There are plenty of activities to complete and place to explore in Modern Warfare 3‘s Zombies mode. but hunting for Schematics should definitely be a priority, given how valuable these items will be in future deployments.
These Schematics will allow you to permanently unlock the ability to create Aether Tools, Perk-a-Colas, Ammo Mods, Wonder Weapons, and other classified items—though the catch is they can be extremely tricky to locate or acquire.
We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know, including tips on how to maximize your chances of securing one of these rare drops.
Where to get all Schematics in MW3 Zombies
Schematics in MW3 Zombies come from a variety of sources. Some of the more basic ones are earned as a reward for completing story missions or completing contracts within a certain threat tier. However, some of the rarer Schematics require you to complete some of the more unique activities that MW3 Zombies has to offer.
While a Schematic drop is not guaranteed, these activities will give you the best chance at each Schematic, according to Reddit user Ziqd and the MW3 Zombies community.
If a Schematic is noted as a story mission reward, it means there’s a chance the Schematic drops randomly after completing a mission from the corresponding story act. For example, completing a story act mission will give you a chance at picking up the Uncommon Aether Tool Schematic.
Aether Tools and Aetherium Crystals
| Item | Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Uncommon Aether Tool | Upgrades currently held weapon to Uncommon rarity. | Story act one mission reward |
| Rare Aether Tool | Upgrades currently held weapon to Rare rarity. | Story act two mission reward |
| Epic Aether Tool | Upgrades currently held weapon to Epic rarity. | Tier three contract |
| Legendary Aether Tool | Upgrades currently held weapon to Legendary rarity. | Red Worm Storm Boss |
| Raw Aetherium Crystal | Upgrades currently held weapon to Pack-a-Punch level one. | Tier two contract |
| Refined Aetherium Crystal | Upgrades currently held weapon to Pack-a-Punch level two. | Tier three contract |
| Flawless Aetherium Crystal | Upgrades currently held weapon to Pack-a-Punch level three. | Red Worm Storm Boss |
Perk-a-Colas
| Item | Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadshot Daiquiri | Increase enemy critical damage. | Tier one contract |
| Speed Cola | Drink to reload and replate armor faster | Tier one contract |
| Stamin-Up | Increase run and sprint speed. | Tier one contract |
| Jugger-nog | Increases max health. | Tier two contract |
| PHD Flopper | Dive to prone triggers an explosion that increases the higher you fall. Grants immunity from fall damage while diving. | Tier two contract |
| Elemental Pop | Every bullet you fire has a small chance to apply a random ammo mod effect. | Tier three contract |
| Tombstone | On death, create a tombstone stash at that location containing your backpack inventory in the next game. | Tier three contract |
| Quick Revive | Reduce health regen delay time by 50 percent. Reduce time it takes to revive an ally by 50 percent. | Story act one mission reward |
| Death Perception | Obscured enemies, chests, resources, and item drops are keylined. | Story act three mission reward |
Ammo Mods
| Item | Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Brain Rot | Temporarily makes a zombie your ally. Zombies with Brain Rot deal Toxic damage. | Tier one contract |
| Cryo Freeze | Freezes enemies. | Story act two mission reward |
| Dead Wire | Shocks and stuns enemies. | Tier two contract |
| Napalm Burst | Burns enemies over time. | Tier one contract |
| Shatter Blast | Bullets explode on impact. | Tier two contract |
Wonder Weapons
| Item | Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ray Gun case | Crafts the Ray Gun. Automatic laser gun. | Tier three contract |
| The Scorcher case | Crafts The Scorcher. Pulse rifle. | Red Worm Storm Boss |
| Wunderwaffe DG-2 case | Crafts Wunderwaffe DG-2. Zaps groups of enemies. | Story act three mission reward |
Classified
Classified items are unique in that you have to complete contracts while inside the Elder Dark Aether, and you get a specific Schematic depending on which contract you’re on.
| Item | Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Bone | Summons an allied Hell Hound. | First Elder Dark Aether contract |
| Golden Armor Plate | Armor slots will automatically refill. | Second Elder Dark Aether contract |
| Aether Blade | Throwing knife that seeks an additional enemy before returning. | Third Elder Dark Aether contract |
Best contracts for farming Schematics in MW3 Zombies
There are numerous contracts to pick from during an MW3 Zombies match, but some are significantly easier and quicker to accomplish, giving you more opportunities at Schematic drops:
- Deliver Cargo: Hop in a vehicle and drive from point A to point B, this is one of the fastest contracts you can complete. Plus you can keep the vehicle after and quickly head to another contract.
- Raid Weapon Stash and Outlast: With the right weapons and gear, holding off waves of zombies isn’t too challenging.
- Eliminate the Bounty: If you can manage to Pack-a-Punch just one of your weapons like an AR or an SMG, you can melt down zombie boss health pretty quickly.
I would avoid Defend Ground Station at all costs. The mercs are pretty relentless, and without a team of squadmates, the mercs can break down the computer you’re defending rather quickly.
How to use Schematics in MW3 Zombies
Once you’ve successfully extracted from Zombies with a Schematic in your inventory, you’ll permanently unlock the item for crafting in the pre-game menu.
To access them, head to the inventory customization menu that can be accessed before you drop into a game. Find an empty slot in your inventory and then click it, which opens up another menu where you are presented with two choices.
The first is where you can find the Acquisitions you have extracted previously, so you need to hit the second menu for Schematics. Here, you’ll see all of the Schematics that can be found and the option to craft the Schematics you have unlocked.
However, there is a cooldown for crafting that varies by item. As you can see in the image above, a Speed Cola Can has a three-hour crafting cooldown. More powerful Schematics, like the Ray Gun, have an even longer cooldown.
