The Best Rival-9 Builds In MW3

The Scorpion EVO has returned in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, this time named the Rival-9. This SMG features an absurdly fast fire rate, moderate base damage, and just enough recoil to make long-range gunfights tricky without attachments. Fortunately, this gun has a suite of excellent attachments to choose from.

Related: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – Best Striker Loadout

Whether you’re an aggressive player or prefer more cautious play, the Rival-9 can excel in virtually every situation if you use the right build. This guide will showcase two excellent Rival-9 builds that lean into accurate mid-range dueling and more stealthy playstyles. We’ll also give loadout recommendations for each weapon build.

Accuracy Rival-9 Build

While the Rival-9 has a fast TTK up close, the weapon’s recoil makes it tough to use at longer distances. This build aims to fix that. The Rival-C Clearshot Barrel is easily the best barrel option on the Rival-9, granting a boost to the gun’s effective range and recoil control. We further increase our recoil with the Rival Vice Assault Grip and EXF Close Quarters Assault Stock attachments.

All three attachments will reduce your recoil by 25% and greatly improve your aiming stability, allowing you to engage targets at 25-50 meters without much issue. Damage falloff kicks in past 12 meters on this weapon, so we recommend using the 50 Round Drum magazine attachment to give yourself some leeway for those mid-range duels. Throw on your favorite optic to complete the build.

Loadout Recommendations

SMG builds should prioritize speed or stealth with their choice of perks and equipment. We have opted for the former since this build doesn’t use a suppressor. The Infantry Vest is ideal for SMG users since it doubles your tactical sprint duration and greatly reduces its recovery time, allowing you to run across the map much faster.

For perks, Tactical Pads are an amazing choice since they greatly improve your slide distance. Marksman Gloves will help mitigate incoming flinch, and Mag Loader is great for lowering the Rival-9’s lengthy drum mag reload. Since this loadout doesn’t have any stealth-related neutral game perks, we recommend Dead Silence as your Field Upgrade. It’ll temporarily give you Covert Sneakers and Ghost.

Related: The Best SMGs In Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Ranked

Stealth Rival-9 Build

The Rival-9 is an excellent SMG for CQC stealth builds, provided you use the right attachments. We’ll be using the Sonic Suppressor S paired with the Rival-C Clearshot Barrel to greatly buff the Rival-9’s effective range while suppressing all outgoing shots. To further reduce recoil, we use the EXF Close Quarters Assault Stock and FTAC SP-10 Angled Grip.

The stock greatly reduces recoil across the board, while the FTAC grip is used specifically to mitigate horizontal recoil that’s experienced with sustained fire. Throw on a magazine attachment to finish the build. Since this build is tailored for close-quarters gunfights, we use the 40 Round Mag since its penalties are far lower than its 50 Round cousin.

Loadout Recommendations

Our loadout recommendation remains mostly the same for this Rival-9 build, although we have opted to use stealth perks for this loadout. Covert Sneakers are essential in one-life modes to flank enemies or safely navigate the map while tac sprinting. Ghost will hide you from enemy radar while running, and Assault Gloves allow you to jumpshot with minimal ADS and accuracy penalties. The rest of the build remains the same.

Next: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – Armory Unlocks Explained