The Sniper Elite series is home to some of the best sniper games in gaming. With Sniper Elite 5 out, players get to see the success being carried over in many aspects, which makes Sniper Elite 5 a great game. Dropping players in war-ravaged France gives them an opportunity to try out a new setting, with Nazis running around. However, the best part is that the game is a fleshed-out World War 2 shooter, and it's on Gamepass.

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Because of that, players both old and new can jump into one of the more unique shooters in the gaming world. The name of the game references snipers, however, there's a lot more in terms of weapons. The Player's loadouts can be completed with both an SMG and a pistol to make running and gunning a little easier. Not all SMGs are equal in Sniper Elite 5, and because of that, players will need to experiment with what works. This list should help them figure out which SMG they want to play with.

6 Stengun Mk2

sniper elite stengun Mk2

The best part about the weapons in Sniper Elite 5 is how upgradable they are. Some weapons may be good at a base level and get better with upgrades, and others, not so much. The reason why the Stengun Mk2 is so high on the list is because of its power. While the SMG is great for mobility and control, that comes at a cost of being a high damage weapon. However, players shouldn't stay away from it because it is upgradable.

What can make the Stengun Mk2 so appealing, is how many customizations can go on to it, which is a lot. Because of that upgradability, the gun gets better, but the players would need to play a decent amount with it. So for starting off, the Stengun Mk2 would not be the ideal weapon, especially for newer players. If the player is rather close to the enemy, then the Stengun Mk2 does shine. But Sniper Elite 5 is mainly about the long-distance firing, so players may opt for an SMG that can somewhat match that.

5 Welgun SMG

sniper elite 5 welgun smg

Just like the Stengun SMG, this weapon has some issues with it that can be upgraded. The Welgun SMG is a great replacement for the Stengun SMG as well, with even better accuracy, and better mobility. But players should have one of the best pistols in Sniper Elite 5 to accommodate the not-so-great qualities of the Welgun SMG. Just like Stengun SMG, it's a rather difficult weapon to use at the base level, so players should have a backup plan.

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Having a sidearm like the 1911 can make things easier for the player to complete their mission. However, with upgrades, the Welgun SMG makes players a threat, since the power finally comes up. On top of having Welgun get better, players can upgrade the ammo capacity. At the start, the Welgun SMG holds a 32 cartridge magazine but can be expanded to hold 44. This allows the player to reload less and take down enemies more often, meaning they'll be able to clean an area before anyone knows.

4 M1A1 Gov

sniper elite M1A1 Gov

This SMG will probably be used by most players since it's unlocked at the start of Sniper Elite 5. The M1A1 Gov has limitations, but in the areas it's good in, it shines. Starting off, the M1A1 Gov is highly upgradeable, players can really make this weapon their own. However, the M1A1 Gov can only perform well at short range due to its limited visibility on the iron sight. After upgrades, this weapon can become a great addition to the loadout because of how diverse it becomes.

Mixing in the upgrades and the short range, the M1A1 Gov becomes a rather balanced weapon, that allows players to play with more aggression. However, as mentioned before, the M1A1 Gov being a short-range weapon and players should understand the limitations. So with that in mind, a player's play style is limited to those types of firefights, which can be hard depending on well they fight.

3 Machine Pistol .44

sniper elite 5 Machine Pistol .44

One of the things that makes the main character of Sniper Elite 5, Karl Fairburne so deadly is his accuracy, and the Machine Pistol .44 amplifies that. This is best showcased during the cinematic cut scenes after perfect headshots. While the SMG is rather hard to control at the start, it makes up for that with the distance it gets. Allowing players to not fully rely on the snipers they're using to get those medium or close-range shots. Additionally, the distance isn't the only thing that makes the Machine Pistol .44 great, but also its power.

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If players need to get rid of enemies fast, this gun can fluidly do just that, however, they need to be careful since accuracy is down at close range. Upgrading the Machine Pistol .44 is great, but at the base level, it's quite impressive. If players have this weapon and any sniper on them, they can be creative with how they take down enemies. While this weapon feels unbalanced, players who spend more time with it will note how easy it gets over time.

2 Type 100

sniper elite type 100

Unlike the other secondary weapons featured in this list, the Type 100 does have some great qualities. Most of the SMGs in Sniper Elite 5 are fairly good in the damage department, however, the Type 100 fails. But, that shouldn't deter players from it out with attributes that make it better than most other weapons. The big one is that the Type 100 has very little recoil, meaning the weapon won't hurt a lot, but the shots will land more often. Many of the secondary weapons in Sniper Elite 5 have high recoil, so the Type 100 shines well here.

Plus, rapid-fire at a base level of this weapon, allows players to mow down Nazis with ease when using it. Since the Type 100 doesn't need many upgrades, players get more time with the weapon as it is. So getting through each level becomes easy if players have this weapon in their loadout. However, even with upgrades, the Type 100 has a low magazine size of 40 in total. This won't be as big of an issue, because the Type 100 is very accurate, so more shots will count.

1 Machine Pistol .40

sniper elite machin pistol. 40

Probably one of the best SMG players can find in Sniper Elite 5 because it's a great all-around weapon to have. The Machine Pistol. 40 is a rather easy gun to use, and in Sniper Elite 5 that makes a world of difference. From having a quick reload speed, to being very good on the control, players will find this weapon feels good as well. The only thing that can be argued against the gun is the slow fire rate and somewhat low power. However, since the Machine Pistol. 40 is a balanced gun, players won't have an issue with those aspects.

The best part about the Machine Pistol. 40 is how versatile it is, and how dynamic it can make the player's loadout. What makes Sniper Elite 5 an amazing game outside of Call of Duty: Vanguard, is how much attention is put into the weapons. The best weapon to show that is the Machine Pistol .40. Because of the diverse ways players can use it and how common it is in Sniper Elite 5. Players can either surprise the enemy or do a full-on assault. In general, the Machine Pistol. 40 is a great secondary weapon for any play style.

Sniper Elite 5 is available now on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and PC.

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