MW4 Apex Attachments: Full List & How to Unlock
Apex Attachments are the biggest change to weapon customization in Modern Warfare 4. Instead of handing you another small stat boost, each one can change what a weapon actually does — a new firing mode, special ammunition, a built-in second weapon, a tracking tool, or a full conversion to a different caliber. The catch is simple: you only unlock a weapon's Apex Attachment after you fully level that weapon. There are 28 Apex Attachments in the game at launch. This guide explains how the system works and lists every one confirmed so far.
Don't want to grind every weapon to max? Our MW4 Weapon Leveling service levels any gun and unlocks its Apex Attachment for you.
What Are Apex Attachments in MW4?
An Apex Attachment is a special modification that unlocks as the final reward for fully leveling a supported weapon. It sits well above the normal Gunsmith attachments in both power and effect.
A standard attachment adjusts something small — recoil, range, reload speed, handling. An Apex Attachment changes the weapon itself. Some swap the caliber or firing mode. Others bolt on entirely new tools: explosive rounds, enemy-tracking systems, an integrated blade, or a second weapon built into the frame. The point of the system is to make the last stretch of a weapon's grind worth something. You're no longer maxing a gun just to collect the final stat attachment — you're working toward something that can change how the gun plays.
A few things are worth knowing up front:
- Most supported weapons have their own Apex Attachment.
- Some weapons have more than one, giving you a choice between different conversions.
- A few weapons have none — anything without access to Gunsmith, like launchers and the combat knife, doesn't use the system.
- You unlock them through weapon progression, as the final reward at max level.
- They're equipped separately and don't take up one of your standard attachment slots.
That last point matters more than it sounds. Because the Apex sits outside your five normal slots, you keep your full Gunsmith build — recoil, optic, ammo, whatever you run — and add the Apex on top. You never have to give up a regular attachment to fit it, which is a big deal for the conversion-style Apex Attachments that change the whole weapon.
How to Unlock Apex Attachments in MW4
To unlock a weapon's Apex Attachment, you reach that weapon's maximum level. There's no separate challenge or hidden requirement — it's the reward at the very end of the progression bar. The path looks like this:
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Unlock the weapon through account progression or another available method |
| 2 | Use it in matches to earn Weapon XP |
| 3 | Climb its weapon levels, unlocking standard attachments along the way |
| 4 | Reach the weapon's maximum level |
| 5 | Unlock its Apex Attachment as the final progression reward |
The one thing that makes this a real grind is that weapon level is completely separate from your account level. Maxing your Soldier Rank does nothing for an individual gun — each weapon starts at level one and has to be leveled on its own, purely by playing with it. Depending on the weapon, that's a climb of anywhere from the mid-30s to the low-70s in levels.
There's a bonus if you play more than one mode: weapon progression is shared between Multiplayer and DMZ. Level a gun in either one and that progress counts toward the same weapon, so its Apex unlocks for both. Inside DMZ you can then equip the attachments you've unlocked by spending in-game Cash at the Gunsmith.
Every MW4 Apex Attachment Confirmed So Far
Here's every Apex Attachment revealed to date, with the weapon it belongs to, its class, the max level you need to reach, and what the Apex actually does. A few weapons carry two Apex options, so they appear twice.
| Weapon | Class | Max Level | Apex Attachment | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Han 86 | Assault Rifle | 68 | Han 86 X20 Skybreaker | Adds a targeting optic and a 20mm airburst launcher that detonates over a marked area to hit enemies behind cover |
| M4 | Assault Rifle | 68 | M4 Hurricane | Rebuilds the M4 into a top-loading 5.7x28mm setup with high capacity, quicker handling and a faster fire rate |
| Hyeon Burst | Assault Rifle | 64 | Hyeon Auto | Switches the burst rifle to full-auto with a higher sustained fire rate |
| Hyeon Burst | Assault Rifle | 64 | Hyeon Hyperburst | Opens with a very fast three-round burst, then eases into slower sustained automatic fire |
| Kastov 762 | Assault Rifle | 71 | Kastov 545 | Converts the rifle to 5.45x39mm for smoother handling and faster follow-up shots |
| Kastov 762 | Assault Rifle | 71 | Kastov ARC | Adds a built-in optic and an RF disruption system that can affect infantry, electronics and vehicles |
| Axion | Assault Rifle | 67 | Axion Crusader | Turns the rifle into a compact, high-mobility build with an integrated saw-style stock and side grip |
| Patriot XMR | Battle Rifle | 64 | Patriot XMR Volt | Adds an underbarrel launcher firing a spread of high-voltage darts to stun and disable targets up close |
| ISO Nightshade | SMG | 56 | ISO Trace | Uses RFID ammunition to tag enemies and show their movement through the weapon's integrated optic |
| PPSh-41 | SMG | 54 | PPSh-41 Ember | Adds an underbarrel system firing pyrotechnic projectiles that create short-lived incendiary zones |
| X-58 Nyx | SMG | 47 | X-58 Void | Makes the suppressed weapon even harder to detect, hides enemy death skulls and cuts directional hit info |
| Wz.55 Striga | SMG | 52 | Striga Akimbo | An akimbo conversion that lets you dual-wield the weapon, raising close-quarters fire rate and output volume while keeping the platform's high mobility |
| Rezi 12 | Shotgun | 60 | Rezi 12 Enforcer | Switches the shotgun to pump-action and adds hot-loaded explosive slugs in a side-saddle |
| FiNN LMG | LMG | 52 | FiNN Adverse | Greatly raises the fire rate, but sustained firing overheats the weapon and forces a cool-down |
| Type 73 | LMG | 57 | Type 73 Assault | Adds a top-mounted magazine of powerful explosive rounds, trading away capacity for punch |
| MAR-9 | Marksman Rifle | 67 | MAR-9 Auto | Converts the semi-auto marksman rifle to full-auto with a high fire rate |
| Oris 8.6 | Marksman Rifle | 68 | Oris 8.6 Razor | Adds a receiver-mounted blade module holding two quick-deploy kunai for silent close-range attacks |
| KG-7 Vulcan | Sniper Rifle | 72 | KG-9 Drillcharge | Adds side-mounted drill charges that bore through surfaces before exploding, useful against enemies behind cover |
| Signal .50 | Sniper Rifle | 73 | Signal 50 Inferno | Loads .50 cal incendiary ammunition that deals extra damage to vehicles and Killstreaks |
| Krait P68 | Pistol | 34 | Krait P68 Commando | Adds an off-hand tactical knife that boosts melee damage and lunge range while stabilizing the pistol |
| .50 GS | Pistol | 50 | GS Magna | Converts the .50 GS into a full-auto pistol with heavy close-range firepower and strong recoil |
| Sang 9mm | Pistol | 34 | Sang 9&12 | Adds a single-shot 12-gauge underbarrel chamber for a powerful close-range backup shot |
| Mojave .357 | Pistol | — | Outlaw | Adds a custom single-action hammer for rapid fan-firing from the hip and much faster follow-up shots |
That's the confirmed list to date. Activision has stated there are 28 Apex Attachments in the game, so a small number are still being detailed as the full arsenal settles in after launch. Expect the remaining few to fill in over the opening weeks.
Why Apex Attachments Are Different From Normal Gunsmith Attachments
A normal Gunsmith attachment nudges a stat. An Apex Attachment tends to rewrite the weapon. Look at the list above and you can sort them into a few rough types.
Conversions. Some Apex Attachments effectively turn a gun into a different one. The M4 Hurricane changes the M4's caliber and layout. The MAR-9 Auto changes its firing mode. The GS Magna makes a heavy pistol full-auto. The Kastov 545 swaps the whole ammunition type.
New utility. Others bolt on a capability the base gun never had. ISO Trace tags and tracks wounded enemies. The Han 86 Skybreaker can hit targets around cover. The Patriot XMR Volt gives you a non-lethal electrical option alongside the rifle.
Extra weapons and tools. A few add a second weapon outright — the Oris 8.6 Razor's deployable kunai, the Sang 9&12's underbarrel shotgun shell, the Striga's akimbo conversion that puts a second gun in your other hand.
Because they change what a weapon can do rather than just how well it does it, the strongest Apex won't always be the one with the biggest damage number. Effects like tracking, stealth, area denial and equipment disruption can matter far more in objective modes and coordinated play than a raw stat bump ever would.
Do Apex Attachments Work in DMZ?
Yes. Apex Attachments are part of the DMZ Gunsmith too. Because weapon progression is shared between Multiplayer and DMZ, leveling a weapon in either mode moves the same progress bar — so an Apex you unlock in Multiplayer is available to you in DMZ, and vice versa. Once it's unlocked, DMZ lets you fit it by spending in-game Cash. DMZ's Gunsmith normally allows five standard attachments plus an Apex, and some weapons found inside the zone can carry even more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you unlock Apex Attachments in MW4?
Fully level a supported weapon. Its Apex is the final reward at maximum weapon level.
Do Apex Attachments take up an attachment slot?
No. The Apex is equipped separately and doesn't use one of your five standard Gunsmith slots, so you keep your full build and add the Apex on top.
Does every weapon have an Apex Attachment?
No. There are 33 weapons and 28 Apex Attachments. Most weapons have their own, some have two, and a few have none — anything without Gunsmith access, like launchers and the combat knife, doesn't use the system.
Can a weapon have more than one Apex Attachment?
Yes, though it's the exception rather than the rule. The Hyeon Burst and the Kastov 762 each have two, giving you a choice between different conversions when you max them.
How many Apex Attachments are there in MW4?
28 in total. Most are already detailed; the last few are still being confirmed as the launch arsenal settles.
Does weapon leveling carry between Multiplayer and DMZ?
Yes. Progression is shared, so leveling a gun in one mode unlocks its attachments — including the Apex — in both.
