Best MW4 Loadouts: Modern Warfare 4 Classes, Perks and Attachments

Best MW4 loadouts at a glance

This table is a starting point, not a complete list of strong classes. The tier placements come from WZStats and CODMunity, which rank guns from their own weapon stats and testing; they are not pick-rate data.

Loadout	What it's for	How it plays	Weapon unlock (Dexerto)
ISO Nightshade	Close quarters and objective rushes	Fast, aggressive	From the start
M4	Most maps, leveling attachments	Flexible, forgiving	Player level 14
Kastov 762	Mid-range lanes and defending	Slower, deliberate	Player level 34
Krait P68 (secondary)	A backup for every class	Emergency only	Player level 7

The meta has already moved since launch. CODMunity's November 10 list also puts the VEL 46, Hyeon Burst, Cronen Osprey and KG-7 Vulcan in its top tier, so if one of those suits you better, our MW4 weapons tier list covers them in depth. This page sticks to the three classes most players build first.

How perks and Create-a-Class work in Modern Warfare 4

Perks return to a Pick 3 system, with six choices in each of three slots (GameLeap, summarizing Infinity Ward's unlock post). You take exactly one perk from each slot, so a class with Blood Rush can't also run Ninja or Fast Hands. Third-party builds sometimes list two perks from the same slot; when that happens, keep the one you value most and fill the empty slot from a different column.

Perk 1	Perk 2	Perk 3
Quick Fix (start)	Blood Rush (start)	Scavenger (start)
Overkill (start)	Bomb Squad (start)	Battle Hardened (level 28)
High Alert (level 16)	Fast Hands (level 12)	Tracker (level 32)
Ghost (level 24)	Ninja (level 20)	Cold-Blooded
Resupply	Hardline	Combat Grid
Kill Chain	Birdseye	Lethal Reach

Slots and unlock levels come from Dexerto's MW4 wiki; "start" means the perk is ready as soon as Create-a-Class opens. We left out unlock levels we couldn't confirm. Each loadout also carries its own killstreak set, and every gun has five attachment slots. An Apex attachment, which unlocks late in a weapon's leveling, doesn't use one of those five (Dexerto). Our Apex attachments guide explains each one.

Best ISO Nightshade loadout: best SMG loadout in MW4

This is the class for players who want to sprint into contested rooms and keep moving. Of the SMGs, the ISO Nightshade is the one both stat sites rank first right now. CODMunity's Season 1 data gives its multiplayer builds a 260 ms time to kill from 0 to 10 meters and 398 ms from 10 to 40 meters, so it wins close fights and starts to fade past that. Play it on the objective, where the perks below pay off.

Slot	Pick	Unlock (Dexerto)
Primary	ISO Nightshade	Start
Secondary	Krait P68	Level 7
Melee	Knife	Not listed
Tactical	Flash Grenade	Start
Lethal	Sticky Grenade (Semtex)	Start
Field Upgrade	Portable Radar	Start
Perk 1	Quick Fix	Start
Perk 2	Blood Rush	Start
Perk 3	Scavenger	Start
Headline killstreak	UAV (4 kills)	Start

Every piece of this class with a listed unlock is available from the first Create-a-Class, which is why it works as a first build. All three classes on this page keep the Knife in the melee slot; Dexerto's wiki doesn't give it an unlock level, so we left that cell as not listed.

Why these perks and equipment

Quick Fix starts your health regenerating the moment you get a kill or capture or hold an objective. That means you aren't left low on health after a won fight while you wait for regeneration to begin. Blood Rush lengthens your Tactical Sprint, speeds up crouched movement and restores stamina after each elimination. Together they let you win one fight and walk straight into the next with full health and a sprint ready. Scavenger makes enemies drop an ammo cache when they die (launcher ammo excluded), which matters on a gun that empties its magazine fast. If you'd rather read the enemy's routes, swap it for Tracker at level 32, which shows enemy footprints and death markers.

The Flash Grenade blinds and deafens anyone in its blast, which is the opening you want before you round a corner. The Sticky Grenade is a timed grenade that sticks where it lands, good for clearing a player hiding behind cover on a flag. Portable Radar sends out a regular ping that reveals nearby enemies, so drop it next to the objective you plan to fight over rather than in a quiet corner of the map. The UAV at 4 kills shows enemy positions on the minimap for your team.

Example: in Domination you take B, plant the Portable Radar on the flag and wait for its ping. Two enemies show up on the stairs, you flash the doorway and trade into both. Quick Fix starts your health coming back while you're still on the point.

Best ISO Nightshade attachments

WZStats' Versatile build is the Season 1 setup for most of your games. It doesn't give up range for hipfire or speed.

Attachment slot	Attachment	Weapon level
Muzzle	XRK Herder 40	17
Barrel	ZLR Carbon-900	41
Underbarrel	FSS Tac90 Grip	55
Rear Grip	Demo STP-1	6
Laser	Schlager Visiv-5	43

The FSS Tac90 Grip at 55 is the last piece you'll unlock. While you level, run WZStats' Low Level build instead: FSS Crackdown muzzle (4), ZLR Mag-Z 9" barrel (2), Demo STP-1 rear grip (6), GI-80 Milspec Stock (16) and 9mm Parabellum Frangible ammunition (8). It's complete by weapon level 16. The ISO Nightshade maxes at weapon level 64, where its Apex attachment, the ISO Trace, unlocks (Dexerto; CODMunity).

Best M4 loadout: best overall MW4 loadout

If you only build one class, build this one. The M4 handles close fights well enough and mid-range fights better, and the patch history shows Infinity Ward pushing it up rather than down: a 3% longer close-damage range on October 28, then another 8% of close-damage range and 4% more headshot damage in the Season 1 patch dated November 5 (WZStats patch history). It's also a sensible gun to level first, because attachments you unlock carry over to other weapons that use them, as our tier list explains.

Slot	Pick	Unlock (Dexerto)
Primary	M4	Level 14
Secondary	Krait P68	Level 7
Melee	Knife	Not listed
Tactical	Snapshot Grenade	Level 10
Lethal	Zip Gun	Level 17
Field Upgrade	Riot Shield	Level 8
Perk 1	Ghost	Level 24
Perk 2	Fast Hands	Level 12
Perk 3	Tracker	Level 32
Headline killstreak	Attack Helicopter (10 kills)	Level 38

Until you reach the higher levels, run Quick Fix, Ninja and Scavenger, the perk set WZStats suggests for the M4. All three are legal together, since each sits in a different slot.

Why these perks and equipment

Fast Hands speeds up reloads, weapon swaps and equipment use. That suits a gun you'll use at every range, because you'll swap and reload more often than with a specialist weapon. Ghost keeps you hidden from several enemy reconnaissance tools, which matters more as lobbies start calling in UAVs. Tracker shows enemy footprints and death markers and hides kill markers, so you can follow a flanker without guessing. For a quieter class, put Ninja in Perk 2 in place of Fast Hands: it cuts the range at which enemies hear your footsteps.

The Snapshot Grenade gives your team a brief look at enemies close to where it lands, so you can check a building or a flag before pushing it. The Zip Gun is a 3D-printed single-use pistol you can bring out quickly for a close-range kill when your rifle is empty. The Riot Shield here is a field upgrade, not a weapon: a placeable shield that can be destroyed, used to cover an objective or a lane. The Attack Helicopter at 10 kills is a support helicopter that tracks targets from above.

Best M4 attachments

WZStats' Versatile build skips the optic and spends all five slots on handling, which keeps the M4 flexible instead of turning it into a slow lane-holder.

Attachment slot	Attachment	Weapon level
Muzzle	FSS IS300	4
Underbarrel	FSS Fireline Grip	38
Rear Grip	ZLR Phase Grip	55
Stock	ZLR ASP50 Stock	44
Laser	SA LAZ-500	24

If the iron sights bother you, give up one handling attachment for an optic. You'll play better with a sight picture you like than with a theoretically better build. The ZLR Phase Grip at 55 is the last unlock here. Before that, use WZStats' Low Level build: Slimline Elite optic (13), FSS IS300 muzzle (4), PF1 Fixed Stock (14), SZ Gen.6 PEQ laser (2), plus 5.56 NATO Overpressured ammunition (3). At weapon level 72 the M4 Hurricane Apex unlocks, which WZStats pairs with the IOTA-D optic (66) and the Hurricane Stock (72). That changes the rifle into a different, closer-range gun, so treat it as a separate class rather than an upgrade.

Best Kastov 762 loadout: the heavy-hitting AR

The Kastov 762 is for players who would rather land the first three shots than out-sprint everyone. It hits harder per bullet than the M4 and kicks harder too, so it rewards holding a lane, pre-aiming a doorway and firing first. It punishes missed shots and messy close-range scrambles more than the M4 does, so play it a step further back.

Slot	Pick	Unlock (Dexerto)
Primary	Kastov 762	Level 34
Secondary	Krait P68	Level 7
Melee	Knife	Not listed
Tactical	Concussion Grenade	Level 15
Lethal	Sticky Grenade (Semtex)	Start
Field Upgrade	Trophy System	Level 14
Perk 1	High Alert	Level 16
Perk 2	Bomb Squad	Start
Perk 3	Battle Hardened	Level 28
Headline killstreak	Artillery Beacon (6 kills)	Start

Why these perks and equipment

This class is built to survive, not to move fast. Bomb Squad gives you extra protection against explosives, and the Trophy System destroys up to three incoming airborne projectiles. On a flag that gets spammed with grenades, that pair keeps you alive long enough to use the rifle. High Alert warns you when an enemy you can't see spots you, and Battle Hardened reduces the effect of enemy tactical equipment, so a flash or concussion doesn't end your hold. If you want more speed, swap Bomb Squad for Blood Rush; both are Perk 2, so you can't run them together.

The Concussion Grenade goes off when it hits the ground and leaves nearby enemies inaccurate, with blurred vision. Throw it before you challenge a held angle. The Sticky Grenade clears players out of cover. The Artillery Beacon at 6 kills calls in heat-seeking missiles that home in on the beacon you throw, which is useful for clearing a point you're about to take back.

Example: your team holds the high ground in Hardpoint. You sit behind the Trophy System and High Alert warns you of a flanker, so you turn before he fires. The Kastov's damage per shot wins the trade, and his teammates' grenades never reach you.

Best Kastov 762 attachments

WZStats has three Season 1 Multiplayer builds for the Kastov 762. Low Recoil is the best fit for this class because it keeps an optic for mid-range work.

Attachment slot	Attachment	Weapon level
Optic	Cronen Zero-K	35
Muzzle	FT Hyperport 408	16
Barrel	Haebang MT-414mm	14
Underbarrel	FSS Fireline Grip	3
Stock	Spetsnaz S10 Stock	19

This build is complete at weapon level 35, much sooner than the beta-era builds that waited on a level 61 barrel. If you want more movement, WZStats' Mobility version keeps the Cronen Zero-K and FT Hyperport 408 but uses the TT 414-R Hightac barrel (2), the Kastov Dogfighter 27 stock (42) and the Schlager Visiv-5 laser (30). Its Versatile build is the late-game one. It's built around the Kastov ARC Apex (listed at weapon level 71 by both WZStats and CODMunity) with the Ivanov QR600 muzzle (65), FSS Fireline Grip (3), Hanbit Techgrip (4), Spetsnaz S10 Stock (19) and Schlager Visiv-5 (30). Don't wait for that before you play the gun. The Low Recoil build already does the job.

Best Krait P68 secondary build

Every class on this page carries the Krait P68. A pistol is a backup here, for when your primary is empty mid-fight. With the ISO Nightshade you'll switch to it when you can't reload in time. With either rifle, it covers the moment an enemy rounds a corner at arm's length. If you'd rather carry two main guns, Overkill in Perk 1 lets you equip a second primary, but it takes the slot Quick Fix, Ghost or High Alert would use. The Krait sits in B tier on CODMunity's list, and its Season 1 changes added damage range and lower-torso damage (WZStats patch history).

Attachment slot	Attachment	Weapon level
Apex	Krait P68 Commando	38
Muzzle	SFO Proto-33	29
Barrel	XRK DOC-40 6"	23
Rear Grip	Magtac .45	5
Laser	GW 700-V	20
Trigger Action	P68 Tapper 9	33

This is WZStats' only Season 1 Multiplayer build for the pistol. The Magtac .45 comes first at level 5, then the GW 700-V and XRK DOC-40 6", with the Commando Apex last at 38. The Commando gives the pistol an off-hand knife; our Apex guide covers how it works.

Don't put time into the Krait before your main guns have the attachments they need. You'll get most of your kills with the primary, so finish that build first and level the pistol along the way.

How to choose the best MW4 loadout for each map and mode

Save all three classes so you can switch between lives rather than rebuilding one class every time the map changes. As a rule of thumb:

• Small maps and fast objective modes: ISO Nightshade; its Quick Fix plus Blood Rush pairing does most of the work.
• Maps with a mix of ranges, and most 6v6 modes: the M4, because it handles both short and medium fights.
• Long sightlines and defensive objectives: the Kastov 762 behind the Trophy System.

Change perks before you rebuild a gun. Rotating Blood Rush, Ninja and Fast Hands through Perk 2 makes a class feel very different without forcing you to learn a new recoil pattern. Do the same with field upgrades: Portable Radar suits hunting for players, the Trophy System suits holding ground, and the Riot Shield suits covering a fixed spot. Then check your results screen after a few matches and keep the version that won more fights.

A quick fill-in check helps: "This class lost most of its fights at ___ range, so next match I'll try ___ in Perk ___."

Our guide to leveling fast in MW4 covers how to reach the perk and weapon unlocks above sooner. For the related service categories, see the Call of Duty hub.

Want a hand with this?

If you'd rather not grind out every attachment unlock yourself, MW4 weapon leveling is listed on FullBoosts, along with other Call of Duty weapon leveling services. Read the publisher's rules before you buy any service from anyone, FullBoosts included. A marketplace listing isn't publisher permission.

FAQ

What is the best loadout in Modern Warfare 4? For most players it's the M4 class. It works at close and medium range and was buffed in both post-launch patches. The ISO Nightshade is better if nearly all your fights are close, and the Kastov 762 suits players who prefer a slower, harder-hitting rifle.

What is the best SMG loadout in MW4? The ISO Nightshade with WZStats' Versatile build, plus Quick Fix, Blood Rush and Scavenger. Portable Radar on the objective and a Flash Grenade for doorways round it out, and everything except the attachments is available from the first Create-a-Class.

What is the best assault rifle loadout in MW4? Start with the M4, since it fits more maps and playstyles. Move to the Kastov 762 once you're comfortable with heavier recoil and want more damage per shot. Note that CODMunity now ranks the Hyeon Burst and Cronen Osprey above both.

What are the best perks for MW4 loadouts? It depends on the class, but Quick Fix, Ghost, Blood Rush, Fast Hands, Ninja, Bomb Squad, Battle Hardened and Scavenger all have a place. MW4 uses a Pick 3 system with one perk per slot, so plan the trio slot by slot rather than grabbing the three you like most.

What is the best secondary weapon for MW4 loadouts? We use the Krait P68, which every class here uses as its backup. It unlocks at player level 7, and WZStats' build finishes with the Krait P68 Commando Apex at weapon level 38.

Will more Modern Warfare 4 loadouts be added? Almost certainly. Each season brings new weapons and balance changes, and the Cronen Osprey is already a Season 1 addition. Check a build's season label on WZStats or CODMunity before you copy it, and expect this list to change with each patch.

Related guides

• Modern Warfare 4 best weapons tier list
• Modern Warfare 4 Apex attachments explained
• How to level up fast in Modern Warfare 4
• Best Modern Warfare 4 controller settings
• How to unlock all mastery camos in MW4