Updated: Aug 26, 2026 2:27am UTC
While you can still expect the usual weapon tinkering that is present in all modern Call of Duty entries, Modern Warfare 4’s newest weapon attachment type, Apex Attachments, add a whole new dimension to what’s possible for your loadouts in some very game-changing ways. Here's everything you need to know about Apex Attachments in Call of Duty: MW4, including how they work and what you can expect.
How Apex Attachments Work in Call of Duty: MW4
Apex Attachments aren’t available until you complete a weapon's progression path, but they can completely alter how a gun operates, as they're far from just normal stat changes like recoil control or reload speed that you’d usually expect from the likes of the Gunsmith and Gunny systems.
Instead, Apex Attachments add brand new features and alternate firing modes for your guns, such as Assault Rifles that let you fling throwing knives, and even weapons that mark enemies after you hit them once. If you want to be even less subtle, you could also strap a laser-controlled rocket to the end of your gun.
To see the end result of an Apex Attachment for a weapon, you must first reach Player Level 4, so you can open the Create A Class screen. After selecting a weapon, open the Gunsmith, and then tab over to the Progression menu. Scroll all the way to the end (or just press left until it circles around) and you’ll see which Apex Attachment is unlockable for each weapon, and what each of the attachments do.
Ronny's MW4 Beta Tip: Since you need to level up a weapon all the way in order to unlock their Apex Attachments, there’s a good chance that you won’t have time to level up all (or even any) of the ones you want to test over the course of the MW4 beta.
Fortunately, there is still a way to get your hands on these attachments if you're short on time. To do this, you will want to play the Gunfight game mode, which is active on Kill Block, as you will always spawn in with a randomized loadout. So, there's a good chance you will begin a game with a loadout that features an Apex Attachment installed.
I’d say about 50% of my rounds came with some type of Apex weapon, including a fully leveled Type 73 LMG that featured Explosive Rounds, as well as increased ADS, reload and sprint to fire speed, and a Resi 12 Shotgun that was pump action, rather than semi-auto. It also came with explosive slugs and increased range and damage.
So, while the MW4 beta is active, consider giving Gunfight a try if you’re curious about how Apex Attachments feel for each weapon.
Ronny is a Senior Guides Producer for IGN.
Source: Archive source notes. This is an independent Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 reference page.