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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

How To Unlock Schematics in MW3 Zombies

By
Craig Robinson

Crafting and foraging for gear and items is an important part of the MW3 Zombies mode. Getting parts and upgrades will make the process of getting good guns and equipment into the Exclusion Zone and beating the challenges and missions. One of the best ways to guarantee this pseudo-rogue-like experience is via the Schematics.

Players will gradually unlock Schematics in MW3 Zombies mode by playing various challenges and getting lucky. Here is everything you need to know on how to unlock Schematics in MW3 Zombies and what you can do with them.

How to Get Schematics in MW3 Zombies Mode

(1 of 2) Finishing a contract is one way to unlock Schematics in MW3 Zombies.

Finishing a contract is one way to unlock Schematics in MW3 Zombies. (left), You can get an example of the Formula by completing contracts in MW3 Zombies. (right)

To get your hands on Schematics in MW3 Zombies, you must complete hard tasks that give you a chance at legendary drops. These tasks are often enough:

  1. Completing Contracts
  2. Defeating the Mega Abomination

Contracts will be the main tool to get your hands on Schematics and Formulas. Note that Schematics are largely the blueprint names for items, and Formulas are the names of the ammo mods. You’ll find these schematics in the portals that open up after completing a contract, where you can select rewards or loot a few rewards for your troubles. Note that these schematics have a drop chance, like any other items like Self Revive, Perks, Epic weapons and equipment, and schematics. The chances of getting one are relatively slim, but do them enough times across a few lobbies, and you’ll likely draw a schematic.

The same can be said for the Mega Abomination, which is a creature in the High Threat area of the game. The creature, when defeated, drops a portal filled with loot, just like the Contracts. We’ve seen players get legendary items like Ray Guns from this, which is considered a legendary tier weapon. So, Schematics and Formula will have drop chances from this, too!

Schematic Locations in MW3 Zombies

Some brainiacs on the CoD Zombies Reddit also discovered a theme through reports of the typical loot table for Schematics. It seems there’s a trend that certain schematics have a better trans of appearing if you complete certain contracts in different threat levels. You can find this table via this reddit link.

How to Use Schematics and Formulas in MW3 Zombies

Once you have a Schematic or Formula, you need to extract the item from the match. Doing so will award you with the permanent unlock of that item. You can then go into the Gear menu, then look in the Schematics tab, and find the item you extracted. You can craft one, which will then cool down for several hours to a few days, depending on the schematic you extracted. Ammo Mods typically have a three-hour cooldown, for example.

Doing this will allow you to store that item in your backpack, equip it in the gear section, and load it into the next match. That concludes everything you need to know about Schematics in MW3 Zombies mode.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Activision Blizzard
  • Platforms,
    PS4, PS5, Steam, XB One, XB X|S
  • Genre
    FPS
  • Guide Release
    2 November 2023
  • Last Updated
    1 December 2023
    Version History
  • Guide Author

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Modern Warfare 3 is the next installment in the Call of Duty franchise and was developed by both Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games. It features reimagined maps from the original MW2 which was released back in 2009. This guide for MW3 contains the following:

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