Best Assault Rifles in MW3 Ranked

The assault rifle in Modern Warfare 3 is by far the most important class in the game due to its immense versatility. They dominate mid-range battles but can be tweaked for close or even long-range encounters, as seen with the best assault rifles in MW3 ranked below.

6. FR 5.56

First up for the best assault rifles in MW3 is the FR 5.56. This 3-burst weapon is decent with the right loadout tweaks, especially when it comes to closer-range encounters. However, there is a much better burst AR lower on this list.

5. SVA 545

The SVA 545 is the default assault rifle every player can access at the beginning game, and it is solid. Its unique feature of the first two rounds firing nearly like a burst weapon makes it great in the right hands, and it has a pretty balanced nature. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do any one particular thing extremely well.

4. DG-58

This is by far the better of the two burst ARs to use in MW3. Its incredible accuracy and range make it a beast in distant encounters. It takes considerable skill to use, but it is one of the best in the category when used by the right players.

3. MTZ-556

This is by far the fastest AR in the category. It can almost double as an SMG with the right attachments, which makes it great for close-up encounters. I recommend this one to players who want to be deadly up close but also have some mid-range success.

2. MCW

The MCW is the quintessential stereotypical AR, like the ACR rifle from past games. It is the dominator when it comes to mid-range, but it has the potential to fire at longer ranges as well. It is unshakeable in its recoil, making it a viable weapon for all players.

1. Holger 556

The Holger 556 is what I like to call the do-it-all assault rifle. This AR excels at anything and everything. It is brilliant at mid-range and solid enough at longer ranges, but it has the potential to fire quite fast in close-range combat as well. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it is overpowered and in need of a nerf, but it comes close.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.