Difference between revisions of "Heavy SMG"

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Heavy SMGs and [[assault rifle]]s are preferred weapons when it comes to "general" combat. The main differences are that the heavy SMG is cheaper and better at short range, and the assault rifle is better at medium-long range.
 
Heavy SMGs and [[assault rifle]]s are preferred weapons when it comes to "general" combat. The main differences are that the heavy SMG is cheaper and better at short range, and the assault rifle is better at medium-long range.
  
Specifically, the heavy SMG is better until 13 tiles, regardless of Shooting skill. The assault rifle is better past 13 tiles, regardless of Shooting skill. This is true for the vast majority of reasonable scenarios.{{ref label|Overcap|1}} The reason the heavy SMG is "skill-friendly" is that a low-skill shooter will be next-to-useless when firing from far away, independent of gun. An unmodified, skill 0 pawn has a {{%|0.89^25 round 2}} chance to hit from 25 tiles, which is ''then'' multiplied by x35% for a normal quality HSMG or x65% for normal AR (at this range).  
+
Specifically, the heavy SMG is better until 13 tiles, regardless of Shooting skill. The assault rifle is better past 13 tiles, regardless of Shooting skill. This is true for the vast majority of reasonable scenarios.{{ref label|Overcap|1}} The reason the heavy SMG is "skill-friendly" is that a low-skill shooter will be next-to-useless when firing from far away, no matter how accurate their gun is. An unmodified, skill 0 pawn has a {{%|0.89^25 round 2}} chance to hit from 25 tiles, which is ''then'' multiplied by x35% for a normal quality HSMG or x65% for normal AR (at this range).  
  
 
The assault rifle has a range 8 tiles longer. This allows the assault rifle to comfortably outrange enemies like [[tribal]]s, [[termite]]s, and [[centipede]]s. The assault rifle dominates for [[kiting]] tactics, or if you're repelling [[breacher]]s from a distance, or in a firefight when both parties are attacking from max range.  
 
The assault rifle has a range 8 tiles longer. This allows the assault rifle to comfortably outrange enemies like [[tribal]]s, [[termite]]s, and [[centipede]]s. The assault rifle dominates for [[kiting]] tactics, or if you're repelling [[breacher]]s from a distance, or in a firefight when both parties are attacking from max range.  

Revision as of 23:10, 2 March 2023

Heavy SMG

Heavy SMG

"A compact, wide-caliber slug-thrower. Very short range, but it packs a punch and handles quite well."

Base Stats

Type
EquipmentWeapons
Tech Level
Industrial
Weapon Class
Industrial
Market Value
355 Silver
Mass
3.5 kg

Ranged Combat

Mode
Burst
Damage
12 dmg (Bullet)
Armor penetration
18%
Warm-Up
54 ticks (0.9 secs)
Cooldown
99 ticks (1.65 secs)
Range
22.9 tile(s)
Accuracy
85% - 65% - 35% - 20%
Velocity
48 (m/s)
Burst Count
3 (per burst)
Burst Ticks
11 ticks (0.18 secs)
(327.27 RPM)
DPS
12.34
Stopping power
0.5

Melee Combat

Melee Attack 1
Grip
9 dmg (Blunt)
13% AP
2.0 seconds cooldown
Melee Attack 2 
Barrel
9 dmg (Blunt)
13% AP
2.0 seconds cooldown
Melee Attack 3 
Barrel
9 dmg (Poke)
13% AP
2.0 seconds cooldown

Creation

Crafted At
Machining table
Required Research
Gas operation
Skill Required
Crafting 5
Work To Make
24,000 ticks (6.67 mins)
Resources to make
Steel 75 + Component 4
Technical
weaponTags
Gun, IndustrialGunAdvanced
thingSetMakerTags
RewardStandardQualitySuper


The heavy SMG is a moderately heavy, multi-shot ranged weapon that fires 3-shot bursts of rounds which deal a moderate amount of damage each; a moderate delay between each shot; a moderate time between bursts; slightly shorter range and moderate overall accuracy. Recommended for low skill shooters.

Acquisition

Heavy SMGs can be crafted at a machining table once the Gas Operation research has been completed; from Steel 75 Steel, Component 4 Componentss and 24,000 ticks (6.67 mins) of work. A crafting skill of at least 5 is required.

They are also commonly carried by Outlanders and Pirates and sold by traders or obtained from the following raider kinds:

Raider Kind Chance Average Quality Health
Town Guard 6.09% Normal 60-200%
Mercenary Gunner 14.62% Normal 70-320%
Ancient Soldier 11.40% Normal 100%

Analysis

The heavy SMG is a flexible, but close-quarters focused offensive weapon. Its accuracy makes it very friendly towards low Shooting skill users.

Specifically, the heavy SMG combines good low-range accuracy, decent rate of fire, and high per-shot damage to make an overall effective weapon for any skill. At said ranges, it will outdamage the machine pistol, assault rifle, and even the charge rifle (for up to 10 cells). It's worse than the chain shotgun at close-quarters fights, but has a greater max range, making it more effective for general firefights and flexible overall.

Range, though not as short as other weapons in its class, still leaves a little to be desired. Similarly to the machine pistol, the heavy SMG's stopping power isn't high enough to stagger humans, only small animals like tortoises and boomrats.

Stats

Against an unarmored human, a heavy SMG can kill with 4 hits to the torso, 3 hits to the head, 2 hits to the neck or 1 hit to the brain; cripple or destroy limbs in 3 hits; and cripple or destroy eyes and digits with a single hit. It'll generally take around 6 hits (~8.8 seconds average) to incapacitate that human from pain shock.

The heavy SMG is best paired with a careful shooter up to level 13, then with a trigger-happy shooter beyond that point.

Comparisons

Comparison to assault rifles

Heavy SMGs and assault rifles are preferred weapons when it comes to "general" combat. The main differences are that the heavy SMG is cheaper and better at short range, and the assault rifle is better at medium-long range.

Specifically, the heavy SMG is better until 13 tiles, regardless of Shooting skill. The assault rifle is better past 13 tiles, regardless of Shooting skill. This is true for the vast majority of reasonable scenarios.[1] The reason the heavy SMG is "skill-friendly" is that a low-skill shooter will be next-to-useless when firing from far away, no matter how accurate their gun is. An unmodified, skill 0 pawn has a 5% chance to hit from 25 tiles, which is then multiplied by x35% for a normal quality HSMG or x65% for normal AR (at this range).

The assault rifle has a range 8 tiles longer. This allows the assault rifle to comfortably outrange enemies like tribals, termites, and centipedes. The assault rifle dominates for kiting tactics, or if you're repelling breachers from a distance, or in a firefight when both parties are attacking from max range.

Therefore, whenever heavy SMGs or ARs are better will depend on what you are looking for:

  • In a killbox, both weapons perform roughly the same, as you can change the length of the killbox to compensate for your weapon of choice. In a pure killbox scenario, Heavy SMGs are often the preferred weapon, as they are significantly cheaper. (When using an SMG killbox, give yourself a bit more than 13 tiles of range.)
  • Outside of a killbox, but in a defensive emplacement, the superiority depends on shooting accuracy.
    • Assault rifles are better for higher skill shooters. They are a lot better at medium-long range, so are a lot better in an overall firefight. Only skilled shooters are competent at shooting at this range.
    • Heavy SMGs are better for low-skill shooters. HSMGs are better against melee attacks, which shooters of any skill can help with. They are also better against sudden drop pod raids and infestations, due to the close-ranged nature of both fights.
    • Note that the chain shotgun is the ultimate short-range weapon, for both low- and high- skill shooters. However, the heavy SMG allows low-skill users to at least try to fire at long range, providing some help, and eventually training up the Shooting skill.
  • If relying on offensive or otherwise mobile tactics, the assault rifle is a clear winner regardless of skill due to its range and accuracy at longer ranges.

Notes:

1 When fighting larger targets, like centipedes, it is possible to cap at 100% accuracy with assault rifles. This requires a high quality weapon and an great shooter. As further shooting bonuses (masterwork/legendary weapons, bionic eyes, luciferium, shooting specialistContent added by the Ideology DLC, etc.) would boost the heavy SMG but not the assault rifle, this would make the SMG better than the AR from a longer distance. However, assault rifles still have a superior max range.
For human targets, reaching the accuracy cap should be impossible unless the Combat in Darkness preceptContent added by the Ideology DLC is used in darkness.

Attack table

Ranged

  • Heavy SMG Heavy SMG Accuracy
    (Touch)
    Accuracy
    (Short)
    Accuracy
    (Medium)
    Accuracy
    (Long)
    DPS
    (Optimal)
    DPS
    (Touch)
    DPS
    (Short)
    DPS
    (Medium)
    DPS
    (Long)
    Market
    value
    Quality Dam. AP
    Awful 10.8 16.2% 68% 52% 28% 16% 11.11 7.55 5.78 3.11 - 178 Silver
    Poor 12 18% 76.5% 58.5% 31.5% 18% 12.34 9.5 7.28 3.95 - 265 Silver
    Normal 12 18% 85% 65% 35% 20% 12.34 10.49 8.02 4.32 - 355 Silver
    Good 12 18% 93.5% 71.5% 38.5% 22% 12.34 11.6 8.88 4.81 - 445 Silver
    Excellent 12 18% 100% 78% 42% 24% 12.34 12.34 9.63 5.18 - 530 Silver
    Masterwork 15 22.5% 100% 87.75% 47.25% 27% 15.43 15.43 13.57 7.25 - 885 Silver
    Legendary 18 27% 100% 97.5% 52.5% 30% 18.51 18.51 18.14 9.81 - 1775 Silver

    For the full effects of qualities, see Quality. Values shown in Red indicate the weapon is out of range at the reference point for this range band.
    The value is provided due to the interpolated nature of accuracy between range points.

  • Melee

    Feature Toggle
    AttacksRitual Quality Check Off.pngRitual Quality Check On.png
  • Heavy SMG Heavy SMG Grip (Blunt) Barrel (Blunt) Barrel (Poke) Human: Left & right fist (Blunt) HP Value
    Quality
    DPS[1] AP[1] Dam. Cool. AP DPS Chance[2] Dam. Cool. AP DPS Chance[2] Dam. Cool. AP DPS Chance[2] Dam. Cool. AP DPS Chance[2]
    Awful 3.98 11.6% 7.2 2s 10.4% 3.6 8.33% 7.2 2s 10.4% 3.6 8.33% 7.2 2s 10.4% 3.6 8.33% 8.2 2s 12% 4.1 37.5% 100 178 Silver
    Poor 4.07 11.82% 8.1 2s 11.7% 4.05 20% 8.1 2s 11.7% 4.05 20% 8.1 2s 11.7% 4.05 20% 8.2 2s 12% 4.1 20% 100 265 Silver
    Normal 4.4 12.75% 9 2s 13% 4.5 25% 9 2s 13% 4.5 25% 9 2s 13% 4.5 25% 8.2 2s 12% 4.1 12.5% 100 355 Silver
    Good 4.74 13.73% 9.9 2s 14.3% 4.95 25% 9.9 2s 14.3% 4.95 25% 9.9 2s 14.3% 4.95 25% 8.2 2s 12% 4.1 12.5% 100 445 Silver
    Excellent 5.08 14.7% 10.8 2s 15.6% 5.4 25% 10.8 2s 15.6% 5.4 25% 10.8 2s 15.6% 5.4 25% 8.2 2s 12% 4.1 12.5% 100 530 Silver
    Masterwork 5.92 17.14% 13.05 2s 18.85% 6.53 25% 13.05 2s 18.85% 6.53 25% 13.05 2s 18.85% 6.53 25% 8.2 2s 12% 4.1 12.5% 100 885 Silver
    Legendary 6.59 19.09% 14.85 2s 21.45% 7.43 25% 14.85 2s 21.45% 7.43 25% 14.85 2s 21.45% 7.43 25% 8.2 2s 12% 4.1 12.5% 100 1775 Silver

    For the full effects of qualities, see Quality.

    1. 1.0 1.1 Note: This is the actual base average derived from the melee verb system updated in 1.1.2610, it may sometimes disagree with the listed value in the in-game infobox.
      It may also change depending on the stats and the melee verbs available to the wielder if the weapon is wielded by some other than a baseline human.
    2. Chance for attack to be selected, assuming the weapon is wielded by a baseline human. It may change depending on the melee verbs available to the wielder

    Graphs

    The graphs assume a normal quality heavy SMG against an adult human that's out in the open in clear weather. For DPS, projectile speed has also been factored into the equation, with the weighting based on the base amount of attacks that it'll take to put the aforementioned target into pain shock.

    Heavy SMG's accuracy with various shooters without any trait.

    Heavy SMG's accuracy with various shooters with careful shooter.

    Heavy SMG's accuracy with various shooters with trigger-happy.

    Version history

    • 0.9.722 - Added.
    • Beta 19 or prior - Sprite updated, old sprite used on machine pistol
    • Beta 19/1.0 - All melee attack damages increased 8 -> 9, cooldown increased from 1.6s -> 2s.