MW4 Perks and Killstreaks List

Modern Warfare 4 brings back the Pick 3 Perk system and ships with 18 Perks and 17 Killstreaks at launch. Ninja and Quick Fix are the two Perks Infinity Ward has named as returning, and the biggest mechanical change is Smartstreaks: Killstreak progress now counts both kills and objective play, with kills still the primary driver. The wider systems overview is on the official Modern Warfare 4 product page.

The confirmed facts:

• Pick 3 is back, so you equip exactly three Perks, one per tier.
• 18 Perks at launch, 15 of them available during the Open Beta.
• 17 Killstreaks at launch, 10 available during the Open Beta.
• Bomb Glider is the one new Killstreak named so far, and it is player-controlled.

Pick 3 Perks are back

Perks return to a streamlined Pick 3 system built around tactical readability and clear combat roles. The stated goal is simple: create loadouts that optimize tactical effectiveness and support different combat approaches. You commit to three effects instead of stacking a long list, and each Perk occupies its own tier.

The design consequence is that your class is readable to opponents. A player who guesses you are running Ninja can adjust how they check corners. That readability is deliberate, and it is the reason the system is Pick 3 rather than an open list.

Official source: Modern Warfare 4: NEXT Highlights - Multiplayer Gameplay Systems

Perks: what is actually confirmed

Infinity Ward has published the totals and two names, and nothing more. Ninja and Quick Fix are described as fan-favourite options returning at launch. The remaining 16 Perk names have not been published, so a complete 18-Perk table does not exist yet outside the game.

One honest note on Quick Fix: the same name also appears in the DMZ Operator Trait list under the Warfighter tree. The multiplayer Perk and the DMZ Trait are separate systems that happen to share a name, so do not assume they behave identically.

Killstreaks: 17 at launch

Modern Warfare 4 launches with 17 Killstreaks, and 10 of them were available during the Open Beta. Infinity Ward describes the design as meaningful power spikes at every threshold, from lower-cost support tools up to devastating high-end rewards, so the expectation is that the ladder is graded rather than top-heavy.

Only one new Killstreak has been named outright: the Bomb Glider. A UAV also appears in the official Collateral buy list, where it is purchased as a team buy rather than earned as a streak, so treat that as a mode-specific item rather than a confirmed Killstreak slot.

Two Apex Attachments interact directly with Killstreaks, which tells you something about how central they are to the sandbox. The Kastov ARC emits an RF pulse that disrupts enemy Killstreaks and equipment, and the Signal 50 INFERNO loads incendiary rounds with a significant increase to vehicle and Killstreak damage. Both are covered in the Apex Attachments guide.

Ground War's Combat Outpost is also described as combining vehicle and infantry combat with powerful airborne Killstreaks overhead, so streaks are not confined to small maps.

Smartstreaks explained

Smartstreaks change how you earn Killstreaks. In previous Modern Warfare titles, kills were effectively the only currency. Under Smartstreaks, Killstreaks reward both kills and objective play, giving you more ways to contribute toward earning your streaks.

The important detail is the weighting. The official wording is that kills remain the primary driver while playing the objective also counts toward progress. This is not a system where capturing flags replaces fighting; it is one where holding a Hardpoint or pushing a Domination flag accelerates a streak you were already building.

For objective players this is the single biggest change in the multiplayer systems. If you are the person who sits on the point while everyone else chases kills, you now get Killstreak credit for it, and your class should reflect that by including at least one streak that helps the team hold ground rather than one that only farms eliminations. The objective-heavy modes are broken down in the official maps and modes guide.

Bomb Glider: the new low-cost streak

The Bomb Glider is a low-cost Killstreak that puts you in direct control of a fast-moving handheld plane fitted with explosives. Once deployed, you pilot the glider across the map, scouting from above before committing to a dive attack on your target.

Two details make it more interesting than a standard airstrike. First, it moves at high speed, so you can reposition quickly, line up attacks and approach from unexpected angles, and it rewards precision flight control because you can adjust your path in real time before striking. Second, Infinity Ward added a new mouse and keyboard control scheme that provides analog-like turning without exaggerated mouse movement, which makes the glider more stable and responsive on PC than older control systems.

Because it is low-cost and directly controlled, it doubles as a scouting tool. Deploying it, spotting the enemy's rotation from above, then diving on a cluster is a legitimate use that has nothing to do with the explosion.

Killstreaks now live inside your loadout

Killstreaks are no longer a separate global menu. They are integrated directly into each loadout, alongside your Operator, weapons, equipment and Perks. That means two classes can run completely different streak sets without you touching a settings screen between matches.

The practical build advice is to match streaks to the class's job. A class built for holding a lane wants streaks that help you hold the lane. A class built for pushing wants streaks that break a position. The MW4 Create-a-Class guide walks through the full slot order, and the equipment and Field Upgrades list covers what goes in the utility slots alongside your Perks.

Worth knowing: Collateral, the new 5v5 mode, disables Killstreaks entirely and replaces them with an in-round cash shop. If you play that mode, your Perk choices and your gun matter far more than your streak set. Details are on the MW4 modes list.

FAQ

How many Perks are in Modern Warfare 4?

18 at launch, with 15 available during the Open Beta. You equip three of them using the returning Pick 3 system, one per tier.

Is the Pick 3 Perk system back in MW4?

Yes. Perks return to a streamlined Pick 3 system built around tactical readability and clear combat roles, so you choose exactly three.

Which Perks are confirmed to return in MW4?

Ninja and Quick Fix are the two named by Infinity Ward as fan favourites returning at launch. The other 16 Perk names have not been published.

How many Killstreaks does MW4 have?

17 at launch, with 10 available during the Open Beta. Only the Bomb Glider has been named as a new addition so far.

What are Smartstreaks in MW4?

Smartstreaks mean Killstreaks now reward both kills and objective play. Kills remain the primary driver, but playing the objective also counts toward your streak progress.

What is the Bomb Glider in MW4?

A low-cost Killstreak that puts you in direct control of a fast-moving explosive glider. You pilot it across the map, scout from above, then commit to a dive attack. It also has a new mouse and keyboard control scheme with analog-like turning.

Do Killstreaks change from class to class?

Yes. Killstreaks are integrated into each loadout in MW4, so different classes can run different streak sets alongside their weapons, equipment and Perks.

Related Guides

• MW4 Create-a-Class guide - the full slot order, including where Perks and Killstreaks sit.
• MW4 equipment and Field Upgrades list - what fills the Tactical, Lethal and Field Upgrade slots.
• MW4 multiplayer modes list - where objective play matters, including modes that disable Killstreaks.