MW4 Hired Gun Mission Walkthrough: Bullet Train Trophy and Graves Boss Fight

The Hired Gun mission in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 follows Captain John Price as he works with cartel leader Valeria Garza to move a stolen DIA weapon package toward Paris. Set four days before the North Korean invasion, the mission brings Price closer to Makarov’s superior, known as the Archer, while forcing him into an uneasy alliance with Valeria. Their operation takes a dangerous turn when Phillip Graves and Shadow Company intercept the train carrying the package. To complete Hired Gun, players must fight through a rail yard, clear a maintenance depot, destroy Graves’ attack helicopter, and defeat him in a ground battle. The mission also features the Bullet Train trophy, which requires 50 eliminations while standing directly on top of railcars.

Hired Gun Mission Objectives and Progression

Hired Gun begins at sunrise aboard a passenger train that has come to a stop. Price receives encrypted intelligence from Kate Laswell while civilians evacuate and Valeria prepares to deal with the approaching threat. Shadow Company, led by Graves, soon intercepts the operation, forcing Price and Valeria to fight through the surrounding rail yard and continue toward the stolen weapon package.

The mission moves through several combat areas, each requiring a slightly different approach. Use the following overview to keep track of the main objectives.

Mission Section	Main Objective	Key Details
Rail Yard	Fight through Shadow Company forces	Use abandoned boxcars and train cars for cover
Maintenance Depot	Clear enemy positions inside the facility	Watch elevated metal walkways and service pits
Turntable Yard	Survive Graves’ helicopter attack	Retrieve the PR-48 Anvil grenade launcher
Ground Boss Fight	Defeat Phillip Graves	Maintain accurate fire against his ballistic armor
Mission Ending	Complete the final confrontation	Price shoots Graves after rejecting his offer

How to Clear the Rail Yard and Earn the Bullet Train Trophy

The opening combat section takes place among abandoned boxcars, railway equipment, and freight cars. Shadow Company operatives attack from different positions throughout the yard, making the train cars useful for both cover and elevated firing angles. Move between available cover, check the spaces between railcars, and watch for enemies farther down the tracks before advancing.

The Bullet Train trophy requires 50 eliminations while standing directly on top of railcars. Your position when securing each qualifying elimination is essential, so avoid dropping to ground level when you can continue fighting from the train cars.

To make progress toward the trophy:

• Climb onto a railcar before engaging enemies whenever the route allows.
• Secure eliminations while remaining directly on top of the railcars.
• Check nearby tracks and surrounding structures for additional targets.
• Keep track of your eliminations so you can confirm when the 50-kill requirement is complete.

The rail yard also introduces the importance of using vertical space. Elevated positions can give you a clearer view of the surrounding area, while the train cars offer protection when enemy fire becomes heavy. Players who want extra aim and target-tracking practice can use MW4 Bot Lobbies as a separate practice option when suitable modes are available.

Clear the Maintenance Depot

After advancing through the rail yard, Price and Valeria’s group reaches a large maintenance depot. Luca and Gordo help lead the push as the team breaches the building and engages Shadow Company troops inside. The depot has several potential attack angles, with enemies positioned on elevated metal walkways and in service pits.

Area to Check	Main Threat	Recommended Approach
Elevated walkways	Enemies firing down from above	Scan upper platforms before crossing open areas
Service pits	Enemies positioned below floor level	Check lower sections as you move through the facility
Machinery and structures	Limited visibility and changing sightlines	Use available cover while clearing nearby threats
Depot exits	Enemies blocking the next route	Secure the immediate area before advancing

Move through the building with the group and clear nearby enemies before pushing toward the turntable yard. Checking both upper and lower positions helps prevent enemies from catching you off guard during the advance. Once the depot is clear, prepare for Graves’ helicopter attack.

How to Destroy Graves’ Attack Helicopter

The fight moves into the turntable yard, where Graves attacks in a heavily armed helicopter equipped with rockets and a minigun. Remaining exposed in the open makes it harder to respond to incoming fire, so use nearby train cars and other solid cover while locating the weapon needed to fight back.

Price can retrieve a PR-48 Anvil grenade launcher and flash grenades from the trunk of a nearby vehicle. The launcher is the key tool for damaging the helicopter, and direct hits are needed to bring it down.

Follow these steps during the encounter:

1. Move toward the nearby vehicle and retrieve the PR-48 Anvil grenade launcher.
2. Use train cars or other available cover to manage incoming helicopter fire.
3. Aim at the hovering helicopter and land direct hits with the launcher.
4. Continue attacking until the helicopter takes enough damage to crash.
5. Prepare for Graves to reappear on the ground after surviving the crash.

The helicopter fight rewards careful positioning and accurate shots. Use cover between attacks, then take the opportunity to fire when the aircraft is visible and you have a clear line of sight.

How to Defeat Phillip Graves on the Ground

Graves survives the helicopter crash and emerges in heavy ballistic armor, starting a ground fight among the train cars. His armor makes the encounter more demanding than a standard infantry fight, so focus on accurate, sustained fire rather than wasting ammunition through uncontrolled shooting.

The railcars provide useful cover as you move around the fight. Keep track of Graves’ position and use the available structures to avoid remaining exposed for too long. Continue landing accurate shots until his armor begins to break down and he retreats into a dimly lit maintenance shed.

The mission then moves into its concluding cinematic. Graves offers to clear Price’s name in exchange for the DIA weapon case, but Valeria warns Price not to trust him. Price rejects the offer and shoots Graves in the head with a suppressed pistol, ending the confrontation.

Hired Gun Mission Reward

Completing Hired Gun unlocks the Dallas Base Operator for Multiplayer. This reward gives players an additional Operator to use outside the campaign once the relevant multiplayer content is available.

Players who want to work on their shooting consistency can also use Bot Lobbies MW4 as a separate practice option when suitable modes are available. Practicing target acquisition, controlled firing, and positioning can help develop skills for other combat situations, while the Hired Gun campaign mission remains the place to complete its objectives and earn the Dallas Base Operator.

Hired Gun Tips for a Smoother Run

Keep these key points in mind as you progress through the mission:

• Use railcars strategically: They provide cover and elevated firing positions, and standing on them is essential for the Bullet Train trophy.
• Check multiple elevations: Enemies can attack from metal walkways and service pits in the maintenance depot.
• Collect the PR-48 Anvil: Retrieve the grenade launcher from the nearby vehicle before focusing on Graves’ helicopter.
• Prioritize direct hits: Accurate grenade launcher shots are important for destroying the hovering aircraft.
• Stay controlled during the boss fight: Use the railcars for cover and maintain accurate fire against Graves’ ballistic armor.

Hired Gun combines a rail yard firefight, a trophy challenge, and a two-stage confrontation with Phillip Graves. Paying attention to enemy positions, using cover effectively, and collecting the correct weapon before the helicopter encounter will help you progress through each section. For the Bullet Train trophy, remember to secure the required eliminations while standing directly on top of railcars. Completing the mission also unlocks the Dallas Base Operator for Multiplayer.