Submachine guns offer a faster, lighter alternative for players who are looking to use automatic weapons in close-medium range in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. While they lack the range and power of assault rifles, they are much lighter and snappier, allowing for faster movement and quicker target acquisition. In this list, we’ll be ranking each of the SMGs in Modern Warfare 4 based on how good they are in standard multiplayer modes.
Best SMGs in CoD MW4 Overview
- ISO Nightshade
- X-58 Nyx
- PPSh-41
- VEL 46
- WZ.55 Striga
These weapons were ranked based on ease-of-use and the power they have relative to how they handle. All SMGs in MW4 are competent, and while some have notable drawbacks, every gun in the category is still more than capable of standing up to pretty much every other gun in the game, provided that you play properly, of course.
SMGs in Modern Warfare 4 generally deal lower DPS than assault rifles, so expect most of them to have slower TTKs. However, SMGs have snappier ADS times, better hipfire, and faster ADS speeds. While they might not be as strong in an upfront fight, they will absolutely shred anyone who fails to take their users out quickly enough.
ISO Nightshade
The ISO Nightshade was the top dog during the MW4 beta, and if we’re talking pure performance, it’s still the arguably best gun in its category because of how smooth it feels to use. You’ll be gliding across maps with the ISO in hand, all while beaming people down at close range with the gun’s fast fire rate and respectable recoil profile.
The ISO’s Apex Attachment equips the gun with a special sight and RFID rounds. When these bullets hit targets, they’ll get tagged, and their position will become visible on the special sight’s monitor. This is nice to have, but since the ISO kills targets so quickly, you’ll only really benefit from this if you tag targets from far away. Up close, you won’t get value out of the ISO’s Apex Attachment since you’ll either kill your enemy immediately, or vice versa.
X-58 Nyx
Much like the ISO, the Nyx feels like butter to shoot. It trades fire rate for better recoil control and stability, so while it might kill a little slower, the difference won’t really be substantial enough to make a difference. The Nyx’s recoil is much easier to reign in compared to the ISO, so if you’re having trouble with the latter, then I highly recommend you try this one out.
The Nyx’s Apex Attachment turns it into the X-58 Void, which comes equipped with a suppressor and subsonic ammunition. The Void is extremely quiet, so much so that your hit markers are actually louder than your gunshots. This Apex Attachment removes enemy death skulls and minimizes directional hit indicators, making you extra stealthy. However, this will also cut your bullet velocity down significantly (from 450m/s to 285m/s).
Muzzle Velocity this low won’t matter much if you’re playing exclusively within SMG range (around 20 meters max). The moment you try shooting the X-58 Void at someone more than 50 meters away, you’ll definitely notice the difference in projectile velocities.
PPSh-41
The PPSh is the complete opposite of the previous two SMGs. While the Nyx and ISO pride themselves for being easy to control, the PPSh throws convenience out the window in exchange for a blistering 1110 RPM fire rate and a huge 71-round base magazine. The horizontal recoil on the PPSh is terrible, but when you have a gun that fires this fast, you won’t really need to aim much. Just point this thing at someone and let it rip.
The PPSh’s Apex Attachment equips the gun with an incendiary projectile launcher that leaves lingering pools of fire wherever they hit. Use it like a Thermite or Molotov Cocktail, and while it can definitely put someone down if you hit them with the fireballs, using this attachment for direct combat is not recommended.
VEL 46
The VEL 46 is a solid weapon that closely matches the ISO and Nyx’s performance. Like the PPSh, it trades a bit of raw damage and firing stability for a fast fire rate (954 RPM). The reason why the VEL ranks lower than all the other SMGs in MW4 is because of its erratic recoil pattern and strong visual recoil. Not only will your reticle sway more while using the VEL, but it’ll have a more noticeable bounciness to it as well, making this gun somewhat hard to use effectively (though this can be remedied by attachments).
The VEL’s Apex Attachment is a tactical sling that greatly increases weapon transition speeds. If you have the Overkill perk, then this attachment will let you quickdraw your VEL 46. It pairs very nicely with heavy guns like sniper rifles and SMGs, and it’s not bad as a partner for shotguns either, if you’re looking for something that can reach out a little bit farther.
WZ.55 Striga
The Striga has the highest damage-per-shot value (and slowest fire rate) out of all the SMGs in Modern Warfare 4. It is a very competent close-range weapon, and it’s more than capable of winning fights against all the other guns on this list. However, the Striga’s main weakness is the fact that it’s an open bolt weapon. When you pull the trigger, it takes the Striga 64ms before it actually starts shooting. On top of that, it also suffers from the same visual recoil issues as the VEL.
The Striga’s Rampage Apex Attachment instantly turns this into a top weapon for CQB. Once you restrict yourself to fighting within 10-15 meters using dual Strigas, none of the weapon’s issues will matter. Your akimbo Strigas will absolutely melt people up close, but of course, you’ll have to deal with a significant loss in precision. Make sure to equip a laser, otherwise you won’t have any sort of reticle when aiming with these machine pistols.
- Released
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October 23, 2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
