Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming

The best MP5 (MW) loadouts in Call of Duty: Warzone

By

Since the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare era, the MP5 submachine gun has been a fan favorite thanks to its ease of use and lightweight mobility. When Call of Duty: Warzone first launched, the MP5 (MW) (not to be confused with the Cold War MP5) was one of the best weapons in the game, but was later outclassed following substantial updates and the integration of Black Ops Cold War firearms. Well now, what’s old is new again, and the MP5 (MW) is once again the king of close-range SMGs.

This weapon was never bad, but now that many of the top SMGs in the game have been nerfed, including the MP5 (CW), the MP5 (MW) is the top dog for close-quarters use. To make the most out of this high-damage weapon, you’ll want to equip the best attachments that suit your play style. But how should you build it? And which perks/equipment should you use? We’ll answer all of that and more in this guide.

Recommended Videos

These are the best MP5 (MW) loadouts in Call of Duty: Warzone.

Recommended reading: 

MP5 (MW) overview

Let’s first take a look at how this weapon works before getting into the builds. You’ll want to be aware of what the MP5 (MW) can and can’t do to see if it’s something that suits you. Since the MP5 (MW) is an SMG, you won’t be able to take enemies out at long range. According to TrueGameData, after about 21 meters or so, the weapon significantly loses power, so you’ll want to keep your engagements within that range to even stand a chance.

Related: 
Best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max (HBO), and more

Where this weapon truly shines is within 10 meters. In fact, if you compare it to many of the best SMGs in the game including the MAC-10, PPSh-41, Milano 821, and LC10, the MP5 (MW) comes out on top when used within 10 meters. It has a baseline time to kill (TTK) of 526ms and is basically only outclassed by the OTs 9 (though this weapon is even worse than the MP5 at range, so it’s a tradeoff).

The other quirk with the MP5 (MW) is that it caps out at 45 rounds, which isn’t terrible, but it’s a far cry from the massive 71 round mags of the PPSh-41 and the Bullfrog’s 85 round mags. Because of this, you’ll want to be smart when challenging multiple opponents at once. It’s recommended to take on no more than three enemies at a time with this magazine size, simply because you’ll likely get caught reloading in the midst of facing off against larger squads.

Close range

The Modern Warfare MP5 in Call of Duty: Warzone.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Barrel Subsonic Integral Suppressor
Laser Tac Laser
Stock FTAC Collapsible
Ammunition 45 Round Mags
Rear Grip Stippled Grip Tape

For the first loadout, let’s dive into the best MP5 (MW) build for close range. This will maximize how effective you’ll be able to perform within that 10-meter range. Start off with the Subsonic Integral Suppressor Barrel, a unique attachment that not only boosts your aim down sights (ADS) speed, but it also prevents you from appearing on the mini map when firing. Typically, you’d have to utilize two attachments to achieve this effect, but the Subsonic Integral Suppressor is essentially two for the price of one.

After that, we suggest going with the Tac Laser, which also improves your ADS speed, along with your aiming stability and aim walking steadiness. Having fast ADS speeds is key to a close-range build like this. Next, equip the FTAC Collapsible Stock for improved movement speed and ADS speed, at the expense of recoil control. Since you should only be using this weapon within 10 meters, having less recoil control isn’t as big of a deal.

Regardless of the build, we always recommend coming equipped with the 45-round mags to allow you to take on multiple enemies at once. Finish off the weapon with the Stippled Grip Tape Rear Grip for improved ADS speed and sprint-to-fire speed. While using this weapon, you’ll be quick on your feet, while being able to aim down sights fast, giving you the upper hand up close.

When it comes to a secondary weapon, we recommend bringing an explosive of some kind, like the RPG-7 or the Strela-P. If you plan on using the Overkill perk (more on that below) to have a second primary weapon, you should go with a long-range assault rifle like the FARA 83 or even a sniper.

As for perks, there isn’t a ton of room for experimentation here — our go-to perks are typically E.O.D. or Quick Fix for the first slot, Ghost or Overkill for the second slot, and Amped for the third slot. If you’re on Rebirth Island, you can get away with using the Tracker perk to temporarily see enemy footsteps on the ground, but aside from that, Amped is usually the best option for the third slot.

Semtex grenades or molotovs are great lethal equipment, but we’ve been gravitating toward the throwing knives lately, which quickly let you finish off a downed player without needing to waste ammo on them. And of course, stuns or a heartbeat sensor are solid choices for tactical equipment.

Mid-range

The Modern Warfare MP5 in Call of Duty: Warzone.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Barrel Monolithic Integral Suppressor
Optic APX5 Holographic Sight
Underbarrel Commando Foregrip
Ammunition 45 Round Mags
Rear Grip Rubberized Grip Tape

What about a mid-range option for MP5 (MW) users? Well, as we’ve covered, this weapon isn’t great at longer ranges, but if you stick within 20 meters, you can still hold your own with the MP5 (MW). For this build, swap over to the Monolothic Integral Suppressor Barrel. This will keep you from appearing on the mini map while improving your bullet velocity. Remember, bullet velocity is how quickly a bullet travels — which impacts how much you need to lead your shots. The higher the bullet velocity, the less you’ll have to aim in front of your target. For a medium-range build, this is essential.

Since you’ll be using this weapon at mid-range, we advise using an Optic. The weapon’s iron sights aren’t terrible, but having some zoom will improve your odds at mid-range. We like the APX5 Holographic Sight Optic, but go with whatever you’re comfortable with. Also, make sure you customize the reticle to your liking when using an Optic.

To ensure your weapon is stable at 20 meters, we highly recommend switching over to the Commando Foregrip. This gives your weapon better recoil stabilization and aiming stability, which are key to mid-range battles. Keep the 45-round mags, as always, and then equip the Rubberized Grip Tape Rear Grip for improved recoil control. With this build, you’ll have the absolute best recoil control possible for the MP5 (MW).

Since this MP5 (MW) build is good for mid-range, you’ll want to bring a secondary weapon with you that works well from afar, like an LMG or lightweight sniper. We’ve been loving the Swiss K31 lately, but there are many long-range weapons to choose from in the assault rifle or LMG categories. If you don’t plan on using Overkill, stick with the RPGs or the Strela.

The perk setup will mostly be the same with this loadout, though we would advise picking the Quick Fix perk if you’re playing on Rebirth Island. This immediately starts health regeneration, and since Rebirth is so hectic, you’ll quickly reap the benefits of this perk. Other than that, stick with Ghost/Overkill and Amped.

Your equipment setup shouldn’t change much either, but if you’re on Verdansk, you might benefit more from semtex grenades rather than throwing knives, and a stun instead of the heartbeat sensor. It comes down to play style and personal preference.

All-around

The Modern Warfare MP5 in Call of Duty: Warzone.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Barrel Monolithic Integral Suppressor
Laser Tac Laser
Optic Solozero Optics Mini Reflex
Underbarrel Commando Foregrip
Ammunition 45 Round Mags

Finally, let’s cover an all-around MP5 (MW) build. This is our personal favorite, because it works well in many situations, with versatility at the forefront. It won’t dominate at mid-range, but it’ll hold its own against others using similar weapons. For this loadout, start with the Monolithic Integral Suppressor Barrel, just like before. This will make the weapon effective at mid-range.

Then, swap back to the Tac Laser for that boost to ADS speed, aiming stability, and aim walking steadiness. This will offset some of the penalty from the previous attachment, balancing your ADS speed. We aren’t fans of the MP5 (MW) iron sights, so we utilize the Solozero Optics Mini Reflex Optic with this build. It’s a clean sight that makes it easy to line up a shot from close to mid-range. If you like the iron sights, save this attachment for something else like a Grip or Stock.

Follow that up with the Commando Foregrip Underbarrel for a boost to recoil control. This will once again help you at medium range since the MP5 (MW) has moderate recoil. And as always, make sure you use the 45-round mags with this weapon to ensure you’ve got as much ammo as possible before needing to reload.

For best results, we advise using Overkill to bring a long-range weapon with you such as the Kar98k or Swiss K31. If you aren’t a fan of snipers, you should have something that works well from afar like the Krig 6, Stoner 63, or the FARA 83. Otherwise, stick with your trusty RPGs.

The recommended perks are the same as above.

Since this is an all-around build, you’ve got a little more flexibility with your equipment, so bring either the throwing knife, molotovs, or semtex grenades, and either stuns or a heartbeat sensor.

Joseph Yaden
Joseph Yaden
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joseph Yaden is a freelance journalist who covers Nintendo, shooters, and horror games. He mostly covers game guides for…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

The best Wildcards in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Kill Order gameplay in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

The concept of a Wildcard might sound like a risky endeavor in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, but this part of your loadout isn't random at all. We haven't seen this system since Cold War, and even those who remember it from that game will need to learn all the new cards there are in Black Ops 6. You can only equip a single Wildcard on your loadout, but they are powerful enough to completely redefine your playstyle. So far, there are only six to unlock while grinding through the levels with your friends, but picking just one is still a tough choice, especially if you want to use a permanent unlock on one after hitting Prestige. We've ranked all the Wildcards in Black Ops 6 so you can always have the winning hand.
All Black Ops 6 Wildcards, ranked

There is a level of personal preference in which Wildcard you will find better than others, but in most cases, the ones we've ranked as the best will help every player gain an edge in online matches. Here's our ranking of each Wildcard from best to worst, along with what level you unlock them at.
Perk Greed - Level 54
The last Wildcard you unlock is easily the most powerful. Perk Greed lets you unlock a fourth Perk to your loadout instead of being limited to three, which can borderline break the game if you choose the right set of Perks. It is also the most versatile of the Wildcards since it gives you the most options to play with instead of a specific bonus you may not find useful. It can also more easily unlock the special bonus buff you get for equipping three Perks from the same category.
Gunfighter - Level 33
Right in the middle of the unlock list, Gunfighter is one Wildcard you could easily make a case for over Perk Greed in some situations. This one increases your attachment points for your primary weapon by three. If you're rocking a top-tier weapon already, this Wildcard can let you tweak its stats even higher. We rank it second because it only applies to one weapon and thus is a bit more limiting.
Overkill - Level 24
For such an early Wildcard, Overkill is quite a powerful choice. This card lets you equip any weapon (except melee weapons) in your Primary and Secondary slots instead of the ones typically reserved for each. That means you can build a loadout with two Primary weapons and be far more versatile on the battlefield. Instead of having to trade off range, damage, rate of fire, mobility, or any other aspect of your game, you can cover almost all your bases by picking two Primary weapons that cover each other's weaknesses.
Prepper - Level 45
Field upgrades are powerful, don't get us wrong, but having two instead of one isn't always that much of a game-changer. It's a bit less useful than Gunfighter only because field upgrades are more situational and require more attention to use to their full potential. If that's you, then this is a great choice.
Danger Close - Level 38
Who doesn't want another grenade, Molotov, or combat axe? Is getting a second Lethal worth the Wildcard slot, though? Not in our opinion. Most of the time, Lethals are used in desperation or as a way to deny enemy movement for a time, and even then, they are risky because of how vulnerable you are while using them.
Tactical Expert - Level 15
The first Wildcard you get is better than nothing, but only just. It's exactly like Danger Close, only you can hold two Tacticals instead of Lethals. This is, by nature, a little worse since Tacticals don't have the ability to kill an enemy (unless you get super lucky and you directly hit an enemy with one who is on low HP). You can get some use out of them, but you're better off upgrading as soon as you have another option.

Read more
The best Perk-A-Colas in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
A screenshot from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's zombies mode.

There's nothing more refreshing than taking a nice big swig of a Perk-A-Cola during an intense Zombies match with your pals in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Besides tasting great (we assume), these colas empower you with buffs that will keep you alive until the later rounds. These bonuses are just as important as the Pack-A-Punch, but come in a wider range of flavors. It is possible to stack them all, but that gets expensive very fast so you need to be thrifty about choosing which ones are most valuable early on. These colas come in eight different types that may or may not be worth your Essence to chug. If you want to know which ones are the best in Black Ops 6, check out our ranking.
Best Perk-A-Colas in Black Ops 6

We're ranking these Perk-A-Colas based on their base bonuses, not any additional effects you can get if you Augment them, from best to worst.
Jugger-Nog
You can never go wrong with the classic Jugger-Nog. Increasing your health by 100 is useful for the entire duration of a Zombies mode, but especially in the early rounds. Going down is at best a major setback and at worst a cascade into defeat. This extra health allows you to get out of a bad situation that would otherwise end your run.
Quick Revive
This Perk has two components, with the less useful one being the ability to revive teammates 50% faster. Ideally, that shouldn't be needed but is nice. However, what makes it rank so high is the 50% shorter delay on health regen. Your health will come back over time in Zombies but at a dreadful pace. Starting to heal faster means less time running and kiting zombies around and more time in the action helping the team.
Speed Cola
The best early guns for Zombies mode have a large magazine, fast reload, or both. Running out of ammo at the wrong time and not being able to get more rounds in the chamber fast enough has ended many a run, but Speed Cola is the solution. It will speed up your reloads and armor plating by 30%. That's not a massive number, but fast enough to make the difference.
Stamin-Up
These zombies aren't the shambling types. They will chase you down like sprinters, and some of the monstrous ones can outpace you even at full tilt. Stamin-Up sounds like it would let you run for longer, but actually just lets you run faster since you have no limit on sprint in Black Ops 6. Positioning is everything in Zombies so being able to get where you need to be faster is never a bad thing, especially if it's a downed teammate bleeding out.
Deadshot Daiquiri
Every zombie has a weak spot, which is most often the head. Deadshot Daiquiri makes a critical hit hurt even more than normal, plus increases your auto-aim on those weak points when you aim down sights (ADS). That second part shouldn't factor much if you've got good aim, which is why this is only a decent Perk-A-Cola.
PhD Flopper
Not being able to hurt yourself is situationally useful, and the ability to cause an explosion by diving is a risky move. Yes, it's cool, but you don't want to be lying prone surrounded by zombies. This is a cool gimmick, but save yourself the Essence and skip it.
Elemental Pop
When Elemental Pop works, it's great. The problem with it is that you can't rely on it. It gives a small chance on every shot you take to add a random ammo mod effect, which is cool but impractical. If you have spare Essence on you, sure, it won't hurt you to have, but it isn't something that will turn the tide for you or your team.
Melee Macchiato
Finally, Melee Macchiato bottoms out the list. It is fine in the early game when the hordes are small and you're better off meleeing enemies since it will smack enemies away with each hit, but quickly drops off in usefulness. When the zombies get too strong and too numerous, you will need a lot more than a strong punch to deal with them and end up forgetting you even have it.

Read more
The best Call of Duty games, ranked
Soldier holding weapon in Modern Warfare II.

Few video game series are as influential and popular as Call of Duty. The annualized franchise throws players into fast-paced battles across various historical time periods -- along with fictional eras as well. Call of Duty has taken us to World War II, the Cold War, a modern setting, and even to the future.

Although it's one of the most successful video game franchises out there, Call of Duty's quality varies significantly from game to game, with some fantastic entries in the series, but many mediocre ones as well. But which Call of Duty games are worth your time and which ones should you skip? To answer that question, we've ranked all the mainline entries in the series, with details about why you should or shouldn't play a particular game.

Read more