There is a brand-new Gear and Perks system in MW3 that is quite different from what fans of the series have come to expect.
Doing away with the Perk Packages system in MW2, Perks are now tied to individual Gear pieces in your loadout in Modern Warfare 3.
Below, we go over how the new Perk system works as well as the effects of all Vests, Boots, Gloves, and Gear you can equip in MW3.
All Gear & Perks in MW3
Players will be able to choose to equip Vests, Boots, Gloves, and Gear in their loadouts in MW3. Each has its own Perks and abilities.
The four types of equipment you can equip and what they do in Modern Warfare 3 are:
- Vests:
- Vests provide the most significant changes to gameplay, affecting elements such as reload speed, Field Upgrades, and Tac Sprint duration.
- Gloves:
- Gloves affect how quick you are to the draw and have an impact on weapon swap speed and reloading.
- Boots:
- Boots offer players Perks based on mobility and speed. They affect slide distance, movement while aiming down sights, and the sound from footsteps.
- Gear:
- Gear contains a wider variety of items that affect things such as Killstreaks, damage reduction, and combat noise reduction.
Here’s a full list of all the Gear and equipment Perks and how to unlock them in Modern Warfare 3:
Vest Perks in MW3
| Vest Type | Abilities | Level Requirement to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Infantry Vest | – Increases Tac Sprint duration and reduces refresh time. Duplicate effects do not stack. If equipped with Running Sneakers, gain the effects of Lightweight Boots. | Level 4 |
| Engineer Vest | – Spot enemy equipment, Field Upgrades, and Killstreaks through walls. Aiming down sights highlights them for the team. – Faster Field Upgrade recharge. | Level 10 |
| Gunner Vest | – Deploy with max ammo. – Improved reload speed Duplicate effects do not stack. If equipped with Mag Holster, gain the effects of Mission Comlink. | Level 20 |
| Demolition Vest | – Resupply Lethal and Tactical equipment every 25 seconds. | Level 30 |
Gloves Perks in MW3
| Gloves Type | Abilities | Level Requirement to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Quick-Grip Gloves | – Increased weapon swap speed. | Level 4 |
| Scavenger Gloves | – Resupply ammo and throwing knives from dead players. | Level 5 |
| Commando Gloves | – Reload while sprinting. | Level 19 |
Boots Perks in MW3
| Boots Type | Abilities | Level Requirement to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight Boots | – Increases movement and swim speed. Reduces noise while swimming. | Level 4 |
| Climbing Boots | – Increased climbing and mantling speed. Reduces fall damage. | Level 19 |
| Stalker Boots | – Increased strafe and ADS movement speed. | Level 15 |
| Tactical Pads | – Increases slide distance and allows for full ADS while sliding. – Increases stance transition speeds and crouch movement speeds. | Level 17 |
| Covert Sneakers | – Eliminates footstep sounds. | Level 27 |
Gear Perks in MW3
| Gear Type | Abilities | Level Requirement to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| EOD Padding | – Reduces damage from non-killstreak explosives and fire. | Level 4 |
| Tac Mask | – Reduces strength of enemy flash, stun, and gas grenades. Immunity to shock, EMP, and Snapshot Grenades. | Level 4 |
| Mission Control Comlink | – Reduce Killstreak cost by one [1] kill. Reduce Scorestreak cost by 125. | Level 11 |
| Bone Conduction Headset | – Reduces combat noise, allowing improved identification of enemy footsteps and gunshots. | Level 13 |
| L/R Detector | – Warns of hostile laser and radiation sources. | Level 22 |
| Ghost T/V Camo | – While moving, blocks detection by UAVs, enemy radar sources, and Heartbeat Sensors. | Level 29 |
How Do Perks & Gear Work in MW3?
In Modern Warfare 3, Perks are now assigned to Vests, Gloves, Boots, and Gear that grant a variety of buffs and bonuses in multiplayer while equipped.
Each equipment type has its own equipment category in the loadout screen:
The new Gear and Perks system was revealed in an extensive blog post from Activision, where they went over in detail how the Gear you equip in your loadout will grant your MW3 Operator “Perk-like” abilities.
Equip the Perks, Gear, and Equipment that fit your playstyle in #MW3 multiplayer
— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) October 5, 2023
💪Perks are active from the moment a match begins until it ends
🧤Perks are divided into Gloves, Boots and Gear that grant unique combat capabilities
🦺 Select a distinct vest for additional… pic.twitter.com/1jR4ZnpDtY
All equipable Gear pieces do not modify or change your in-game appearance, only affecting your playstyle depending on the Perks associated with them.
For more of what’s new with Modern Warfare 3, be sure to check out our guide on the Tac-Stance shooting and movement mechanic here!