One of the most discussed topics in the communities of Battlefield 2042 is that many weapons are too imprecise. MeinMMO has examined which weapons best circumvent this problem – and found surprising solutions. In fact, the SMGs seem to work in Battlefield 2042 like you would expect from assault rifles.
Why are assault rifles weak? Since the beta, the developers of Battlefield 2042 have changed the behavior of the assault rifles: When you start shooting with assault rifles, the first fired bullets are intentionally very imprecise.
The statement of the article that you should avoid assault rifles is therefore no longer correct. On the contrary: SMGs have also been adjusted, which means assault rifles have significant advantages at range.
This mechanic is called bloom. Assault rifles stabilize thanks to it only after a few moments of uninterrupted sustained fire – this should be avoided at range. Players are very frustrated by this mechanic. Especially due to the large, expansive maps in Battlefield 2042, you often feel this lack of precision from bloom.
Assault rifles are considered the strongest weapons and efficient all-rounders in many shooters. However, in Battlefield 2042, they behave differently than you are used to. Therefore, submachine guns are the better choice for anyone who enjoys using automatic weapons.
SMGs shoot more accurately and faster than assault rifles
Why are the SMGs strong? The bloom mechanic seems to particularly affect the assault rifles that were also playable in the beta. The SMGs (English: SMGs) have apparently been largely spared from these measures. Therefore, not only do the fans on reddit believe: The SMGs are currently the better assault rifles (via reddit).
For: Although their fully automatic fire has a higher rate of fire than that of assault rifles, the first SMG in the game is more accurate at range than the first assault rifle. However, they are not bad in close combat – quite the opposite. Even in Battlefield 2042, SMGs are a force in tight spaces.
As SMGs, they are also very easy to use. They allow you to miss a few bullets without necessarily losing the fight as a result.
What are the weaknesses of the SMGs? The SMGs are not as strong at distances as other weapons, which is particularly important to consider on the large maps. However, much more important than the damage is the precision: Even the weakest bullets that hit deal more damage than the strongest bullets that miss.
Especially because of the long distances at which most battles in Battlefield 2042 take place, it is important to be able to hit accurately. Because there is no bloom, you can do this better with SMGs than with assault rifles – even though that directly contradicts the universally accepted shooter wisdom.
Which SMGs are the strongest? The first two SMGs are the most precise in the game. Therefore, they are the best choice. These weapons are:
- PBX-45: Better rate of fire and handling
- PP-29 (unlocked at level 18): More rounds in the magazine, slightly more range and precision
Both weapons are strong enough with their standard setups. However, they can be further customized to meet individual needs with additional weapon attachments.
You will unlock the PP-29 only after about 10-15 hours of gameplay, but the wait is worth it. Currently, this SMG is the best fully automatic weapon in the game.
DMRs and snipers dominate the maps but are harder to play
What are the strengths of DMRs and snipers? An even better choice than the SMGs are the semi-automatic DMRs (“designated marksman rifles”). Especially the DM7 and the SVK are worth mentioning. These weapons not only shine with their high precision, flexibility, and good damage: They have their greatest strengths exactly where the popular assault rifles are so weak.
For the same reason, sniper rifles are currently a good choice if you want to rely on just one precise shot.
What are the weaknesses of DMRs and snipers? The biggest problem with these weapons is that they are harder to play than the fully automatic SMGs. They require very high aim skills and can quickly become useless in the wrong hands. Even in close combat, these weapons are much worse – especially there, SMGs have their greatest strengths.
There is one exception with the assault rifles
Is there an assault rifle that can still be used? Although the starter SMGs have clear advantages over the assault rifles, there is one weapon that contradicts this trend: The SFAR-M GL.
The SFAR-M GL is based on the SCAR-H. The weapon is known for bundling a lot of firepower into a few bullets. This combination has had many fans in games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Battlefield 4.
Compared to other assault rifles, the SFAR-M GL has less bloom, thus hitting more reliably. However, the weapon has two other problems in Battlefield 2042:
- It is only unlocked at level 27.
- It only becomes really good with unlockable attachments.
Thus, the SFAR-M GL is a good alternative for assault rifle fans, but not immediately. It requires some patience and a lot of gameplay time before it can make a difference.
What weapon category is your favorite in Battlefield 2042? Have you tried the SMGs yet? If so, what is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
If you want to unlock more weapons or attachments for your weapons, you first need to gain experience and level up. You can do this particularly quickly with some tricks:
With a simple trick, you can quickly farm XP in Battlefield 2042 – Even without a farm lobby
