Apex Attachments are one of the biggest changes to weapon customization in Modern Warfare 4. Instead of giving you another small stat boost, an Apex can change how a weapon works with new firing modes, special ammunition, integrated weapons, tracking tools, stealth systems, or complete conversions.
The catch is that you need to fully level a supported weapon before its Apex Attachment unlocks. MW4 launches with 28 Apex Attachments, and several weapons can even choose between more than one. Below, you can see how the system works and every MW4 Apex Attachment revealed so far.
What Are Apex Attachments in MW4?
Apex Attachments are special weapon modifications unlocked as the final progression reward for fully leveling supported weapons in Modern Warfare 4.They are much more significant than normal Gunsmith attachments. Instead of simply improving recoil, range, handling, or magazine size, Apex Attachments can change the weapon's role or add completely new abilities.
The main features of the system are:
- They unlock by fully leveling supported weapons.
- They are equipped separately from normal Gunsmith attachments.
- They do not use one of your standard attachment slots.
- Each Apex has a weapon-specific gameplay effect.
- Some weapons have more than one Apex Attachment.
- Effects can include caliber conversions, alternate firing modes, tracking systems, explosive ammunition, blades, launchers, and other specialized equipment.
This means you can keep your normal Gunsmith build and add an Apex Attachment on top of it instead of sacrificing one of your regular attachment choices.
How to Unlock Apex Attachments in MW4
To unlock an MW4 Apex Attachment, you need to reach the maximum Weapon Level of the weapon that supports it.The basic process works like this:
- Step 1: Unlock the weapon.
- Step 2: Use it in supported modes and earn Weapon XP.
- Step 3: Progress through its Weapon Levels and unlock normal attachments.
- Step 4: Reach the weapon's maximum level.
- Step 5: Unlock its Apex Attachment as the final weapon progression reward.
Modern Warfare 4 also reduces some of the repeated attachment grind. Compatible standard attachments that you have already earned can be used on other weapons that support them, while Apex Attachments remain tied to their specific weapons.
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Every Confirmed MW4 Apex Attachment
Activision has confirmed that Modern Warfare 4 launches with 28 Apex Attachments. The table below includes every Apex Attachment whose weapon, name, or effect has been officially revealed so far.Most weapons have one Apex, but there are already exceptions. The Hyeon Burst and Kastov 762 each have two different Apex choices.
| Weapon | Class | Apex Attachment | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Han 86 | Assault Rifle | Han 86 X20 Skybreaker | Adds a specialized targeting optic and 20mm airburst launcher designed to detonate at a selected distance and flush enemies out of cover. |
| M4 | Assault Rifle | M4 Hurricane | Converts the M4 into a top-loading 5.7x28mm configuration with high capacity, faster handling, and a high rate of fire. |
| Hyeon Burst | Assault Rifle | Hyeon Auto | Converts the Hyeon Burst to fully automatic fire with a substantial increase in continuous rate of fire. |
| Hyeon Burst | Assault Rifle | Hyeon Hyperburst | Uses an overclocked receiver that fires an extremely fast three-round burst before continuing with slower fully automatic fire. |
| Kastov 762 | Assault Rifle | Kastov 545 | Converts the weapon to 5.45x39mm ammunition for smoother handling and faster follow-up shots. |
| Kastov 762 | Assault Rifle | Kastov ARC | Adds an integrated optic and RF disruption system capable of affecting infantry, electronics, equipment, Killstreaks, and vehicles. |
| Patriot XMR | Battle Rifle | Patriot XMR Volt | Adds an underbarrel launcher that fires a spread of high-voltage darts designed to stun targets and disrupt their movement at close range. |
| Axion | Assault Rifle | Axion Crusader | Reconfigures the rifle into a compact, high-mobility setup with an integrated saw-style stock and side grip. |
| ISO Nightshade | SMG | ISO Trace | Uses specialized RFID ammunition to tag enemies and send their movement and direction to the weapon's integrated optic. |
| PPSh-41 | SMG | PPSh-41 Ember | Adds an underbarrel system that launches pyrotechnic projectiles and creates short-lasting incendiary coverage for area control. |
| X-58 Nyx | SMG | X-58 Void | Creates an extremely low-signature stealth setup that quiets the weapon, hides enemy death markers, and reduces directional hit information. |
| Wz.55 Striga | SMG | [CLASSIFIED] | An Apex Attachment has been confirmed for the Wz.55 Striga, but its name and effect have not yet been officially detailed. |
| Rezi 12 | Shotgun | Rezi 12 Enforcer | Changes the shotgun to pump-action cycling and adds hot-loaded explosive slugs stored in a side-saddle. |
| FiNN LMG | LMG | FiNN Adverse | Greatly increases the weapon's rate of fire, but sustained shooting can overheat the gun and force it to cool before returning to full-auto fire. |
| Type 73 | LMG | Type 73 Assault | Adapts the receiver to use a top-mounted magazine loaded with explosive rounds, trading ammunition capacity for heavy stopping power. |
| MAR-9 | Marksman Rifle | MAR-9 Auto | Converts the semi-automatic marksman rifle to fully automatic fire with a much higher continuous rate of fire. |
| Oris 8.6 | Marksman Rifle | Oris 8.6 Razor | Adds a receiver-mounted blade module containing rapidly deployable kunai for quiet close-range attacks. |
| KG-7 Vulcan | Sniper Rifle | KG-9 Drillcharge | Adds side-mounted Drill Charges that penetrate surfaces before exploding, making them useful against enemies behind cover. |
| Signal .50 | Sniper Rifle | Signal 50 Inferno | Loads the sniper with .50 Cal incendiary ammunition that deals increased damage to vehicles and Killstreaks. |
| Krait P68 | Pistol | Krait P68 Commando | Adds an off-hand tactical knife that improves melee damage and lunge range while also helping stabilize the pistol. |
| .50 GS | Pistol | GS Magna | Converts the .50 GS into a fully automatic pistol with extremely high close-range firepower and heavy recoil. |
| Sang 9mm | Pistol | Sang 9&12 | Adds a single-shot 12-gauge underbarrel chamber for a powerful emergency close-range shot. |
| Mojave .357 | Pistol | Outlaw | Adds a custom single-action hammer that allows rapid fan-firing from the hip for much faster follow-up shots. |
Others add completely new utility. ISO Trace can help track a wounded target, the Han 86 X20 Skybreaker can attack enemies around cover, and the Kastov ARC gives the rifle an electronic disruption system.
The Mojave .357 Outlaw takes another approach by changing how the revolver is fired, allowing rapid fan-fire from the hip.
That is what separates Apex Attachments from normal Gunsmith upgrades. They are designed to change what a weapon can do rather than simply make its existing stats slightly better.
Do Apex Attachments Use an Attachment Slot?
No. Apex Attachments do not use one of your normal Gunsmith attachment slots.The Apex is equipped separately from your standard build. This means you can choose your normal attachments for recoil, range, optics, ammunition, handling, or other stats and still add the weapon's Apex on top.
This is especially important for conversion-style Apex Attachments. You do not need to remove one of your normal attachments just to access the Apex system.
Does Every MW4 Weapon Have an Apex Attachment?
No. Modern Warfare 4 has more launch weapons than Apex Attachments, so the system is not distributed on a strict one-per-weapon basis.Activision has confirmed 33 weapons and 28 Apex Attachments at launch. Most supported firearms receive an Apex, while certain weapons do not use the system and a few weapons receive multiple Apex choices.
Weapons without Gunsmith are the clearest exception. During the pre-release version of MW4, weapons such as the PILA Launcher and Combat Knife did not support Apex Attachments because they had no Gunsmith customization.
At the same time, the extra options on weapons such as the Hyeon Burst and Kastov 762 show why the total number of Apex Attachments does not directly match the number of weapons.
Can a Weapon Have More Than One Apex Attachment?
Yes. Some MW4 weapons can have multiple Apex Attachments.Two confirmed examples are:
- Hyeon Burst: Hyeon Auto and Hyeon Hyperburst
- Kastov 762: Kastov 545 and Kastov ARC
These choices can change the weapon in very different ways. The Hyeon can focus on continuous automatic fire or a faster opening burst, while the Kastov can become a 5.45 rifle or use an electronic disruption system.
This makes fully leveling some weapons more valuable because you are not simply unlocking one fixed endgame attachment. You can choose between different specialized roles.
Which MW4 Apex Attachments Stand Out?
The strongest Apex Attachment can change as Infinity Ward adjusts weapon balance, so raw damage numbers are not the best way to judge which Apex will stay useful over time.Several attachments stand out because they add unusual abilities or completely change how their weapon is used:
- Han 86 X20 Skybreaker: adds an airburst launcher for dealing with enemies using cover.
- Kastov ARC: adds electronic disruption against infantry, equipment, Killstreaks, and vehicles.
- ISO Trace: tracks enemies after successful hits and feeds their movement to the integrated optic.
- X-58 Void: focuses on stealth by reducing firing information and hiding enemy death markers.
- Rezi 12 Enforcer: adds explosive slugs and changes the shotgun's normal operating style.
- Oris 8.6 Razor: gives a precision rifle a silent close-range backup through deployable kunai.
- Signal 50 Inferno: adds extra anti-vehicle and anti-Killstreak utility to the heavy sniper.
- Sang 9&12: places a 12-gauge backup shot directly under a pistol.
- Mojave .357 Outlaw: enables fast hip-fire fan shooting for a completely different revolver playstyle.
Some Apex Attachments are built around raw combat power, while others are useful because of tracking, stealth, area denial, equipment disruption, or anti-vehicle utility.
That makes the best Apex dependent on your weapon, map, mode, and role rather than simply whichever option has the highest damage output.
Can Apex Attachments Be Nerfed or Buffed?
Yes. Apex Attachments can be balanced separately from the base weapon.Infinity Ward demonstrated this during MW4's pre-release testing by changing damage, damage ranges, multipliers, and other values on individual Apex Attachments without applying the exact same changes to their base weapons.
That means an Apex conversion should be treated almost like its own weapon configuration. An M4 build using Hurricane, for example, can have different damage behavior from the standard M4.
The same applies to conversions such as Kastov 545, Hyeon Hyperburst, MAR-9 Auto, FiNN Adverse, and Type 73 Assault.
Because weapon balance can change between updates, the table above focuses on what each Apex does rather than hardcoding damage values that may quickly become outdated.
How Apex Attachments Work With Gunsmith
Apex Attachments sit on top of the normal Modern Warfare 4 Gunsmith system.You still build your weapon using standard attachment categories such as optics, barrels, muzzles, magazines, ammunition, grips, stocks, and other available parts. Your Apex is then equipped separately.
This creates two layers of weapon customization:
- Standard attachments: fine-tune the weapon's stats, handling, recoil, range, magazine, and other characteristics.
- Apex Attachment: introduces the weapon's specialized endgame modification or conversion.
The result is that two players can use the same Apex Attachment while still building the rest of the weapon very differently.
Modern Warfare 4 also includes Gunny, an optional weapon-build recommender that can create setups using attachments you have already unlocked. You can use one of its recommendations as a starting point and then add your Apex once the weapon is fully leveled.
Do Apex Attachments Work in MW4 DMZ?
Yes. Apex Attachments are part of the Modern Warfare 4 DMZ Gunsmith system.Weapon progression is shared between Multiplayer and DMZ, so progressing a weapon in either mode contributes to the same overall Weapon Progression.
In DMZ, unlocked attachments can be added to weapons through Gunsmith by spending Cash. The standard DMZ Gunsmith allows you to equip up to five normal attachments plus an Apex Attachment.
Infinity Ward has also confirmed that weapons carrying as many as eight attachments can be found inside the Hajin Exclusion Zone.
This makes Apex progression useful even if DMZ is your main mode because maxing weapons contributes directly to the customization options you can use there.
Are Apex Attachments the Same as Aftermarket Parts?
Apex Attachments have similarities to conversion systems and Aftermarket Parts from earlier Call of Duty games, but they are their own Modern Warfare 4 weapon progression system.Both concepts can make major changes to a weapon instead of providing small stat improvements. The main difference is how MW4 ties Apex Attachments directly to mastering individual weapons.
You normally earn an Apex by reaching the end of that weapon's progression rather than unlocking it as a separate seasonal conversion challenge.
This gives the final Weapon Levels a much more meaningful reward. You are not only finishing the weapon to collect every standard attachment. You are working toward an upgrade that can change how the weapon plays entirely.
Are Apex Attachments Important for MW4 Camo Grinding?
Apex Attachments are not the same thing as weapon camos, but both systems reward you for spending time progressing individual weapons.Fully leveling a weapon gives you access to its Apex, while MW4 also has its own weapon Camo Track and mode-specific Mastery Camos across Multiplayer, DMZ, and Warzone.
If you plan to complete large parts of the arsenal, it makes sense to combine Weapon XP progression with your camo grind whenever possible. You can read more about that system in our MW4 Mastery Camos guide.
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MW4 Apex Attachments FAQ
How do you unlock Apex Attachments in MW4?
Fully level a supported MW4 weapon. Its Apex Attachment is unlocked as the final reward in that weapon's progression.Do Apex Attachments take an attachment slot?
No. An Apex Attachment is equipped separately from your standard Gunsmith attachments and does not consume one of your normal attachment slots.How many Apex Attachments are in MW4?
Modern Warfare 4 launches with 28 Apex Attachments. Not every weapon has exactly one because some weapons have no Apex while others can have multiple Apex choices.Does every MW4 weapon have an Apex Attachment?
No. MW4 has more launch weapons than Apex Attachments, and weapons without Gunsmith do not use the Apex system.Can a weapon have multiple Apex Attachments?
Yes. The Hyeon Burst has Hyeon Auto and Hyeon Hyperburst, while the Kastov 762 has Kastov 545 and Kastov ARC.Can Apex Attachments be nerfed separately from weapons?
Yes. Apex conversions can have their own damage, range, multipliers, and other balance values, allowing Infinity Ward to tune them separately from the base weapon.Can you use Apex Attachments in MW4 DMZ?
Yes. Apex Attachments are supported by the MW4 DMZ Gunsmith. Weapon progression is also shared between Multiplayer and DMZ.How many normal attachments can you use with an Apex Attachment?
Apex Attachments do not consume a standard attachment slot. In DMZ, Infinity Ward has specifically confirmed Gunsmith support for up to five normal attachments plus one Apex Attachment.Are Apex Attachments the same as Aftermarket Parts?
No. They serve a similar purpose by making larger weapon changes, but Apex Attachments are MW4's own weapon progression system and are normally earned by fully leveling supported weapons.What is the best MW4 Apex Attachment?
There is no single best Apex for every situation. Conversions such as M4 Hurricane and MAR-9 Auto change weapon performance, while Apex Attachments such as ISO Trace, Kastov ARC, X-58 Void, and Han 86 X20 Skybreaker add specialized utility that can be more valuable in certain modes or playstyles.
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