Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Progression & Prestige Explained
Infinity Ward has explained how Modern Warfare 4 leveling, the two Prestige paths, Prestige Master and the weapon camo grind will work.
Infinity Ward has laid out how progression works in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, which launches on October 23. The official post, available on Steam, covers player levels, Prestige, Prestige Master and the weapon camo grind across Multiplayer and DMZ.
For the first time in a Call of Duty game, Prestige has two paths, so you can choose whether to reset your unlocks. Here's what we know ahead of launch, and our rundown of the Modern Warfare 4 Operators, weapons and loadout details covers the gear you'll be unlocking.
Levels and Prestige
Multiplayer has 55 levels, running from Private I at Level 1 to Commander at Level 55. Each level unlocks weapons, equipment, Perks, Killstreaks and more. DMZ has its own separate track of 70 levels. XP earned in DMZ also counts toward your 1 to 55 progress, but Multiplayer and Warzone XP don't count toward your DMZ level.
Once you hit Level 55, you can pick a Prestige path. There are 10 Prestige levels, and you choose again each time you enter a new one:
- Classic Prestige: Resets your level unlocks and Create-a-Class progress. In return you get a 20% XP boost, one Permanent Unlock Token and bonus cosmetics.
- Regular Prestige: Restarts you at Level 1 but keeps all your unlocks and Create-a-Class content.
The token lets you permanently keep one Level Unlock item. Infinity Ward suggests spending it on Perks, Field Upgrades, Killstreaks or equipment rather than weapons. Each Prestige level is themed on an earlier Infinity Ward game, and Prestige 1 draws on the original Call of Duty (2003).
After all ten, Prestige Master runs up to Level 1,000, where you become a Prestige Legend. Your first Level Color is Orange, and more colors and legacy Prestige icons unlock along the way.
The Camo Grind
Camos start with eight Military Camos per weapon, unlocked at weapon level milestones. For the Han 86, the first arrives at Weapon Level 10 and the eighth at Level 65. Each weapon also has three Special Camos with combat challenges, and completed ones join a pool every weapon can use.
After that come the Completionist Camos, in this order:
- Gold
- Platinum
- Harmonic Break
- Divergence
Mastery Camos come last, with three each for Multiplayer and DMZ. Warzone's three are still classified and arrive in Season 1.
Weapon Prestige is separate. Once a weapon hits max level, you can reset it to Level 1 and relock its attachments, except for Apex Attachments, and earn the Pyroclast camos. Customization like Camos and Blueprints is kept.
If you want to get ahead, DMZ Early Access begins on October 20 for digital pre-orders and pre-purchases. Weapon levels, attachments and camos earned there carry over to Multiplayer at launch. For more on the game's gear, read our Black Ops 6 Multiplayer Perks guide, or our list of the best weapons in Modern Warfare 3.
