Modern Warfare III Maps | Tier-Ranking Every 6v6 Map In MW3

Modern Warfare 3's 6v6 map-pool was made up entirely of remastered maps from 2009's Modern Warfare 2 at launch, but we've already started getting brand-new maps as seasonal content. Here are all the 6v6 maps in Modern Warfare 3, tier-ranked for your enjoyment.

MW3 Map Tier Ranking
MW3 maps Tier ranking: Are you excited to be playing on these maps again? | © Activision

Modern Warfare 3 had a controversial release, but one of the things we were always positive about (at least as nostalgic older players) is the map selection. MW3 features remastered versions of every map from 2009's MW2. If you haven't seen these maps before, or you're just curious to see how they look in 2023, you can check out all the remastered MW2 maps below.

The 16 remastered maps we got at launch were all for 6v6, but we will start getting brand-new maps as soon as Season 1 begins. Let's get to the tier-ranking!

MW3 Season 1 Maps: Meat, Greece & Rio

Before we get to our tier ranking of every 6v6 map in MW3, let's check out the Season 1 maps, which will be released soon. These are:

  • Meat (Available at launch, December 6)
  • Greece (Available at launch, December 6)
  • Rio (Available at launch of Season 1 Reloaded, January 10)

Oddly named, but we think they look pretty beautiful so far.

Meat

There is a longer sight line in the loading bay of this slaughterhouse, but apart from that it's all very close-quarters.

MW3 Season 1 meat map
This is the hilariously-named "Meat". | © Activision

This map will be reminiscent of House from Vanguard; far too small for a serious game, but great for camo grinding when you're bored with Shipment.

Greece

Greece is where our hopes lie for another competitive map. No only does it look beautiful, but it will apparently feature very intentional lanes of play, a good mix of verticality, and all without being too big.

MW3 Season 1 Greece
This beautiful map is a 6v6'er called "Greece". | © Activision

There will be some underwater play thanks to a few routes under the map, like Hydro last year.

Rio

This map features a shopping center in the middle and a few roads and buildings around the outside. It looks asymmetric on the tac-map, but that shouldn't matter for certain modes, like Search.

MW3 Season 1 reloaded rio map
Our most close-quarters new 6v6 map is "Rio". | © Activision

We expect all of these DLC maps to ranked fairly highly when they are released, we're certainly expecting big things from Greece.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Tier Ranking Every 6v6 Map

Here is our tier ranking of every map in MW3, enjoy.

S-Tier MW3 Maps

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Terminal (S-Tier)

If you say MW2, there's a strong chance this is the map people think of first, and for good reason. Terminal is able to capture a very interesting location while still maintaining the essential symmetry and balance you need to make most modes work. It's an easy S-Tier.

We wish the Hardpoint hills had been better placed (P3 & P4 are a joke), but ah well, you can't have everything.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Highrise (S-Tier)

Like Afghan, Highrise was kind of already released via the Warzone map Al Mazrah, where it featured as a POI. It was fantastic in MW2 and it's once again very good in MW3, although with modern movement it does feel smaller than the original.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps Highrise
Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Highrise | © Activision

We think Highrise will be a staple in pubs all year, and we expect it will be the favorite map of many players.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Karachi (S-Tier)

This was godlike for Search in MW2, and it remains as strong, in fact, it's probably the best Search and Destroy map in all of MW3. Hence, it made it in to the CDL/Ranked map-pool for the 2024 season.

A-Tier MW3 Maps

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Invasion (A-Tier)

Invasion is a big map that provides lots of variety. It won't be a fondly-remembered classic to most players, but it's hard to imagine anyone hating Invasion. Perhaps a little uninspired, but well-balance and an obvious candidate for the CDL/Ranked map-pool.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Skidrow (A-Tier)

Skidrow is a very tight map set in a few buildings in the middle of Los Angeles. If you like fighting over choke points you're going to love it, if not then vote to skip.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps Skidrow
Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Skidrow | © Activision

Skidrow is also very fun for Cut Throat, which is the new 3v3v3 mode.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Rust (A-Tier)

We don't need to explain Rust. Even if you're too young to have played it at the time, Rust appeared in MW2019 and is currently in CoD: Mobile. It's very small, not a serious 6v6 map, but we can't rank it any lower than A-tier because it remains the best map in all of CoD for 1v1s.

B-Tier MW3 Maps

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Scrapyard (B-Tier)

Scrapyard is the map that we expect to be the biggest disappointment. This map is actually very small, and with modern movement, we expect it to feel that way. It was also quite limited in terms of viable modes. However, it does still function well enough to justify a B-tier ranking.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Afghan (B-Tier)

Afghan from back in the day was a fun map because it was good for streaks, but in all honesty, the desert environment becomes boring very quickly. We won't go lower than a B-Tier however because it has a fundamentally well-designed structure and no huge flaws.

This is a surprisingly good Control map.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Favela (B-Tier)

Favela is an absolute classic. It's very small for 6v6, but the map has distinct and clear lanes, with lots of opportunities for SMG-players. The rooftops create just a few too many sight lines for this to be used in competitive, but for pubs we think B-Tier is fair.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps Favela
Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Favela | © Activision

This is another one that works well for cut-throat.

C-Tier MW3 Maps

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Estate (C-Tier)

If you only play TDM / Dom you won't like this map. It takes place on a hill, and so if you spawn at the bottom you're at a big disadvantage. However, for SnD it works a lot better, so if you like objective modes you might have some fun with it.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Quarry (C-Tier)

This might be controversial, but we think Quarry is overrated. Most players would probably have it in B-tier, but for us, it's C-Tier. It's very big, there's an annoying slope to the map, and it's not exactly an interesting location.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps Quarry
Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Quarry | © Activision

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Rundown (C-Tier)

Rundown was very unpopular in MW2, but that was largely because it was set at dusk and so visibility was poor. The new version of Rundown is much brighter and is probably the map they've changed most out of all these remasters. We could probably have justified putting Rundown higher on the list but for all those good changes it still feels forgettable.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps Rundown
Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Rundown | © Activision

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Underpass (C-Tier)

The original was a strong candidate for the worst map in 2009's MW2. Underpass was as miserable to look at as it was boring to play. But they've improved the map significantly in MW3. It still isn't a good map, but it's not as awful as it was.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps Underpass

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Sub Base (C-Tier)

This will probably be the most controversial on the list, most players would probably have Sub Base in B-Tier, and we think that would be fair. However, for us, this map gets boring too quickly. Maybe it's all the shades of white and gray, and maybe it will grow on us over time, but for our tier-list it's a C-Tier map.

D-Tier MW3 Maps

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Derail (D-Tier)

This map is absolutely dog, skip it whenever you can. It's just far, far too big for 6v6.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Wasteland (D-Tier)

Wasteland exists for snipers. It's not a serious map.

Modern Warfare 3 Maps Wasteland
Modern Warfare 3 Maps: Wasteland | © Activision

And there you have it, all the 6v6 maps in MW3, overall a solid selection. Although not as strong as the BO2 map-pool which is rumored to be coming back in a remastered form in CoD 2025.

What maps are your favorites? And are you fine with only getting remakes of OG MW2 maps, or do you think this was a bad decision from CoD?

Jon Ramuz

Jon has a BA and an MA in English Literature, and as Content Lead for EarlyGame has written over 1,500 articles. He focuses on shooters, but also writes about entertainment and gaming in general....