Black Ops 7 SMG Tier List: Best Submachine Guns Ranked
SMGs are great close-quarters weapons in Black Ops 7. And while they may lose against the likes of assault rifles in long-range duels, this gun class is designed for players who prefer a more proactive approach or play on smaller maps. But which ones are worth keeping in your arsenal?
In this Black Ops 7 SMG tier list, we’ll rank every submachine gun from best to worst. That way, you’ll know exactly which ones to prioritize and which to avoid in your matches.
All Black Ops 7 SMGs
Before we begin our ranking, let’s quickly recap all the available SMGs in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. This list is up to date as of December 5, 2025.
- Ryden-45K: Full auto. Great balance of firepower, handling, and decent recoil.
- RK-9: Three-round burst. Great headshot damage multiplier and decent handling, but with poor range.
- Razor 9mm: Full auto. Incredible rate of fire with limited range and slow handling.
- Dravec 45: Full auto. Low recoil and nice range, damage is low with terrible damage falloff.
- Carbon 57: Full auto. Good magazine size with a decent range. Low damage for an SMG.
- MPC–25: Full auto. High damage and excellent mobility, but with poor recoil and range.
- Kogot–7: Full auto. Great mobility and fire rate, with short range.
Black Ops 7 SMG Tier List
Our Black Ops 7 SMG tier list ranks every submachine gun in the game. To make our rankings, we’ve considered various factors, including a gun’s ease of use, attachment quality, and more.
The SMGs that are placed in the S-tier represent the absolute best close-quarters combat weapons in Black Ops 7. Meanwhile, those that get put in D-tier are guns that we simply don’t recommend investing your time in—they’re terrible.
| Tier | Weapons | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| S-tier | Dravec 45, Ryden-45K | The best, most well-rounded SMGs in Black Ops 7. They’re unlocked relatively quickly in the game and are total powerhouses. |
| A-Tier | Kogot-7, Razor 9mm | Both have some noticeable downsides; however, they also come with some incredible attachments to offset potential issues with recoil. |
| B-Tier | Carbon 57 | The Carbon’s best attribute is its magazine size. It pairs well with certain perks, and you can clear out rooms of unsuspecting enemies quickly. Just don’t expect to be winning duels with its low damage. |
| C-Tier | RK-9 | Having a three-round burst SMG with low range is inherently a handicap. Sure, you gain stability—but considering its effective range is shorter than most other SMGs, the RK-9 feels flat-out mediocre. |
| D-Tier | MPC-25 | On paper, the MPC-25 could be an incredible SMG in Black Ops 7, but the attachments don’t do the weapon justice. Besides, both of its downsides (high recoil and limited range) can’t be appropriately compensated. |
Best Black Ops 7 SMGs
Without a doubt, the best SMGs in Black Ops 7 are the Dravec 45 and the Ryden-45K.
The Dravec 45 may initially have low damage, but certain attachments (like the 19” EAM Horizon Barrel or the .45 Cal Overpressured Fire Mod) can help it hit harder by improving the gun’s bullet velocity.
Additionally, since this submachine gun is designed with solid recoil control in mind, you can make it shoot like a laser by adding attachments like the Delta Axis Grip, which adds more recoil stabilization.
As for the Ryden-45K, you can refer to our detailed Ryden-45K loadout to convert this starter gun into a true powerhouse. In short, it’s a jack-of-all-trades that can also feel like a master of all.
Best Black Ops 7 SMGs Loadouts
Below, you’ll find the best SMG attachments in Black Ops 7 for both the Dravec 45 and the Ryden-45K.
Dravec 45 Loadout
Since SMGs are designed for aggressive players due to their limited range, we’ve built both the Dravec and Ryden-45K with this in mind.
The Dravec’s best boon is its amazing handling and mobility. By building a loadout that makes it extra precise (and sprinkling in a bit of damage), it should dominate lobbies on small maps in Black Ops 7.
Attachments:
- Muzzle: Hawker Stabilizer MK.II
- Barrel: 19” EAM Horizon
- Rear Grip: Vantix-8 Grip
- Stock: EAM Heritage
- Fire Mods: .45 Cal Overpressured
Full loadout:
- Wildcard: Gunfighter/Tac Expert
- Field Upgrade: Mute Field
- Tactical: Flashbang
- Lethal: Cluster Grenade
- Perk 1: Ghost
- Perk 2: Fast Hands
- Perk 3: Dexterity
Ryden-45K Loadout
The loadout for the Ryden-45K will be the same, as both weapons will require a similar playstyle. The only real difference is that it has a shorter range, but it compensates by having significantly better damage.
- Optic: LTI Reflex
- Muzzle: Hawker Stabilizer MK.II
- Barrel: 10.5” Greaves Whiptail Barrel
- Magazine: Fraternity Flip Mag
- Fire Mods: Recoil Sync Unit
Full loadout:
- Wildcard: Gunfighter/Tac Expert
- Field Upgrade: Mute Field
- Tactical: Flashbang
- Lethal: Cluster Grenade
- Perk 1: Ghost
- Perk 2: Fast Hands
- Perk 3: Dexterity
SMGs Stats Explained
There are multiple key elements you should understand about your SMG, or any weapon for that matter, in the game. Knowing the best Black Ops 7 SMG stats will help you prioritize what exactly you want to min-max.
Having said that, there are literally dozens of stats to keep track of, but many can be ignored if you want to keep things simple. We recommend you focus on the following ones:
- Damage Range: Indicates how far your weapon stays effective before damage starts to drop off.
- Bullet Velocity: Measures how quickly your bullets travel (not to be confused with fire rate). Higher velocity makes your SMG feel more responsive and accurate at mid-range.
- Recoil Control: Covers both vertical and horizontal sway. Higher control means the weapon kicks less in any direction, making it easier to keep shots on target.
- Aim Down Sight Speed: Shows how quickly you can transition from hip-fire to aiming down sights. Measured in milliseconds—the lower the number, the snappier your aim.
FAQs
What is the best SMG in Black Ops 7?
The best SMGs in Black Ops 7 are the Dravec 45 and the Ryden-45K.
How do SMGs rank in Black Ops 7 multiplayer?
SMGs are considered powerful meta weapons in Black Ops 7, particularly for players who like to rush down or for use in smaller maps with shorter sightlines.
How do you unlock SMGs fast in Black Ops 7?
You can unlock SMGs by leveling up in Black Ops 7 multiplayer, campaign, or Zombies.
Which SMG is best for beginners in BO7?
The Ryden-45K is highly recommended for beginners in Black Ops 7
