MW4 weapon buffs and nerfs: the complete 28 October Multiplayer tuning breakdown
Every affected rifle, SMG, LMG and shotgun on the official tuning sheet, plus the 29 October XP and bug-fix follow-up. These numbers apply to Multiplayer, not confirmed DMZ builds.
The first broad Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer balancing update arrived 28 October 2026. Infinity Ward says it was intended to make hit-location damage and time-to-kill more consistent, particularly across SMGs. The newest 29 October patch contains further Multiplayer XP and bug fixes, but no newer weapon-by-weapon damage table was listed in the official changelog by 2am AEST, 31 October.
Mode warning: these are specifically Multiplayer numbers. Infinity Ward confirms separate weapon tuning for DMZ. Do not advertise the rifle/SMG figures below as DMZ buffs or a verified competitive tier list.
All published weapon adjustments
Where the developer uses an in-game damage-range unit, numbers are reproduced as labelled in the patch rather than converted into assumed metres. Direction is based on the changed stat; a mixed entry is not automatically stronger in every fight.
| Weapon / attachment | Direction | Official before → after figures |
|---|---|---|
| Han 86 | Buff and nerf | Maximum damage range 1120 → 1200 (+7%); neck and upper torso multipliers 1.1 → 1.0 (−9%). |
| Kastov 762 | Buff | Maximum damage range 950 → 1050 (+11%). |
| M4 | Buff | Maximum damage range 990 → 1020 (+3%). |
| Oden | Nerf | Neck/upper torso multiplier 1.2 → 1.1 (−8%); lower torso 1.1 → 1.0 (−9%). |
| Oden Sentinel Apex | Nerf | Maximum range 870 → 820 (−6%); first mid-range 1810 → 1740 (−4%). |
| Hyeon Burst Hyperburst Apex | Mixed | Full-auto maximum damage 37 → 34 (−8%); maximum damage range 970 → 1220 (+26%). |
| Patriot XMR attachments | Buff | EXP Haste 80L barrel recoil penalty 8 → 6 (25% lower penalty); FJX Fury IV grip penalty 5 → 4 (20% lower). |
| ISO Nightshade, VEL 46 | Buff | Arm/hand damage multipliers increase from 0.95 to 1.0 (+5%). |
| PPSh-41 | Buff | ADS-in 300 → 280 ms (−7%), small movement buffs and 0.95 → 1.0 arm/hand multipliers. |
| Wz.55 Striga | Buff | Maximum damage range 440 → 470 (+7%); first mid-range 825 → 840 (+2%); arm/hand multipliers increased. |
| X-58 Nyx | Buff | Head multiplier 1.25 → 1.3 (+4%); arm/hand multipliers increased. Void Apex attachment gains +5% maximum range and +3% first mid-range. |
| APOC-338 | Nerf | First mid-range damage 38 → 37 (−3%); range 1980 → 1900 (−4%); minimum damage 35 → 33 (−6%). |
| FiNN LMG | Nerf | First mid-range 1720 → 1620 (−6%); upper-arm multipliers 1.1 → 1.0 (−9%). |
| Type 73 Assault Apex | Buff | Minimum damage 19 → 20 (+5%). |
| Warlord 12G Slugs | Nerf | Second mid-range distance 900 → 810 (−10%). |
What changed in how gunfights feel
The Han 86 and Oden have lower torso or neck multipliers even while some assault rifles get slightly longer maximum damage ranges. Several SMGs were made more consistent on arm/hand hits. The PPSh-41 also aims down sights faster and moves slightly quicker. It is tempting to turn these numbers into a 'best loadout' headline, but no accuracy, map-rotation or actual match statistics are included in the patch. Any ranked meta verdict would require independent testing.
Movement and perks
On 28 October Infinity Ward temporarily reduced dive velocity by 23% to mitigate a sprint-jump exploit. It says a longer-term fix is being worked on. Quick Fix now correctly interrupts health regeneration when damage is taken; previously damage could fail to stop healing.
29 October follow-up
Infinity Ward increased XP rates across several Multiplayer modes, fixed overhead effects on Lithium, a Concussion Grenade damage-indicator bug, an irrelevant Domination scoreboard timer, out-of-bounds exploits on Mumbai and a Recon Drone exploit on Silkworm, and removed unnecessary enemy callouts on Shipment. Possession also joined the Halloween playlist. The studio did not supply a precise universal XP multiplier for this 29 October update.
25 October XP and playlist changes
The studio boosted XP per elimination in Search and Destroy and Collateral from 100 to 300 on 25 October. Free For All's score limit was restored to 30 in the 28 October notes, with a two-player party cap at that moment and a promised later return of Final Killcam. Playlist details may change through backend rotations independently of a full download.
Before copying someone's class setup
- Check that their build was tested after the 28 October adjustments.
- Confirm whether the footage is Multiplayer or DMZ; weapon damage tuning is mode-specific.
- Do not treat a 5% damage-location change as a universal 5% TTK improvement.
- Use the official tables for attachment names, damage ranges and future updates.
Read the DMZ patch tracker for economy, Possum, Colossus and exfil changes. It does not reuse these Multiplayer balance numbers.
Sources & verification
Original source published: . References reviewed 31 Oct 2026 AEST.