Choose Your Games
On this page
Modern Warfare 4 has 17 killstreaks at launch, costing 4 to 12 kills. The cheapest are the UAV, Bomb Glider, Care Package and Impact Warhead at 4 kills; the most expensive are the Gunship and Air Lockdown at 12. Three are ready when Create-a-Class opens at Level 4: UAV, Artillery Beacon and Attack Helicopter.
The kill costs and unlock levels below come from Activision’s Ready for Launch loadout post of October 19, 2026, which supersedes the killstreak numbers reported from the August beta. Our MW4 bot lobbies are listed as Coming Soon until launch.
All 17 MW4 killstreaks: kill cost and unlock level
| Killstreak | Kills | Unlocks at | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAV | 4 | Level 4 | Reveals enemies on the minimap |
| Bomb Glider | 4 | Level 6 | Hand-held glider with an explosive payload |
| Care Package | 4 | Level 9 | Drops a random killstreak |
| Impact Warhead | 4 | Level 12 | Payload that drills through multiple floors |
| Artillery Beacon | 6 | Level 4 | Heat-seeking missiles that track a deployed beacon |
| Crossfire | 6 | Level 20 | Dual airstrikes from two directions |
| Combat Drone | 6 | Level 26 | Remote-controlled anti-personnel drone |
| Counter UAV | 6 | Level 31 | Scrambles all enemy minimaps |
| Wheelson | 8 | Level 16 | AI vehicle that hunts targets or guards you |
| Missile Salvo | 8 | Level 24 | Aerial platform that fires lock-on missiles |
| Railgun Sentry | 8 | Level 38 | Deployable railgun that works as an autonomous sentry |
| Attack Helicopter | 10 | Level 4 | Overwatch helicopter with target tracking |
| Deathstalker | 10 | Level 35 | Remote-controlled helicopter with twin turrets that overheat |
| Advanced UAV | 10 | Level 40 | Shows enemy direction in real time; immune to lock-on |
| Argonaut | 10 | Level 45 | Heavy armor with a cluster grenade launcher and burst sidearm |
| Gunship | 12 | Level 51 | Gunship with 105mm, 40mm and 25mm cannons |
| Air Lockdown | 12 | Level 55 | Bombing runs plus anti-air coverage while active |
The tiers are 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 kills. The starter set covers three of them: UAV at 4, Artillery Beacon at 6 and Attack Helicopter at 10. The first 8-kill streak is the Wheelson at Level 16, and nothing at 12 kills unlocks before Level 51.
MW4 Multiplayer Bot LobbyPrivate MW4 Multiplayer lobby against bots on your own Activision ID, joined by party invite. Coming Soon until launch.From $24.99View offerHow killstreaks earn progress in MW4
Killstreaks in MW4 are not kills-only. Activision says “kills remain the primary driver”, but playing the objective also counts toward your next streak. It has not published how much a capture or a hold is worth compared with a kill.
Killstreaks are also tied to each loadout rather than set once for your whole profile, so a sniper class and an SMG class can run different streaks. Activision’s Create-a-Class screenshot shows three killstreak slots per loadout. Since the costs above are written as “Kill Requirement”, plan each class around how many kills you usually get in one life.
Perks that change killstreak costs
Two of MW4’s 18 perks affect streaks directly:
- Hardline (Perk 2, unlocked at Level 4) reduces the listed killstreak costs by 1. With it, the UAV needs 3 kills and the Gunship needs 11.
- Kill Chain (Perk 1, unlocked at Level 48) lets kills made by your killstreaks count, at half value, toward your next streak.
Hardline and Kill Chain sit in different perk slots, so one loadout can run both. Activision has not said whether Hardline also lowers the Nuke. The same post lists when every gun unlocks; see our MW4 weapon unlock levels for the full table. All 18 perks and their unlock levels are in our MW4 perks list.
Is the Nuke a killstreak in MW4?
The Nuke is not one of the 17 killstreaks in Activision’s launch list, and the post does not mention it. Beta coverage from esports.gg and Insider Gaming in August 2026 reported it as a separate reward for 30 kills without dying, outside the three killstreak slots. In those reports only kills with guns, equipment and Field Upgrades counted, so kills made by other killstreaks did not add to it, and Kill Chain would not help. Whether that holds in the launch version is not confirmed. Our MW4 Nuke guide covers what was reported and what is still unconfirmed for launch.
MW4 bot lobby and Nuke services
These are our related MW4 listings. All of them show as Coming Soon until the game is live, and each product page describes what it covers.
MW4 Multiplayer Bot LobbyPrivate Multiplayer lobby against bots on your own Activision ID, joined by party invite.From $24.99View offer
MW4 Nuke Bot LobbyListed as a bot lobby set up for the Nuke on your own Activision ID. MW4's launch Nuke rules are not confirmed.Coming soonView offer
MW4 Rank Boost (Level 1–55)Rank boost to Level 55, where the Air Lockdown, the last killstreak, unlocks.Coming soonView offerFrequently asked questions
How many killstreaks are in MW4?
17 at launch, from the 4-kill UAV to the 12-kill Gunship and Air Lockdown.
What killstreaks do you start with in MW4?
UAV (4 kills), Artillery Beacon (6) and Attack Helicopter (10), all available from Level 4 when Create-a-Class unlocks.
How many kills is the Gunship in MW4?
12 kills, or 11 with Hardline. It unlocks at Player Level 51.
Does objective play count toward killstreaks in MW4?
Yes. Activision says kills are the main driver but objective play also counts. The exact value is not confirmed.
Does Hardline work on the Nuke in MW4?
Not confirmed. Activision’s launch post does not mention the Nuke at all.
Sources and update history
- Activision, Ready for Launch: All Modern Warfare 4 Operators, Weapons, Equipment, and Multiplayer Create-a-Class Features, October 19, 2026 (Killstreaks and Perks sections).
- esports.gg, How to get the Tactical Nuke in Modern Warfare 4, August 21, 2026 (beta coverage).
- Insider Gaming, All Modern Warfare 4 Beta Killstreaks, August 21, 2026 (beta coverage).
- Activision, Ready for Launch: Modern Warfare 4 Progression and Prestige, October 19, 2026 (level unlock appendix).
Update history: Published October 20, 2026. Facts last checked October 20, 2026 against the sources above.
