SMGs have always been strong in Warzone, but Season 3 has shaken up the meta in a few unexpected ways. Some old favorites have risen to the top, while others have been nerfed into oblivion. With this in mind, here are the best SMGs for Warzone Season 3.
The best SMG builds in Warzone Season 3
I’ll go through the casualties in the SMG category in a moment, but here are the best SMGs and how to build them.
HRM-9
HRM-9 has been a dominant force for a while and escaped with a slap on the wrist. The ‘Sprint to fire’ time is slightly increased, but the HRM-9 still deletes players at close range like no other. At the time of writing, the HRM-9 is arguably the best SMG in the game and the close-range meta choice.
HRM-9 recommended attachments
- Muzzle: Shadowstrike Suppressor S
- Barrel: Princeps Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
- Magazine: 50 Round Drum
- Stock: Folding Stock
This attachment setup is similar to many other SMGs we’ve covered. There’s no need for an Optic, as the iron sights are super easy to use.
Striker 9
I’ve been a fan of the Striker 9 since it came out, and it’s always been fairly strong. Oddly enough, the weapon got buffed in Season 3 with a range increase. The Striker 9 kicks pretty hard, but it’s easy to compensate as the recoil is vertical.
Striker 9 recommended attachments
- Muzzle: Sonic Suppressor S
- Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
- Magazine: 50 Round Drum
- Stock: Lachmann Recon Series Stock
- Optic: MK. 3 Reflector
The big difference between this loadout and the HRM-9 is the Optic. The Striker 9 has unwieldy sights, so I think the Optic is worth it. The remaining attachments soften the recoil, and the Muzzle keeps us off the radar.
WSP-9
The WSP-9 is still decent and escaped the patch with a slight increase in ‘sprint to fire’ speed. Some players don’t like this weapon as it has a notably slower fire rate than the HRM-9, but I rarely find I lost fights because of it.
WSP-9 Recommended attachments
- Muzzle: Sonic suppressor S
- Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
- Magazine: 50 Round Mag
- Rear Grip: Marauder Grip
- Optic: MK.3 Reflector
You’re probably noticing a pattern with the attachments here, but my choices here make the WSP-9 more manageable. The 50-Round Mag feels excellent with the slower fire rate, and the Optic is an improvement over the messy iron sights.
What SMGs were nerfed in Warzone Season 3?
Sadly, there are a couple of significant casualties in the SMG category. I must stress that nerfed weapons are still useable as players die so fast; they just aren’t as good as other weapons in the class.
The RAM-9 was demolished in the patch with a massive reduction in damage per shot. Unfortunately, the gun feels like it fires blanks now and is frustratingly inconsistent.
Another fan favorite that got destroyed is the AMR-9. Unfortunately, this weapon received nerfs across the board and dealt less damage than previously, regardless of range. The Nerfs seem a little heavy-handed to me, but if the plan was to reduce AMR9 usage, they succeeded.
SMGs are superb on Rebirth Island, as most battles are up close and personal. If you’re new to the map, make sure you know where the Biometric Scanners are so you can take advantage of the new Keycard system in Season 3.
