How to Answer Makarov’s Question in MW3 Campaign

During the opening mission of the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 campaign, players will have to answer a question from Vladimir Makarov. Here is how to answer Makarov’s question in the MW3 campaign and what outcome each choice results in.

How should you answer Makarov in the MW3 campaign?

In the first mission in the MW3 campaign, “Operation 627, you are tasked with breaking Vladimir Makarov from prison. Once you release the antagonist from his cell, you will eventually escape in an elevator. During this sequence, Makarov will ask you the question: “Andrei, Who holds power in this gulag? The guards, or the prisoners?”

Although you are given three choices, it doesn’t matter how you answer Makarov’s question in the MW3 campaign. Regardless of your choice, the outcome will always be the same. After making a decision, Makarov will say, “well done,” and move on. However, you do get unique dialogue lines depending on which answer you pick, which we will go over below:

What happens if you answer Prisoners in the MW3 campaign?

If you select prisoners, Makarov will simply reply, “Yes, Andrei, that’s why guards need guns. Well done, soldier.” The scene will continue to play out like it usually would, with the antagonist seemingly happy with your choice.

What happens if you answer Guards in the MW3 campaign?

If you select guards, Makarov will respond: “Yes, Andrei, the guards have it…until we take it. Well done, soldier.” Just like the other choice, Makarov seems pleased with your response, and the cutscene will finish out. Even though it’s a different answer, his reply is pretty much the same.

What happens if you answer Neither in the MW3 campaign?

If you choose neither, Makarov will say: “Yes, Andrei, very good! Power is held by those who seize it.” Incredibly, Makarov will approve of your choice to not decide at all! Choosing neither will result in the same response as the above two answers.

Does it matter how you answer Makarov’s question in the MW3 campaign?

The short answer is no. It doesn’t matter how you answer Makarov in the MW3 campaign. However, some fans believe that Prisoners is the “Good” answer, Guards is the “Bad” answer, and Neither is “Neutral.” As someone who recently played the mission, I can kind of see where they are coming from.

While every answer leads to Makarov praising you, his body language tells a different story. It might be subtle, but the antagonist gives a toothy grin when you say prisoners, as opposed to his frown when you select guards instead. Does any of this actually matter? No, not really. But for fans of the series, it’s still cool to see how the Modern Warfare antagonist reacts to each answer.

The Call of Duty MW3 campaign is now available for those who pre-order the game on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. The multiplayer mode will launch on November 10, 2023.