Heavy SMG

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 project has been completed. Each requires 75 Steel, 4 Components, 24,000 ticks (6.67 mins) of work modified by the general labor speed of the crafter, and a crafting skill of 5.

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 (~7.08 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.

Comparison at Normal quality

Comparison at Legendary quality

Comparison to assault rifles

Heavy SMGs and assault rifles are the preferred weapons when it comes to "general" combat. The main differences are that the heavy SMG has a higher peak DPS, is cheaper and has better DPS at short range, while the assault rifle both has a longer range and has a better DPS 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 the player can control the engagement distance to reliably benefit from the higher peak DPS of the heavy SMG. They are also significantly cheaper and easier to research, meaning they can come online earlier. (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 a firefight that begins at the long ranges or that occurs over a variety of ranges. Note that only skilled shooters are competent at shooting at this range however.
- Heavy SMGs are better for low-skill shooters. HSMGs are better against melee attackers, 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 specialist, 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 precept is used in darkness.

Attack table

Ranged

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

^{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
Attacks

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]	HP	Value
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	2× 37.5%	100	178
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	2× 20%	100	265
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	2× 12.5%	100	355
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	2× 12.5%	100	445
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	2× 12.5%	100	530
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	2× 12.5%	100	885
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	2× 12.5%	100	1775

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality.}

↑ ^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.
↑ 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

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.
1.5.4062 - Texture updated again