Warzone 2 / MW2: Best SMGs Tier List

Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 are here, and the meta is slowly being discovered. Even though there have been some hiccups on its original launch, we have had the chance to dive in and thoroughly test out all the SMGs to bring you the DualShockers SMG Tier List for MW2 and Warzone 2.

There will inevitably be nerfs and buffs to SMGs during the lifespan of Modern Warfare 2, and this list will continue to be up-to-date with the latest and greatest. Be sure to bookmark and come back after future patches to see what has changed, along with which guns are the new kings of Multiplayer and Warzone 2.

Updated by Nathan Round on the 24th of October 2023: We have updated this guide to include the ISO 9mm, which arrived in Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 for Season 6.

Warzone 2 & MW2 Best SMG Rankings Criteria

Any good tier list needs to have a solid foundation of what is important to determine what guns come out on top, and which ones fall to the bottom. In shooter games, the largest contributor is always going to be Time-To-Kill (TTK). This will always be your number one criterion, followed by some other factors that should be considered when creating a one-size-fits-all MW2 SMG Tier List.

The criteria of the Modern Warfare 2 SMG Tier List should take into account:

1. Time-To-Kill
2. Mobility and Handling
3. Recoil Control and Stability
4. Damage Range

Warzone 2 & MW2 SMG Tier List

Best SMGs In Warzone 2 & MW2

ISO 9mm

The ISO 9mm is remarkably similar to its sibling, the ISO 45 – however, there are a few stat differences between the two. The ISO 9mm possesses better range (only by a small amount), recoil control, and mobility. The fire rate of the ISO 9mm is also considerably higher than its sibling, granting it a far better TTK at close range. Though the ISO 45 does have slightly better handling and accuracy, the ISO 9mm does have the edge in most close-range situations.

ISO 45

The ISO 45 is currently one of the best Submachine Guns for both Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2. The stats of the ISO 45 are pretty comparable to the Lachmann Sub – which is essentially the ISO’s sibling. However, out of the two weapons, the ISO 45 sports better damage, fire rate, and accuracy. If you are looking for a fast and reliable SMG for both Multiplayer and Battle Royale, the ISO 45 is your second-best option for Season 6.

Lachmann Sub

The Lachmann Sub has slightly better recoil control and mobility than the ISO 45 – and virtually one of the highest levels of mobility and handling among all Submachine Guns in the game – but falls behind in TTK thanks to the ISO 45’s faster fire rate. The Lachmann Sub possesses a slightly quicker ADS time than the ISO 45, but the difference is not exactly huge. Though the range and accuracy of this weapon trail behind both the FSS Hurricane and PDSW 528, the Lachmann Sub proves to be much more effective up close, which is where it shines the most.

Great SMGs To Use In Warzone 2 & MW2

Vaznev-9K

The Vaznev-9K has around the middle of the pack fire rate at 779 RPM. The bullet velocity is on the higher end at 540 milliseconds while using a 30 ammo clip. This means you probably will want to utilize an attachment slot on more ammo for your clip. At 210ms ADS time, it is the fastest ADS after the SMGs with 200ms. However, the faster fire rate of the Lachmann Sub and the ISO 45 provides a slightly better TTK in most scenarios.

Fennec 45

The Fennec 45 has the highest fire rate of all SMGs at 1091 RPM, and while this does provide one of the fastest TTKs among all the SMGs, its strength is also its weakness. With the Fennec 45, you will find yourself dumping all your ammunition on a single opponent, making it a poor choice for taking on multiple Operators in Warzone 2. The range of the Fennec 45 is also pretty poor compared to even the lower-tier SMGs, and the recoil is quite noticeable as well.

Vel 46

The Vel 46 is the first SMG you can use in a custom class in MW2, so most players should be familiar with it. It has one of the fastest fire rates at 952 RPM along with middle-of-the-pack bullet velocity. This SMG is definitely a solid option to consider due to its lightweight mobility, and fast aim-down-sight speed.

Lachmann Shroud

The Lachmann Shroud is a burst-fire Lachmann Sub with an integrated suppressor but has a few stat differences from its full-auto sibling. The Lachmann Shroud has the highest level of recoil control along with the highest damage per shot, giving it a decent TTK – being capable of killing unarmored Operators in two shots. While this SMG is one of the few SMGs that excels at medium-range, its slow rate of fire can be a drawback when against other guns up close.

Good SMGs Warzone 2 / Modern Warfare 2

PDSW 528

The PDSW 528 is currently performing around the middle of the available SMGs. It boasts a high fire rate while maintaining one of the best bullet velocities of all SMGs. The PDSW 528 has an exceptionally large magazine, but other weapons have a comparable damage output, along with better mobility and recoil control.

FSS Hurricane

The FSS Hurricane has the best range and accuracy out of all the weapons of its type. It also possesses one of the highest levels of recoil control – but many other weapons follow close behind in this stat category. Though this SMG is by far the best choice for mid-to-long-range engagements, almost every other SMG virtually outclasses the FSS Hurricane in terms of mobility and handling. The PDSW is also comparably better than the FSS Hurricane in terms of fire rate, range, accuracy, mobility, and handling

BAS-P

The BAS-P is an SMG that saw its arrival for Season 1, and has comparable stats with the Vaznev-9k, Lachmann Sub, and ISO 45. However, all the previous options have much better levels of recoil control, mobility, and handling. The BAS-P is not a bad SMG by any means and is still a great option for the close-range meta.

Worst SMG In Warzone 2 & MW2

MX9

The MX9 has one of the lower fire rates of all SMGs, while also having the lowest bullet velocity. The ammo per clip of 25 is very rough especially compared to a 40 or a 64 clip. The ADS time of 220ms is strong and one of the fastest, but that still puts other SMGs in a faster ADS position with 210 or 200 ms. None of these aspects of the gun are particularly strong and thus, the MX9 lags behind most competitors.

Minibak

The Minibak has a terribly low bullet velocity of 300 M/S, along with the longest ADS time, and the lowest fire rate of all SMGs. This means out of the 4 stats we show here, it boasts the worst of 3 of them. Sure, it has an ammo clip of 64 rounds, but that isn’t going to help you take down enemies any faster. For these reasons, we recommend avoiding the Minibak altogether for the current patch of MW2.