SMGs continue to be one of the most popular weapon types in Warzone 2, their aggressive capability is exactly what you will need to push enemy positions in Al Mazrah and Ashika Island. Here’s every SMG ranked from worst to best.
Warzone 2’s meta has been shaken up quite a bit with the start of Season 3, bringing changes to a lot of the most picked firearms. But SMGs remain as popular as ever for close-range in Warzone 2 where they offer a bit more consistency and range than shotguns and pistols.
But, with every single Modern Warfare 2 SMG available to pick from, players are struggling to make the call on which they should drop into Al Mazrah or Ashika Island with.
If you’re still playing the original BR, you can check out the best SMGs in Warzone Caldera here. If you’ve moved onto the long-awaited sequel, then you’re in the right place to find out exactly which Warzone 2 SMGs you should be using and why.
We’re ranking them all from worst to best, as well as giving you the strongest meta loadout for each.
9. BAS-P
Best BAS-P Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Barrel: 10.5″ Bruen Typhon
- Laser: VLK LZR 7MW
- Underbarrel: FSS Sharkfin 90
- Rear Grip: D37 Grip
- Magazine: 50 Round Drum
The BAS-P dropped with Season One and has struggled to make an impact in Warzone 2 or the annual instalment. Signs of its mediocrity have remained and, while there’s a high fire rate to get excited about, its damage, range, and recoil are all poor.
8. FSS Hurricane
Best FSS Hurricane Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Muzzle: AVR-T90 Comp
- Barrel: FSS Cannonade 16″ Barrel
- Optic: Cronen Mini Pro
- Stock: Demo Fade Pro Stock
- Rear Grip: Sakin ZX Grip
The FSS Hurricane is a jack of all trades but a master of none. It possesses decent damage, range, and modest kick. A few simple buffs, namely to fire-rate, could make this a dominant weapon, but they’ve not come – yet.
7. MX9
Best MX9 Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Barrel: 508mm Rear Guard
- Laser: VLK LZR 7mW
- Magazine: 32 Round Mag
- Rear Grip: Bruen Q900 Grip
- Comb: FTAC C11 Riser
The MX9 is a decent enough SMG in Modern Warfare 2 and is beginning to find its feet in Warzone 2.0. Its damage is still among the weaker of the SMGs but its handling, speed and easy-to-manage recoil combine to make it easy to master and an ideal sniper support weapon. A simple damage buff could see it fly up the rankings.
6. Minibak
Best Minibak Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Muzzle: FTAC Castle Comp
- Barrel: BAK-9 279MM
- Optic: Cronen Mini Pro
- Stock: Otrezat Stock
- Rear Grip: True-Tac Grip
The Minibak, like the PDSW, comes with a large magazine and so is perfect for Warzone 2.0’s team-based modes. It fires too slowly and has slightly too much recoil to be dominant in WZ2 right now.
It also received a small nerf in Season Two, so it looks set for another season of being close but not quite meta.
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5. Fennec 45
Best Fennec 45 Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Underbarrel: Phase-3 Grip
- Muzzle: Lacerta Compensator
- Laser: VLK LZR 7MW
- Stock: Agile Assault-7
- Magazine: Fennec Mag 45
The Fennec dominated Warzone 2’s first season, but it was hit with a hefty and unsurprising nerf in the Season Two patch. It no longer hits as hard or boasts a headshot multiplier as strong.
Infinity Ward doubled down in the February 24 update, nerfing the weapon’s far damage and damage against armor. It takes two additional bullets to break three armor players, and with such a fast firing rate to begin with, blowing through magazines presents a major problem.
4. PDSW 528
Best PDSW 528 Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Laser: VLK LZR 7MW
- Rail: Integrated Reflex Rail
- Stock: Hollow Extended Stock
- Rear Grip: Bruen Q900 Grip
- Comb: TV Taccomb
The PDSW 528’s biggest strength is its magazine size, enabling players to gun multiple enemies before having to reload. Nerfs to other SMGs propelled the underrated SMG up several spots in our rankings.
3. VEL 46
Best VEL 46 Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Muzzle: Bruen Cubic Comp
- Stock: VEL A-568 Collapsed
- Laser: VLK LZR 7MW
- Rear Grip: ZLR Combat Grip
- Magazine: 50 Round Mag
The VEL 46, better known by the MP7 title it had in previous CoD games, moved up five rankings after the Season 2 Reloaded update, and rightfully so.
Infinity Ward increased the popular SMG’s damage at close range, bringing the weapon more in line with other class offerings.
2. Lachmann Sub
Best Lachmann Sub Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Ammunition: 9 mm Overpressured +P
- Rear Grip: Lachmann TCG-10
- Laser: VLK LZR 7MW
- Stock: LM Stockless MOD
- Magazine: 40 Round Mag
The Lachmann Sub – known to veterans of CoD as the MP5 – is an all-rounder that excels in almost every department in Warzone 2. Its damage and range keep you in medium-range gunfights, while its recoil is minimal enough to master with little practice.
1. Vaznev-9K
Best Vaznev-9K Warzone 2.0 Loadout
- Muzzle: Bruen Cubic Comp
- Lazer: FSS OLE-V Laser
- Stock: Markeev R7
- Rear Grip: True-Tac Grip
- Magazine: 45 Round Mag
The Vaznev-9K boasted arguably the best damage of any SMG, but it saw itself weakened slightly in the Season Two patch. The only things holding it back are a slightly slower fire rate and moderate kick, but learning its recoil pattern is a one-way ticket to competing in any close to medium-range gunfight.
With all its closest rivals nerfed in Season Three, it’s all the way up to first in the list of best SMGs in Warzone 2. Right now, there’s no better option in this weapon class.
That rounds off the best SMGs in Warzone 2.0 right now. Be sure to check back in the future because as the meta shifts, so will this list.