What is the best C9 loadout for Black Ops 6 and Warzone? SMGs are a fantastic gun class in Call of Duty multiplayer; compact frames and high rates of fire make them a CQB powerhouse, with not many alternatives coming close to being as effective. We have the best Black Ops 6 C9 loadout so you can take the fight to your enemies.
The C9 became the go-to Black Ops 6 beta weapon after the Jackal PDW got nerfed into the ground. With excellent recoil control and a fast TTK, you can’t go far wrong with this SMG in the FPS game. Breezing its way into our best Black Ops 6 loadouts list, here are the best C9 loadout options for both BO6 and Warzone.
How to unlock the C9 in Black Ops 6
Fortunately, the C9 is unlocked at player level one, meaning you can use it as soon as you hop into multiplayer for the first time. It also means you won’t have to use a permanent unlock token (more on that in our Black Ops 6 Prestige guide) if you do want to use it all the time.
Best Black Ops 6 C9 loadout
- Optic: Kepler Microflex
- Muzzle: Ported Compensator
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Stock: Balanced Stock
- Underbarrel: Ranger Foregrip
- Magazine: Flip Mag
- Rear Grip: CQB Grip
- Fire Mods: Rapid Fire
Kicking off the loadout we have the Kepler Microflex – one of our favorite close-range sights. Typically we wouldn’t run a sight on an SMG as you’re seldom going to be acquiring targets at any sort of range, but the addition of the Long Barrel to bring it into the mid-range arena necessitates it. Polish off the front end with the Ported Compensator to keep recoil down and help you land your first couple of shots, and we’re off to the races.
Next up we have the Ranger Foregrip which further helps with recoil, while the CQB Grip will assist with nailing those enemies that make the mistake of getting too close.
The Balanced Stock keeps our mobility high, allowing you to maneuver around the map with ease, and the Flip Mag enables a hasty reload for when things get heavy. As getting your time-to-kill down is the key to excelling in CoD, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we’ve finished off the loadout with the Rapid Fire mod to turn the C9 into a laser.
If you’re using the C9 as a secondary weapon with Overkill, then we’d recommend dropping the sight, barrel, and magazine. Odds are you’re going to be pairing it with a ranged option, rendering the first couple of attachments unnecessary. Additionally, as you’ll be swapping between two primary weapons, you won’t have to rely on the Flip Mag to keep you in the fight.
Best Black Ops 6 C9 class build
- Secondary weapon: Cigma 2B
- Melee: Knife
- Tactical: Stim Shot
- Lethal: Drill Charge
- Field Upgrade: Tactical Insertion
- Perk 1: Gung-ho
- Perk 2: Assassin
- Perk 3: Double Time
- Specialty: Enforcer
- Wildcard: Gunfighter
The key to getting the most out of the C9 is being aggressive – you’ll get more out of the SMG by being close to your enemy, so push the pace and don’t let them breathe. We’ve put together a build package that accentuates this gotta go fast playstyle, turning you into a spikey blue hedgehog in the field.
As we’re taking the Gunfighter Wildcard, you’re going to need to make do with either a sidearm or a launcher. Because of the Flip Mags, we haven’t found a need to run the former, granting you the option to be on chopper-kabooming duty with the Cigma 2B. If you’d rather stick to being anti-personnel, then take up the HE-1 instead, or any of the pistols you enjoy using.
In the Tactical slot, we’ve gone for the Stim Shot to stay topped up on health, and keep us zooming around the map. Before clearing a building, lob a Drill Charge at it to cause chaos for enemies holed up inside, making them easier to pick off.
To maximize your rat potential, use the Tactical Insertion Field Upgrade to manipulate spawns in your favor, keeping you behind enemy lines.
As we really want the movement speed and regen buffs from the Enforcer Specialty to keep us ticking over, we’ve gone for the Perk trio of Gung-ho, Assassin, and Double Time. All three Perks are designed to support your run-n-gun antics, though you can swap Gung-ho for Dexterity if you find yourself making liberal use of Black Ops 6’s Omnimovement mechanic.
Best Warzone C9 loadout
- Muzzle: Suppressor
- Barrel: Long Barrel
- Underbarrel: Ranger Foregrip
- Magazine: Extended Mag II
- Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
The best Warzone C9 loadout trims the extra Gunfighter attachments, making it a strong candidate for a sniper support build or anything with it as a secondary shooter.
If you’re running any SMG with a sniper, stealth will be a massive priority so the Suppressor is a must-use. Said muzzle should be attached to the Long Barrel, which maximizes the weapon’s range. You’ll still lose out to ARs at mid-long range, but that’s what your primary’s for.
Next up we have the grip combination of the Ranger Foregrip and the Ergonomic Grip. The C9 has a surprising amount of horizontal recoil, which the former will deal with to the point that you’ll only need to do some light recoil management to keep it in check. The latter, meanwhile, offers up a ton of mobility – every SMG’s best friend. Finally, slap on the Extended Mag II to ensure you never run out of rounds in multi-hostile engagements.
Best Warzone C9 class build
- Secondary weapon: LR 7.62
- Melee: Knife
- Tactical: Smoke Grenade
- Lethal: Semtex
- Perk 1: Dexterity
- Perk 2: Quartermaster
- Perk 3: Ghost
- Wildcard: Overkill
As we’re going for a sniper support setup here, lock in Overkill and the trusty LR 7.62. This powerful bolt-action sniper can polish off a target with one shot to the head, chest, and arms, making it incredibly consistent – especially with the best LR 7.62 loadout in tow.
In the Tactical slot, we’re big Smoke Grenade enjoyers. Not only does it make your rotations easier, but you’ll gain a fighting advantage against non-suppressed weapons with the C9 as they won’t be able to track you where you can easily keep tabs on them via the minimap. The Lethal slot, meanwhile, is largely down to personal preference – we’ve gone with the Semtex.
For perks, we’ve gone for a trio that supplements each component of this build. Dexterity is fantastic for helping your C9 stay stable while you’re diving about. Quartermaster recharges your equipment over time, granting more smokes and Semtex. The final perk, Ghost, is a must-use for snipers as it’ll keep you off UAVs and other pesky radar equipment.
Best Black Ops 6 C9 alternatives
The best Black Ops 6 C9 alternative is the best KSV loadout. The KSV is a top-tier SMG that is innately slightly snappier than its classmate in a few regards – namely reload quickness, weapon swap speed, and fire rate. This also makes it a fabulous pick for an Overkill SMG if you’re looking for a robust secondary shooter.
That is the best Black Ops 6 C9 loadout. If you want something slightly different, and you prefer fighting at range, check out the best Black Ops 6 XM4 loadout, and the best Black Ops 6 LR 7.62 loadout – either one should see you right.
Original guide by Paul Kelly.