Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is set to offer a fresh progression system that gives players a constant stream of rewards while keeping the satisfaction and pride that comes with ranking up.
In Modern Warfare , you will unlock loadout options, Killstreaks, and Field Upgrades through an initial series of Enlisted Ranks, earn permanent rewards and icons through Seasonal Officer Ranks which are memorialized permanently, and unlock an arsenal of attachments and camos through Weapon Levels.
Here is an in-depth look at how this progression system will work:
The Enlisted Ranks: Unlocking Elements of Multiplayer
When you begin your ranking up in Multiplayer (or in Special Ops), you begin in the Enlisted Ranks as a Private (Level 1).
Here, you have a choice between three default loadouts and a limited number of Killstreaks and Field Upgrades.
Unlocking Enlisted Ranks is the traditional Call of Duty progression path you may be familiar with: As you gain XP (experience points) through normal gameplay, you begin to climb through the Enlisted Ranks.
After unlocking two more default loadouts within the first two rank ups, you will reach Enlisted Rank: Private IV (rank 4). Achieving this gives you access to the Loadout menu, where you can create a custom loadout. Need more information on Loadouts? Read this article.
As you continue to gain experience and advance from Enlisted Rank 4, all the way to Command Sergeant Major V – Rank 55 – you will unlock new weapons, equipment and perks for your loadouts, as well as Field Upgrades and Killstreaks.
Ranking Up: Gaining XP
What are some of the ways you can gain XP through normal gameplay?
· By completing Multiplayer Matches , and Special Ops Operations and Missions .
· By completing Daily Challenges , short objectives that are usually able to be completed within a play session.
· By completing Challenge Missions ; multi-step objectives that also result in other rewards (see below).
· By completing Camo Challenges ; which unlock variations of base weapon camos and also offer you XP boosts.
· Once Officer Ranks are unlocked, there are additional Officer Rank Challenges (see below).
The Officer Ranks: Seasonal Rewards and Badges of Honor
In this new Progression system, a player’s Enlisted Ranks of 1-55 are never reset and they will never have their functional items re-locked. Instead, players now progress into the new Officer Rank system:
Rather than having to reset your Enlisted Rank, Modern Warfare will introduce Officer Ranks, a seasonal ranking system complete with rewards and 100 ranks to progress through. When you reach Officer Rank 1, you receive a cosmetic Weapon Blueprint for your promotion.
Ranking up through the Officer Ranks requires the same gameplay completion practices as you previously utilized in the Enlisted Ranks: by earning XP.
Each time you level up within the Officer Ranks, you will unlock a special Officer Challenge. Similar to Daily Challenges, these objectives will reward plenty of XP upon completion, but also give you a special Seasonal Ribbon.
Earning 10 ribbons gives you a special Season Emblem, with each additional 10 ribbons evolving that emblem. Collecting all 100 Ribbons unlocks an animated Emblem, which serves as proof of getting the ultimate achievement for that season. Reach the maximum Officer rank, and expect to receive another cosmetic Weapon Blueprint.
The initial set of Officer Ranks will be available at launch: Once you complete all 55 Enlisted Ranks, you will arrive at Officer Rank 1.
The Player Level: Your Overall Accomplishments
Your ranking accomplishments showcase your dedication and talents at Modern Warfare , and these milestones are properly memorialized: Any Officer Rank, Officer Challenge Ribbon, or Seasonal Emblem are permanently recorded in the game. Just prior to the start of each new Season, your Officer Rank is reset so everyone starts the following Season on the same playing field.
Challenge Missions: Another Way to Rank Up & Earn Cool Rewards
Outside of normal gameplay, Daily Challenges, and seasonal Officer Challenges, another huge opportunity to earn XP for Enlisted Ranks, Officer Ranks, and Player Level is through Challenge Missions contained within the Barracks part of the Multiplayer Menu.
Challenge Missions within the Barracks are multi-step objectives that can be completed for XP bonuses and special rewards. These Challenge Missions must be activated within the Barracks Menu in order to complete them, and once activated, you will be notified when you complete each objective and when you complete the entire Challenge Mission.
At launch, there will be a variety of Challenge Missions available, with more to be released within forthcoming Seasons.
Challenge Missions may require you to play specific game modes or use a particular weapon class in order to complete them, so prepare for a variety of content to test all facets of your gaming prowess!
A Full Arsenal: Weapon Experience
Weapons, like Operators, can also be leveled up and gain experience, which unlocks a whole arsenal of attachments, weapon perks, and camouflage that can be equipped though the Gunsmith.
Defeating foes with a weapon you have unlocked through progression grants you weapon XP for that particular weapon. Earn enough XP for that weapon, and it gains a level. Note that levels for weapons are entirely separate from player levels and ranks; you will rank up your weapons independently.
Each weapon level will reward you with a new attachment – for example, a Muzzle, Optic, or Stock – a perk, or a camouflage for that weapon. These attachments and camos can be equipped within the Gunsmith.
Camos earned by leveling up a weapon unlocks the base camo for that weapon. After earning the base camo, a set of camo challenges is unlocked, allowing you to earn a set of colorful and cool-looking skins within a camo set for that weapon. In addition, camo unlocks earn you XP rewards.
With each weapon averaging 50 available attachments and having over 100 earnable camo patterns (including a few extra camos for those completionists out there), there is plenty to earn and accomplish within Modern Warfare , even before the first season begins!
Post-Launch Content
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is scheduled to have a number of seasons post-launch. Each post-launch season, which will have its own Officer Rank progression track, will bring a mix of new maps, modes, missions, community events, and other content to the game.
Ready for Enlistment? Here’s a Recap
To reiterate how progression works in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare , you will:
· Rank up through the Enlisted Ranks (1-55) to unlock base weapons, perks, equipment, Killstreaks, and Field Upgrades.
TO UNLOCK MORE FOR YOUR BASE WEAPONS…
· Rank up your weapons individually though the weapon progression system. Gain experience for each weapon to earn attachments and base camouflage patterns, and complete camo challenges to complete camo sets.
THEN, AT THE START OF EACH SEASON OF CONTENT…
· Begin your Season of Officer Ranks, where you will receive an Officer Challenge at each rank leading up to 5-Star General (Rank 100). Completing each challenge rewards a ribbon. Earning 10 ribbons awards an Emblem, and all 100 ribbons gives you an even more badass Emblem.
AT THE END OF A SEASON…
· Officer Rank is reset, Enlisted Rank is not.
FURTHERMORE…
· Player XP can be earned through playing the game, completing Daily Challenges, Officer Challenges, Camo Challenges, and Challenge Missions; multi-step objectives that offer even more rewards upon completion.
· There is scheduled to be a number of seasons packed with tons of free content, where you will also progress through Officer Ranks.