Best SMGs in Warzone: Meta loadouts for Season 1

If you want to dominate close-range fights, Warzone holds a ton of powerful SMGs to pick from. However, the introduction of several buffs and nerfs in Season 1 has made selecting the best SMG more challenging.

Black Ops 6 offering seven new SMGs only complicates matters further. So, to help you out, we’ve ranked all SMGs from best to worst, including the top 5 loadouts for Warzone.

Best SMG loadouts in Warzone

1. Jackal PDW

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Compensator
• Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
• Underbarrel: Ranger Foregrip
• Magazine: Extended Mag II

Activision

The Jackal PDW has been a dominant force across Warzone and Black Ops 6. Whether it’s Nuketown or Urzikstan, this fast-firing SMG offers insane close-range TTK figures of just 616 ms. Its recoil and range leave more to be desired but you can improve those using our recommended loadout.

The Compensator and Ranger Foregrip attachments reduce vertical and horizontal recoil, increasing the weapon’s stability for medium-range engagements. The Reinforced Barrel also improves its range-combat capabilities by increasing the effective damage range.

2. PP-919

• Muzzle: Suppressor
• Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
• Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
• Stock: Balanced Stock
• Fire Mods: Recoil Springs

Activision

The PP-919, also known as the Bizon, fares much better in Warzone as compared to BO6 multiplayer. Its best-in-class magazine size coupled with the impressively low recoil make it well-suited to medium-range engagements. Having 64 bullets in a single magazine is especially handy for taking down full-plated enemies.

A clean set of iron sights and excellent base ammo capacity mean that two attachment slots can be used to increase its range and ADS speed. To enhance its accuracy, make use to the Recoil Springs mod.

3. Saug

• Muzzle: Compensator
• Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Magazine: Extended Mag II
• Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip

Activision

The Saug made its debut with the Season 1 Reloaded update for Black Ops 6 and while it’s nowhere near the multiplayer meta, the SMG’s attributes make it a solid pick for Warzone. Its close-range TTK stands at a remarkable 594 ms, although the damage does fall off as the range increases. Other strong points of the Saug include its rapid fire rate and excellent mobility, making it a great choice as a sniper support weapon or as a deputy for an AR.

Our loadout improves its recoil through the Compensator and Vertical Foregrip attachments. The Reinforced Barrel is also crucial since it increases the SMG’s range.

4. C9

• Muzzle: Compensator
• Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Magazine: Extended Mag II
• Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip

Activision

The C9 is essentially BO6’s version of the MP5, and in that regard, it does not disappoint. Just like other MP5s from previous titles, the C9 offers balance across all fronts. The SMG’s superb mobility stands out in particular and helps compensate for some of its shortcomings.

Our loadout brings the best out of the SMG, starting with some recoil improvements through the Vertical Foregrip and Compensator attachments. Next, we’ve gone with the Reinforced Barrel for a boost to the effective damage range, along with the Ergonomic Grip to improve handling.

5. Kompakt 92

• Muzzle: Compensator
• Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Magazine: Extended Mag III
• Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip

Activision

The Kompakt 92 hits extremely hard at close ranges but that’s about the only thing it has going for it. The SMG has really poor recoil and lackluster range, qualities that a weapon must excel in to be viable for Warzone. Despite that, it makes our list purely on the back of its incredible TTK. If you use it solely for engagements within 10-15 meters, the Kompatk 92 can outperform any weapon in the game.

The attachments listed above help mitigate some of its cons, starting with the Compensator and Vertical Foregrip combination that offers some much-needed stability. To boost mobility, make sure to use the Ergonomic Grip. The attachment improves both ADS and slide-to-fire speeds, allowing you to close the gap on enemies slightly faster.

All Warzone SMGs ranked

Rank	SMG	TTS (ms)
1	Jackal PDW	616
2	PP-919	672
3	Saug	594
4	C9	656
5	Kompakt 92	605
6	Static-HV	657
7	Superi 46	630
8	KSV	675
9	WSP Swarm	605
10	Striker 9	630
11	Tanto .22	680
12	FJX Horus	610
13	Striker	651
14	Lachmann Shroud	607
15	Rival-9	660
16	WSP-9	654
17	RAM-9	650
18	AMR9	648
19	ISO 45	670
20	Minibak	644
21	PDSW 528	660
22	MX9	648
23	BAS-P	690
24	Fennec 45	660
25	Lachmann Sub	675
26	HRM-9	680
27	VEL 46	693
28	FSS Hurricane	688
29	Vaznev-9K	693
30	ISO 9MM	660

Meta analysis

The Jackal PDW is still going strong as the best SMG across both Warzone and Black Ops 6. It combines swift handling with top-tier TTK and is unmatched by any weapon in the class. In second is the PP-919, an SMG whose traits are tailor-made for Warzone but its damage profile simply isn’t good enough to dethrone the Jackal.

If you’re purely looking for close-range beasts, the Saug and Kompakt 92 are capable options. They can down enemies quicker than the Jackal but you’ll struggle to control their recoil during engagements beyond 15 meters.

Upgrading weapons to get the meta attachments can take plenty of time. So if you’re not willing to go through the grind, older weapons like Superi 46, Static-HV, or the WSP Swarm are still worth using.

No matter which SMG you pick, be sure to use the best controller, audio, and FOV settings, allowing you to take care of any close-range threats in the battle royale.