Elite contract will be available across all maps and modes.

In addition to normal contract rewards, they also drop:

• $1,500 per player
• 80% more experience
• An Elite Cache containing one of the following:
  • Foresight Killstreak
  • Advanced UAV Killstreak
  • Specialist Perk Package
  • Redacted Weapon

The developer says only 7% of available contracts will become Elite. Any contract can become Elite except for Most Wanted contracts, and the game may spawn additional Elite contracts throughout the match.

This contract will work differently in Warzone's competitive Ranked Play mode, with the Elite Cache dropping a legendary weapon instead of the four other normal rewards.

Additionally, Elite contracts will be disabled in the World Series of Warzone tournaments.

Major Static-HV nerf

Season 5's Static-HV submachine gun has been a powerful choice for close-range combat in Warzone, but a midseason nerf greatly decreases the gun's damage and range. This includes the following nerfs:

• Mid damage decreased from 25 to 24
• Maximum damage range decreased from 16.0 to 13.97 meters
• Near-mid damage range decreased from 30.48 to 25.4 meters
• Mid damage range decreased from 40.64 to 35.56 meters
• Headshot modifier decreased from 1.4x down to 1.2x
• Leg and foot modifiers decreased from 1x down to 0.95x

Warzone weapon adjustments

Warzone's most popular weapon has been Season 5's STG-44 assault rifle, but the midseason update slightly nerfs the gun, with the maximum damage decreased from 36 to 32.

While the STG-44 nerf doesn't sound significant enough to impact the weapon's power and popularity, the update also makes a few buffs to make other long-range weapons viable for Warzone.

A buff is made to the BAL-27 assault rifle to increase the maximum damage range from 26.67 to 31.75 meters. This gun was already a popular choice for the smaller Resurgence maps, so this change offers the potential for longer-range fights across Warzone's various maps.

For the MCW assault rifle, a few changes are included to improve the gun's performance. The maximum damage range is increased from 30.48 to 36.83 meters, the near-mid damage range is increased from 38.1 to 44.45 meters, and the mid damage range is increased from 48.26 to 53.34 meters.

The full patch notes for MW3 and Warzone can be seen below, as shared by Activision.

Global

Stability & Performance

• Implemented additional performance improvements for Xbox One consoles.
• Addressed an issue related to system language causing PC Game Pass players to crash.

Customization

• Fixed an issue causing Combat Knife Blueprints to appear as the base weapon.
• Increased the emissive intensity of the Royal Helix Camo.
• Reverted the color of the Azure Refract Camo to pink.
• Corrected the appearance of the Cat-Girl Smile Camo on BlackCell Blueprints.
• Corrected the animation for the Stabbed… A Lot and A Bit Stabby Finishing Moves.

Multiplayer

UIX

• Added a Customize tab to the Armory Unlocks menu for Calling Cards, Emblems, and other cosmetic items.
• Bug Fixes
  • Fixed an exploit allowing Conversion Kits to be equipped with incompatible Attachments.
  • Voice chat indicators now respect the HUD safe area.
  • Placeholder information is no longer displayed upon unlocking the JAK Decimator Conversion Kit.
  • Fixed an error caused by adding Orion Camo to Tracked Challenges.
  • Fixed an issue causing incorrect Challenge completion targets to be displayed in the Tracker Challenges widget.
  • Corrected the descriptions and pros/cons of several Attachments to accurately reflect their statistics.

Progression

• Added missing Armory Unlock Challenge for the Monolithic Suppressor S Attachment for the Rival-9 Submachine Gun.

Maps

• Dome
  • Fixed an issue preventing the Mosquito Drone Killstreak from targeting enemy players.
• Get High
  • Fixed an issue preventing the Mosquito Drone Killstreak from targeting enemy players.
  • Corrected the flight height of the Counter UAV Killstreak to allow destruction.

Modes

• COD Warrior
  • Fixed an issue causing players to become stuck in a round transition state.
• Free-for-All
  • Fixed an issue causing the Guardian-SC, EMP, and Suppression Mine to not impact enemy players.
• Kill Confirmed
  • Corrected the mode icon displayed during the lobby countdown.

Weapons & Attachments

Assault Rifles

• DG-56
  • Increased lower torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x (+10%).
• M4 (MWII)
  • Removed duplicate VX Pineapple and FSS Sharkfin 90 Underbarrel Attachments.

Battle Rifles

• BAS-B
  • Increased upper leg, lower leg, and foot damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x (+10%).

With the BAS-B, shots that land below the waist now deal damage equal to those that hit the torso.

• MTZ-762
  • Increased maximum damage range from 29.2m to 33m (+13%).
• FTAC Recon (MWII)
  • Increased near-medium damage from 43 to 50 (+16%).
  • Increased medium damage from 41 to 50 (+22%).
  • Increased far-medium damage from 38 to 45 (+18%).
  • Increased minimum damage from 38 to 40 (+5%).

Submachine Guns

• Rival-9
  • JAK Headhunter Carbine Conversion Kit
    • Fixed an issue preventing the Quartermaster Suppressor Muzzle Attachment from properly equipping.

Light Machine Guns

• Pulemyot 762
  • Decreased sprint to fire time from 285ms to 262ms (-8%).
  • Decreased aim down sight time from 450ms to 420ms (-7%).
  • Increased rate of fire from 492rpm to 545rpm (+11%).
  • Increased neck damage multiplier from 1.1x to 1.2x (+10%).
  • Increased lower torso and hand damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x (+10%).
• RPK (MWII)
  • JAK Cataclysm Conversion Kit
    • Increased incoming flinch from 0.17n to 0.68n (+300%).
    • Increased hipfire spread minimum from 3.6deg/s to 10deg/s (+178%).
    • Increased hipfire spread maximum from 9deg/s to 14deg/s (+56%).
    • Increased recoil gun kick from 23.16deg/s to 38.60deg/s (+67%).
    • Increased horizontal recoil from 18.63deg/s to 23.29deg/s (+25%).
    • Increased vertical recoil from 56.45deg/s to 94.08deg/s (+67%).

Marksman Rifles

• MCW 6.8
  • Increase rate of fire from 316rpm to 353rpm (+12%).
  • Increased lower torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.2x (+20%).
• SP-R 208 (MWII)
  • Removed incompatible Paracord Grip Underbarrel Attachment.

Handguns

• P890 (MWII)
  • Akimbo P890 Rear Grip
    • Decrease hipfire spread by 20%.
    • Decrease damage range penalty by 20%.
• .50 GS (MWII)
  • Akimbo .50 GS Rear Grip
    • Decreased hipfire spread by 10%.
    • Decreased damage penalty by 10%.
• X12 (MWII)
  • Akimbo X12 Rear Grip
    • Removed hipfire spread penalty.
    • Removed damage range penalty.
• Basilisk (MWII)
  • Akimbo Basilisk Rear Grip
    • Decreased hipfire spread by 10%.
    • Decreased damage penalty by 10%.
• FTAC Siege (MWII)
  • Akimbo FTAC Siege Rear Grip
    • Decreased hipfire spread by 20%.
    • Decreased damage range penalty by 20%.
• GS Magna (MWII)
  • GS Magna Akimbo Rear Grip
    • Decreased hipfire spread by 10%.
    • Decreased damage penalty by 10%.
• 9mm Daemon (MWII)
  • Akimbo 9mm Daemon Rear Grip
    • Decreased hipfire spread by 10%.
    • Decreased damage penalty by 10%.
• X13 Auto (MWII)
  • Akimbo X13 Rear Grip
    • Decreased hipfire spread by 40%.
    • Decreased damage range penalty by 20%.

Perks

• Infantry Vest
  • Added a second Gear Perk slot.

Note: This change does not apply to Ranked Play.

Killstreaks

• I.M.S.
  • Increased the hitbox size of explosives to further allow counterability.
  • Increased enemy detection radius from 10.2m to 12.7m (+25%).
  • Decreased duration for explosive to reach its vertical apex from 2s to 1.5s (-25%).
• Mortar Strike
  • Fixed an issue preventing announcer voicelines from acknowledging kills.
• Carpet Bomb
  • Fixed an issue preventing announcer voicelines from acknowledging kills.
• Advanced UAV
  • Enemy players equipped with Ghost T/V Camo Gear or Assassin Vest are no longer demoted to a dot indicator on the minimap.

Zombies

UIX

• Bug Fixes
  • Fixed a missing subtitle for Ravenov after killing the Dokkaebi Warlord.

Gameplay

• Fixed an issue causing inconsistent damage in hipfire compared to aiming down sights

Weapons & Attachments

Shotguns

• Reclaimer 18 Pack-a-Punched
  • Removed increased ammunition capacity.
  • Increased damage scale from 2x to 3x.
  • Increased damage range scale from 3x to 4x.

WARZONE

PERFORMANCE

» URZIKSTAN «

• We’ve made adjustments to world geometry to slightly improve content streaming.

MODES

NEW

• Supreme Resurgence
  • Supreme is all about skills. No need to worry about building a loadout here, we’ve crafted it for you.
  • In this mode variant, players will find top-of-the-line ground loot:
    • Only Epic or Legendary items made the cut
    • Noncompetitive items removed:
      • Mines, Shock Stick, Drones, etc.
    • Custom built weapons from the past year
      • FJX Horus, STG44, Kar98k, Superi 46, SVA 545, etc.
    • Custom built nostalgic weapons
      • RPK, TAQ-56, Fennec 45, Cronen Squall, etc.
    • All weapons are wrapped up in the most desirable camos
      • Super Slick, Orion, Interstellar, Borealis, Mercury, etc.
  • Longer countdown but actions reduce it twice as fast
  • Win a Supreme match to earn the unique “Spilled Beans” weapon camo
  • Only available on Rebirth Quads

PLAYLIST

For information about upcoming Playlists, please check out the dedicated Warzone Trello Board.

GENERAL

• Call of Duty Endowment
  • C.O.D.E. Bowl Flyover
    • Look to the skies starting 8/21 across all Warzone maps for a special message from the Call of Duty Endowment!
  • C.O.D.E. Bowl V Presented by USAA
    • Earn up to four in-game rewards for tuning in 8/28 to the Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl V broadcast on Call of Duty’s Twitch and Youtube following Call of Duty: NEXT.

• Personal Records New End of Match Accolade
  • Victory just got a whole lot sweeter! When you win a match of Battle Royale, you’ll now earn a special Accolade if you surpass your personal kill record. For this Accolade only, we’re hitting the reset button with Season 5 Reloaded—everyone starts fresh (but don’t worry, your Combat Records remain untouched).
  • We’re eager to develop this feature further with your input, so get ready to screenshot and brag about your achievements!

GAMEPLAY

NEW

» ALL MAPS | ALL MODES «

• Elite ContractsNew System
  • Elite contracts are an evolution of the classic contract system, offering a greater challenge for a greater reward.
  • Players can expect the same objectives with a considerable reduction (35%) in time to complete them.
  • In addition to normal contract rewards, they also drop:
    • $1,500 per player
    • 80% more experience
    • An Elite Cache containing one of the following
      • Foresight Killstreak
      • Advanced UAV Killstreak
      • Specialist Perk Package
      • Redacted Weapon
  • Additional details:
    • 7% of available contracts will become Elite
    • The game may spawn additional Elite contracts throughout the match
    • Any contract can become Elite except for Most Wanted
    • In Ranked Play, the Elite Cache drops a Legendary Weapon instead of the 4 other normal rewards
    • This feature will be disabled in World Series of Warzone

• Recon FlyoverNew Public Event
  • This new public event spawns 2 large waves of Advanced UAVs over highly populated areas revealing anyone in their path.
  • Players near these Advanced UAVs are tracked live in the tac-map and minimap. Players must venture outside of the effect radius in order to stop being tracked.
  • Ghost and Counter UAVs do not counter the effect of this event.
  • Timing:
  • In Battle Royale, the public event can occur during circle 4.
  • In Resurgence, the public event can occur during circle 2.

ADJUSTED

» ALL MAPS | RESURGENCE «

• Scavenger Contract
  • Contract duration has been decreased to 2m30s, down from 4m.

• Bounty Contest
  • Chances of happening have been reduced to leave room for Recon Flyover.

WEAPONS

NEW WEAPONS

• SpearMelee Weapon
  • Channel your inner spartan with this razor-sharp, serrated spear. This weapon boosts melee reach and can be thrown at enemies.
  • Available mid-season via BP Sector Unlock and Challenge.

• Torque 35 Launcher
  • A combat-ready compound bow with a 60lbs draw weight capable of taking down large prey. Certain types of arrows are retrievable after being fired.
  • Available via mid-season weekly challenge.

NEW AFTERMARKET PARTS

• JAK Deathmarch (Week 6 Challenges)
  
  • Compatibility: BAL-27 Assault Rifle
  • This Aftermarket Part replaces standard ammo with high-voltage power cells and the barrel with a photonic scatter barrel. Fire a spread of lethal laser blasts that take down enemies at short range.

• JAK Devastators (Week 7 Challenges)
  • Compatibility: Reclaimer 18 Shotgun
  • Dual-wield Reclaimer 18 Shotguns and become a mobile artillery barrage with this Aftermarket Part. Accuracy and recoil control are minimal, but destruction is maximized.

ADJUSTED WEAPONS

Assault Rifles

Weapon Adjustments

BAL-27

• Max Damage Range increased to 31.75 meters, up from 26.67.

DG-56

• Lower Torso Modifier increased to 1.1x, up from 1x.

FR 5.56

• Max Damage Range increased to 43.18 meters, up from 38.1.
• Lower Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1.1x, up from 1x.

Holger 556

• Max Damage Range increased to 41.91 meters, up from 36.83.

MCW

• Max Damage Range increased to 36.83 meters, up from 30.48.
• Near-Mid Damage Range increased to 44.45 meters, up from 38.1.
• Mid Damage Range increased to 53.34 meters, up from 48.26.

STG44

• Max Damage decreased to 32, down from 36.

M16 (MWII)

• JAK Patriot Conversion Kit
  • Max Damage Range increased to 30.48 meters, up from 24.9.

Battle Rifles

Weapon Adjustments

BAS-B

• Leg and Foot Modifiers increased to 1.1x, up from 1x.

MTZ-762

• JAK Heretic Carbine Kit
  • Max Damage Range increased to 33.02 meters, up from 27.94.

SOA Subverter

• Max Damage Range increased to 25.4 meters, up from 20.57.

Submachine Guns

Weapon Adjustments

Rival-9

• Max Damage Range increased to 15.24 meters, up from 12.7.

Static-HV

• Mid Damage decreased to 24, down from 25.
• Max Damage Range decreased to 13.97 meters, down from 16.0.
• Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 25.4 meters, down from 30.48.
• Mid Damage Range decreased to 35.56 meters, down from 40.64.
• Headshot Modifier decreased to 1.2x, down from 1.4x.
• Leg and Foot Modifiers decreased to .95x, down from 1x.

Striker

• Max Damage Range increased to 14.48 meters, up from 12.7.
• Near-Mid Damage Range increased to 26.67 meters, up from 24.13.

Lachmann Shroud (MWII)

• JAK Decimator Conversion Kit
  • Max Damage Range increased to 13.46 meters, up from 12.44.

Light Machine Guns

Weapon Adjustments

Pulemyot 762

• Neck Modifier increased to 1.2x, up from 1.1x.
• Lower Torso and Hand Modifiers increased to 1.1x, up from 1x.
• Decreased sprint to fire time to 262ms, down from 285ms .
• Decreased aim down sight time to 420ms, down from 450ms.
• Increased rate of fire to 545rpm, up from 492rpm.

RPK (MWII)

• JAK Cataclysm Conversion Kit
  • Increased incoming flinch to 0.68n, up from 0.17n.
  • Increased hipfire spread minimum to 10deg/s, up from 3.6deg/s.
  • Increased hipfire spread maximum to 14deg/s, up from 9deg/s.
  • Increased recoil gun kick to 38.60deg/s, up from 23.16deg/s.
  • Increased horizontal recoil to 23.29deg/s, up from 18.63deg/s.
  • Increased vertical recoil to 94.08deg/s, up from 56.45deg/s.

Marksman Rifles

Weapon Adjustments

DM56

• Max Damage Range increased to 43.18 meters, up from 36.83.

MCW 6.8

• Increased rate of fire to 353rpm, up from 316rpm.
• Lower Torso Modifier increased to 1.2x, up from 1x.

Handguns

Weapon Adjustments

P890 (MWII)

• Akimbo P890 Rear Grip
  • Decrease hipfire spread by 20%.
  • Decrease damage range penalty by 20%.

.50 GS (MWII)

• Akimbo .50 GS Rear Grip
  • Decreased hipfire spread by 10%.
  • Decreased damage penalty by 10%.

X12 (MWII)

• Akimbo X12 Rear Grip
  • Removed hipfire spread penalty.
  • Removed damage range penalty.

Basilisk (MWII)

• Akimbo Basilisk Rear Grip
  • Decreased hipfire spread by 10%.
  • Decreased damage penalty by 10%.

FTAC Siege (MWII)

• Akimbo FTAC Siege Rear Grip
  • Decreased hipfire spread by 20%.
  • Decreased damage range penalty by 20%.

GS Magna (MWII)

• GS Magna Akimbo Rear Grip
  • Decreased hipfire spread by 10%.
  • Decreased damage penalty by 10%.

9mm Daemon (MWII)

• Akimbo 9mm Daemon Rear Grip
  • Decreased hipfire spread by 10%.
  • Decreased damage penalty by 10%.

X13 Auto (MWII)

• Akimbo X13 Rear Grip
  • Decreased hipfire spread by 40%.
  • Decreased damage range penalty by 20%.

BUG FIXES

• Fixed an issue with Trophy Systems causing Bunker Buster to become unusable for the duration of a match.

• Fixed an issue allowing players to fall from higher than intended without taking damage.

• Fixed an issue preventing the Most Wanted progress indicator from being reduced when opening crates.

• Fixed an issue preventing Ammo Depots from appearing on the map.

• Fixed an issue causing certain shotgun ammunition attachments to use AR/LMG ammo instead of shotgun ammo.

• Fixed a rare issue that would cause the Runaway Train public event to happen when the train was too far for players to reach.

• Fixed an issue causing the 2x multiplier banner on the tac-map to persist after the Contractor public event has ended.