In Call of Duty: Warzone, submachine guns (SMGs) are among the most popular weapons. MeinMMO presents the analysis of a CoD expert who introduces the 5 best SMGs based on playstyle and provides tips for your setups.
What do I need SMGs for in Warzone? SMGs are close-range weapons in Call of Duty: Warzone and are often favored as a secondary weapon. Along with a firearm for longer distances, they make up the loadouts of many players, waiting to pump bullets into enemy soldiers at close range.
They are fast, deal high damage, and offer a large ammunition reserve. The operator of the Warzone weapon website “truegamadata” has meticulously analyzed the SMGs and their attachments and presents in his latest video on the “SMG Meta” of Warzone which ones are for him the 5 best in the game. He also provides tips on assembling setups.
MeinMMO presents his findings, prepares the setup tips for you, and explains why these SMGs are currently the 5 best submachine guns in the game. We are embedding the English YouTube video from “truegamedata” here for you:
Which SMGs are the best in Warzone? Overall, “truegamedata” names 5 SMGs that he considers the best in battle royale:
- MP5 from Cold War for rushing
- MP5 from Modern Warfare for rushing
- Bullfrog from Cold War as an all-rounder
- MAC-10 from Cold War as an all-rounder
- MP7 from Modern Warfare for hipfire
You can find the complete MeinMMO recommendation list with the best weapons of Call of Duty: Warzone here:
Best SMGs for Rushing – The MP5 from Cold War & Modern Warfare
What advantages do rushing SMGs bring? Rushing submachine guns have the lowest time-to-kill (TTK) values of SMGs and focus on direct close combat (Close-Quarter-Combat / CQC). They are especially well-suited for house combat, but often fall prey to shotguns in direct combat (under 10 meters), such as the R9-0 with Dragon’s Breath.
They stand out for their high damage, which comes with handling disadvantages. The recoil plays a minor role with rushing SMGs, as you are close enough to the enemy to reliably hit your shots.
What does a strong rushing setup for the “Cold War” MP5 look like? The MP5 from Cold War outperforms all other submachine guns in terms of TTK but feels a bit shaky. However, it is stable enough to utilize its high damage values in direct combat.
Warzone: Cold War MP5 Setup for Rushing
- Barrel: 9.5″ Special Forces
- Laser: SWAT 5mw laser sight
- Stock: SAS Combat Stock
- Underbarrel: Field Agent Grip
- Ammunition: STANAG 50-Round Drum
For “truegamadata”, the Special Forces Barrel is a must for all SMGs from Cold War in Warzone. It increases your damage range by 50% and your bullet velocity by 80%. This applies to all SMGs from Cold War with a Special Forces Barrel and significantly outperforms other barrels.
The grip helps reduce noticeable recoil and the stock increases your speed while aiming. The laser gives you the option to fall back on hipfire when necessary. Without this attachment, the spread for effective hipfire is too wide.
What does a strong rushing setup for the “Modern Warfare” MP5 look like? The “old” MP5 is already a classic among Warzone weapons and a real mainstay. It has always been considered one of the best SMGs and continues to hold its ground thanks to its balanced mix of strengths and weaknesses. If you’re looking for a rushing SMG that can also hipfire, then opt for the MP5 from CoD MW.
Warzone: Modern Warfare MP5 Setup for Rushing
- Laser: 5mW laser
- Stock: FTAC Foldable
- Underbarrel: Merc Foregrip
- Ammunition: 45-Round Magazine
- Perk: Sleight of Hand
Just like the weapon, this setup is almost a classic. Make sure to pack a large magazine and choose the perk “Sleight of Hand” if you want to reload faster. “truegamadata” suggests that instead of reloading speed, you could also opt for a suppressor to not show up on the mini-map when firing.
The Merc Grip and the laser provide you with strong hipfire. While you should always try to aim down sights, with this setup, you can surprise your enemies with quick shots.
In terms of TTK values, the MP5 from Cold War may have the edge, but when it comes to hipfire and aim down sights (ADS) time, the MP5 from CoD MW wins.
Chest Shot Damage Comparison of the Best SMGs – Without Attachments
Best All-round SMGs – MAC-10 and Bullfrog
What advantages do all-round SMGs bring? With these weapons, you gain more stability and control than with SMGs that focus entirely on damage. In direct close combat situations, you may be at a disadvantage, but you can still land safe hits a few meters away from the enemy, which is very important in Warzone.
They are distinguished by their good handling but are less suited for being at the forefront to engage enemies first. If you expect more from your secondary weapon than just close combat kills, then opt for an all-round SMG.
What does a strong all-round setup for the MAC-10 look like? The MAC-10 has a very high fire rate, but it has a predominantly vertical recoil upward. Due to its high rate of fire, the enemy takes more hits and can concentrate less on you because their field of view is shaken (flinch effect). As the only SMG, the MAC-10 also has an “Open-Bolt Delay” and needs 50 milliseconds to fire after pulling the trigger.
- Barrel: 5.9″ Special Forces
- Laser: GRU 5mw laser sight
- Stock: Wire Stock
- Underbarrel: Field Agent Grip
- Ammunition: STANAG 53-Round Drum
Warzone: MAC-10 Setup – All-round
Here too, the Special Forces Barrel is a must, and you get your bonus of 50% for range and 80% for bullet velocity. The grip helps you with recoil control, and with the stock, you can slightly offset the “Open-Bolt Delay” when coming out of sprinting and wanting to fire. The magazine provides you with 53 rounds without too much affecting your aim down sights time.
Additionally, “truegamadata” selects a 5mw laser but also makes it clear that his personal taste plays a role here. For him, it’s important that an SMG also has hipfire capability, and he always relies on a laser. If you don’t care about that, you can choose the Agency Suppressor, which not only suppresses sound but also adds some range.
What does a strong all-round setup for the Bullfrog look like? This submachine gun is very stable and is especially noted for its large magazines. It is the “Cold War” counterpart to the PP-19 Bizon but can perform significantly better than its poor “CoD MW” cousin. It shines with high headshot damage, making it one of the best SMGs in Warzone due to its enjoyable stability.
Warzone: Bullfrog Setup – All-round
- Muzzle: GRU Suppressor
- 7.4″ Special Forces
- Laser: GRU 5mw laser sight
- Ammunition: 65-Round
The Bullfrog is very forgiving and gives you many options for attachments. Important are the Agency Suppressor, the Special Forces Barrel, and the larger magazine. “truegamadata” chooses again the 5mw laser for hipfire.
You can also add a sight that you like or choose a stock to gain additional bonuses. Other recommended attachments include:
- Tactical Stock: +12% Aim Speed
- Wire Stock: Improved Sprint-to-Fire Speed
- Spetsnaz Grip: -10% Vertical & Horizontal Recoil
Headshot Damage Comparison of the Best SMGs – Without Attachments
Best SMG for Hipfire – MP7
What advantages do hipfire SMGs bring? With hipfire, you save yourself the aiming down sights before firing and shoot directly. The bullet spread should be as minimal as possible. In Warzone, the best option for this is the MP7, which does lag a bit in TTK.
What does a strong hipfire setup for the MP7 look like? Due to its very vertical recoil, the MP7 is also suitable for other tasks in battle royale, making it the best alternative for fans of hipfire.
- Laser: 5mW laser
- Stock: No Stock
- Underbarrel: Merc Foregrip
“truegamadata” recommends three attachments for your MP7 to achieve the best hipfire level in the game. Experiment and find which combination suits you best. Here you can find a guide for a hipfire MP7. As another alternative to the MP7, the Warzone data expert mentions the MP5 from CoD MW.
After the stormy “Cold War” integration into Warzone, the dust is slowly settling and the best weapons are coming to light. When it comes to SMGs, it depends entirely on your playstyle which one is recommended for you.
Experiment, try different playstyles, and find your best approach. Not always is the fastest time-to-kill the optimal solution, as can be seen with the popular assault rifle Grau 5.56, which is particularly strong in Warzone due to its stability.
