MW3 Ranked set for big map pool switch-up ahead of CDL Major 2

After just half a season of gameplay in Modern Warfare 3, the Ranked map pool is already getting quite tedious, with Terminal being heavily criticised by players.

Terminal currently sits in the competitive pool on both Hardpoint and Search and Destroy but has been dubbed as the worst map in both modes, while Invasion and Karachi appear to be much more popular.

So, with an influx of new maps in Modern Warfare 3 from Season 1 Reloaded and now Season 2, there appears to be a reshuffle going on in the Ranked map pool, courtesy of the Call of Duty League pros.

Rio set to replace Terminal in Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Hardpoint pool

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The current MW3 Ranked format is based entirely on the Call of Duty professional scene, whose ruleset is mirrored in the playlist to create the most intense gameplay possible.

This has now led to the map pool being revisited after the last CDL Major, which was played on the pre-S1 Reloaded patch, with the professional players trying out Rio in practices, and will continue to experiment with Vista and Departures when they arrive in the game in Season 2.

Already, Terminal appears to have been given the dumping too, as Rio is set to be implemented into the Hardpoint rotation ahead of Major 2, which kicks off on February 16.

With Vista and Departures also coming into play, these maps will be tested in scrims too, although they will likely only be added to the pool, rather than replace existing maps, now that Terminal appears to be axed for Hardpoint.

As for Search and Destroy, that's another matter...

MW3 Ranked Search and Destroy maps get surprising update

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Although Terminal remains a very unpopular map in Search and Destroy, the pro players appear to have opted to keep it in the map pool, even though Rio is set to join the pool here too.

Popular CDL player and current reigning Major champion Thomas "Scrappy" Ernst took to Twitter to say, "Rio SND came in for Skidrow…. Hopefully, you guys are all excited for a year full of Terminal!!!"

Here though, Vista and Departures could both knock Terminal out if they play well, which would come as quite a welcome addition for fans.

The map pool will stay as it is for Season 2's launch, but will soon be updated to reflect the professional scene as they lock in their Major 2 rules next week.