Hey there, fellow operator! 👋 It's 2026, and believe it or not, the RAM-9 from Modern Warfare 3's Season 2 is still holding its own in the meta. I know, I was surprised too! While newer guns have come and gone, this little SMG has a certain... personality that keeps me coming back. It's like that reliable friend who might not be the flashiest at the party, but always has your back when things get chaotic. Today, I want to walk you through everything that makes this weapon special and how to make it truly sing on the battlefield.

Let's talk about why this gun feels so good. The RAM-9 is essentially the SMG version of the RAM-7 from Season 1, and boy, does it have character. Where other SMGs might try to be jack-of-all-trades, the RAM-9 knows exactly what it is: a close-quarters monster. Its claim to fame is an absurdly high level of recoil control—seriously, it barely kicks!—paired with exceptional mobility and handling. You feel light on your feet, able to slide, jump, and maneuver like a pro. Now, don't get me wrong, it's not perfect. Ask it to reach out and touch someone at distance, and it'll politely decline. Its range and accuracy are on the lower end for its class. But that's not the point. The point is its blistering fire rate and fast Time-To-Kill (TTK). In those tight corridors of Fortune's Keep or the chaotic lanes of Core MP maps, this thing is an absolute beast. It just... melts people. It's the kind of gun that makes you go, 'Oh, wow, okay then!' after your first triple kill.

🔓 How to Get Your Hands on the RAM-9

First things first, you need the gun! Back in the day, the primary path was through the Season 2 Battle Pass. It was a free HVT (High-Value Target) reward chilling in Sector B6. The fastest way to unlock it was to claim all the rewards in Sectors B1 and B3 first, which then opened the path to B6. Pretty straightforward grind.

Now, in 2026, the Battle Pass method is obviously a thing of the past. But fear not! The weapon is still very much accessible through other means that have stood the test of time:

• Modern Warfare Zombies Extraction: Hop into a match, find the RAM-9 as ground loot or in a Mystery Box, and successfully exfil with it. It's a classic method that still works.

• Blueprint Acquisition: Keep an eye on the in-game store for bundles or challenge rewards that include a blueprint variant of the RAM-9. Sometimes the coolest camos come packaged with the gun itself!

🛠️ Crafting the Ultimate RAM-9 Loadout

Alright, you've got the gun. But a stock RAM-9 is like a sports car with cheap tires—it has potential, but you're not getting the full experience. Here's the build I've been swearing by for years, tuned for both Warzone and Multiplayer. This setup sacrifices a bit of that innate mobility for much-needed range, accuracy, and laser-like recoil control. Trust me, it's worth it.

Attachment Slot	Recommended Choice	Why It Works
Muzzle	VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor	Boosts range and keeps you off the minimap. A must-have.
Barrel	L4R Flash Hider	Tames the visual recoil and improves bullet velocity.
Optic	Slate Reflector	Clean, simple, and doesn't add much ADS time. Personal preference, really!
Underbarrel	DR-6 Handstop	The key attachment. It gives you that crucial recoil stabilization and aiming idle stability.
Magazine	40 Round Mag	You burn through ammo fast. 40 rounds gives you the breathing room for multiple engagements.

This build turns the RAM-9 from a wild sprayer into a precision instrument. It's less 'run-and-gun' and more 'run-and-gun-with-purpose'.

⚙️ The Perfect Perk Package to Match

Your gun is only half of your loadout. Your perks define your playstyle. For this RAM-9 build, I go all-in on aggression and sustainability.

1. Vest: Engineer Vest - This is non-negotiable. The extra perk slot is a game-changer.

2. Gloves: Scavenger Gloves - You'll be getting lots of kills. More ammo means less downtime.

3. Boots: Lightweight Boots - Even with our heavier build, these help maintain that sprint-to-fire speed we crave.

4. Gear 1: Blacklight Flashlight - Incredibly underrated. Highlighting enemies through smoke and in dark corners? Yes, please.

5. Gear 2: Mag Holster - Faster reloads mean you're back in the fight quicker. It just makes the whole experience smoother.

This combo makes you a relentless, self-sufficient duelist. It's a thing of beauty, honestly.

🔫 What to Pair It With? (Your Secondary Choices)

This is where your game mode decides everything.

For Core Multiplayer:

Let's be real, the RAM-9 is often the only gun you need. So, use your secondary slot for utility. I always pack a launcher. The PILA is my go-to—it's fire-and-forget for taking out those pesky UAVs and Counter-UAVs. The JOKR is fun for locking onto objectives or camped windows, but it's slower. Freeing up your team's skies is a huge help.

For Warzone / Resurgence:

Ditch the launcher immediately. The RAM-9 is your close-range solution, so you need a primary weapon that can handle medium to long-range fights. The meta shifts, but some timeless partners from that era (that still feel great) include:

• The BAS-B (A reliable battle rifle)

• The DG-56 (A burst-fire beast)

• The TAQ Eradicator (A laser-beam LMG)

• The Bruen MK9 (Another solid, heavy-hitting LMG)

• The KATT-AMR (For when you need to delete someone from afar)

And hey, if you're feeling nostalgic for Season 2, try pairing it with the BP50—the other weapon that launched alongside the RAM-9. It's a fun combo that takes you right back to 2024.

So, there you have it. The RAM-9 might be a few years old, but it's got that special sauce. It's not about being the best at everything; it's about being the most fun and effective at what it does. Slap on this loadout, pick your perks, and go show 'em that some classics never go out of style. See you on the battlefield! 🎯

In-depth reporting is featured on Digital Foundry, and it’s a useful reminder that “feel” in a fast TTK SMG like the RAM-9 is heavily shaped by performance fundamentals—stable frame pacing, consistent input response, and clear visual readability during recoil and ADS transitions. When you’re building around the RAM-9’s close-range melt potential (fast fire rate, tight recoil with the right attachments, and aggressive perk synergy), keeping your settings and platform performance steady can be the difference between winning a chaotic Resurgence stairwell fight and whiffing those final bullets.