What is a Magnification Scope in MW3? Extreme Magnification scope, explained

It's more complicated than it looks.

Players fire weapons at each other on Rust, a desert-like map in Call of Duty.
Image via Activision

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 quests and challenges come with their explanations. These descriptions can sometimes be confusing, and the Magnification Scope has been raising quite a few questions.

Recommended Videos

There are some terms that we’ve all grown used to as CoD players. A scope simply refers to all kinds of scope in the game, and when I first saw the Magnification Scope requirement, it caught me off guard. The word magnification before “scope” made me think I could have needed a specific type of scope, adding an element of mystery to weekly challenges.

Here’s everything there is to know about Extreme Magnification kills and scopes in MW3.

Longbow in MW3
Being less specific would probably better for this scope challenge. Image via Activision

How to get kills with an Extreme Magnification Scope in MW3

To get kills with an extreme magnification scope in MW3, use any scope with 8x magnification or higher. A scope of 8x magnification or more is how MW3 defines “extreme,” and that’s all there really is to know about it. The word extreme makes all the difference here, as it pushes attachments like Red Dot and Holographic out of the equation, and you will need to extremely zoom in on enemies to pick up kills to finish your challenges.

If I need to get extreme magnification scope kills, I pair the attachments with the best sniper rifles. To simplify the process, you can focus on completing this challenge in maps that favor snipers like Afghan and Highrise. You should find lots of opportunities to easily snipe enemies in these maps and rack up your quest count in no time.

Alternatively, it can be done on maps like Shipment where the map is way smaller, so zooming in will make things difficult, but you’re also guaranteed to see more players more often.

How to get kills with a magnification scope in MW3

All optic attachments in MW3 count as Magnification Scopes. Red Dot, Holographic, and the ACOG Scope all qualify as Magnification Scopes, meaning you can attach them to your weapon to complete this quest.

Equip an optic attachment to your preferred weapon and head to MW3 multiplayer. In some instances, players have encountered bugs preventing them from progressing through challenges requiring magnification scopes. If that’s the case for you, it may be a bug that needs to be fixed, but you can double-check the kind of optic attachment that you’re using and make sure that it’s correct.

Author
Image of Gökhan Çakır
Gökhan Çakır
Staff Writer
Gökhan is a Staff Writer and Fortnite Lead at Dot Esports. Gökhan graduated as an industrial engineer in 2020 and has since been with Dot Esports. As a natural-born gamer, he honed his skills to a professional level in Dota 2. Upon giving up on the Aegis of Champions in 2019, Gökhan started his writing career, covering all things gaming, while his heart remains a lifetime defender of the Ancients.
Author
Image of Scott Duwe
Scott Duwe
Staff Writer (Call of Duty lead)
Senior 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 corgis Yogi and Mickey, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.
twitter