In competitive CoD (i.e. Ranked and the CDL), players have to abide by a different set of rules. All the overpowered items from the regular game are banned, and between pros even more items are unofficially banned by way of a "GA" (Gentleman's Agreement). Here is a complete list of everything banned by the League, and everything that has been GA'd. Unsurprisingly, the MW3 GA list is already quite substantial.
If you're just getting into the more competitive side of CoD this year, then you might be surprised at how different the competitive ruleset is compared to the regular game. Among other changes, most of the game's best weapons and perks are banned in comp, because they are considered overpowered.
However, there are two types of bans to be aware of: Official restrictions implemented by the devs, and "GAs" implemented by the pro players. We have provided an explanation of GAs and official restrictions below, and then further down the page you can find the MW3 GA list and current Competitive Settings.
What Is A "GA" In CoD?
A "GA" (Gentlemen's Agreement) is effectively a truce between pro players not to use a certain item because it is too powerful. They use GAs to ban things from the CDL or third-party tournaments that they consider too strong, even if these items haven't been officially banned by Call of Duty devs. The way pro players enforce these GAs is by agreeing that if any team break the rules, the other teams won't scrim (practice) with them.
It should also be noted that there is one MW3 GA list for the CDL, but also separate GA lists for various Challenger Regions (the leagues just below the pro level). The same items often end up on the GA lists of Challenger Regions and the CDL, but the pros are usually a little slower than Challenger players to agree on various bans.
GAs do not affect you as a normal player of Ranked or CDL Moshpit. The only exception to this is if you enter an open tournament on a third-party site like CMG, in which case GAs might also apply.
What Are Official Restrictions?
Official Restrictions are item bans that the CoD devs themselves implement. These bans apply to every mode that uses "Competitive Settings", which includes all CDL modes, all Ranked play modes, and CDL Moshpit. The devs enforce these official restrictions simply by removing the player's ability to equip these items when playing competitive modes.
Generally speaking, the CoD devs ban the most obviously broken stuff, and then the pros go through what's left with a fine-tooth comb. Sometimes the CoD devs will officially ban something that they missed at first, which the pros have GA'd, if they agree with the ban and think it should affect all players who go into ranked, not just pro players in the CDL.
Official Restrictions will affect you as a normal player of Ranked or CDL Moshpit. And thank goodness they do, because otherwise we'd never escape the BAS-Bs.
MW3 GA List
Here is the current MW3 GA list for the CDL and the various Challenger regions:
| Item Type | GAs for the CDL & Challengers (All Regions) |
| Weapons |
|
| Attachments |
|
| Lethals, Tacticals, Field Upgrades |
|
| Streaks |
|
| Additional |
|
* If you haven't used the knife or karambit in MW3, then you might be surprised to see it's been GA'd. But the fact is the knife is far too powerful this year. In a high-TTK game like this, the knife is actually better than guns in close-range, and it has incredible lunge.
MW3 Competitive Settings & Official Restrictions
The official competitive settings are published on the official CDL website every year for each game. Here is an overview of all the bans:
- All MWII Guns
- All Battle Rifles
- All LMGs
- All MMRs
- All Shotguns
- All Launchers
- Every AR except the MCW
- Riot Shields
- Every Tactical except Stuns (Smokes allowed in SnD)
- Every Lethal except Frags or Semtex
- Every Field Upgrade except Dead Silence & Trophy System
- All Lasers, Thermal Optics, Ammo Types & Silencers
- Underbarrel Launchers / Shotguns
- Gear:
- Every Vest except the Infantry Vest
- Scavenger Gloves
- Everything except Tac Mask, EOD Padding and Mag Holster
That was your guide to GAs and the official Competitive Settings for MW3, as well the current MW3 GA list. Don't be put off from watching the CDL or playing Ranked based on this seemingly restrictive ruleset; without GAs and official bans, competitive CoD would be an absolute mess, and on most maps you would probably see four Holgers being used.