Submachine guns in Battlefield 6 are incredibly easy to control, sacrificing long-range power for close-quarters effectiveness. They have the lowest recoil in the game, even after recent adjustments. While any SMG is a solid choice, this guide will help you find the best one for your preferred combat style by ranking them based on how close you like to get to the enemy.
Best SMGs in Battlefield 6 Season 3 Overview
| Best Close-Range SMGs |
|
|---|---|
| Best Mid-Range SMGs |
|
To ensure a fair comparison, I’ve divided the SMGs in BF6 into two groups based on how far they’re meant to be used effectively in combat. While you can still succeed with these weapons in other situations, they’ll generally perform much better when used as the developers intended.
SCW-10
Even after some adjustments to how it recoils, the SCW-10 remains the top SMG in BF6 due to its precision and damage. While it now has slightly more sideways kick than before, most players won’t even notice the change.
The SCW-10 is unique among short-range SMGs because it can kill in just three shots within 8 meters. It’s surprisingly powerful, and opponents caught in that close range will be eliminated incredibly quickly. While its small initial magazine size might seem like a drawback, I found it wasn’t a major issue when engaging in one-on-one fights.
CZ3A1
When it comes to quick reactions, the CZ3A1 is considered one of the best SMGs in Battlefield 6, right up there with the SCW-10. This is because it can eliminate opponents very quickly and maintains good accuracy at a reasonable distance. Though it doesn’t quite match the SCW-10’s long-range kill potential, the CZ3A1 can take someone down in about 0.18 seconds at 8 meters thanks to its incredibly fast firing rate of 981 rounds per minute. The CZ3A1’s recoil is a bit more unpredictable than the SCW-10’s, but you can easily control it by switching to burst fire for longer-distance fights.
Weapons with a fast time-to-kill (TTK), such as the CZ3A1, perform well in RedSec and Gauntlet modes because these modes generally have a slower overall TTK compared to standard multiplayer.
SGX
Okay, so the SGX is seriously good. It feels a lot like my M433 – they do the same damage per shot and fire at the same rate. But the SGX kicks way less, the bullets don’t fly quite as fast, and it’s not as effective from super far away. Honestly, with the right attachments, you can practically eliminate the recoil. I’m talking almost no kick at all! That makes it super deadly, and it doesn’t have the downsides of guns like the CZ3A1 or SCW-10. If you put an Extended Barrel and a 6H64 grip on it, it’ll actually outgun a lot of the other SMGs, even at medium range – like 20 to 40 meters. It’s a really solid choice.
Just a heads-up: all the BF6 submachine guns have noticeably slow bullet speeds. Although they’re very accurate and easy to control, this makes it harder to hit targets that are moving or far away.
USG90
The USG90 isn’t as fast at eliminating enemies as some other SMGs, but it has a significant advantage: a large 50-round magazine. This makes it great for surprising larger groups of enemies by flanking them. If you enjoy getting behind enemy lines to find the best moment to strike, the USG90 could be a good choice for you.
KV9
The KV9 kills enemies as quickly as the SCW-10 at close range, but it’s a little harder to control. It deals good damage and fires very rapidly, making it dangerous up close. Plus, its built-in burst fire lets you effectively hit targets at longer distances without much difficulty.
The KV9 has a small magazine – only 17 bullets – and fires relatively slowly at 1080 rounds per minute. This means you really need to aim carefully when you shoot, or you’ll quickly run out of ammo without hitting your target. You’ll find yourself reloading often, making the KV9 powerful, but a bit awkward to use.
PW5A3
In Battlefield 6, the PW5A3 performs similarly to the M16A4, but as a submachine gun. It deals the same amount of damage (25 per shot at 771 rounds per minute) but has significantly less recoil and a shorter effective range. While a PW5A3 user will likely lose in a close-quarters fight against other SMGs, its exceptional accuracy and minimal recoil make it easier to hit targets at any distance.
The PW5A3 is special because it can use Synthetic Tip ammo, which dramatically boosts headshot damage. Because the PW5A3 is very easy to control while firing, consistently landing headshots will let you outperform many other weapons in BF6.
PW7A2
Okay, so the PW7A2 is like the little brother to the PW5A3. It doesn’t hit as hard, but it fires way faster – we’re talking 947 rounds per minute! That means it won’t down enemies as quickly as some other SMGs, since the max damage is only 16. But if you use those Synthetic Tips and really focus on getting headshots, you can still win most fights, even against tougher opponents.
The PW7A2 is very similar to the PW5A3, though it has a slightly slower time to kill. It might feel unusual at first because it takes a lot of bullets to eliminate an enemy, but once you adjust, the PW7A2 becomes a dependable SMG for medium-range combat.
SL9
The SL9 is a slower-firing submachine gun in Battlefield 6, and it takes some practice to master, similar to the PW7A2. While it’s accurate and has very little recoil, the SL9’s slower rate of fire and comparable damage mean it generally underperforms against other SMGs, especially since most of them are also easy to control.
The SL9 is best for close to medium-range combat, around 20 to 40 meters. Beyond 21 meters, its damage significantly decreases, making it feel slow and ineffective. At that distance, weapons like assault rifles or light machine guns would be a better choice.
UMG-40
The UMG-40 shares a problem with the SL9: even though it handles well at medium range, it’s too slow at taking down enemies. Both the PW5A3 and PW7A2 are better choices at medium range, and completely outperform it up close, where almost any weapon – including the SL9 – will beat it.
The UMG-40 is powerful, dealing 17 damage at around 75 meters, and you can effectively fire at enemies from that distance without stopping your shots. While its slow bullet speed makes hitting moving targets difficult at medium to long range, it’s still possible with careful aiming and a bit of stealth.
Read More
- NTE Drift Guide (& Best Car Mods for Drifting)
- All Aswang Evidence & Weaknesses in Phasmophobia
- Conduit Crystal Location In Subnautica 2
- Where to Find Prescription in Where Winds Meet (Raw Leaf Porridge Quest)
- Diablo 4 Best Loot Filter Codes
- How to Get Necrolei Cyst & Strong Acid in Subnautica 2
- How to Get the Wunderbarrage in Totenreich (BO7 Zombies)
- Best Burst & Full Auto Builds for the M16A4 in BF6
- Boruto: Ikemoto Has Already Hinted At Sasuke’s New Eye After Return
- USD RUB PREDICTION
2026-05-21 19:06