Top 10 Modern Warfare Maps

The insanely popular Modern Warfare series launched in 2007 with Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The Call of Duty series’s first foray into a “modern” battlefield came after numerous World War 2 entries, and with that came new landscapes, weapons and gameplay.

After three explosive games (and no sign of slowing down), released every second year since 2007, the series has turned into the definitive console multiplayer shooter, all having their committed communities and competitive pros.

The core experience hasn’t changed much since the first Modern Warfare, but the maps certainly have. Now that many of the more popular maps appear as downloadable content for new entries, there’s no excuse for not having tested out the best of Infinity Ward’s competitive landscapes. Just to make sure you’ve experienced the best Modern Warfare has had to offer, here’s a list of the best ten maps to appear throughout the series.

Crash Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

“Crash” is a notoriously small ‘CoD4’ map when compared to others in the game. It plays host to some pretty intense and fast paced matches, with a stack of blind corners and narrow corridors making it difficult to get a run-on. There are plenty of large, open spaces for the sniper in you, including a number of great rooftop vantage points.

Killstreak & Class Advice

Any airborne killstreak should be avoided because there is so much cover available to enemy players. Stick to UAV. Deep Impact is useful, as players weave in and out of buildings, making a quick shot through a wall inevitable.

Overgrown Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

’Overgrown’ is large, wide and open with its fair share of great cover spots and sniper vantage points. You can play this map a number of ways, but it would be smart to avoid open areas wherever possible, as there’s almost always a sniper waiting for you to come out into plain view.

Killstreak & Class Advice

Airborne killstreaks are a good idea because of the open spaces. If you don’t choose a sniper rifle as your primary weapon, a long-range assault rifle is your next best option for long-range combat.

Crossfire Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Crossfire is essentially both a snipers and campers paradise, but that doesn’t dilute its worth. With so many buildings, cover spots and hiding areas, you can play this map any number of ways, which makes for some great gameplay and competitiveness.

Killstreak & Class Advice

Crossfire excels as a map in Domination and Hardcore modes. Consider either an Assault or Sniper class on this map. Close-range combat happens often, so a shotgun might be a good choice, but it will obviously let you know when it comes to long-range meetings.

Ambush Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

This is an interesting map, as both spawn points provide great sniping locations that look over the center of the area. It also has a number of secrets that allow access to otherwise inaccessible buildings, so be on the look-out for objects that may be used as stepping blocks into buildings.

Killstreak & Class Advice

Create a class that is as “stealthy” as possible, seeing as though this map offers a stack of cover, dark corners and high grass. The buildings are designed in such a way that they seemingly encourage camping, so play to those designs. Mixing up Bomb Squad with a Stealth Class would make you a formidable challenger on this map.

Karachi Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Karachi has it all when it comes to maps: plenty of balanced, open-air combat, building and rooftop battles, as well as a number of tight, closed-in areas where battle is frequent. It’s a map that is accessible to a number of different classes, making it an environment perfect for any type of gamer.

Killstreak & Class Advice

Do not use high killstreak rewards. Stick to the lower-tier killstreak rewards, mix things up with a shotgun or SMG with quick fire and move in and out of the building. Alternatively, you could sit on the upper floors of one of the buildings with a sniper rifle, but this will certainly leave you vulnerable.

Terminal Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Terminal is a very maze-like map, thanks to a number of security checkpoints and barricades. The “Hallway of Death”, which is the main hallway overlooking the outside of the map, should be avoided at all costs, as campers and snipers normally sit up the top of the escalators, waiting for unsuspecting enemies to come into their line of fire.

Killstreak & Class Advice

Assault rifles and SMGs are most effective on this map. While there is a lot of cover and indoors combat, airborne killstreaks are effective because of the amount of glass and open rooftops.

Favela Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

This multi-tiered, medium-sized map set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, offers fast paced and close quarters battles. There are many tall buildings, lots of camping spots and two open areas -- the middle and back quarters of the map -- that should be avoided. The soccer field in the middle is a dead man zone unless you move through it quickly.

Killstreak & Class Advice

You can play this map a number of ways. Being a sniper, assault rifle or SMG class won’t matter, as there is a good variety of short and long distanced combat. Airborne killstreaks are also quite effective on this map.

Arkaden Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

This medium-sized map has two main spawn points at the street in the front of the map, and the loading bay round the back. There are two levels, both of which have prominent lines of sight, as well as a second story that looks over the courtyard. The courtyard is an area that separates the hotel from the mall, it has a lot of debris, including a crashed helicopter, that can be climbed on and used for cover.

Killstreak & Class Advice

The map is close quarters, with much of the action taking place inside the bombed out mall portion of the map. Airborne killstreaks are hit-and-miss: sometimes effectives, other times, not so much. Stick to assault rifles, shotguns, UAV and perhaps either a Care Package or I.M.S.

Mission Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Mission has two spawn points located at either end of the map, a central area, and three long corridors of land that make for great long-range combat. The hill leading up to the house is often hotly contested.

Killstreak & Class Advice

As there is little indoor cover, airborne killstreaks are very effective on this map. For modes like Domination, an I.M.S. located either behind the waist-high fence at flag “A”, behind the car at flab “B” or at the top of the steps at flag “C” will give you a few easy kills.

Village Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

This large map takes place in an African village (hence the name), with many long lines of sight, and many buildings that offer close quarters combat.

Killstreak & Class Advice

While this map certainly isn’t small or “closed” by any means, there are plenty of corners and lots of intense action in confined spaces. Quick firing weapons, or accurate assault rifles will do you well, as will airborne killstreaks.

What are your favourite Modern Warfare series maps?

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