It wouldn't be Call of Duty multiplayer without the presence of SMGs, even in the rare chance they're not considered top-tier. Considering the popularity of Call of Duty multiplayer was built on hectic close quarters combat, it's understandable that some of the best weapons in all of the games are SMGs. Typically boasting a quick fire rate and TTK, being able to shred through multiple enemies in close range always makes these guns ferocious in most multiplayer modes. In some cases, SMGs have been able to give ARs and other various rifles a run for their money, something Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has been dealing with a lot in its pre-season.
Frankly, there hasn't been a single Call of Duty game where the multiplayer wasn't dominated by at least one overpowered SMG: Modern Warfare 2 had the UMP45, the first Black Ops had the AK74u, 2019's Modern Warfare had the MP5, and to presumably nobody's surprise, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's best SMG is also the MP5. Veterans from Modern Warfare jumping into the Black Ops Cold War beta knew immediately what the best gun in the game was, and not much has changed since. The MP5 did receive a pretty significant nerf in Black Ops Cold War recently, but that still hasn't stopped it from being a dominant weapon in multiplayer usage.
It should go without saying that anyone using the MP5 should be playing a run-and-gun playstyle, moreso now than pre-patch. With the MP5's damage falloff increased alongside minor recoil changes, the SMG is no longer as strong at range as it used to be. The ranged damage changes weren't huge, but they were consequential enough to make most medium range engagements much more difficult. Most ARs and tactical rifles like the M16 will now outgun the SMG at medium range. Recoil changes really only applied to initial vertical recoil, so it's just a minor adjustment. Either way, the post-patch MP5 is still an incredibly strong SMG among its counterparts, though no longer excessively better than other SMGs in its category.
MP5: Best Attachments Overall
For attachments, there are quite a few stats and attributes players will want to prioritize to make the MP5 an incredible close-range killer in Black Ops Cold War's multiplayer. Optics used to be preferential for the SMG, but with the recent damage range nerfs, it's better to prioritize a red dot/reflex sight (Quickdot, Millstop, etc.) compared to anything 2x or larger. For muzzles, there's a few options depending on the playstyle: for muzzle flash concealment and overall stealth use, stick to the two suppressors (Sound Suppressor and Agency Suppressor) both of which affect effective damage range but Agency assists with vertical recoil. For vertical recoil control, stick to the compensators (Muzzle Brake 9, Infantry Compensator, SOCOM Eliminator), just keep an eye on the decrease in horizontal recoil control and shooting move speed.
For Barrels, the Task Force is incredibly strong with only minor trade-offs, but has a high weapon level requirement. Before then, it's best to stick with anything boosting bullet velocity (Extended, Reinforced Heavy, and Ranger) as the other barrels have more niche usages. For body attachments, stick to boosting hip fire accuracy like Steady Aim Laser or the SWAT Laser, as reveal distance shouldn't matter for SMGs. For underbarrel attachments, they largely synergize with the rest of the weapon build. Some boost movement speeds (Red Cell, Patrol, SFOD) while others manage recoil control (Foregrip and Field Agent), but keep an eye on the movement speed cons as well.
Same deal with the MP5's magazines as well: some high capacity mags (40 Speed Mag, STANAG 50 Drum, Salvo 40 Fast Mag) can really knock down ADS time, so keep that in mind when choosing an extended mag. Several of the MP5's handles can augment ADS time to circumvent that issue (Speed Tape, SASR Jungle Grip, Serpent Wrap), but they affect sprint to fire time which is very important for the MP5. Some wraps affect flinch resistance as well, good for those who are in ADS often. As for stocks, they augment movement abilities, but stick to any that boost sprint-to-fire time (Collapsed or No Stock) without severely changing hip fire accuracy.
MP5: What Attachments To Prioritize For Run-and-Gun Playstyles
SMGs in general are all about agility, so for anyone building out an MP5 in Black Ops Cold War, the main priority is speed and an effective TTK in its intended range. Utilizing a Gunfighter wildcard used to be extremely strong pre-patch, but even with the nerf, the MP5 is augmented by Gunfighter and excels as a solo weapon. As for recommended attachments, each category has at least one: For optics, stick with short range Red Dot sights or none at all. The MP5's vertical recoil is changed but still fairly manageable, so for muzzle attachments, stick to the Sound Suppressor or Muzzle Brake 9 to not lose any more effective damage range.
If players have the Task Force barrel unlocked, use it; The extra damage, damage range, and bullet velocity is essential. Otherwise, stick to the Reinforced Heavy or Ranger barrels for that extra bullet velocity. Underbarrel synergizes with barrel choice, so either use Patrol Grip or Foregrip so as not to sacrifice movement speed. For body, always use Steady Aim Laser for optimal hip fire accuracy with no downsides. Magazines are really up to preference, just be careful with the ADS downsides on several of them. Similarly for handles, only use an ADS boost attachment like Speed Tape if there's another attachment in use effecting ADS time, otherwise opt in for flinch resistance. Stocks all boost different movement speeds, but for MP5, using the Collapsed Stock boosts sprint to fire time which is easily the best option.
It's hard to gauge whether the MP5 will fall very far from its former pedestal, as the recent nerfs only really bring it down to par with the rest of the SMGs. Weapons like the AK-74u and the Bullfrog are on the rise now that "Sub Machine Gun Alpha" is no longer on top, but it still doesn't change how strong the MP5 still is. However, the MP5 is no longer as dangerous at medium range as it used to be. Now, in many cases, ARs like the Krig 6 or XM4 oftentimes outgun the MP5 at 2+ meters, which in retrospect of the change makes total sense. However, met in close quarters, the MP5 is still just as strong and capable as before. MP5s will still outgun shotguns in tight rooms, just don't expect to be long-shotted by very many MP5s anymore.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.