Track 1 · Under Lvl 20
Recruit
You just installed. Here's what to level first, what to run, and when the perks that matter show up.
Priority one
Level these two first
MW4 shares attachment unlocks across compatible weapons. When the HAN 86 or ISO Nightshade unlocks a laser, grip or optic, every other gun that takes that part gets it too. Community testing says each shared unlock also skips a weapon level on those guns, so one AR and one SMG give the rest of your arsenal a running start.
HAN 86
Unlocks Lvl 4 · Max Lvl 72 · Mid-to-long range laser
SMGISO Nightshade
Unlocks Lvl 4 · Max Lvl 64 · Close-range king
Community-reported
Shared attachment unlocks are confirmed. The 'skips a weapon level' bonus comes from community guides, not Activision's patch notes.
Your first class
Create-a-Class opens at Lvl 4. Levels 1–3 use default classes. Build this and leave it alone until Lvl 20.
- Primary
- HAN 86 or ISO Nightshade
- Perk 1
- Quick Fix
- Perk 2
- Blood Rush
- Field Upgrade
- Portable Radar
Unlock timeline
The perks and guns worth knowing about through Lvl 34. Enter your level and we'll mark what you already have.
- LVL4Create-a-ClassNext up
Levels 1–3 use default classes. From here, you build your own.
HAN 86ARLevel this first.
Level this first.
Quick FixPerk 1Blood RushPerk 2Portable RadarField Upgrade - LVL5
Sources disagree
The launch progression table says Lvl 5, but a community wiki and a guide site both list Lvl 13, which is likelier. Our main stat tracker and another loadout site don't give an unlock level, and the official weapons post could not be opened. Check your unlock screen.
- LVL8High AlertPerk 1Next up
- LVL14
- LVL20Fast HandsPerk 2Next up
Faster reloads, equipment use and weapon swaps.
- LVL24GhostPerk 1Next up
Mandatory UAV counter. Hides you from UAVs, Portable Radars and Heartbeat Sensors.
- LVL30NinjaPerk 2Next up
Silences your footsteps. Mandatory on SMG builds.
- LVL34
Early builds
All loadouts →HAN 86
AR- 1OpticSZ Micro D-3
- 2BarrelHanbit RK8
- 3MuzzleFSS IS300
- 4StockFR4 Retractable
- 5LaserXRK Clutch-LS
ISO Nightshade
SMG- 1MuzzleFSS Crackdown
- 2BarrelZLR MAG-Z 9"
- 3StockGI-80 Milspec
- 4Rear GripDemo STP-1
- 5Ammo9mm Frangible