Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2 Season 3 patch notes: Playlists, weapon buffs, nerfs & everything added

Modern Warfare 2 & Warzone 2 Season 3 patch notes: Playlists, weapon buffs, nerfs & everything added
Images via Activision

Written by 

Tarran Stockton

Published 

12th Apr 2023 19:12

You may want to know the Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 patch notes, so you can still all the big and small changes that have come to the game this season. 

Modern Warfare 2 has been a hit since its launch in November 2022, and so far every season has changed big parts of the game, adding new maps, modes, weapons, and more. If you are looking forward to playing the game throughout this season, check out the Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 patch notes below.

Modern Warfare 2 Season 3 patch notes

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 early patch notes
Click to enlarge

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 launched on April 12, where the majority of the content seen in the roadmap has come to fruition. 

Maps

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 early patch notes maps
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As part of Season 3, the game will see three new core 6v6 maps and two battle maps joining the line-up. Pelayo's Lighthouse, Black Gold, and Alboran Hatchery are the new core maps, while Sattiq Cave Complex and Rohan Oil are the battle maps. 

Due to the addition of the Gunfight mode, there is also a new map rotation consisting of Alley, Blacksite, Shipment, and Exhibit.

Another core 6v6 map will be coming in MW2 Season 3 too, but Alboran Hatchery won't be available until the mid-season event five weeks in. 

Modes

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 early patch notes modes
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Along with Gunfight, which is a 2v2 mode on smaller maps, three other modes will be added to the game. These are:

  • Cranked - This is TDM, but every time you gain a kill a countdown will appear above your head, forcing you to get another before it ticks down and you die. 
  • Face Off - A small team-based 3v3 mode that will be added in during mid-season. 
  • Ground War Infected - Typically Infected, but on larger battle maps with more players

The Ranked Play mode will have more rewards for players to earn from the beginning of Season 3. Here are the criteria for earning the rewards, along with the rewards themselves:

  • Season 03 Competitor Sticker - Win 5 ranked matches
  • Pro Issue TAQ-56 Weapon Blueprint - Win 10 ranked matches
  • "Top Dog" Weapon Charm - Win 25 ranked matches
  • "Tippable" Weapon Vinyl - Win 50 ranked matches
  • Ranked Play Season 03 Loading Screen - Win 75 ranked matches
  • Season 03 Ranked Play Veteran Camo - Win 100 ranked matches

Raid Episode 03 will also be available from the middle of the season. 

Warzone 2 Season 3 Patch Notes

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 early patch notes warzone
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Warzone will also be seeing some new changes, alterations, and content for Season 3. For starters, Massive Resurgence will be available in Al Mazrah from the start of the season, as a brand-new mode, offering chaos and plenty of XP. 

The Warzone Massive Resurgence playlists are:

  • Trios
    • Max Players: 150
    • Assimilation: Off
  • Quads
    • Max Players: 152
    • Assimilation: Off

Resurgence will continue to be playable on Ashika Island too, with Solos, Duos, and Quads available.

Plunder will become available again in Warzone Season 3 letting you and your team make a mad dash to find cash. However, the popular game mode and weapon-levelling simulator won't be around until the mid-season update.

New features such as deploying drones, Tempered Plat Carriers, perk packages, and UAV towers have also been added to the core Warzone 2 experience. 

For those competitive gamers out there, ranked play will also be added from the middle of the season. 

  • We've also covered the MW2 gyro aiming, if you want to check out how to use it on PlayStation. 

DMZ Season 2 Patch Notes

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 early patch notes dmz
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DMZ is set to receive its biggest changes yet, with some new systems in place, updates, and more.

The barter system has been added, letting you trade with an NPC on the map for new items. You can also now find workbenches near Buy Stations, which allow you to modify contraband weapons for a cash fee. 

Instead of having the one Operator you can pick in DMZ, the new Active Duty Operator slots will allow you to create multiple characters to use when the situation calls for it. 

Redacted comes as yet another faction in DMZ too, joining White Lotus as the post-launch squads.

Along with the changes detailed above, Season 3 of DMZ will see new missions and remixed versions of old missions, new bosses to fight, new plate carries (Tempered, Revive, Comms, and Stealth), a new backpack system (Secure and Scavenger), an Active Duty armour slot, and a Skeleton Key to unlock any door in DMZ. 

General 

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 early patch notes general
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For more general changes, two new Operators: Alejandro and El Sin Nombre herself are being added for you to play as in MW2 and Warzone 2. These can both be accessed from the battle pass. 

The sniper rifle class of weapons will see a familiar face joining the lineup as the FJX imperium is the Intervention reincarnated, which will also be one of three one-shot snipers in the game. 

Finally, the newest battle pass is here, adding over 100 rewards for players to earn across the season. Rewards include up to 1400 COD Points, a Pro-Tuned weapon blueprint, vehicle skin, finishing move, and much more. 

The Battle Pass is also getting a BlackCell upgrade, which offers 12 more skins and a massive influx of CoD Points.

MW2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 Weapon Patch Notes

As usual, a huge number of weapons have been altered, with the hope that the meta, specifically in Warzone 2, will shift.

All of the weapon changes in Season 3 are as follows:

ISO Hemlock

  • All damage ranges reduced
  • Lower torso damage reduced

M13B

  • Headshot and lower torso damage increased
  • Mid-range damage distance increased
  • Upper Torso damage slightly reduced

STB 556

  • Headshot, leg, and lower torso damage increased
  • Mid-range damage distance increased
  • Mid-range damage reduced

TAQ-56

  • Headshot damage decreased

FTAC Recon

  • Movement speed increased
  • Semi-Auto leg and upper torso damage increased
  • Semi-Auto minimum armour damage increased (Warzone 2 only)

Lachmann 762

  • Movement speed increased

SO-14

  • Movement speed increased
  • Semi-Auto minimum armor damage increased (Warzone 2 only)

TAQ-V

  • Movement speed increased
  • Semi-Auto lower leg damage increased
  • Minimum armor damage increased (Warzone 2 only)

Basilisk

  • Minimum Armor damage reduced (Warzone 2 only)

RAAL MG

  • Headshot damage reduced
  • Semi-Auto headshot, upper torso, and lower torso damage increased
  • Minimum armor damage added to Semi-Auto firing mode (Warzone 2 only)

RPK

  • Close-mid damage slightly reduced

Tempus Torrent

  • All damage ranges reduced slightly
  • Close-mid damage reduced slightly
  • Headshot damage reduced

BAS-P

  • ADS move speed increased
  • All damage ranges increased
  • Minimum armor damage added to Semi-Auto firing mode (Warzone 2 only)

Lachmann Sub

  • Headshot damage decreased
  • Burst-Fire leg and torso damage increased
  • Burst-Fire time between shots decreased

MX9

  • Sprint to Fire Speed increased

Vaznev-9K

  • Headshot damage decreased

VEL 46

  • Headshot damage decreased

That's all for our breakdown of the Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 Season 3 patch notes, and now you know all the changes and newest additions to the season.

For more on Call of Duty, be sure to check out our rundown of the best weapons in Warzone 2, as well as our guides for the DMZ mode.

Tarran Stockton
About the author
Tarran Stockton
Tarran is a Senior Guides Writer at GGRecon. He previously wrote reviews for his college newspaper before studying Media and Communication at university. His favourite genres include role-playing games, strategy games, and boomer shooters - along with anything indie. You can also find him in the pit at local hardcore shows.
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