Warzone Season 5 has finally arrived, and submachine guns are looking strong heading into the new season. There has been a lot of movement in the SMG meta in recent months, leading to a very new SMG meta for which SMGs are the best in Warzone Season 5. To help you navigate the new season, here is our tier list ranking every SMG in Warzone Season 5!

Tier S

• MAC-10
• MP5
• Bullfrog
• TEC-9

MAC-10

The MAC-10 has been the unquestioned authority figure in the SMG family since the release of Warzone over a year ago, and that isn't going to change in Warzone Season 5 where it continues to boast a very high pick rate. The MAC-10 has the fastest time to kill of any SMG in Warzone and will consistently win encounters against basically any other weapon in short-range. If you aren’t using the MAC-10, you are missing out on a truly exceptional weapon.

MP5

The MP5 — whether it’s the version from Modern Warfare or Cold War — is an amazing weapon because of its high damage potential and its ease-of-use. It has very easy to control vertical and horizontal recoil and is effective at both close and medium ranges. On top of that, the MW version of this gun also received a range buff of 10% and a slight upper torso damage increase in the new season patch! In season 4, the MP5 is set to remains one of the easiest-to-use Submachine guns in Warzone.

The biggest difference between the Cold War and Modern Warfare version of this weapon is that the Cold War MP5 doesn’t have as much horizontal recoil but fires a little bit slower. Other than that, the weapons handle very similarly. Regardless of which one you choose, the MP5 is a strong weapon that performs quite competitive in Warzone Season 4.

Bullfrog

The Bullfrog is a better weapon than you might think at first glance. While its damage model looks average on paper, its massive magazine and high bullet velocity make it a devastating weapon in CQB encounters where you have to engage multiple foes. This weapon has been on the upswing throughout Warzone Season 4, and is set to define the SMG meta in Warzone Season 5.

TEC-9

Brand new in Warzone Season 5, the TEC-9 has immediately proven to be a contender in the SMG meta. When outfitted with the right fully automatic build, this gun can hold its own against pretty much any other short-range weapon in the game. On top of its potential in a loadout, it also is pretty decent ground loot, so you may find yourself relying on this weapon in the early game throughout this season, even if you don't plan to add it to your loadout drop. 

Tier A

• Milano 821
• LC10
• CX-9
• MP7
• PPSh-41

Milano 821

The Milano 821 briefly sat at the very pinnacle of the SMG category last season due to a bug with on of the scopes that dramatically increased its ranged accuracy. That bug has since been fixed, but the gun remains a top SMG nonetheless. While you won't be shredding MP5 or MAC-10 users up close, once you are a middling range, that is where the Milano really excels. This is a great, low recoil short to medium range weapon that is sure to delight anyone who tries it out.

LC10

The LC10 has been a really strong weapon since its release. The LC10 has a slightly lower time-to-kill than the MAC-10, but it has very manageable vertical recoil that can reliably challenge enemies in short and medium-range fights. If you are looking for a great SMG that has a more versatile effective range than the MAC-10, check out the LC10.

CX-9

The CX-9 unexpectedly dropped near the end of the last season, and it has proven to be a truly fantastic weapon.  When equipped with the right attachments, the CX-9 is capable of very fast kill times in close range, if you can control the recoil. It may not be the very best SMG in the game, but it can definitely hold its own in a fight. 

MP7

The MP7 remains one of the very best SMG choices in Warzone as we kick off the new season. Once equipped with the 60 round magazine and attachments to reduce its recoil, the MP7 transforms into a powerful laser that can quickly eliminate multiple foes at close range using a single clip. This gun is top of A-tier, tottering on the brink of S-tier.

PPSh-41

The PPSh-41 remains a solid pick in Warzone Season 5. While some doubted this gun at first, its high up-close damage potential has helped this gun stand the test of time. It's a pretty fun weapon to run around with if you can get over the relatively limited base ammo capacity. If you keep your fights close-quarters, you can really shred with the PPSh-41.

Tier B

• AK74U

• P90

• Uzi

• OTs 9

AK74U

The AK74U was added with the Cold War weapons at the start of Warzone Season 1. Since then, its place in the meta has consistently risen due to its hard-hitting damage model and solid headshot damage. When paired with extended mags and attachments designed to further limit recoil, the AK74U will absolutely dominate in close ranges. This weapon will not, however, handle well outside 20 meters, so keep that in mind.

P90

The P90 is a solid SMG with a large magazine and low levels of recoil. Unfortunately, the weapon suffers at range due to its sub-par accuracy and fast damage dropoff. While the P90 is still a viable weapon in Warzone Season 2 for fans of the gun, SMGs like the LC10, MP5, and MAC-10 all outperform it at both close and long-range fights.

Uzi

The Uzi is a very common weapon to come across on the ground in Warzone, so you will likely find yourself using it a lot in early game scenarios. It is capable of high damage and has a surprisingly versatile effective range, making it a very usable gun. However, in Warzone Season 4, the Uzi is just outclassed by many of the other SMG’s. While it’s a viable weapon to pick up off the ground, it isn’t a weapon that you will want to be putting in your loadout drops.

OTs 9

The OTs 9 was added to Warzone in Season 4, and it had a relatively positive reception upon release. However, due to its limited range capabilities and high recoil, this gun's popularity fell off pretty quickly. It's not a bad weapon by any means, but it also isn't my first pick in Warzone Season 5.

Tier C

• Fennec
• PP19 Bizon
• AUG

Fennec

The Fennec's declining power level stems from its limited range and difficult to control spray pattern. In exchange for these sacrifices, however, the Fennec offers players the fastest fire rate in the game. In spite of that fire rate, however, most other weapons will outperform it in Warzone Season 5.

PP19 Bizon

The PP19 Bizon has never been a top-tier weapon in Warzone, and that won't change in Season 5. This off-meta SMG suffers due to its low time-to-kill, terrible damage at range stats, and abysmal iron sights. Unfortunately, you will probably end up having to use this weapon a lot, since it is a common floor loot gun. While a skilled player can make it work in a pinch, you should get rid of it as soon as you can, because the PP19 Bizon is truly mediocre.

AUG

The AUG in Warzone is mediocre in every way. While there is nothing that is particularly bad about it, there is also nothing that helps it stand out in the crowded marketplace of SMGs. As a result, it sports one of the lowest selection rates in the game. It isn't quite the worst tier of weapons, but it is also below average and should be avoided in Warzone Season 5. 

Tier D

• KSP 45
• Striker 45
• ISO

KSP 45

The KSP 45 is a 3-round-burst SMG that is ineffective at pretty much all ranges, making it generally a bad idea to run it. The gaps between the bursts make this weapon both hard to use and less effective at close range than just about any high-fire rate SMG on this list. You could try to take advantage of the low levels of recoil and use this at medium ranges, but like the Striker 45, it makes little sense to build out a mid to long-range SMG when there are AR’s that would do that job better.

Striker 45

The Striker 45 SMG is an SMG designed to be ineffective at close-range, only working in mid to long-range encounters. But why though? Why would you use this SMG in Warzone, when you could use an assault rifle or the Milano/LC10 instead? While the Striker 45 is not bad within its effective range, an assault rifle will work better in most situations. Don't use this gun in Warzone season 5.

ISO

The ISO is well out of the SMG gun meta in Season 5. It has a decent fire rate, but it sports a very short effective distance. It is outperformed by pretty much every gun on this list, even at its best. There is no reason why you would ever run the ISO over the MP5, MP7, or MAC-10.

WARZONE SEASON 5 TIER LISTS

Sniper Rifle tier list — Warzone Season 5
Assault Rifle tier list — Warzone Season 5
Pistol tier list — Warzone Season 5