As an experienced Call of Duty player with over 8,000 Warzone kills, SMGs are my specialty. Their mobility, speed, and close range power perfectly fit my swift, high-intensity playstyle.
The new Warzone 2.0 battle royale brings nine new and returning SMGs to master across the Al Mazrah map. In this definitive guide, I evaluate all nine weapons to determine the top SMGs worthy of your loadout.
Ranking Methodology
As an aggressive SMG expert, I prioritize weapons that excel in close quarters battle but still retain mid-range versatility.
My criteria for the top Warzone 2.0 SMGs includes:
- Time-to-Kill (TTK) – The speed at which a weapon can down enemies up close. Lower TTK is ideal.
- Sprint-to-Fire Time – How quickly you can fire out of a sprint. Faster is better for rushing enemies.
- Movement Speed – How fast you can strafe and navigate the map. Higher mobility means quicker flanks.
- ADS Speed – How rapidly you can aim down sights to acquire targets and improve accuracy while moving.
- Magazine Size & Reload Speed – Vital for sustained firefights when clearing rooms or taking objectives.
- Recoil Control – How easy it is to control vertical and horizontal recoil during rapid fire.
- Damage Range – While SMGs excel up close, they still need mid-range viability to be well-rounded.
Based on these metrics, I evaluate the nine SMGs across their damage statistics, recoil patterns, handling attributes, and effective range capabilities to determine the top weapons worthy of your Warzone 2.0 loadout.
Best Warzone 2.0 SMG Comparison
Here is an overview of how the top meta SMGs stack up across key mobility and TTK stats:
| SMG | TTK (ms) | Movement Speed | ADS Speed (ms) | Sprint-to-Fire (ms) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSS Hurricane | 169 | 88% | 250 | 180 |
| Lachmann Sub | 146 | 90% | 200 | 155 |
| Fennec 45 | 160 | 99% | 220 | 130 |
The Fennec 45 narrowly beats out the others in sheer movement speed, while the Lachmann Sub claims the fastest ADS and sprint-to-fire times.
But the Hurricane brings the perfect balance across all attributes, giving it the winning combo of speed and lethality.
Below we‘ll analyze the pros and cons of each weapon and why the Hurricane is my top choice.
#1 FSS Hurricane
The FSS Hurricane stands on top as the most well-rounded SMG – and therefore best option – for most players. It brings an ideal blend of speed, damage, and accuracy.
Don‘t let the slightly slower movement speed compared to the Fennec 45 fool you – the Hurricane has all the tools aggressive players need to dominate enemies across close and mid-range fights.
It achieves excellent TTK thanks to a respectable 708 RPM fire rate. And with precise recoil control, you can accurately land shots without wasting ammo.
The Hurricane is the most versatile SMG that truly excels at any engagement distance. Let‘s examine why.
Key Strengths
- Fastest TTK (169ms) of any automatic SMG against armored opponents
- Minimal recoil that is easy to control even during full auto spray
- 50 round magazine and fast reload speeds for sustained fire
- Strong damage range up to 16 meters before significant dropoff
Minor Weaknesses
- Marginally slower move and ADS speeds than the Fennec
- Worst hip fire accuracy among SMGs
The Hurricane has no major flaws holding it back. The slightly slower handling doesn‘t make a significant impact during actual combat.
Plus, the precise recoil control ensures every shot accurately tracks opponents rather than wasting ammo. This allows reaching its lethal TTK more consistently than unstable SMGs like the Fennec.
Overall, the Hurricane brings the best balance of speed, damage, and forgiveness to earn its place as my top Warzone 2.0 SMG. The well-rounded performance makes it excellent in all situations between 0 to 16 meters.
Ideal Engagement Range
Thanks to the Hurricane‘s superior bullet velocity and minimal damage dropoff, it‘s effective out to 16 meters before its TTK suffers substantially. This gives you flexibility picking fights from point blank out to mid-range.
Within 10 meters the Hurricane kills in approximately 300-400ms, significantly faster than assault rifles. This makes it ideal for room clearing and flanking maneuvers.
Past 16 meters, the TTK rises over 500ms where assault rifles become better options. But 75% of Warzone engagements occur within this sweet spot where the Hurricane dominates.
The combination of mobility to swiftly push enemies and lethal close range damage is what makes this my top SMG.
Best FSS Hurricane Loadout
To further enhance the Hurricane‘s rushing potential, here is the ultimate loadout:
Muzzle: XTEN Razor Comp
Laser: FSS OLE-V Laser
Stock: FSS Hurricane Stock
Rear Grip: Sakin ZX Grip
Magazine: 50 Round Mag
This build improves sprint-to-fire and ADS times for quickly reacting when enemies appear. The laser also aids hip fire accuracy since up-close fights often occur before aiming down sights.
For perks, I run Double Time and Fast Hands with a Stim for maximum speed and reaction time. This allows rapidly repositioning with less downtime between engagements.
Combined with a long range primary weapon, the Hurricane excels as part of an aggressive, mobile loadout that dominates close and mid-range fights when clearing buildings, capturing objectives, or flanking opponents by surprise.
#2 Fennec 45
The Fennec 45 is the undisputed king of theoretical damage output with an unbelievable 1,126 RPM rate of fire – the fastest in Warzone 2.0. Such a blistering fire rate yields a blazing fast TTK that can melt opponents instantly up close.
However, for all but the most skilled players, effectively controlling that ludicrous RPM is difficult. Landing accurate shots is challenging and you‘ll burn through the tiny 30 round magazine frighteningly quick.
The Fennec brings tremendous strengths but requires finesse to properly harness without wasting ammunition. Here‘s a full breakdown:
Key Strengths
- Extreme 1,126 RPM rate of fire for fastest TTK within 7 meters
- Improved sprint out and ADS times aid reactive gunfights
Weaknesses
- Intense horizontal recoil challenging to control
- Small 30 round mag empties lightning quick
- Poor damage and TTK past 12 meters
The paper stats are phenomenal – a 160ms TTK and over 500 DPS! However, its limited effective range and ammo capacity hold back the Fennec‘s potential outside of corner ambushes or as a backup shotgun.
Still, for wiping out rooms of enemies in a flash up close, no other SMG comes close if you can tame the beastly fire rate.
Ideal Engagement Range
Given the unrestrained RPM and intense bullet velocity drop off, the Fennec is best kept within 7 meters of enemies. This is where its blistering theoretical TTK reigns supreme.
Past 10+ meters, recoil and damage dropoff make achieving that insane 160ms TTK unreliable against moving targets. The sweet spot for the Fennec‘s overwhelming fire rate is under 7m.
I pair this weapon with an assault rifle or long range marksman rifle to handle fights outside shotgun territory. There are better options than the Fennec at mid-range like the MP5 or Hurricane.
Keep the Fennec strictly for room and corner clearing under 12 meters. Past that range SMGs with more predictable recoil will win out.
Best Fennec 45 Loadout
My ideal Fennec setup focuses on recoil control plus enough ammunition to actually utilize its world-beating fire rate:
Muzzle: FTAC Castle Comp
Laser: VLK LZR 7mW
Underbarrel: Commando Foregrip
Magazine: 40 Round Drum Mags
Rear Grip: Rubberized Grip Tape
The combination of Commando, Rubberized Grip, and FTAC Castle Comp gives much needed stability, while the 40 round mags let you sustain fire longer.
This transforms the Fennec into a fierce room clearing beast under 10 meters. Any further and recoil control plus damage dropoff make SMGs like the Hurricane or MP5 preferable. But in ultra close quarters, nothing touches a properly equipped Fennec‘s sheer damage output.
#3 Lachmann Sub (MP5)
The MP5 returns to Warzone 2.0 with a fresh coat of paint as the Lachmann Sub, bringing many of the same qualities that make it a fan favorite. Lightning fast TTK, easy handling, versatile range – it remains one of the most reliable SMGs.
While the Lachmann lags slightly behind the new Fennec 45‘s rate of fire, it makes up for it with easier to control recoil, allowing more shots to actually hit their target. And with nearly identical mobility, it remains top tier.
Let‘s examine why the Lachmann Sub beats out most other SMGs:
Key Strengths
- Blazing fast TTK up close (~230ms)
- Very little recoil and easy to use even for beginners
- Great iron sights for an opticless build
Weaknesses
- Slowest fire rate (824 RPM) of meta SMGs
- Limited 30 round magazine runs dry quickly
The Lachmann is a jack-of-all-trades gun retaining strengths up close and in mid-range engagements, just like previous MP5 iterations. While top end damage can‘t match the Fennec 45‘s, predictable recoil and handling keep it extremely effective.
Ideal Engagement Range
Thanks to improved bullet velocity, the Lachmann Sub pushes out the MP5‘s effective range near 20 meters before TTK suffers substantially. This gives flexibility taking fights from point blank to mid-range.
Within 12 meters the Lachmann kills in approximately 300ms, beating assault rifles. Past 20 meters, ARs become preferable. But across standard room clearing distances, the MP5 holds its own.
For reference, the average Warzone engagement occurs within 12-15 meters. This happens to be the prime range where the Lachmann Sub dominates before damage dropoff or recoil knock it from best-in-class status.
Best Lachmann Sub Loadout
To transform the Lachmann into an engine of destruction up close, maximize ADS and sprint-to-fire speeds:
Muzzle: XTEN Razor Comp
Laser: 1mW Box Laser
Stock: L85 Factory 18" Stock
Rear Grip: Lachmann TCG-10
Magazine: 40 Round Mag
This setup gives extreme reaction time from sprinting to firing accurately thanks to improved ADS, sprint-to-fire speeds, and laser accuracy while strafing.
The Lachmann Sub remains an SMG icon even in Warzone 2.0, ready to battle the new meta favorites like the Fennec and Hurricane for best-in-class honors. Give it a shot if you value a more predictable, versatile bullet hose.
Closing Thoughts
That concludes my deep dive on the current SMG meta across Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0!
While newcomers like the Fennec 45 and Hurricane may steal the spotlight, old favorites such as the MP5 still have a place amongst the best loadouts.
No matter your specialty, equipping one of these lethal, mobility-focused SMGs along with a long range primary gives flexibility adapting to any battleground. They offer the perfect ingredients of speed, damage, and forgiveness to gain a close quarters advantage.
Now it‘s time to drop in, level up your skills with these meta SMGs, and battle for victory! Let me know which weapon tops your list.
*- Caesar pleasantpro
