How to Unlock All COD Modern Warfare 4 Weapons

Quick answer: All 33 weapons in Modern Warfare 4 unlock through Player Level progression — no challenges, no Battle Pass required. Create-a-Class opens at Level 4, giving you nine starter weapons. The rest unlock one or two at a time up to Level 55, where the Cronen Squall finishes the set.

MW4 launches with 33 weapons total — 24 primaries, 8 secondaries, 1 melee
Nine weapons unlock immediately at Player Level 4 when Create-a-Class opens
Every remaining weapon unlocks through leveling up — no challenge unlocks needed
The last weapon, Cronen Squall (Assault Rifle), unlocks at Level 55
More weapons will arrive later via seasonal Battle Passes and events
Weapons are available in both Multiplayer and DMZ
Fully leveling a weapon unlocks its unique Apex Attachment

Table of Contents

How Weapon Unlocks Work in COD Modern Warfare 4

Every weapon in Modern Warfare 4 is available through leveling, with no challenge, store bundle, or Battle Pass tier required. As you earn XP and advance your Player Level, guns unlock at set levels.

This is the cleanest unlock system COD has had in years. You play, you level, you unlock. That’s it. Additional weapons will arrive later via seasonal Battle Passes and events.

The weapon unlock system is available across DMZ and Multiplayer modes, and you can keep track of it from the Progression menu. While the progression for the two modes is separate, the core method remains the same.

You can grab the game on Steam, PlayStation Store, or Xbox.

How to Unlock All COD Modern Warfare 4 Weapons

COD Modern Warfare 4 Starter Weapons at Player Level 4

At Player Level 4, Create-a-Class opens and you get one weapon in every class at the same moment. These are your starting weapons — one per class, ready to use right away.

Han 86 — Assault Rifle
ISO Nightshade — SMG
Rezi 12 — Shotgun
Finn LMG — LMG
MAR-9 — Marksman Rifle
KG-7 Vulcan — Sniper Rifle
SANG 9mm — Pistol
PILA — Launcher
FSS Carbon Edge 1095 — Melee Knife

That covers every weapon class from the very start. You are never stuck with nothing to use.

How to Unlock All Assault Rifles in Modern Warfare 4

There are eight assault rifles in MW4, and the Cronen Squall is the last one, unlocking at Level 55. ARs are the most stacked class in the game, and they will keep drip-feeding you new options all the way to the level cap.

Han 86 — Player Level 4
M4 — Player Level 14
Hyeon Burst — Player Level 21
Patriot XMR — Player Level 27
Kastov 762 — Player Level 34
Oden — Player Level 39
Axion — Player Level 52
Cronen Squall — Player Level 55

How to Unlock All SMGs in Modern Warfare 4

SMGs have 5 weapons and the class is complete at Level 34. If you like aggressive, fast-paced play, you will have a solid SMG pool by the mid-30s.

ISO Nightshade — Player Level 4
VEL 46 — Player Level 13
Wz.55 Striga — Player Level 21
PPSh-41 — Player Level 27
X-58 Nyx — Player Level 34

How to Unlock All Shotguns in Modern Warfare 4

There are only two shotguns in MW4 at launch. The good news is one is free. The second one comes at Level 32 and that wraps up the class completely.

Rezi 12 — Player Level 4
Warlord — Player Level 32

How to Unlock All LMGs in Modern Warfare 4

LMGs have 3 weapons and the class is complete at Level 44. The APOC-338 is the late reward for players who grind into the 40s.

Finn LMG — Player Level 4
Type 73 — Player Level 9
APOC-338 — Player Level 44

How to Unlock All Marksman Rifles in Modern Warfare 4

Three marksman rifles fill the gap between ARs and snipers. The Mosin-Nagant is the late unlock here at Level 36.

MAR-9 — Player Level 4
Oris 8.6 — Player Level 11
Mosin-Nagant — Player Level 36

How to Unlock All Sniper Rifles in Modern Warfare 4

Three sniper rifles are spaced across the progression curve. The KG-7 Vulcan starts at Level 4, the Astaroth .57 arrives at Level 25, and the Signal 50 is the final sniper unlock at Level 50.

kg 7 vulcan sniper rifle modern warfare 4

KG-7 Vulcan — Player Level 4
Astaroth .57 — Player Level 25
Signal 50 — Player Level 50

How to Unlock All Pistols in Modern Warfare 4

You can unlock two of the four pistols by Level 7, but then you have to wait until you’re in your 40s to get the other two.

SANG 9mm — Player Level 4
Krait P68 — Player Level 7
.50 GS — Player Level 41
Mojave .357 — Player Level 48

How to Unlock All Launchers in Modern Warfare 4

The PILA is your starter, but there are three more to unlock once you hit Level 23. The PM-40 Anvil at Level 54 is one of the last unlocks in the whole game.

PILA — Player Level 4
RPG-8 — Player Level 23
JOKR — Player Level 43
PM-40 Anvil — Player Level 54

Melee Weapon in Modern Warfare 4

There is one melee weapon at launch. It’s yours from the moment Create-a-Class opens.

fss carbon edge melee weapon modern warfare 4

FSS Carbon Edge 1095 Knife — Player Level 4

All Modern Warfare 4 Weapons by Level — Complete Unlock Order

Here is the full sorted list of every weapon unlock from Level 4 to 55, so you know exactly what’s coming next no matter where you are in your grind.

Level 4: Han 86, ISO Nightshade, Rezi 12, Finn LMG, MAR-9, KG-7 Vulcan, SANG 9mm, PILA, FSS Carbon Edge 1095
Level 7: Krait P68
Level 9: Type 73
Level 11: Oris 8.6
Level 13: VEL 46
Level 14: M4
Level 21: Hyeon Burst, Wz.55 Striga
Level 23: RPG-8
Level 25: Astaroth .57
Level 27: Patriot XMR, PPSh-41
Level 32: Warlord
Level 34: Kastov 762, X-58 Nyx
Level 36: Mosin-Nagant
Level 39: Oden
Level 41: .50 GS
Level 43: JOKR
Level 44: APOC-338
Level 48: Mojave .357
Level 50: Signal 50
Level 52: Axion
Level 54: PM-40 Anvil
Level 55: Cronen Squall

When Does Each Weapon Class Complete in MW4?

If you are only chasing a specific weapon class, here is the level at which each one is fully unlocked.

Assault Rifles — Complete at Level 55
SMGs — Complete at Level 34
Shotguns — Complete at Level 32
LMGs — Complete at Level 44
Marksman Rifles — Complete at Level 36
Sniper Rifles — Complete at Level 50
Pistols — Complete at Level 48
Launchers — Complete at Level 54
Melee — Complete at Level 4

By Level 34, you will have unlocked 5 of 8 assault rifles, all 5 SMGs, both shotguns, 2 of 3 LMGs, 2 of 3 marksman rifles, 1 of 3 snipers, both early pistols, and the RPG-8 launcher. That’s a strong, well-rounded loadout pool before you’re even past mid-levels.

What Are Apex Attachments in Modern Warfare 4?

Apex Attachments are a new element of weapon progression in Modern Warfare 4. An Apex Attachment unlocks when you fully level a weapon, giving it a new twist.

So leveling up your Player Level gets you the gun. Leveling up the weapon itself gets you its best attachment. Both matter. If you plan to grind a specific weapon to max, the Apex Attachment at the end is worth the effort.

How to Get Weapons in DMZ Mode

For DMZ, weapons can be extracted in the A.O., or purchased with cash inside the Forward Operating Base Gunsmith Station once you have found the gun. The DMZ progression is separate from Multiplayer, but the same weapons apply once unlocked.

Will More Weapons Come to Modern Warfare 4 After Launch?

Yes. Level up to unlock weapons, with additional weapons available through seasonal Battle Passes and events. The 33 at launch is the starting point, not the final number. Seasonal content will keep adding to the arsenal over time.

Tips to Unlock COD MW4 Weapons Faster

Play objective-based modes — they give more XP per match than just going for kills
Use Double XP Tokens — these drop as campaign rewards and from events, so save them for focused grinding sessions. Check our guide on COD Modern Warfare 4 All Campaign Rewards to see what you can earn
Complete the campaign — finishing story missions rewards XP tokens and bonuses
Use killstreaks effectively — they can snowball a match and boost your score significantly. Here’s how: Modern Warfare 4 How to Unlock All Killstreaks
Stay alive longer — deaths break XP streaks, so play smart especially at higher killstreak counts

Modern Warfare 4 Weapons — Frequently Asked Questions

How many weapons are in Modern Warfare 4 at launch?

Modern Warfare 4 launches with 33 weapons: 24 primary weapons, 8 secondary weapons, and one melee weapon, the FSS Carbon Edge 1095 knife. The primary list covers 8 assault rifles, 5 SMGs, 2 shotguns, 3 LMGs, 3 marksman rifles, and 3 sniper rifles.

Do you need to buy anything to unlock weapons in MW4?

No. Every weapon is available through leveling, with no challenge, store bundle, or Battle Pass tier required. Every launch weapon is free through normal play.

What is the last weapon to unlock in Modern Warfare 4?

The Cronen Squall, an Assault Rifle, is the final weapon unlock at Player Level 55. The PM-40 Anvil launcher at Level 54 is a close second.

What level do you unlock Create-a-Class in MW4?

Create-a-Class unlocks at Player Level 4, which is also when nine starter weapons become available across all classes.

More Modern Warfare 4 Guides

If you found this guide helpful, check out more of our MW4 coverage below: