Best Fortnite Save the World SMGs

Best SMGs in Fortnite Save the World

Below is a detailed list of some of the most respected and high-performing SMGs in the Save the World meta. These weapons have earned their reputation through consistent performance, flexible perk rolls, and synergy with certain Soldier hero loadouts. While personal preference and mission parameters can influence which SMG is truly “the best,” these options offer a strong foundation to build upon.

Silent Specter

The Silent Specter is widely known for its incredibly high fire rate and relatively quiet firing sound, making it a staple choice for players who want to shred through waves of husks at close to mid-range without drawing too much attention. Its base damage may seem modest compared to slower-firing SMGs, but the weapon more than compensates with a blistering rate of fire that can quickly break husk defenses. Because it fires so rapidly, the Silent Specter greatly benefits from critical rating and critical damage perks. Pairing these with a reload speed or magazine size perk can further amplify its damage uptime. For elemental missions, Energy is a popular element choice to keep the weapon versatile, though specialized elements can be used if you frequently face husks of a particular type. Overall, the Silent Specter’s main strength lies in its DPS (damage per second). While it can chew through light ammo supplies, a well-perked version of this SMG can handle hordes of enemies effectively. Consider pairing it with a hero build that supports fast reload speeds or reduces recoil, ensuring that you maintain accuracy even in the thick of battle.

Viper

The Viper is a compact SMG that boasts a high fire rate, moderate recoil, and a relatively swift reload. With a well-rolled schematic, the Viper offers a balanced approach, allowing it to excel in both crowd control and targeted single-enemy damage. Often overlooked due to its generic appearance, the Viper can become a reliable workhorse in your arsenal with the right perks. Critical hits can push the Viper’s DPS higher, but you can also build it for raw damage and elemental superiority. Some players prefer a magazine size perk on the Viper due to its swift ammo consumption, while others opt for reload speed to quickly swap out magazines and jump back into the fight. One advantage of the Viper is its accessibility; newer players who manage to obtain its schematic early on can enjoy a reliable SMG that will remain viable into mid- and late-game content, provided they invest in the proper perks. The Viper’s combination of ease of use, good mobility, and flexible perk slots ensures it remains a fan favorite for Soldiers and other classes alike.

Typewriter

The Typewriter is sometimes referred to as an SMG/assault rifle hybrid due to its aesthetic and performance, but it’s often used in the SMG role by players who love massive magazines and rapid burst damage. The Typewriter has a drum-mag style reload and a fast rate of fire that can quickly eliminate crowds of husks. One of the defining features of the Typewriter is its large magazine size, which can be further enhanced with perks. This allows you to continuously fire for an extended period before needing to reload, making it excellent for extended firefights where you must hold off multiple waves of enemies. In terms of perk selection, going for critical rating, critical damage, and at least one reload speed perk is popular. You might also consider physical or energy damage on the Typewriter, depending on the missions you face most frequently. While it’s often classified as an assault weapon, many players treat it like an SMG because of its intense rate of fire, relatively short effective range, and the fact that it shares some usage patterns with other SMGs in Save the World. The Typewriter can also pair well with certain Soldiers who grant bonuses to assault weapons, such as perks that increase assault weapon crit chance or reload speed. The weapon’s large magazine and formidable DPS potential make it a top contender for players looking for an SMG-like rifle that can clear waves of husks with minimal downtime.

Thrasher

The Thrasher is an SMG that has been in the game for a considerable time and remains an old favorite for many veteran players. Despite the introduction of newer SMGs, the Thrasher still manages to hold its ground due to its balanced stat line, decent accuracy, and versatile perk options. Its damage output is solid, especially if you stack critical rating and critical damage. The Thrasher can also work well with a pure damage build, but most players lean toward crit builds for SMGs, given how quickly they fire. A reload speed perk can be a significant boon, keeping you in the fight for longer stretches, while an elemental perk like Energy ensures you can handle elemental husks at higher mission levels. The Thrasher’s recoil is generally manageable, but you may still want to use a hero loadout that reduces recoil or improves stability if you find yourself missing shots. Thanks to its overall balanced nature, the Thrasher can fit into multiple mission scenarios, from defense missions where you need crowd control to mini-boss encounters where continuous rapid fire is invaluable. Though it doesn’t have a flashy gimmick or unique projectile pattern, the Thrasher’s consistency makes it a staple in many players’ weapon stashes. If you favor reliability over specialized features, the Thrasher remains a prime SMG choice.

Bobcat

The Bobcat is another SMG that quickly caught on with the Save the World community for its high damage output and rapid rate of fire. Similar to the Silent Specter in speed, but with a different feel and recoil pattern, the Bobcat can decimate waves of enemies if you handle it effectively. A well-rolled Bobcat can combine critical rating, critical damage, and an elemental perk to produce formidable DPS. Some players like to include a perk such as damage to slowed and snared targets if they build a loadout around crowd control heroes or traps that slow enemies. This synergy can lead to massive damage spikes. In terms of handling, the Bobcat can have a noticeable recoil pattern, so practicing burst firing or maintaining close-range engagements can help you land more shots. The weapon is especially potent for Soldiers with assault rifle buffs, though any hero who can mitigate recoil or improve SMG performance should consider the Bobcat as a top contender.

Founders’ Drumroll

The Founders’ Drumroll is a unique entry in the SMG/assault family and is part of the Founder’s weapons set. Like the Typewriter, it combines a high fire rate with a drum magazine, enabling extended firing sessions before needing to reload. This makes the Founders’ Drumroll ideal for missions where you have to stand your ground against extensive waves of husks. Perk-wise, many players opt for a mix of critical rating, critical damage, and a reliable element such as Energy. Reload speed can be beneficial since the drum magazine can take a while to swap out, though some users prefer raw damage or magazine size if they prefer a continuous spray-and-pray approach. The Founders’ Drumroll is often praised for its stability, though it still generates moderate recoil over sustained fire. Pair it with a hero loadout that improves weapon stability or reduces recoil to ensure you get maximum value out of its extended magazine. While not as ubiquitous as some of the other SMGs in Save the World, the Founders’ Drumroll remains a force to be reckoned with, especially in the hands of players who can harness its rapid-fire output effectively.

Hot Mix

The Hot Mix is a Boombox weapon that leans more toward fun aesthetics but still packs a punch in combat. It features a music-themed design and can rapidly unload a barrage of beats at husks. Despite its playful appearance, the Hot Mix has an impressive fire rate and can be extremely effective against grouped enemies. One of the Hot Mix’s standout attributes is its innate ability to cause husks to dance under certain conditions, depending on how you build the weapon and your hero synergy. This crowd control element can be a lifesaver in high-intensity missions. When it comes to perks, consider critical rating, critical damage, and an elemental perk (if possible) to bolster overall damage. You may also prioritize reload speed or magazine size to keep the music blasting. While some might consider the Hot Mix a novelty item, players who enjoy the Boombox set and want a competent SMG that offers a dash of entertainment will find plenty of value in this weapon. Just be mindful of the ammo consumption, as its rapid firing mechanism can burn through light ammo faster than you might expect.

Pepper Sprayer

The Pepper Sprayer is part of the Spy weapon set and features an extremely high rate of fire, making it feel right at home among SMG enthusiasts. Often recognized for its ability to rapidly damage enemies at close range, the Pepper Sprayer can be especially lethal if you pair it with perks like critical rating and critical damage. This weapon’s recoil can be more pronounced than some of the other SMGs, so accuracy might suffer at mid-range engagements. Still, for close-quarters combat, the Pepper Sprayer truly earns its name by “spraying” husks with a stream of bullets. Its damage potential is bolstered if you include perks that take advantage of slowed and snared targets, or if you use heroes that amplify assault weapon damage. One of the Pepper Sprayer’s strengths is how quickly it can break through husk health bars, particularly if you manage to land headshots. Its major weaknesses are ammo consumption and recoil, which can be mitigated with a thoughtful hero loadout and perk selection. Nonetheless, for a run-and-gun style of play, the Pepper Sprayer is an exceptional choice that can keep your missions spicy.

Loadouts and Team Synergies

Selecting the right hero loadout can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your chosen SMG. In Save the World, Soldiers have perks that specifically boost assault weapon damage, reload speed, or magazine size, all of which can directly translate to increased performance for SMGs if the SMG is categorized as an assault weapon in the game’s backend. Additionally, some Outlanders and Constructors can offer utility perks that indirectly benefit SMGs, such as reducing recoil, improving stability, or synergizing with traps that slow enemies, thus augmenting “damage to slowed and snared” perks. Consider pairing a top-tier SMG with heroes who:

1. Increase Assault Weapon or SMG Damage: Heroes like Master Grenadier Ramirez or Urban Assault Headhunter can grant additional damage to assault weapons, which often applies to certain SMGs. 2. Boost Critical Stats: Heroes that grant extra critical rating or critical damage can make high-fire-rate SMGs devastating in close-quarters combat. 3. Improve Reload Speed or Magazine Size: Soldiers such as Bullet Storm Jonesy excel at boosting reload and rate of fire, ensuring your SMG remains in action more consistently. 4. Provide Crowd Control: Heroes that slow, stun, or knock back enemies can set you up for even greater damage spikes, particularly if your SMG has perks that trigger additional bonuses against slowed or snared targets.

Example Loadouts

For a critical-hit focused approach, you might run a hero like Urban Assault Headhunter in the Commander slot for her bonuses to headshot damage and rate of fire. In your support team, you can include a hero who adds SMG or assault weapon damage and another who boosts critical rating or reload speed. This three-hero synergy ensures your SMG quickly tears through husks, while reloading remains relatively fast. If you prefer raw damage, try using a Soldier who grants flat increases to assault weapon damage, combined with a hero that adds bonus damage to mist monsters. This loadout can help you take on tougher enemies like Smashers and minibosses. Always remember to align your weapon perks with your hero bonuses to maximize synergy. If your loadout relies on causing affliction or snares, slot the appropriate perk on your SMG to capitalize on that synergy. Players seeking a more supportive or trap-focused style can run a Constructor or Outlander who places traps that slow enemies. If your SMG has “damage to slowed and snared” perks, you’ll find yourself dealing amplified damage to husks caught in those traps. In this scenario, magazine size and reload speed might be your best friends, allowing you to sustain fire on groups of trapped husks for as long as possible.