If you want to dominate close-range in Black Ops 6, then you can’t go wrong with an SMG, and we’ve put together the meta loadouts for all of the best options.
This year’s Call of Duty doesn’t have the biggest lineup of guns, but the ones that are there all serve a unique purpose. While Assault Rifles are great all-rounders, SMGs are the kings of close-quarters engagements.
But with several to choose from, it can be hard to separate the strong from the weak. So, here are the best SMGs in Black Ops 6, as well as the loadouts you’ll want to be using for each of them.
Best SMG loadouts in BO6
1. C9
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Rear Grip: Flig Mag
- Rear Grip: Commado Grip
Although it’s the first SMG you get your hands on, its impressive versatility makes the C9 the top option in the current meta, regardless of whether you are just getting started or reaching Master Prestige. It has very few weaknesses, making it by far the most well-rounded submachine gun in BO6.
The best C9 build doubles down on its versatility by improving several key stats across the board. The Compensator and Vertical Foregrip boost recoil control, the Flip Mag improves reload speed, and the Long Barrel provides a massive 23% boost to damage range. With this build, you will be able to outgun assault rifles and SMGs alike, both up close and even at medium range.
2. Tanto .22
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Rear Grip: Commando Grip
- Fire Mods: Rapid Fire
In many ways, the Tanto .22 is the polar opposite of the Jackal PDW, boasting a slower fire rate but much more damage per shot. This makes for a weapon that’s perfect for mid-range, so if you like the feel of an SMG but want to be left exposed on larger maps, this is the pick for you.
It already kills faster than many other Black Ops 6 guns, but the Rapid Fire mod brings the TTK down to blistering speeds. The extra recoil this produces can be largely offset by using a Compensator, which keeps the Tanto feeling accurate and easy to use.
3. PP-919
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Rear Grip: Commando Grip
- Stock: Balanced Stock
- Fire Mods: Rapid Fire
Initially, we wrote off the PP-919 as the worst SMG in Black Ops 6, as did much of the community. However, there’s been two major changes that have seen it catapulted all the way up to third: Its damage ranges were buffed, and the community discovered how strong Rapid Fire is on this gun.
When equipped, Rapid Fire lowers the PP-919’s TTK down to just 257 ms, which is similar to the C9 and faster than the Jackal PDW. Ordinarily, the trade-off would be significantly more recoil, but the PP-919’s recoil starts off so low that this penalty is hardly noticeable. This is especially true if you use the Compensator, which makes the SMG laser accurate at almost any range.
4. Jackal PDW
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Rear Grip: Commando Grip
- Stock: No Stock
The Jackal PDW was the standout weapon during the beta. However, multiple nerfs since and buffs for its competitors have seen it drop down the rankings. It’s still a good weapon, providing a nice balance of damage, range, and mobility, but is no longer a top option, with the C9 replacing it as BO6’s premier jack of all trades SMG.
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You can regain some of the Jackal’s pre-nerf power by fixing its shortcomings with the Long Barrel and Vertical Foregrip, which make it more viable at mid-range and help keep its recoil in check. Equally, the Commando Grip improves ADS speed and sprint to fire speed, allowing the Jackal PDW to be even more mobile.
5. Saug
- Muzzle: Compensator
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
- Rear Grip: Commando Grip:
- Fire Mods: Rapid Fire
Introduced in Season 1, the Saug is a great SMG that was made to dominate close-range duels. It does this with its fast rate of fire and excellent mobility stats, which combine to make it the best SMG for rushing. It isn’t a well-rounded gun by any means, but on Black Ops 6’s smaller maps, this weapon will be a real headache for the other team to deal with.
Something unique about the Saug is that its predictable recoil means you can get away with using the Rapid Fire mod despite its rapid fire rate. With this equipped, it has a TTK of just 243 ms, which is faster than the C9. In fact, this is only beaten by the KSV and Kompact 92, both of which are inferior options due to their worse recoil and slower mobility.
All Black Ops 6 SMGs ranked
| RANK | WEAPON | TTK (ms) | MAX DAMAGE RANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C9 | 246 | 13m |
| 2 | Tanto .22 | 272 | 17m |
| 3 | PP-919 | 288 | 17m |
| 4 | Jackal PDW | 264 | 15m |
| 5 | Saug | 264 | 11m |
| 6 | KSV | 225 | 11m |
| 7 | Kompact 92 | 220 | 11m |
Meta analysis
The SMG meta in Black Ops 6 has undergone substantial changes following the Season 1 update. This patch saw every submachine gun buffed, with some clearly coming out on top. Most notably, the C9 is now the most well-rounded SMG in the game, having very few weaknesses and being competitive on every map and mode.
Interestingly, the Tanto .22 and PP-919 have both shot up our rankings. This follows the discovery that you can run the Rapid Fire mod on both of these to massively improve their TTKs. The recoil penalty this attachment gives is negligible on these guns, allowing them to compete against and often beat other top-tier SMGs.
The other two worth considering are the Jackal PDW and the Saug. The Jackal PDW has fallen in popularity after dominating the beta and launch but remains a good option that performs well up close. As for the Saug, this newcomer added in Season 1 is very accurate and hypermobile, making it a good option for those who enjoy rushing.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the KSV and Kompact 92, both of which are difficult to justify using. The KSV is completely outclassed by the C9, which is a similar gun but better in almost every way. Even worse, the Kompakt 92’s dreadful recoil makes it frustrating to use and easily the worst SMG in Black Ops 6.
For more ideas on what to use, check out our BO6 gun tier list that ranks all of the game’s weapons from best to worst, as well as the shotguns and marksman rifles that stand out most in the current meta.
