Infinity Ward nerfs Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's dreaded sniper shotgun again Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Infinity Ward nerfs Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's dreaded sniper shotgun again Third time's a weapon charm. News by Wesley Yin-Poole Deputy Editorial Director Updated on 20 Nov 2019 18 comments Anyone who's playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's competitive multiplayer portion will know about the dreaded 725. This shotgun has plagued multiplayer since Infinity Ward's first-person shooter launched. The issue: with the right attachments, it's a sniper shotgun. Infinity Ward has so far struggled to get the balance right with the 725, issuing multiple nerfs that have, at times, had unintended effects. A nerf on 11th November actually ended up buffing the shotgun, and it continues to dominate certain maps. Now, Infinity Ward has issued a third nerf for the 725, this time taking aim at the damage range added by attachments. But there's more: there's a small reduction to base weapon damage range, and reduced effective damage at the hip. Here's the detail, courtesy of the patch notes over on Reddit: Small reduction to base weapon damage range Significantly reduced the damage range added by attachments Small hips spread increase Reduced effective damage at the hip This nerf is significant (the damage range boost from attachments has been obliterated), and, if it works as intended, should go some way to stamping out the 725 plague that's afflicted Modern Warfare all month. But the issues around the 725 highlight an interesting aspect about Modern Warfare I think is worth digging into, and it has to do with the Gunsmith. One of the best things about Modern Warfare is the Gunsmith, the part of the game that lets you customise the weapons. There's a huge amount of flexibility here, and a great number of options. You can pick from a selection of attachments in a number of categories, such as the barrell, the optic, the stock, ammunition and rear grip. There are around 50 attachments per weapon. It's great! Call of Duty: Modern Warfare's Gunsmith. However, the sheer number of combinations on offer with the Gunsmith does result in crazy attachment combinations that break the game, such as the 725 sniper. This weapon, by default, had an insane one-shot kill range (and a fantastic two/three-shot kill range, too). Putting the right attachments on the 725 almost made the weapon comically overpowered, letting you cross-map enemies on the 2v2 Gunfight maps, and, well, you get the idea. The Gunsmith is a lot of fun and, long-term, should help with weapon variety on the battlefield, so I'm glad it works the way it does - despite it throwing up the sniper shotgun. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store