Best SMGs in Modern Warfare 3: Every MW3 Season 3 Submachine Gun ranked

Max Candelarezi
MW3 player shooting with an SMG

Modern Warfare 3 is full of SMGs, which have become the preferred choice to dominate close-range fights in multiplayer. To help you pick the best one, here’s every SMG in MW3 Season 3 ranked from worst to best and a breakdown of the top five.

If you enjoy fast-paced gameplay and fluid movement in MW3, the SMG category has plenty of picks for you. Many members of this category are seen as some of the best guns in the entire game, perfect for dominating close-quarters maps or acting as the ideal partner to an Assault Rifle or Sniper.

Here are the best SMGs in Modern Warfare 3 Season 3, including a ranked list of each from worst to best.

Best Modern Warfare 3 SMG ranked list

Modern Warfare 3 Operator on Favela with Assault Rifle
Modern Warfare 3 SMGs are perfect for small maps.

Before we break down the best Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 SMGs available, we’ve ranked each one from best to worst:

  1. RAM-9
  2. HRM-9
  3. Rival-9
  4. AMR9
  5. WSP Swarm
  6. FJX Horus
  7. WSP-9
  8. Striker
  9. Striker 9
  10. Lachmann Sub
  11. Vaznev-9K
  12. VEL 46
  13. Lachmann Shroud
  14. Fennec 45
  15. ISO 9mm
  16. ISO 45
  17. FSS Hurricane
  18. PDSW 528
  19. BAS-P
  20. Minibak
  21. MX9

Best SMGs in Modern Warfare 3

5. WSP Swarm

The WSP-Swarm MW3.
The WSP Swarm has a blistering TTK in MW3.

Just breaking into the top five best SMGs in MW3 is the WSP Swarm, one of the fastest-firing weapons in the entire game. While it lacks the accuracy and range of other options on this list, its power at close range can’t be overstated and it can easily burn through enemies at a rapid rate.

To get the most out of the WSP Swarm, it’s best to equip a 100-Round Drum to ensure you can keep firing and mow down entire teams before reloading.

4. AMR9

ARM9 SMG in Modern Warfare 3
The AMR9 has outstanding bullet velocity and range.

The AMR9 has an excellent fire rate, which makes its TTK feel extremely fast. This SMG can deal a significant amount of damage in close-quarter situations and has overall great mobility, which allows you to efficiently move around each map.

3. Rival-9

Rival-9 SMG in Modern Warfare 3
The Rival-9 made its debut in Modern Warfare 2019 as the CX-9.

Previously the undisputed number one SMG in MW3, a big nerf in the Season 3 update pushed back the Rival-9 to the third spot. Still, this top-tier SMG has low recoil, great mobility, and a fantastic TTK at close range that will surely feel familiar and easy to use in the hands of veteran players.

2. HRM-9

HRM-9 SMG with MW3 logo
The HRM-9 offers great mobility.

The HRM-9 arrived in Season 1 Reloaded, and it wasted no time establishing itself among the top SMGs in MW3 for players who like to keep moving and engaging in close-range fights all over the map.

In addition, the SMG features a fast time-to-kill value that is almost identical to the Striker’s, with the only difference being that the former has a slightly better range.

1. RAM-9 – Best SMG in MW3

ram-9 with mw3 logo
The RAM-9 has a high fire rate and a fast TTK in MW3.

The RAM-9 takes the best SMG in Modern Warfare 3 spot in Season 3. If you like the look and feel of the RAM-7 AR, you’ll enjoy using the RAM-9 in MW3. It features an excellent damage range, low recoil, and an extremely fast fire rate.

Additionally, the RAM-9 offers much better mobility than its Assault Rifle counterpart, making it an absolute monster on smaller maps.

You’re now ready to finesse enemies using SMGs in Modern Warfare 3. For more on MW3, be sure to check out our other guides:

How to slide cancel in Modern Warfare 3 | How to play Modern Warfare 3 at 120 FPS on PS5 | Best FOV settings for Modern Warfare 3 | Best controller settings for Modern Warfare 3 | How to get Wonder Weapons in MW3 Zombies | How to get Tac-Stance kills in MW3