Any tips for early game SMG build on Very Hard

[Biggs]

Just started a new playthrough on very hard, wanted to try an SMG based build for the first time since I've pretty much neglected the whole weapon class in all my play time.

My character and build are obviously super underdeveloped at this point in the game (only a couple hours in) but man SMGs just feel absolutely useless right now lmao. They burn through ammo fast and it's hard to actually take advantage of the fire rate since you have to get pretty close to enemies, and like I said I'm still in early game so I'm insanely squishy right now.

I lucked out and got an epic Kyubi as random loot, which thankfully falls under Assault so I can at least keep leveling the skill that will help SMGs, but SMGs themselves just seem insanely weak at this point. Anyone have tips for using them/making them feel stronger on max difficulty, especially early on?

[Tokenn]

The whole leveling system means that you and your weapons are going to be weak at the beginning of the game, so not much you can do about it. One thing you might try is to pick up the crafting pattern for the Iconic Buzzsaw SMG. It's a very potent SMG that can penetrate cover almost like a Tech weapon, although it's technically a Power gun.

This can be found in a Scav haunt right beside the GoldSmith Street ripperdoc [Cassius], but again it will be a tough fight at an early level and you will have to be levelled up some in Crafting to be able to create it. Putting a scope on it will help, also maybe one of the Horizontal Recoil mods. Buzzsaw is one of my favorite weapons...I upgrade it as I go along and keep it handy to the end of the game.

[felmari]

rof is their biggest strength. they also have a lot of spread especially early game. one trick is corners there where you can stay in cover while their rushers are advancing and unload on them. as strategies goes depends on situation. smgs are pretty good for unloading a clip at close to short medium range mostly outside cover though they get better as your skills do and types you find. i do not like it as my only weapon but handy.

[egg fu]

you can try and get the ricochet cyberware and stick a muzzle that gives extra ricochet dmg on an smg. bonus points for ricochet and assault rifle related perks that gives extra dmg.

sometimes you'll get lucky and find a legendary ricochet muzzle very early on that gives 100%-150% ricochet dmg otherwise lower rarity ones can be found in loot crates and in wilsons store after act 1.

[Darkaiser]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von abolishbananas:

you can try and get the ricochet cyberware and stick a muzzle that gives extra ricochet dmg on an smg. bonus points for ricochet and assault rifle related perks that gives extra dmg.

sometimes you'll get lucky and find a legendary ricochet muzzle very early on that gives 100%-150% ricochet dmg otherwise lower rarity ones can be found in loot crates and in wilsons store after act 1.

This. I don't like SMGs much unless I'm doing a ricochet-type build. It seems to be where they really shine.

[Doombringer]

Buzzsaw shoots through walls like tech weapons, but without having to charge it up.
Probably the best SMG.

Long Shot (18 Reflex) and Savage Stoic (20 Reflex) give a huge damage boost for 2 perks.
The reload speed perks are also a big deal (Shoot, Reload, Repeat & Feel the Flow (bonuses are additive)).
Executioner & Bullseye are also good for 2 perk points.

[BBeck]

I LOVE sub-guns! They're a close/medium range weapon. In real life sub-machine guns are just fully automatic pistols with slightly longer barrels and MAYBE a stock; it's not a sub-machine gun unless it shoots pistol ammunition, unlike in CP2077 where they shoot rifle ammo which is kind of stupid since they basically are short range weapons meaning that you're burning through your long range ammo when you use them.

So they are VERY ammo expensive and you should be planning to either craft or buy a lot of ammo since you're not likely to find THAT much rifle ammo. On top of that, you should be thinking in terms of short, long, and extreme range on your weapons which really translates to pistol, rifle, sniper ammo rather than actual range because it seems all guns in the game are capable of shooting at the same range, especially when fired by enemies. Just wait until an enemy's pistol is able to reach out and grab you when you're barely able to even see them through the scope of your sniper rifle. Who said guns in video games had to vaguely work like real life guns?

One thing to consider is that you get roughly an equal amount of each type of ammo as loot. So, you probably want to switch between ammo types, especially when burning through ammo with an automatic weapon. Pistol complements SMG's because it's a different type of ammo and both use Reflexes. I kind of like shot gun with SMG because I use them so rarely that I always have lots of shot gun ammo on hand partially because the fire so slow. And they're kind of fun too. But that requires putting some points into Body and Annihilation, although you don't have to max those out! So, it might be more doable than you might at first think. I think later in the game there are some fully automatic pistols or at least ones that fire burst shots. Lizzy's pistol comes to mind. Those actually shoot pistol ammo.

Smart SMGs are kind of fun as they allow me to really spray the enemy which works well for me since I tend to play glass cannon builds. When things get crazy it's nice to not have to spend time aiming.

I also like sniper rifles for long range and SMG's for medium range. I have been known to switch to pistol for short range especially when you get into the automatic and smart pistols. Again, shot gun is fun for short range. There's also melee, hacking, punching, and take downs at short range as possibilities. Well, hacking is more long range.

[BBeck]

I think the first 8 levels are tough no matter what you do especially on very hard. And you'll likely be over powered by 40th level no matter what you do too regardless of the difficulty level.

[Tokenn]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von BBeck:

So they are VERY ammo expensive and you should be planning to either craft or buy a lot of ammo since you're not likely to find THAT much rifle ammo.... Who said guns in video games had to vaguely work like real life guns?

One thing to consider is that you get roughly an equal amount of each type of ammo as loot. So, you probably want to switch between ammo types, especially when burning through ammo with an automatic weapon....I think later in the game there are some fully automatic pistols or at least ones that fire burst shots. Lizzy's pistol comes to mind. Those actually shoot pistol ammo.

All of this can be true. I just started a game so I'm at a very low level, but careful burst fire headshots with a Pulsar SMG are quite effective at medium range, and aren't too ammo-expensive. Having a backup Lexington pistol, which fires full-auto is also very useful, esp. with ricochets. I generally always have a pistol, rifle [or sub-gun] and shotgun equipped for those awkward moments when you're running low on one type of ammo.

[Vinnolo]

reach lvl 10, by that point teh game becomes a joke on any difficulty