Graves is back in MW3 - here's why

The charismatic Commander Graves may have been a villain in MW2, but he became an instant fan-favourite with the community - and he's back in Modern Warfare 3.

As anyone who played the campaign of Modern Warfare 2 will know, his treacherous betrayal concludes with a tank battle, where Task Force 141 takes their revenge against Graves by killing him. Well, that's what they think anyway, as he didn't stay dead for very long.

Let's break down why Graves is back and alive in the game, and more importantly, how he survived the tank battle at the end of MW2.

How is Graves still alive in Modern Warfare 3?

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Graves was never inside the tank at the end of Modern Warfare 2, and was instead controlling it remotely from a safe location.

This was revealed during a cinematic that arrived with MW2 and Warzone Season 5, where Alex claims he heard Graves "died in a tank in South America."

In response, Graves reveals with a smug grin that he "wasn't in that tank," meaning Task Force 141 never managed to get their revenge.

Given Graves' actions back in MW2, a lot of players will be surprised to see him back as an ally in MW3, even if he survived. However, for certain characters in the story, Graves and Shadow Company offer too many useful resources to be ignored.

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Graves' appearance in Modern Warfare 3 has divided the Call of Duty community, with some over the moon that the fan-favourite character is alive, and others disappointed as they feel it makes MW2's story less satisfying.

Either way, the Shadow Company commander is back in MW3 and plays a major role in the story. While he may have survived the tank battle, it's unlikely anyone is going to trust his word again.

So, that's why Graves is in Modern Warfare 3 and how he survived the ending of MW2. Now you're fully caught up on Graves' backstory, why not learn how to unlock Zombie Ghost ahead of launch? Don't forget to check out our MW3 homepage for all the latest CoD guides, news, and explainers.