Survival Mode

Survival Mode is a game type on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized, and a Special Ops Playlist in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. On Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized, it is exclusive to Single Player, while in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, it can be played cooperatively with one other player.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized
It is only unlocked if the player either uses a cheat code, or beats the campaign on Hardened difficulty. Using a cheat code only temporarily unlocks it, while beating Hardened unlocks it permanently.

There are four maps in Survival. They are:
 * Withstand is in a bombed-out apartment building in Russia. There is debris all around the apartment for the player to take cover behind.
 * Persistence is in a military aircraft hangar somewhere in South America. There are several large supply cases for the player to take cover.
 * Outlast is in a small courtyard in South America. Fallen pillars, gates, and a car are all available for the player's cover.
 * Endure, the final map, is in a war-torn Middle-Eastern town. Debris is littered everywhere for cover.

When the player first unlocks the mode, they will begin with Withstand only, and other maps are progressively unlocked. To unlock a map, the player must survive at least three minutes in the previous map. At the beginning of every game, the player starts out with a USP and three Frag Grenades, but there are three randomly generated weapons that spawn on the ground, and eight seconds are given for the player to gather these weapons, and/or to find cover. The weapons include the M4A1 Red Dot, AN-94, AK-74, P90, MP5, MP7, M40A3, AA-12, M249, and the RPG-7. All of the weapons have a large amount of spare ammunition, and, in the M249's case, it has a 200-round mag, where it would be found in other modes to have a 100-round mag.

There is no Co-op for this mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
"In Survival mode you will fight off waves of increasingly difficult enemies as you earn XP and unlock several types of armories to expand your arsenal and load-out customization along the way."

- Description of Survival Mode in the Survival Mode trailer.

thumb|300px|right|Survival Mode Trailer Survival Mode appears in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 as a gametype within Special Ops mode. In Survival Mode, players must fend off waves of A.I controlled enemies on various multiplayer maps. The waves are semi-random with certain waves predetermined, while others contain increasingly large and powerful contingents of troops; in the later stages of the game, players can expect to face multiple Juggernauts, Dogs strapped with C4 and enemy air support simultaneously.

Gameplay is noticeably more arcade-like in Survival Mode when compared to the campaign; the player is more accurate when firing while moving or firing from the hip, being shot does not cause their view to be thrown off as badly, and enemy soldiers can survive more damage than in campaign or Special Ops. There is no means of winning in this game mode, as the waves will continue until one player has been eliminated; in co-op, if either player dies, the round ends. Like other Special Ops missions, co-op is available for this mode, both online and split-screen.

Survival Mode also features a currency system which allows players to buy items such as air support, sentry turrets, weapons, and even friendly NPCs to assist the player throughout the match. Revenue is generated by killing enemies and can be multiplied by chaining numerous kill sprees. Six factors at the end of each wave also provide a certain amount, depending on the total time, wave number, enemies slain, accuracy, damage inflicted on the player and headshots. Furthermore, assisting in an enemy kill will reward the assisting player a fraction of the total amount received by the player who performed the kill. Three "Armories" are placed in fixed locations around the map and are activated over the course of the first few rounds; the Weapon Armory provides ammunition for guns, and allows the purchase of bullet-firing weapons and their accessories. The Equipment Armory provides armor, grenades, and special items like sentry turrets and claymores. Finally, the Air Support Armory allows the player to call in assistance from orbiting aircraft, such as Perk drops, Predator missiles and small groups of friendly NPC soldiers delivered by helicopter. Only one Perk can be used at a time, buying and equipping another Perk will simply replace the previous one. Likewise, purchasing a new weapon will remove the previous firearm. Typically a map will place two of the Armories close together and one a significant distance away.

In addition to their normal regenerating health, players can purchase armor to provide a fixed amount of protection before they start taking health damage. Armour does not regenerate, and can only be replenished by buying more at the Equipment Armory.

When a wave is over, players can press the appropriate button to start the next wave, or simply wait 30 seconds for the next wave to start automatically. On the Wii edition of Modern Warfare 3, players can press melee to automatically start a new round. This is to allow players some time to ready themselves between waves or buy support, weapons, perks, weapon attachments, equipment, etc.

Survival Mode also has a ranking system similar to multiplayer, but unlike multiplayer's maximum rank of 80, in Survival Mode the maximum rank is 50. Also it takes 2176500 XP to finish the final level whereas in multiplayer only 1746200 XP are required. Experience earned within a Survival Mode game is accumulated, allowing the player to purchase improved equipment and weapons as they rank up. The experience is also shared with Mission Mode.

Maps are categorized by four difficulties: Easy, Regular, Hard, and Insane. Four maps are found in each difficulty. In Easy maps, the player spawns with a Five Seven, two Flashbangs, two Frag Grenades, full body armor, and Self Revive. In Regular maps, the player spawns with the same equipment as Easy, except the player wields a USP .45. In the Hard maps, the player spawns with an MP412, two flashbangs, no frag grenades, full body armor, and Self Revive. In the Insane maps, the player spawns with an M16A4 w/ Red Dot Sight and built in Rapid Fire, a Five Seven, no grenades, full body armor, and no Self Revive. DLC maps, however, are given varying difficulties. Sometimes, they even seem to have their own difficulty level.

Maps
Tier 1 (Easy) - unlocked by default Tier 2 (Regular) - unlocked at level 8 Tier 3 (Hard) - unlocked at level 15 Tier 4 (Insane) - unlocked at level 25 DLC
 * Resistance
 * Village
 * Interchange
 * Underground
 * Dome
 * Mission
 * Seatown
 * Carbon
 * Bootleg
 * Hardhat
 * Fallen
 * Outpost
 * Lockdown
 * Arkaden
 * Downturn
 * Bakaara
 * Piazza
 * Liberation
 * Overwatch
 * Black Box
 * Foundation
 * Sanctuary
 * Oasis

Enemies
The enemy soldiers in Survival Mode progress through a variety of increasingly better armed and armored variants. Additionally, a number of special enemy types will appear semi-randomly in certain waves.

Numbers in brackets represent the amount of money received when the enemy is killed. Note: All of the above ground enemies, except the Juggernauts, Riot Shield Juggernauts, Armored Juggernauts, Dogs and C4 Dogs drop their listed weapon when they are killed. Riot Shield Juggernauts drop a Riot Shield and Claymore Experts drop a PM-9. Juggernauts and their variants drop neither a PKP Pecheneg nor ammo for said weapon upon death.
 * Light troops armed with a Model 1887 and a Five Seven/ USP.45 ($100)
 * Medium troops armed with a MP5 and a Five Seven/ USP.45/ MP412 ($125)
 * Heavy troops armed with an AK-47 and a Five Seven/ USP.45/ MP412 ($150)
 * Commando troops armed with an ACR 6.8 and a Five Seven/ USP.45/ MP412 ($200)
 * Heavy commando troops armed with a FAD and a Five Seven/ USP.45/ MP412 ($275)
 * Suicide troops armed with a USAS 12 and strapped with C4, which will blow up when they absorb enough damage($150)
 * Attack dogs ($100)
 * Attack dogs strapped with C4, which will blow up when they absorb enough damage ($150)
 * Chemical Agents armed with a PP90M1, chemical mines and tanks filled with chemicals, which will spray gas around the map ($150)
 * Juggernauts armed with a PKP Pecheneg ($500)
 * Riot Shield Juggernauts armed with a PKP Pecheneg and a Riot Shield ($750)
 * Claymore Experts armed with a PM-9, claymores and a Five Seven/ USP.45/ MP412 which will booby trap random areas ($150)
 * Little Birds armed with a nose-mounted Minigun ($600)
 * Armored Juggernauts armed with a PKP Pecheneg ($1000)

Challenges
Before each round the player is assigned two random challenges from the list below, appearing as bars in the lower left of the HUD. Each time the bar is completely filled, the player will gain $500 multiplied by the number of times the bar has been filled in the current round. A new pair of challenges are assigned when the next round begins, and partially-filled bars do not carry over between rounds even if a player has the same challenge as in the previous round.


 * Kill Streak: Kill four enemies without taking damage. Bar is wiped if the player takes damage.
 * Rampage: Kill multiple enemies in quick succession. Bar slowly decreases if the player kills no enemies.
 * Headshot: Kill four enemies with headshots. Bar slowly empties over time and rapidly if body shots are landed.
 * Knife Streak: Kill five enemies with the knife in a row.
 * Quad Kill: Kill four enemies at once.
 * Flash Kill: Kill five flashed enemies.

Equipment

 * Refill Bullet Ammo: Refill for $750, unlocked by default

Assault Rifles
All Assault Rifles cost $3000
 * M4A1 unlocked by default.
 * M16A4 unlocked by default. Primary starting weapon on tier 4 maps with Red Dot Sight.
 * SCAR-L unlocked at level 5
 * ACR 6.8 unlocked at level 14
 * AK-47 unlocked at level 24
 * FAD unlocked at level 32
 * G36C unlocked at level 39
 * CM901 unlocked at level 43
 * MK14 unlocked at level 47
 * Type 95 unlocked at level 50

Sub Machine Guns
All Sub-Machine Guns cost $2000
 * MP5 unlocked by default.
 * UMP45 unlocked at level 4
 * MP7 unlocked at level 13
 * PM-9 unlocked at level 23
 * PP90M1 unlocked at level 38
 * P90 unlocked at level 46

Light Machine Guns
All Light Machine Guns cost $7000
 * M60E4 unlocked at level 12
 * PKP Pecheneg unlocked at level 18
 * MK46 unlocked at level 34
 * L86 LSW unlocked at level 41
 * MG36 unlocked at level 48

Shotguns

 * Model 1887 for $2000, unlocked by default. Primary starting weapon on Overwatch, Foundation, Black Box, Oasis, and Sanctuary.
 * USAS-12 for $2000, unlocked at level 6
 * SPAS-12 for $2000, unlocked at level 16
 * KSG-12 for $2000, unlocked at level 26
 * Striker for $4000, unlocked at level 33
 * AA-12 for $5000, unlocked at level 44

Sniper Rifles
All Sniper Rifles cost $2000
 * MSR unlocked at level 7
 * Dragunov unlocked at level 16
 * RSASS unlocked at level 29
 * L118A unlocked at level 35
 * AS50 unlocked at level 42
 * Barrett .50cal unlocked at level 49

Handguns
All Handguns cost $250
 * Five Seven unlocked by default. Starting weapon on tier 1 and tier 4 maps, and Overwatch, Foundation, and Sanctuary.
 * USP .45 unlocked by default. Starting weapon on tier 2 maps.
 * MP412 unlocked at level 2. Starting weapon on tier 3 maps.
 * Desert Eagle unlocked at level 11
 * .44 Magnum unlocked at level 20
 * P99 unlocked at level 40

Machine Pistols
All Machine Pistols cost $1500
 * G18, unlocked by default.
 * Skorpion, unlocked at level 3
 * MP9, unlocked at level 17
 * FMG9, unlocked at level 37

Attachments
Scope Attachments Under-barrel Attachments
 * Holographic Sight for $1000, unlocked by default.
 * Red Dot Sight for $750, unlocked at level 7
 * ACOG Scope for $1250, unlocked at level 30
 * Grip for $1250, unlocked at level 19
 * Grenade Launcher for $1500, unlocked at level 28
 * M203 (Underbarrel, M4A1 and M16A4 only)
 * GP-25 (Underbarrel, AK-47 only)
 * M320 (Underbarrel on most weapons)
 * Shotgun for $1500, unlocked at level 45, only for assault rifles

Equipment Armory

 * Frag Grenade Refill for $750, unlocked by default
 * Flashbang Refill for $1000, unlocked by default
 * Claymore x5 for $1000 (10 Max), unlocked at level 2
 * C4 x5 for $1500 (10 Max), unlocked at level 3
 * RPG-7 x2 for $2000 (4 Max), unlocked at level 27
 * Sentry Gun for $3000, unlocked at level 17
 * Sentry Grenade Launcher for $4000, unlocked at level 31
 * Body Armor for $2000, unlocked at level 10
 * Self Revive for $4000, unlocked at level 12
 * Riot Shield for $3000, unlocked at level 37

Air Support Armory

 * Predator Missile for $2500, unlocked by default.
 * Air Strike for $2500, unlocked at level 4
 * Delta Squad for $3000, unlocked at level 14
 * Riot Shield Squad for $5000, unlocked at level 21
 * Perk Care Package
 * Quickdraw for $3000, unlocked by default.
 * Steady Aim for $3000, unlocked at level 8
 * Stalker for $4000, unlocked at level 22
 * Extreme Conditioning for $4000, unlocked at level 36
 * Sleight of Hand for $5000, unlocked at level 50

Achievements/Trophies
I Live (10 / Bronze trophy ) - Survive 1 wave in a Special Ops Survival game.

Serrated Edge (15 / Bronze Trophy ) - Finish a Juggernaut with a knife in Special Ops.

Arms Dealer (20 / Bronze trophy ) - Buy all items from the Survival Weapon Armory.

Danger Zone (20 / Bronze trophy ) - Buy all items from the Survival Air Support Armory.

Defense Spending (20 / Bronze trophy ) - Buy all the items from the Survival Equipment Armory.

Birdie (20 / Bronze trophy ) - Kill 2 enemy helicopters without getting hit in a Special Ops Survival game.

Survivor (20 / Silver trophy ) - Reach Wave 10 in each mission of Special Ops Survival mode.

Get Rich or Die Trying (25 / Silver trophy ) - Have $50,000 in your current balance in Survival mode.

Unstoppable (40 / Silver trophy ) - Reach Wave 15 in each mission of Special Ops Survival mode.

Trivia

 * Although not listed, the DLC maps are set on Regular difficulty.
 * The Survival Mode trailer used the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 variant of the Red Dot Sight, but this was cut from the final game.
 * In Survival Mode, while prone, pistols held with two hands will not center on the screen.
 * Players cannot be harmed by dogs if they climb ladders, however, this is only recommended if no infantry are in the area.
 * The player may be shot by his own Sentry if the player stands between it and an enemy.
 * On the Special Ops Trailer of Modern Warfare 3, it appears to have duration of time that the player is surviving on the wave.
 * When picking up an enemy weapon, all currently stored ammo will be emptied into the gun.
 * The Heavy Commando troops wielding FADs in Survival Mode are wearing what visually appears to be partial Juggernaut armor. They have the same uniform, armored vest, helmet, and armguards, and are only missing the plexiglas visor, thigh guards, shin guards, and armored collar, as well as having slightly smaller shoulder pads.
 * The enemies in the Special Ops mission Negotiator use the same character model as the commando troops wielding ACRs.