Perk to bring back SMG play

[Ethan]

I feel that SMG has limited use in this game, if not, has no place at all for any build given that you sacrifice your primary weapon slot. Furthermore, not every mission has blackbox retrieval.

Havng a perk designed to replace the handgun with an SMG will definitely bring back the SMG play. Better yet, a perk to dual wield SMG but losing the ability to carry a 3rd weapon.

What do you guys think? Is a mod possible?

[YOPG]

Your feel is wrong, SMGs are the best support weapon and are very powerful because of the mini-stun. It also gives you better mobility and you can carry blackblox/shells with them.

I also see a lot of people playing with Knight/Ninja SMG so....

No mods :)

[L4Z3R_P0T4T0]

When you are downed, and there is a brood commander on your ass, you would regret you didn’t take a SMG to stun it ;D

[BlackjackGT]

For the record, Arrowhead designer Patrik confirmed in the Liberty Day AMA that the Ninja SMG has zero, zip, nada actual stealth effect. It alerts patrols just like any normal weapon, he said. I've gotten into disagreements about that, so I specifically asked about it as part of the AMA. :)

I use Ninja sometimes on solo because the larger caliber seems to eliminate patrols quicker (which may just be psychosomatic on my part).

I still often equip Defender SMG. Carries a large number of magazines, and the mini-stun is useful. And it's got nothing to do with builds or effectiveness, but it has one of my favorite weapon sounds in the games. :) Even though it sounds like a hurricane, it's relatively conservative on ammo.

I'll often use Knight SMG on the high end difficulty missions. Even if it devours ammo like Pac-Man.

I do think it's tricky to solo using an SMG if only because its limited range makes it challenging to elminate patrols at long distances quickly. So more often on solo I'll carry an assault rifle or the DLC Stalwart Light MG because I can then eliminate patrols at range more easily and try to avoid mass firefights.

imho the beauty -- well one of the beauties :) -- of Helldivers is its diversity in weapons, stratagems, tactics, vehicles and equipment. You don't have to equip any specific 'build' to succeed. To me it's more, find what you enjoy using in the game that's effective, and then make it work for you. Cause if you're using something effective that you don't enjoy playing the game with, then it won't keep you hooked in the long term (imho).

[Ethan]

Thanks Blackjack for the detailed sharing of experience. Just to ask, what are your considerations when swapping out your primary say Justice or LAS for something limited of firepower and range like the SMG?

How do you use it? Knight or Defender?

[Vamandrac]

The SMGs are good guns, but most newer players will avoid them because they don't see the real perks of using them. I tend to pick SMGs when I have missions that require several case/core retrieval.

[Cockpuncher]

I don't use SMGs on regular basis, but I like to use Knight on particular missions or team setups. Here is some advice:

- SMGs have limited patrol clearing range. Sometimes might be not enough. So use SMGs only in teams with good patrol clearing capability.

- SMGs have very good firepower and unique mini-stun, which is very helpful for your team. Use that to slow-down most dangerous enemies.

- Two above combined means that SMGs are great for retaliatory strikes.

- SMGs need a lot of ammo. With ammo backpack submachinegunner can be really triggerhappy and deal great amount of damage.

- Very useful for briefcase carrier. Has not only better firepower than pistol, but can also stun enemies.

- Increased mobility while aiming and shooting on the ground are nice bonuses.

[illusions mr. anderson]

Originally posted by BlackjackGT:

For the record, Arrowhead designer Patrik confirmed in the Liberty Day AMA that the Ninja SMG has zero, zip, nada actual stealth effect. It alerts patrols just like any normal weapon, he said. I've gotten into disagreements about that, so I specifically asked about it as part of the AMA. :)

I use Ninja sometimes on solo because the larger caliber seems to eliminate patrols quicker (which may just be psychosomatic on my part).

I still often equip Defender SMG. Carries a large number of magazines, and the mini-stun is useful. And it's got nothing to do with builds or effectiveness, but it has one of my favorite weapon sounds in the games. :) Even though it sounds like a hurricane, it's relatively conservative on ammo.

I'll often use Knight SMG on the high end difficulty missions. Even if it devours ammo like Pac-Man.

I do think it's tricky to solo using an SMG if only because its limited range makes it challenging to elminate patrols at long distances quickly. So more often on solo I'll carry an assault rifle or the DLC Stalwart Light MG because I can then eliminate patrols at range more easily and try to avoid mass firefights.

imho the beauty -- well one of the beauties :) -- of Helldivers is its diversity in weapons, stratagems, tactics, vehicles and equipment. You don't have to equip any specific 'build' to succeed. To me it's more, find what you enjoy using in the game that's effective, and then make it work for you. Cause if you're using something effective that you don't enjoy playing the game with, then it won't keep you hooked in the long term (imho).

But the diversity is hindered by the fact that SMGs are a bit underperforming don't you think? I am not saying all weapons should be able to solo as they obviously can fill different niches, but does anyone really think it is fun for the smg to have so little range?

You mention the defender, I love it too but I feel that I am hindering myself if I equip it and I am missing on the action as half the times I can't shoot stuff because they are out of range... :(

[Rippy]

I only like to use SMG because the bullet trails look really awesome, if you do not have the mini stun upgrade, it shoots out blue bullets and the Knight SMG happens to be one of the best shots fired boosting weapon in the game too.