Best Haymaker MW3 loadout: Class setup, attachment, perks

The Haymaker has been one of the best shotguns in Modern Warfare 3 since the game launched, and that’s still true in Season 3. Here is the best Haymaker MW3 loadout that outguns everything up close.

Although the Haymaker is at its best when you get up close and personal, it’s possible to extend its damage range out further than you might expect. This loadout has been optimized for just that, making the Haymaker have the best range possible while retaining its strengths as a mobile, CQB weapon.

Here is the best Haymaker loadout possible to turn the semi-auto shotgun into a top-tier close-range option.

Contents

• Best Haymaker MW3 loadout
• Best Haymaker MW3 class: Perks & equipment
• How to unlock Haymaker in MW3
• Best Haymaker alternative in MW3

Best Haymaker MW3 loadout

Attachments

• Conversion Kit: JAK Maglift Kit
• Muzzle: Crown Breaker Choke
• Barrel: Imperator Long Barrel
• Laser: Canted Vibro-Dot 7
• Stock: No Stock Mod

Added in Season 2, the JAK Maglift Kit gives the Haymaker a binary trigger, letting it reach an absurd fire rate. Though this lowers the damage of each shot, the improved fire rate results in a better TTK making the Haymaker more effective. It can be a bit of a handful to get used to at first but with some practice using this conversion kit becomes second nature.

As with any shotgun, maximizing damage range on the Haymaker is a must. To do this equip both the Crown Breaker Choke muzzle and Imperator Long Barrel. These not only help shots deal more damage from further away but also narrow how much they spread making kills more consistent.

The Haymaker also benefits a lot from the No Stock Mod attachment. The mobility and handling buffs provided by this are incredible and enable the run-and-gun playstyle perfectly suited to a semi-auto shotgun.

However, not having a stock along with the Haymaker’s fast fire rate results in a lot of recoil. There’s no easy fix to this but the Canted Vibro-Dot 7 laser helps a lot by letting you aim with a side-mounted laser rather than relying on the shotgun’s iron sights. This makes it easier to stay on target while firing at the Haymaker’s maximum fire rate which is required to unlock its true potential.

Best Haymaker MW3 class: Perks & equipment

• Vest: Overkill Vest
• Gloves: Assault Gloves
• Boots: Covert Sneakers
• Gear: Ghost T/V Camo
• Tactical: Stim
• Lethal: Drill Charge

The Overkill Vest is a great option with the Haymaker as it lets you use an additional primary weapon for situations where a shotgun isn’t well suited. It is best to use a meta assault rifle like the MCW or Holger 556 for the best results, creating a remarkably well-rounded loadout in the process.

With the strongest gloves in MW3 already integrated into the Overkill Vest, the next best option is the Assault Gloves which reduce handling penalties when jumpshotting. These gloves are situational but can be game-changing when required, giving you another tool to push enemies effectively.

Being stealthy is important with the Haymaker as you need to get up close without being noticed. To do this you have to use the Covert Sneakers in combination with Ghost T/V Camo which not only makes your footsteps silent but also keeps you hidden from enemy UAVs. Without these, you will have a tough time closing the gap on the other team without getting spotted.

In the equipment slots, it’s a good idea to use a Stim which provides quick healing in the heat of battle while a Drill Charge lets you flush out stationary players from objectives and buildings. Drill Charges work well with the Haymaker as you can rush in at close range to finish them off if they happen to survive the initial explosion.

How to unlock the Haymaker in Modern Warfare 3

The Haymaker is unlocked after reaching Level 39 in multiplayer. If you want to get the shotgun earlier than that then consider extracting with it in Zombies instead as that will also unlock the Haymaker.

Best Haymaker alternative in Modern Warfare 3

The Riveter is a direct competitor to the Haymaker with it also being a fast-firing shotgun that excels up close. It has worse damage range than the Haymaker but is easier to use and can be devastating on smaller maps like Das Haus and Shipment.

Consider checking out these guides for more meta MW3 builds that excel up close:

Best MW3 loadouts: Ultimate gun tier list | Lockwood 680 loadout | FJX Horus loadout | WSP Swarm loadout | Rival-9 loadout