MW3 Rundown Map - Modern Warfare 3

Tactical Overview

In team-based modes, squads will either spawn by the Gas Station (west) or by the Mansion (east).

A murky, low-running River divides the two spawns — the rugged Outback to the west and the main village to the east. Prepare for combat out in the open as well as through the clustered buildings, and bring a teammate or two for backup when crossing over the water.

We’ve divided Rundown into five sections based on key areas around the map:

• MAIN SPAWN POINT: Gas Station (+ Water Tower)
• MAIN SPAWN POINT: Mansion (+ Hay Storage)
• ADDITIONAL AREA: Outback (+ Construction Area)
• ADDITIONAL AREA: River (+ Bridge Building, Bar, Repair Shop, Town Hall, Market Street)
• ADDITIONAL AREA: Back Alleys (+ Farm)

MAIN SPAWN POINT: Gas Station (WEST)

This Gas Station has seen better days, its shelves ransacked and its pumps no longer in service. Some fencing reduces visibility into the area from the east, though its thin surface does little to protect against incoming fire. The area itself is on largely open ground except for the Gas Station, a close-quarters interior where the fastest draw wins.

For more reliable cover, pivot around the nearby shed or Water Tower, using the infrastructure to better control your sightlines and as solid cover in retreat. Outside of these cover pieces, however, be ready to fight in the open. Midranged weapons tend to excel here, as the uneven terrain tends to cut off longer sightlines. The closer you move toward the River, the more those longshots start coming into play.

MAIN SPAWN POINT: Mansion (SOUTHEAST)

Though the Mansion’s interior is inaccessible, it remains a powerful defensive position. On the ground, the veranda offers partial concealment via the blue columns and low surrounding wall. When you’re spotted and need some real cover, use the bevy of supplies and vehicles surrounding the building. Of special note is the yellow truck north of the Mansion; climb into its bed for an elevated view of the area.

Take the Mansion’s back stairs to reach the wraparound balcony. This provides an even greater view of your surroundings, though there’s risk in the additional exposure. As with the veranda below, the low wall here doesn’t provide much protection. Your best point of defense up here is the wooden crates positioned on either side.

For a less conspicuous position, set up in Hay Storage just south of the Mansion. Though small, the shed and hay bales here offer the perfect point from which to ambush nearby enemies.

ADDITIONAL AREA: Outback

Prepare for a rocky road when traversing the Outback, due both to the area’s rugged terrain and its sparse cover points. Use the scattered sheds and a portion of fencing as cover, but between these points you’ll have to fend off attacks in the open. For those defending the Outback and Gas Station beyond, the tagged-up building in the Construction Area is your closest approximation to a power position.

Though exposed, the Outback makes for a great flank toward the Gas Station. The Gas Station features no windows overlooking the area, and the terrain cuts off views from the south as well. A convenient opening in the fence also provides quick access into the zone.

When moving toward the River, swing south if you’re looking for a tighter arena. The Fish Market, Repair Shop, Bar, and Hotel there offer many points of contact for those who prefer battling in and around buildings.

ADDITIONAL AREA: River

The River marks the most contentious point on the map, its course dividing the map down the middle, with three bridges and a stairway at either end providing access to the other side. Due to its low volume, Operators can jump down into the River and run over its surface, though be warned: Unless you have the Covert Sneakers equipped, the splashing of your footsteps is a dead giveaway to your position.

The greatest danger lies in the buildings lining the River to either side. While several of them are inaccessible, the ones you can enter such as the Bar and Repair Shop on the west side and the Town Hall and apartments on the east provide access to a second story with vantage points over crucial segments of the River and the surrounding markets.

Map awareness is crucial here to avoid getting cut down when crossing. Use your minimap and the position of your allies to determine which areas are safe to travel and where the greatest crossfire is taking place.

ADDITIONAL AREA: Back Alleys

The Back Alleys are great for close-quarters combat, especially between the buildings circling the fountain. Use the available balconies to get above the enemy or draw them into the adjacent apartment building to battle inside. As the midpoint between the River and Mansion, you’re close to any battles erupting on the map’s east side, though you may want to swap to a longer ranged weapon when leaving the confined fountain area.

When targeting enemies within the Back Alleys, consider launching your assault from the Farm to the south. Midranged weapons have the advantage here, and quick access to the Town Hall and a staircase descending into the River gives you strong options when it’s time to move on.

Objective Overview

Overall Tactics

Objective modes challenge players to find a balance between the compact east end of the map and the more wide-open west end. Crossing the River becomes a higher priority as well when seeking objectives on the other side — or on the central bridge — making it a priority to understand all the possible threats you may encounter along the way.

Take some time in a private match to explore the River and its surrounding buildings. Knowing which buildings are accessible and which are closed off helps you better focus on where the enemy might be located. While the minimap can help narrow down where the current threat lies, there’s always the chance of being caught off guard.

Check all of the vantage points provided by the two-story structures and spend some time navigating the River to discover its several points of egress so you don’t get stuck down there at a crucial point in the match. Once you’ve got the River path figured out, spend some time exploring the greater village and then take your newfound knowledge into the next match.

Domination

The Domination flags are grouped fairly close to one another on Rundown, keeping the action focused on the center fight for B, which is located right on the central bridge.

While it’s possible to make a play for A and C, it’s a difficult task given the number of River crossings needed to defend them. In most cases, it’s a battle for B, testing your reflexes and map knowledge in the toughest area of the map.

At the start of the match, consider strengthening your hold around the center bridge before jumping right on the point. While aggressive plays for the objective can turn the tide of a match, it won’t help if you’re eliminated en route. Instead, spread out around the flag, take up the best vantage points, and then go for the capture once you’ve fought back the first volley of fighters.

Once the B flag is yours, you can spread out to the surrounding two bridges to cover the flag and all crossing points over the River. If the enemy can’t cross, they can’t take your other flag. On the other hand, if the other team captures the B flag first, probe for weaknesses across the water and breach through where possible. Clear their side of the River and then take it back.

Hardpoint

The fight begins at the River on Hardpoint as teams vie for control over the center bridge. Its wide-open position makes it a challenge to hold as each side has clear sights over the area. There’s no going under the bridge here, either, as the Hardpoint doesn’t extend underneath.

Divide and conquer by designating a handful of Operators to push for the point while the remaining teammates set up in the power positions surrounding it. The more angles you control over the objective, the better your chances of repelling enemy attacks.

After the bridge, the remaining four Hardpoints task you with crossing and recrossing the River as the objectives move back and forth between the east and west sides of the map. The Farm, like the first Hardpoint, is on open ground. You can use the coop for cover, but you’ll need to get in front of it to be on the objective.

The Hardpoint in the Construction Area building provides some decent cover for those within, though the building’s small size makes it susceptible to explosives. Here again it may be worth sending out some teammates to provide cover from afar to avoid losing your hold to a well-placed grenade or two.

In the Back Alley, swap to a close-quarters Loadout when pursuing the point or set up in the surrounding street with a midranged weapon to protect it. The first to the final Hardpoint at Hotel gains a big advantage, as its second floor provides a commanding view over the surrounding area; to secure a strong defense, set up here before the Hardpoint activates.

Cutthroat

Though Rundown isn’t a large map, its dense layout in and around the main village gives squads the opportunity to evade detection and set up in an advantageous position. This adds further importance to the overtime flag, as capturing it to secure the round win is a more sound strategy than chasing down hidden enemies.

An aggressive approach can be equally successful. Head to the River to get right into it, spreading out to cover multiple angles or as a coordinated push over a single bridge to the other side. Or, if you’re more confident on your side, take some shots and then pull back, enticing the enemy to pursue your position and fall into a trap. If you’re lucky, the third squad may even follow in pursuit.

Consider bringing along a Launcher as well. Rundown’s dense layout makes it easy to find a safe spot for a moment to knock enemy aerial streaks out of the sky, particularly enemy UAVs, which threaten to spoil your squad’s plans before they’ve even begun. Take away their intel and then finish the job.

Search & Destroy

At first sight, it might seem that the defending team has the advantage by starting in the main village while the attackers must cross open ground and the River before approaching either bomb site. With some ingenuity, however, either team can succeed, using the map’s rugged terrain and dense layout to avoid detection until the time to strike is right.

The attacking team has two choices: Wipe out the other squad or make the River crossing and plant. Going for the full elimination has its advantages, but as mentioned in our Cutthroat strategy, it can be difficult to track down the last remaining Operators.

When opting for the plant, choose a site and go all in, possibly tossing equipment and/or sending an Operator to the other side to create confusion. Try wrapping around the northern boundary to make your way toward B, or use the vantage points by A to eliminate some enemies before going in.

The defending team should use the opening seconds of the round to get into a solid defensive position across any of the several vantage points provided in the dense east side, whether to cover bridge access across the River or with a direct view over either bomb site. The Back Alleys by the fountain can also work as a good ambush point, as its position between the two sites allows you to make a fast break against any plants.

Modern Warfare III Multiplayer: History Modernized

What’s your favorite Call of Duty Multiplayer map?

As Call of Duty nears its 20th anniversary, veteran fans could have over 100 potential answers to that question, and that’s not including the 16 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer maps that debuted in 2009 — one of the greatest Day One Multiplayer offerings of all time.

Afghan. Derail. Estate. Favela. Karachi. Highrise. Invasion. Quarry. Rundown. Rust. Scrapyard. Skidrow. Sub Base. Terminal. Underpass. Wasteland.

As previously revealed, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare® III will launch with meticulously crafted, modernized versions of these 16 Core Modern Warfare 2 (2009) maps, constructed to maintain the authenticity and accuracy of the originals.

Multiplayer Maps: Then and Now

Fourteen years later, Sledgehammer Games and Infinity Ward have a wealth of game engine and design tech advancements at their disposal, such as variable-rate shading, and numerous runtime systems for better enemy visibility, to name a few.

These new, ever-advancing technological tools are vital in faithfully re-creating the Modern Warfare 2 (2009) classic maps just as fans remember them.

“There are places where the metrics of the level are adjusted to fit more modern gameplay,” Zach states, “but for the most part, it’s going to feel incredibly similar. The biggest changes are in a fidelity sense.”

In other words, those who played Favela, Terminal, or Scrapyard in 2009 may expect a wave of nostalgia as they encounter the visual updates, and more experienced veterans may appreciate the modernization updates for gameplay flow purposes.

One example is the vehicles lining the streets in various locations throughout the map pool; these are different models compared to the 2009 versions. As you explore these newly modernized maps, you’ll notice other areas have received touches that both improve gameplay and enhance scenic detail and visibility.

Buildings and other features may be a different color or material entirely, such as the old dirt-and-grass soccer pitch in Favela, which is now paved over with blue acrylic-coated blacktop.

And when it comes to lighting, this revision of the game engine truly shines.

The game’s in-game illumination techniques noticeably brighten areas like Favela’s central alleyways, allowing players to see enemy Operators more clearly, rather than have targets blend into the shadows.

However, the most important changes to the 16 Multiplayer Maps aren’t how they look but how they ultimately play.

Because of technological advancements in Call of Duty’s animation and movement techniques over the past 14 years, Operators can Tactical Sprint and leap between rooftops, mantle, and navigate alleyways with Tac-Stance, giving players more confidence during these frenetic, close-quarters engagements.

Essentially, a “modernized” Modern Warfare 2 (2009) map means an authentic Multiplayer experience with learnings from the Call of Duty franchise’s rich history.

Memorable Map Areas Modernized for Modern Warfare III

Many other updates and features are coming to all the maps, though each still retains its authenticity and core design. To that end, all the Modern Warfare III launch maps were built from the ground up (rather than being taken from existing points of interest in other maps, like Al Mazrah).

Prior to more Multiplayer map revelations at Call of Duty: Next on October 5, here’s a brief glimpse at some of the memorable areas contained within a few of the other Modern Warfare III launch maps. Sledgehammer Games’ careful and considerate modernization is set to offer the same maps you remember, but with a refreshing multiplayer experience:

Estate

The lake behind the boathouse is now accessible for wetworks. Operators can now maneuver in and under the water and can swim out to a platform overlooking the area. There’s also a greater military presence on the Estate grounds than there was before. While the original lodge offered a luxurious getaway, this one features intel posted on the wall and a tank sitting on the main road outside.

Skidrow

The bookshop is now a movie store, and the ceiling has been repaired; the lights are back on for greater visibility when passing through. Further lighting improvements to areas like the hallway and tunnel ensure that Operators are clearly visible against the environment.

Rust

Remember that open pipe jutting out in a corner that many a camper took roost in? It’s been replaced by a small building, keeping the fight out in the open. Also, be sure to take advantage of Rust’s verticality by climbing the center tower and the surrounding containers with greater agility than ever before.

Highrise

The standard office layout from 2009 has been updated for the new tenant, a company whose arcade machines, movie posters, and video game systems profess their love for entertainment. Though the occupants are different, both buildings retain their most notorious power positions. The crane still provides a killer view from the northern building, while those willing to scale the front of Actibase will be rewarded with an unmatched rooftop position.

20 Maps at Launch, All-New Core Maps Come to Live Seasons

As detailed in the Modern Warfare III Reveal blog, in addition to these 16 authentic modernizations of Modern Warfare 2 (2009) maps, Modern Warfare III Multiplayer will also include four massive environments comprising three brand-new Battle Maps — where Ground War and Invasion game modes will be fought against monumental backdrops. There will also be a gargantuan War map as Modern Warfare III marks the welcome return and evolution of the legendary War Mode.

Expect the flow of free post launch content including Core 6v6 Maps and additional Multiplayer content to continue after launch. As previously stated, we’ll have over 12 all-new Core 6v6 Maps in our seasons, with three all-new 6v6 maps hitting in Season 01 and three all-new 6v6 maps hitting in Season 02, along with additional maps and modes throughout future seasons.