The Riveter shotgun in Modern Warfare 3.
Screenshot by Dot Esports

The best Riveter loadout and class setup in MW3

It doesn't feel like an AA-12, but it's as close as it gets.

Any Modern Warfare 2 (2009) fans in the house? Who remembers the AA-12 automatic shotgun that tore lobbies to complete shreds?

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Well, the newest Modern Warfare 3 release might have just the perfect replacement for you AA-12 spammers: the Riveter. On close-quarters maps, the Riveter on its own is a force to be reckoned with thanks to its fire rate that’s far superior to any other MW3 shotgun. But with the right attachments, it’s even more dangerous.

Here are the best loadout, attachments, and more to pair with the Riveter in MW3 multiplayer.

Best Riveter loadout and class setup in MW3

The Riveter shotgun from Modern Warfare 3, with attachments applied.
Mom: “We have the AA-12 at home.” Screenshot by Dot Esports

The Riveter is a fully automatic shotgun in MW3 that does light to moderate damage at short to mid-range. It’s actually surprising the amount of range you can get out of the Riveter, but the damage you’ll deal any further renders the weapon useless.

Best Riveter build in MW3

  • Laser: FTAC Grimline Laser
  • Stock: Seraph-14 Heavy Carbine Stock
  • Barrel: JCX-L Suppressed Barrel
  • Underbarrel: Operator Foregrip
  • Magazine: 30 Round Mag

Consistency up close is our aim here, and the accuracy of the Riveter when firing from the hip is quite impressive with these attachments. The Operator Foregrip in particular gives a handy boost to hip-fire sway and accuracy. Just to ensure someone slightly out of range doesn’t escape, we’re doubling the magazine size with the 30 Round Mag.

The JCX-L Suppressed Barrel also helps keep you off the radar while giving a boost in pellet velocity, and the Grimline Laser makes it even easier to hip-fire. Unless the enemy player is at “longshot” distance, you should really never be using ADS with this Riveter.

Our ideal class build and attachments are meant for keeping to short-range engagements, with a bit of fun strapped to the back to assist the team. As such, I wouldn’t use this loadout (or the Riveter at all) on larger-scale maps like Wasteland or Afghan.

Tip:

If you want to improve range at the cost of your suppressed barrel, we recommend the SA Draven-20 Long Barrel for a substantial damage range increase.

But where the Riveter shines most for me is when I need longshots. I like to use the Riveter, or the Haymaker, in Hardcore modes on small maps like Shipment. Aim down sights and spray away and you should get easy longshots with the shotgun.

Best Riveter class setup in MW3

  • Vest: Demolition Vest
  • Secondary: Renetti
  • Tactical: Stun Grenade
  • Lethal: Semtex x 2
  • Field Upgrade: Munitions Box
  • Gloves: Scavenger Gloves
  • Boots: Lightweight Boots
  • Gear: Tac Mask

The Demolition Vest is our pick here, leaning heavily into Lethal grenade options with the Semtex. I also found the Thermobaric Grenade handy and recommend it for tactical use when keeping enemy operators off of points of interest, like in the Hardpoint and Domination game modes.

The Munitions Box, plus the Demolition Vest’s grenade uptime, ensures you’re loaded up for every fight with plenty of grenades and ammo, especially given the Riveter chews through your reserves very quickly.

Now that you know the best Riveter loadout build in MW3, it’s time to get out there and absolutely tear through the enemy.


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Author
Nicholas Taifalos
Weekend editor for Dot Esports. Nick, better known as Taffy, began his esports career in commentary, switching to journalism with a focus on Oceanic esports, particularly Counter-Strike and Dota. Email: nicholas@dotesports.com
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Scott Robertson
VALORANT lead staff writer, also covering CS:GO, FPS games, other titles, and the wider esports industry. Watching and writing esports since 2014. Previously wrote for Dexerto, Upcomer, Splyce, and somehow MySpace. Jack of all games, master of none.
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Scott Duwe
Staff Writer & Call of Duty lead. Professional writer for over 10 years. Lover of all things Marvel, Destiny 2, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and more. Previous bylines include PC Gamer, Red Bull Esports, Fanbyte, and Esports Nation. DogDad to Yogi the Corgi, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.