Best SMGs in Black Ops 6 beta – Meta submachine guns ranked

Nathan Warby
Best SMGs in Black Ops 6 with logo

The Black Ops 6 beta is made up of fairly small maps, which has made SMGs extremely powerful early on. But which is the best one to use?

Treyarch’s latest multiplayer looks and feels very different from what came before, placing more emphasis on fast-paced action and lightning-quick movement. This encourages players to get up close and personal, so it’s no surprise to see SMGs taking over the meta.

If you’re wondering which to run, here are the best SMGs in Black Ops 6.

Every BO6 SMG ranked

RankSMG
1Jackal PDW
2C9

There are only two SMGs to choose from in the Black Ops 6 beta, but both have already emerged as meta options. Plenty more will be added at launch and in the seasonal updates, but for now, there’s a clear winner when it comes to the best close-range gun in the game.

Best Black Ops 6 SMGs explained

C9

Black Ops 6 player reloading C9 SMG

Although we’re ranking the C9 as the weaker of the two SMGs, that doesn’t mean you should sleep on it in Black Ops 6. Despite being one of the default weapons, it’s also one of the strongest and easiest to use in the entire game.

Mimicking the look and feel of the iconic MP5, long-time CoD fans will be immediately familiar with its forgiving recoil, competitive range, and solid fire rate. When it comes to close-range gunfights, very few weapons can match it in terms of TTK and it complements the new Omnimovement system perfectly.

If you’re after an easy-to-use starter weapon, the C9 is strong enough to carry you all the way to the upper ranks. Just make sure you’re running our best loadout to really get the most out of it.

Jackal PDW

jackal pdw smg in black ops 6

Not only is it the best SMG, but the Jackal PDW is easily the best gun in the Black Ops 6 beta overall. This hard-hitting SMG has absolutely dominated the beta since it went live, shredding through opponents with its blistering fire rate and ankle-breaking mobility.

The Jackal is virtually unbeatable in close-quarters fights, as it outguns the C9 in terms of TTK and even puts the Marine SP Shotgun to shame outside the first few meters. Plus, since the available maps are fairly compact, it’s viable on every map and mode.

While it could easily be nerfed in Weekend Two or ahead of the full launch, with our best Jackal PDW loadout you’ll have the edge in nearly every fight.

To get the best of these SMGs, you can also take a look at the best controller or mouse and keyboard settings to make sure your aim is up to scratch.

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