How to get penetration kills in MW3
Image via Activision

How to get Penetration kills in MW3

Shoot through the walls!

Penetration kills in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) are needed to get certain daily challenges completed. You can then unlock additional Killstreaks by completing these tasks. Here’s how to get Penetration kills in MW3.

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How to get a Penetration kill

In order to get a Penetration kill in MW3, your bullets need to pass through a wall before hitting your foe. The cover can’t be too hard because the bullet won’t go through it. Try to find a wall that’s made of wood to get the Penetration kill and attack your foes as they approach. Get a proficient headset and listen out for nearby soldiers. Various modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, or Hardpoint offer plenty of opportunities for these kills.

While the Drexsom Prime-90 optic can’t see through the wood, I found it excellent for spotting enemies with its thermal view of the area. It’s also a good idea to equip the Snapshot Grenade and the UAV Killstreaks to pinpoint their location. Set up a Portable Radar Field Upgrade near a wall to increase your chances of getting the elimination.

Enemy through wall in MW3
Screenshot by Destructoid

In addition to wooden coverage, shooting through fences may count toward a Penetration kill. It helps you get a clear shot of the enemy, differing from the obstructive objects.

What do you need for Penetration kills in MW3?

To gain Penetration kills in MW3, you’ll need armor-piercing ammunition for your gun. You can unlock this type of ammo by completing two daily challenges. But first, you need to assign the goal reward in the Armory Unlock menu. Press the triangle button (or Y on Xbox) on the Party screen.

Armor piercing ammo in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 will help you gain you penetration kills
Screenshot by Destructoid

Next, find the armor-piercing ammo. It’s marked by an emblem with three grey fallen ammo pieces. Make sure this reward is selected, showcasing an ‘Active’ statue on the top right of the box.

Once you’ve completed two daily challenges, the item will be available to you. Attach it to an assault rifle or LMG that’s level 9 or above. Overall, Gunsmith add-ons with the Bullet Penetration attribute are beneficial, including 9MM Armor Piercing, 9MM Hardened Rounds, 5.56 Nato Round Nose, and 5.56 Nato Mono.

Best MW3 maps for Penetration kills

Since Penetration kills require a wall, use small to medium-sized maps with an abundance of structures. Here is a list of the best MW3 maps for the Penetration kills:

  • Farm 18
  • Scrapyard
  • Highrise
  • Shipment

Due to its compact landscape, Shipment is one of the best choices for the MW3 Penetration kills. It’s a reasonably hectic map where the rounds go by rather quickly. Thanks to its helpful structures, you may unlock this specific elimination without even trying. The containers here are valuable for the Penetration kill’s wall requirement, often causing Wall Bangs (another form of the kill).

Highrise’s fences are another fantastic point of impact, allowing Operators to get a better shot. Plenty of fences are on either side of the map, perfect for these attacks. As long as the location is small in size, it’s fair game for the Penetration kill. However, I suggest avoiding areas with more formidable structures, like the Quarry, since it will be challenging to shoot through certain walls. Ensure you also equip UAV equipment; otherwise, you may not see the opponent coming.


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Chris Penwell
Chris is a writer for multiple outlets, including Destructoid! He loves narrative games like Kingdom Hearts, Life is Strange, and Beyond Good & Evil. However, he does enjoy Fortnite and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from time to time.
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Kristina Ebanez
Staff Writer - Kristina has been a video game lover ever since she saw Solid Snake get under that cardboard box in Metal Gear Solid. She continues to show off her love for gaming and has been writing about it for more than two years. Aside from the Metal Gear Solid series, she enjoys playing The Sims, Call of Duty, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Horizon Forbidden West, Minecraft, and many more.