Gradually, assault rifles seem to be disappearing from the focus of quite a few players in Call of Duty: Warzone – LMGs are the new hot stuff. MeinMMO presents the top 3 and shows which one fits your playstyle. There’s also the appropriate setup.
Which LMGs are meant? The Bruen Mk9 announced it, and fans of the PKM have known it for a long time: LMGs in CoD: Warzone rock.
In the Battle Royale, many players use an all-round weapon that can achieve secure kills at medium ranges while also cleaning up in close and long-range fights. A strong SMG is used as a secondary weapon to gain an advantage in close combat duels.
When it comes to selecting the all-round weapon, many players’ attention shifted back to machine guns after the introduction of the FiNN LMG, and they may finally have their breakthrough – because 3 of them are now among the best weapons in the Battle Royale:
- FiNN LMG
- PKM
- Bruen Mk9
The three companions each bring their own character and have unique advantages and disadvantages. MeinMMO compares the powerful LMGs with the best assault rifles and shows you which fits your playstyle the best.
LMGs deliver heavy hits and provide stability
How do the MGs stand in terms of damage? When it comes to the Time-to-Kill (TTK), or the time a gun takes to take down an enemy, the 3 MGs easily keep up with the best automatic assault rifles in Warzone.
The absolute top value here is provided by the CR-56 AMAX (Galil): 476 ms with chest shots on enemies with 3 armor plates. But the FiNN LMG is just slightly behind – it takes 482 ms here. In the midfield, we have the PKM (560 ms) and M4A1 (594 ms). A good way behind are the nerfed overachievers: Bruen Mk9 at 638 ms and the Grau 5.56 at 658 ms.
If you can handle the AMAX, you’re at an advantage in most situations because its bullets really hit hard. However, the stability of the heavy assault rifle leaves something to be desired. This is where the LMGs shine. You get stable killing tools that provide you with a ton of bullets and range.
What about mobility? Playing an LMG usually means being a bit slower. The lower values in aim down sights (ADS) time and movement speed are noticeably felt in some setups. You should find a good balance for yourself and consider whether you can forgo the longest barrel on the PKM to be a bit more mobile.
LMGs have one problem – fire delay: What the TTK above doesn’t take into account is the “Open Bolt Delay”. This is a fire delay after you pull the trigger. For all 3 LMGs, it takes 67 ms to fire after the trigger is pulled. In very critical situations, this can make a difference. Unfortunately, it’s a small drawback of most LMGs.
FiNN-LMG with Setup – Outstanding performance at medium range
Warzone FiNN Setup
- Muzzle: Silencer (Monolithic)
- Barrel: XRK Long Shot Contrarian
- Optic: VLK 3.0x Scope
- Underbarrel: Commando Foregrip
- Ammunition: 5.56 NATO 100-Round Belt
What can the LMG do? The newest weapon in CoD arrived with the “Season 5 Reloaded” update and makes a big impact in Warzone. Thanks to its extraordinary damage coupled with pleasant handling, you’ll tear apart enemies standing in your crosshairs.
It’s really strong at medium range. You hit your enemies effortlessly and are at an advantage against other all-round weapons up to 60 meters if you both start firing at about the same time. However, it gets tricky if you have to aim first. With a range setup, the FiNN LMG takes a while to aim down sights and loses some of its strength.
Who is this setup suitable for? If your primary weapon should bring secure kills at medium ranges, the FiNN could become your new top pick. With this setup, it resembles the stable M13, but deals significantly more damage than the rather weak assault rifle.
However, it is a bit slow in ADS time, which weakens it in close combat. Due to its high fire rate, it’s also difficult to maintain stability at greater distances.
The new FiNN LMG offers great customization options, making it suitable for other applications as well. This setup brings outstanding performance at the critical medium range in Warzone and that’s why it made it onto the list.
PKM with Setup – A bit shaky, but stable values
Warzone PKM Setup
- Muzzle: Silencer (Monolithic)
- Barrel: Heavy 25.9″ Barrel
- Laser: Tactical Laser
- Optic: VLK 3.0x Scope
- Underbarrel: Grip
What can the LMG do? The PKM offers a strong middle ground between stability and damage. Its damage remains almost constant at all ranges. The chest damage only decreases from 34 to 30 (with this setup at 39 meters), and so it becomes one of the most painful all-round weapons in the game from 60 meters onwards.
Who is this setup suitable for? If you choose the slightly shorter “Heavy 25.9” Barrel, you get an LMG that can assist you at all distances. The ADS time is just okay, and hits at long distances are possible. However, among the 3 MGs on this list, the PKM has the strongest recoil.
If you’re looking for a weapon that deals well at all distances and are willing to accept a bit more noticeable recoil, give the PKM a try.
Bruen Mk9 with Setup – The golden mean
Warzone Bruen Setup
- Muzzle: Silencer (Monolithic)
- Barrel: XRK Summit 26.8″
- Laser: Tactical Laser
- Optic: VLK 3.0x Scope
- Ammunition: 60-Round Magazine
What can the LMG do? With the Bruen, you can hit enemies at all ranges while remaining as mobile as with an assault rifle. The 60-round magazine transforms the LMG into an extraordinarily handy hybrid and, with the smaller magazine, it achieves assault rifle levels in terms of ADS time.
For a few weeks, this weapon was the top weapon in Warzone, but after 2 nerfs, it seems to have found its place among the strong weapons. It’s no longer overpowered but still does its job and, especially, shines with its stability. However, its damage leaves something to be desired.
Who is this setup suitable for? The Bruen can now be compared well with the Grau 5.56. You accept the lower damage in exchange for reliable hits at greater distances. Plus, it has a pleasant aim down sights time.
If you’re looking for a stable companion that doesn’t hit as hard but is reliable, then the Bruen Mk9 is your choice.
If you want to see the 3 setups in action, check out the English video from the CoD YouTuber “WhosImmortal”. He compared the 3 weapons and shows gameplay with the combinations:
In choosing their tools, many players opt for the best weapons of Warzone to avoid being at a disadvantage. However, after a few nerfs, the firearms in Call of Duty are coming closer together, and personal playstyle and preferences are playing an increasingly important role.
As long as an automatic weapon offers a certain level of stability, it will be exciting for Battle Royale, and the 3 candidates here also bring interesting traits. However, for some, it will still only be assault rifles that make it to the shortlist – you can find 3 strong assault rifle alternatives to the stable Bruen here.
