All vikisSMGs
Battlefield 6 has 11 submachine guns as of Nov 8, 2026 (Season 5), counting the new RSPR, which EA calls a PDW. They are the Engineer's signature weapon and fire faster than any other primary; in late Oct 2026 creators rated the SCW-10 and CZ3A1 the strongest, and EA is adding handling penalties to the SCW-10 and KV9 extended magazines on Nov 10.
Battlefield 6 has 11 submachine guns as of Nov 8, 2026: the 10 on EA's loadout page and the RSPR, a personal defense weapon (PDW) added with Season 5 on Oct 13, 2026. SMGs are the Engineer's signature weapon and have the highest average fire rate of any primary. In Maxiq's Oct 25, 2026 rundown of every gun after the Season 5 update, the SCW-10 and the CZ3A1 are "absolute meta weapons", the SCW-10 with the fastest time to kill of any automatic gun apart from the VSSM on full auto. That may shift on Nov 10, when EA gives the SCW-10 and KV9 extended magazines handling penalties. Every other gun is on Weapons.
Quick facts
| SMGs | 11, counting the RSPR (Nov 8, 2026) |
| Signature class | Engineer, with better hip-fire control |
| Range | About 7 to 25 m, per EA's Engineer guide |
| Default | SGX |
| Newest | RSPR (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Rated strongest (Oct 2026) | SCW-10 and CZ3A1 (Maxiq, Oct 25, 2026) |
| Next change | Handling penalties on SCW-10 and KV9 extended magazines (Nov 10, 2026) |
Sources: EA, loadout page, Jul 21, 2026; EA, Engineer, Apr 9, 2026; EA, 2.1.1.0, Oct 12, 2026; EA, Nov 2, 2026.
Every SMG
| SMG | Arrived | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SGX | Launch, Oct 10, 2025 | The default SMG; 9 mm |
| PW5A3 | Launch | 9 mm; Dexerto's best SMG in Oct 2025 |
| PW7A2 | Launch | "Bell Blaster" Weapon Package added Nov 18, 2025 |
| UMG-40 | Launch | |
| USG-90 | Launch | Very high fire rate, low base damage (Dexerto, Oct 2025) |
| KV9 | Launch | 9 mm; extended magazine penalized from Nov 10, 2026 |
| SCW-10 | Launch | 10 mm; unlocked by a weapon assignment; extended magazine penalized from Nov 10, 2026 |
| SL9 | Launch | 9 mm |
| CZ3A1 | Season 2 Nightfall, Mar 17, 2026 | Free on the Nightfall Bonus Path; 9 mm |
| PP-19 | Season 3 Blastpoint, Jun 9, 2026 | From the Explosive Charge Bonus Path; 9 mm |
| RSPR | Season 5, Oct 13, 2026 | A compact PDW with a rifle cartridge, good at range for its kind, more recoil |
Sources: EA loadout page; EA progression (Apr 14, 2026); EA, 2.1.1.0 (calibers and RSPR); EA, Season 2 roadmap; EA, Season 3 roadmap; EA, California Resistance; Dexerto (Oct 14, 2025).
Who should use an SMG
SMGs belong to the Engineer, whose signature-weapon bonus is "improved hip-fire control" at about 7 to 25 meters (EA, Apr 9, 2026). In Closed Weapon playlists only the Engineer may carry one; in Open Weapon playlists anyone can. That pairing is deliberate: the Engineer spends its time next to vehicles and inside buildings, where an SMG's fire rate wins. How the class works is on Engineer.
What creators rate in Season 5
Maxiq, who says he has every gun at maximum level, sorted all of them after the Season 5 update in his Oct 25, 2026 video. Among SMGs he would avoid three: the PP-19, which he finds too slow to kill, the UMG-40, which he says other guns outdo at everything, and the SL9, which has almost no recoil but needs its burst mode to be useful.
In his middle group he puts the SGX, PW5A3, PW7A2, USG-90, KV9 and the new RSPR. He calls the SGX very controllable at 830 rounds a minute, the PW5A3 a jack of all trades, and the PW7A2 one of the most precise guns in the game, able to kill from long range for an SMG. He came close to rating the RSPR higher, but finds its fire rate a little slow and its small magazine limiting.
WhosImmortal, in his Oct 15, 2026 list of ten Season 5 loadouts, calls the CZ3A1 "a beast of an SMG" that has been a go-to since Season 2: it "absolutely melts" up close but does not hold up over range, and its control gets "iffy" in a full spray. His build keeps the iron sights to save points for a violet laser, a CQB suppressor, a light barrel, a slim angled grip and a mag catch.
The SCW-10 and the extended magazine
No SMG is named more often than the SCW-10. Dexerto called it "an absolute problem" a few days after launch (Oct 14, 2025), and WhosImmortal's Season 5 verdict is that it "just absolutely rips in the close range. It's not even fair". In Maxiq's comparison it has the slowest SMG reload, about 2.6 seconds, but the fastest time to kill.
WhosImmortal skips its extended magazine on purpose: the 25-round magazine costs 45 points for five more rounds than the basic 20, which he calls "just not good value". EA's Nov 2, 2026 update says the SCW-10 and KV9 extended magazines get handling penalties on Nov 10, "so players must choose between sustained fire and agility", aimed at "high pick-rate configurations". In REDSEC alone, 2.1.1.0 already made the SCW-10 and every 9 mm SMG need one more bullet against armor from 9 to 85 meters.
We think the Nov 10 change will dent the SCW-10's pick rate less than EA hopes. The creators who rate it highest already run it with the 20-round magazine, so the penalty lands on players who chose capacity, not on the build that made the gun famous. If EA wants the SCW-10 to fall back, we expect a damage or fire-rate change in a later update; check Season 5 for the Nov 10 notes.
The new RSPR
EA files the RSPR as a PDW (personal defense weapon) in its 2.1.1.0 notes and as an SMG in its Season 5 roadmap: "highly compact" and short-range, with "major stopping power from its rifle cartridge" and higher recoil. WhosImmortal calls it his favorite new weapon of the season, easy to use and already strong at weapon level 14.
Its weakness, in his build, is ammunition: the 28-round magazine costs 35 points and unlocks only at level 40, so until then you choose between a 20-rounder and a 20-round fast magazine, and you reload often.
The SGX, the safe choice
The default SMG has aged well. WhosImmortal calls the SGX "old reliable": low recoil, quick to kill, clean iron sights and good mobility, "doing everything at an extremely high level". His build is iron sights, violet laser, CQB suppressor, extended barrel, ribbed vertical grip and a 30-round fast magazine, at 85 of 100 points. We think it is the right SMG to level first for anyone new to the Engineer, because it needs the fewest unlocks to work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best SMG in Battlefield 6?
As of late Oct 2026, the creators cited here rate the SCW-10 and CZ3A1 highest, with the SGX as the easiest to use. EA's Nov 10 change to the SCW-10 extended magazine may move that.
Is the RSPR an SMG or a PDW?
Both, by EA's own words: the Season 5 update notes call it a personal defense weapon, and the roadmap lists it with the SMGs.
How do I unlock the SCW-10?
Through a weapon assignment, per EA's progression page; Dexerto names it the Close Quarters 1 assignment.
Which SMGs did creators say to avoid?
Maxiq (Oct 25, 2026) would avoid the PP-19, UMG-40 and SL9, while calling all of them usable.
Sources
- Maxiq, Oct 25, 2026: The Updated Top META Weapons in Battlefield 6 Season 5!
- WhosImmortal, Oct 15, 2026: New Top 10 Best Loadouts for Season 5
- Electronic Arts, Jul 21, 2026: Loadout creation and weapon classes
- Electronic Arts, Apr 9, 2026: Engineer class
- Electronic Arts, Oct 12, 2026: Battlefield 6 Game Update 2.1.1.0
- Electronic Arts, Oct 9, 2026: Battlefield Season 5 roadmap
- Electronic Arts, Nov 2, 2026: Community update, High Stakes in the Casino
- Electronic Arts, Apr 14, 2026: Progression in Battlefield 6
- Electronic Arts, Feb 12, 2026: Season 2 roadmap
- Electronic Arts, May 8, 2026: Season 3 roadmap
- Electronic Arts, Nov 18, 2025: Season 1 California Resistance mid-season roadmap
- Dexerto, Oct 14, 2025: Best SMGs in Battlefield 6
Moments
The Updated Top META Weapons in Battlefield 6 Season 5!
Maxiq
- Battlefield 6 has 11 submachine guns as of Nov 8, 2026: the 10 on EA's loadout page and the RSPR, a personal defense…
- Maxiq, who says he has every gun at maximum level, sorted all of them after the Season 5 update in his Oct 25, 2026…
- In his middle group he puts the SGX, PW5A3, PW7A2, USG-90, KV9 and the new RSPR. He calls the SGX very controllable at…
Battlefield 6: New TOP 10 BEST LOADOUTS For SEASON 5! (BF6 BEST WEAPONS)
WhosImmortal
- WhosImmortal, in his Oct 15, 2026 list of ten Season 5 loadouts, calls the CZ3A1 "a beast of an SMG" that has been a…
- No SMG is named more often than the SCW-10. Dexerto called it "an absolute problem" a few days after launch (Oct 14…
- WhosImmortal skips its extended magazine on purpose: the 25-round magazine costs 45 points for five more rounds than…
- EA files the RSPR as a PDW (personal defense weapon) in its 2.1.1.0 notes and as an SMG in its Season 5 roadmap…
- Its weakness, in his build, is ammunition: the 28-round magazine costs 35 points and unlocks only at level 40, so…
- The default SMG has aged well. WhosImmortal calls the SGX "old reliable": low recoil, quick to kill, clean iron sights…
Related
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DMRs and Sniper RiflesBattlefield 6 has 6 DMRs, open to every class, and 7 sniper rifles, the Recon's signature weapon, as of Nov 8, 2026 (Season 5). The new ELR-40 with single-shot ammo is the sniper creators rate highest in Oct 2026, and EA has promised a bolt-action and counter-sniping review for 2027.
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LMGsBattlefield 6 has 11 light machine guns as of Nov 8, 2026 (Season 5), the Support class's signature weapon, with the newest, the belt-fed Z84M, added on Oct 13, 2026. Creators in Oct 2026 still rate the launch DRS-IAR the best all-rounder and split on whether the Z84M is a close-range monster or a gimmick.
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Shotguns and PistolsBattlefield 6 has 4 shotguns, open to every class, and 7 secondaries (five pistols and two revolvers) as of Nov 8, 2026 (Season 5). The default M87A1 is the shotgun creators rate best, with #00 Buckshot, and the two revolvers, the M357 Trait and M44, are their favorite sidearms.
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CampaignBattlefield 6's campaign is a nine-mission single-player story that follows Dagger 13, a US Marine Raider squad, against the private army Pax Armata. It takes about four to six hours, has four difficulties and 30 dog tags, and its rewards carry into multiplayer.
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Campaign MissionsBattlefield 6's campaign has nine missions, from Always Faithful in Georgia to Always Forward in Tajikistan. This page lists each one in order with its place, date, objectives, trophies and rewards, and tips for each.
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Campaign Story and EndingBattlefield 6's story follows Dagger 13 from Pax Armata's attack in Georgia in 2027 to the war's end in Tajikistan in 2028, and ends with the reveal that CIA handler Melissa Mills helped create Pax to give NATO a common enemy. This page explains the plot and the ending, with spoilers.
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Dagger 13 and CharactersDagger 13 is the US Marine Raider squad of Battlefield 6's campaign: Haz Carter (Assault), Dylan Murphy (Engineer), Simone "Gecko" Espina (Recon) and Cliff Lopez (Support), with CIA operator Lucas Hemlock. This page covers them and the other characters, Mills, Kincaid, Al-Khatib and President Fernandez.
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See also
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WeaponsBattlefield 6 has 67 guns in eight categories as of Nov 8, 2026 (Season 5), up from 45 at launch, and the NSW4 Carbine makes it 68 on Nov 10, 2026. EA's own list shows one fewer because it leaves out the RPKM, which is still in the game. Every gun is listed here with the season it arrived.
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EngineerEngineer is Battlefield 6's vehicle class. It carries the Repair Tool, takes less explosive damage near friendly vehicles, handles SMGs best, and brings launchers, anti-vehicle mines, the EOD Bot and the Vehicle Supply Crate; its training paths are Anti-Armor and Combat Engineer.
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Season 5Season 5, "Siege of Vegas", is Battlefield 6's current season, live since Oct 13, 2026. Phase 1 brought Vegas Strip and Area 51, Phase 2 Casino Heist adds the European Casino map on Nov 10, and Phase 3 Frozen Aces is announced for Dec 8, without the Platoons and B-81 Cavalry that EA delayed to 2027 on Nov 6.
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Assault Rifles and CarbinesBattlefield 6 has 12 assault rifles, the Assault class's signature weapon, and 9 carbines that every class can use, as of Nov 8, 2026 (Season 5); the NSW4 makes 10 carbines on Nov 10. The newest rifle is the Mk 24, and the M16A4 was the most deployed gun of Season 3.
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AttachmentsEvery Battlefield 6 gun takes attachments in up to nine slots, paid for from a budget of attachment points that tops out at 100, so a build trades one strong part for several cheap ones. Attachments unlock with the gun's Hardware rank, about 50% faster since mid-2026, and every season has added a few.
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Best LoadoutsThe strongest Battlefield 6 loadouts in Season 5, as creators rated them in Oct 2026, are the KORD 6P67 or B36A4 for Assault, the SCW-10 or CZ3A1 for Engineer, the DRS-IAR for Support and the new ELR-40 with single-shot ammo for Recon. Every pick here is credited and dated, and the SCW-10's extended magazine changes on Nov 10, 2026.