The 2024 Call of Duty League is now in full swing, with teams warming up ahead of the first Major of the season in Boston. The meta has already heavily favored assault rifles, and one, in particular, tops usage charts—the MCW.
It’s not surprising, but the numbers are still mind-boggling. The MCW AR accounts for over two-thirds of all kills in the CDL so far, according to FaZeCoDMuse on Twitter. Even more astonishing is the kill ratio on a map-by-map basis. A staggering 88 percent of kills on Terminal came from the MCW, with Invasion (80 percent) closely trailing.
While the MCW sits near the top in Modern Warfare 3’s general weapon meta. It has taken over the CDL, thanks to the season one “gentlemen’s agreement” (GA) ban list, which includes superior weapons like the Holger 556 and several battle rifles.
The MCW’s accuracy and range make it the second-best weapon, and as a result, its dominance is unmatched in the CDL. With numerous confrontations occurring at a moderate range due to the layout of the CDL-approved maps, even top-tier SMGs like the Striker 9 can’t keep up.
Teams are now adopting a majority-AR setup, with one player choosing to flex into an SMG depending on the map.
The CDL meta has little impact on the rest of matchmaking, but it raises questions about the frequency of map rotation and weapon balance in the esports side of CoD. The concept of the GA is not new, but it prompts consideration of its relevance. How much longer should the pro scene manage affairs themselves?
Time will tell as the CDL season continues. With a myriad of maps available to choose from as the year progresses, and plenty of opportunity to buff or nerf weapons, it is possible we’ll see other weapon archetypes get their time in the sun later this year—but only if Activision’s CDL team makes it happen.