Modern Warfare 3 Maps Strategy Guide

There are a total of 16 multiplayer maps in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and each of them have unique attributes. Some of the maps suit tighter, intense close-combat fights; others are more suited to snipers and long-ranged assaulters, while a few offer equal opportunities for all types of classes.

Here’s the list of the maps in Modern Warfare 3, with a few general tips to get your started.

1. Arkaden
2. Bakaara
3. Bootleg
4. Carbon
5. Dome
6. Downturn
7. Fallen
8. Hardhat
9. Interchange
10. Lockdown
11. Mission
12. Outpost
13. Resistance
14. Seatown
15. Underground
16. Village

Arkaden

Arkaden is a SAS vs. Spetsnaz map. It is set in a heavily demolished mall in Germany. As the noun ‘mall’ suggests, the map consists of quite a few tight corners, steep stairways and narrow corridors.

Hence this map is particularly suited to users of Sub-Machine Guns and Shotguns, and of course explosives. The map features both in-doors fighting and out-doors combat, though the former will be more dominant due to the relatively larger in-doors area and its strategic importance.

When it comes to team-based game-modes like TeamDeath Match or Search and Destroy, the SAS spawn in a walkway in the streets of the map. They must then make it into the mall from the front sides, with a restaurant being adjacent to the entrance of the mall.

The Spetsnaz spawn at the other end of the map, termed as the ‘back alley’. Through the back alley, the Spetsnaz can enter the mall either through the furniture area or the café. There’s also a crashed helicopter next to the double-stairs near the furniture room, which can be an interesting position to defend.

Once upstairs, the central area of the mall, which is also the central area of the map is exposed. This is the place where most of the fighting is going to happen.

The main area also has an information booth, which can be a tactically useful position. However, don’t use it too often, as from the enemy’s perspective it can also be one of the most obvious hiding places in the map.

Bakaara

Bakaara is a PMC vs. African Militia map. It is set in a sub-urban rundown African city, with the central area being a crashed helicopter. It has quite a bit of similarity to the map Crash from CoD4.

Due to the open and relatively large nature of the map, it is best suited for long ranged weaponry like Assault Rifles, LMGs and Sniper Rifles.

The PMC spawn nearer to the crashed helicopter, much like in Crash from CoD4. They can then head directly towards the restaurant and neighboring houses, but the best thing would be to abandon the parameter patrol and stay near the crashed chopper zone.

The African Militia spawn near a truck, and have a huge opportunity of covering the borders of the map, provided they have adept snipers and assaulters. The more rush-oriented players can then sprint into the internal area, and the map can be easily defended. However, it is not as easy as it sounds, since a clever opposition will always be ready.

Contrary to the recommended weapons, it is extremely important in this map to actually stay in its interiors, as sprinting near the parameters of the map will make you an easy target for snipers and even assaulters.

It’s best to stick to Assault Rifles in that case (unless you can snipe well), where you have good enough mobility (which is significantly lowered by LMGs), decent range and ability to do close-combat.

Additionally, it’s very important to abandon the sprint button in this map and opt for cover-to-cover movement, checking corners carefully, since a bullet can come flying from just about anywhere.

Bootleg

Bootleg is a PMC vs. Spetsnaz map. The map is set around an Asian town and market place. It is generally large, but due to its almost claustrophobic nature, it is best suited for Sub-Machine Gunners. Assaulters and LMG users also have a role to play, as there are quite a few narrow-but-long areas in the map, suited for such weapons.

The PMC spawn near the market, while the Spetsnaz spawn near the scaffolding. Honestly, neither have a good strategic spawn advantage; which team covers the essential regions of the map first determines the victor.

This map generally has poor visibility due to the color combinations, and the rain noise can be troublesome for those who wish to do some foot-hearing. In fact, this map is generally troublesome for most, as it is difficult to go from one place to the other in this map.

Additionally, there are lots of opportunities for campers in this map. Generally, the map seems awfully similar to Chinatown from CoD4. Your best bet in this map is to flank the enemy once their position(s) is known.

Since getting from one end to the other is a difficult task, it is generally best to cover selected regions instead of trying to dominate the map.

The core of this map is the central building, which has round about six different entrances. It is very unwise to be in the center of that area, unless you have your team covering the entrances.

Carbon

Carbon is a PMC vs. African Militia map. This map is medium ranged, but has a variety of types of areas suited for all four weapon types.
The PMC spawn near a big pipe while the Militia spawn near a Factory.

The advance for both teams is pretty straightforward, and involves frontal fighting with a bit of cover options in nearby buildings and factories. The best idea in the map is to run and gun, as it is quite straightforward. The only complexity it has is from the different types of buildings.

For aggressive players, it’s all about sprinting from one building to another, and clearing them out. Anyone who can do that in this map is going to totally dominate it.

Additionally, for team games, a sniper or two can assist the more aggressive players by monitoring the open areas, while the assaulters can move forward slowly and take out any flankers or left-behind enemies.

Success in this map depends more on raw combat skills and basics instead of strategy, so this is definitely a map where the real pros are going to shine. Of course there are places for campers here, but campers won’t be too successful as the map is more about aggressive play then it is about hiding and patience.

Dome

Dome is a Delta Force vs. Spetsnaz map, and is perhaps the smallest map in MW3. Due to its small and wide exposure, all weapons except Sniper Rifles should do the trick here.

In Dome, Delta Force spawns near a tank where Spetsnaz spawn near the satellites. Delta Force can infiltrate the offices immediately and cover the entire place from there, where Spetsnaz will have to work their way through the center satellites and dome. The dome can be covered by Spetsnaz, but you can expect opposing assaulters to have their eyes open for any sign of movement.

This is an extremely intense map. The best thing here is to remain in cover and try not to sprint too much. The ideal method is to remain steady in the exposed regions, whereas in the offices you should have the shotgunners and SMG users patrolling. The map overall resembles Vacant from CoD4, with intense fighting both in the open and inside the corridor-filled offices.

Downturn

Down turn is a Delta Force vs. Spetsnaz map, set in a demolished New York City. This is an extremely testing map, as it has both indoor fighting and fighting in the streets.

All types of weapons can be used in this map, but it’s best to use a setup that gives you decent range, has good in-the-face fighting capability, and allows you to be mobile.

Delta Force spawns near a few taxis whereas the Spetsnaz spawn near a truck. Both teams have equal opportunities to enter the narrow underground subway area, which extends through majority of the map.

Both teams also have equal opportunities of occupying neighboring buildings.For anyone who plays Battlefield 3 multiplayer, this map is very much like Operation Metro with a bit of Seine’s Crossing included in it.

The underground areas are great for flanking and on-front gun fights. For anyone on the streets, the dangers really come from the neighboring buildings, like the bank and rental area near the Spetsnaz spawn and the stock traders near the Delta Force spawn.

The key in this map is to immediately occupy the buildings to cover the streets, preferably with snipers, LMGs and/or assaulters. SMG and Shotgun users can try to flank or engage from the underground subway.

Alternatively, assaulters and SMG users can try and go through the streets by using the dozens of car wreckages and abandoned tanks as cover; the choice is rewarding, but there are risks as the neighboring buildings are bound to have snipers waiting for anyone to do so.