How to get the Overkill perk in MW3

Two is greater than one.

MW3 character firing a weapon
Image via Activision

Why settle for just one gun when you can bring two? The Overkill perk has long given Call of Duty players the answer to this question, and it’s back in MW3 but only if you wear the Overkill Vest.

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With MW3’s odd Armory Unlock system, plus the new way it deploys Perks as Gear such as Vests, Gloves, and Boots, it’s no wonder why some gamers are confused about how to find and use classic CoD features such as Overkill. Upon first glance at the different pieces of equipment and level-up rewards, Overkill isn’t anywhere to be found. But it’s in MW3, trust us, and you can equip it relatively quickly if you know where to get it. Here’s how to get Overkill in MW3 and equip two primary weapons.

Is the Overkill perk in MW3?

Overkill is included in MW3 but you must be wearing the Overkill Vest, meaning it’s a sort of hidden perk in the latest iteration of Call of Duty. It’s not strictly listed in its classic perk form but it will be activated if you wear the vest, which also improves your operator’s swap speed and allows you to reload while sprinting.

The Overkill Vest and its effects displayed in the loadout menu of Modern Warfare 3.
Dress for success. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Once you unlock and equip the Overkill Vest in your loadout screen, Overkill will be active, and you can navigate to your Secondary Weapon window and equip another primary weapon in the second slot.

How to unlock Overkill in MW3

To unlock the Overkill Vest and use the Overkill perk, you will need to reach player level 50. Playing any matches and performing well will earn you experience, but you can maximize your XP gains by completing your three daily missions too.

If you have saved up XP tokens from Modern Warfare 2, you can use those as well to hit level 50 quickly. Once you’re there, though the classic perk is found as part of MW3’s equipment system on the Vest, which is found with the rest of your class setup inside of each loadout from within the Weapons tab of MW3 multiplayer.

The Gunner Vest also grants a version of the Overkill perk but limits you to wielding dual primary weapons only. The Overkill Vest lets you use any combination of primary and secondary weapons you want, so I suggest leveling all the way and using the Overkill Vest.

The Gunner Vest is great for classes like shotguns, snipers, or even those of you who like to run around with a Riot Shield on your back as you level up another primary weapon. Couldn’t be me, but you do you.

Author
Image of Scott Robertson
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.
Author
Image of Scott Duwe
Scott Duwe
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.
Author
Image of Nicholas Taifalos
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