The Sturmwolf 45 has dominated Warzone’s SMG meta ever since it launched in Season 1 Reloaded, but a major balance update may have finally produced a serious challenger.

Season 1 Reloaded brought significant changes to Warzone, including key buffs and nerfs that reshaped the meta, along with the introduction of several powerful new weapons.

The standout was the Sturmwolf 45, which quickly established itself as the top SMG thanks to its fast time to kill and easy recoil control. Since then, it has remained largely uncontested in close-range engagements.

That situation is about to shift. A recent update delivered a major buff to the Razor 9mm, putting it in direct competition with the reigning SMG.

Razor 9mm becomes Warzone’s top SMG after major buff

In the January 22 patch, the Razor 9mm received a small increase to its medium damage range. While that change alone was minor, the additional adjustments made a much bigger impact.

Damage to the upper torso and arms has been increased, which matters since those areas are hit frequently. On top of that, recoil has been reduced in every direction, and movement speed has been noticeably improved. Together, these changes turn the Razor 9mm into one of the most well-rounded SMGs available.

Using the CODMunity tool to compare close-range meta weapons, the Razor 9mm clearly stands out. Within 12 meters, where most short-range fights occur, it posts a time to kill of just 540ms. No other SMG matches that performance. By comparison, the Sturmwolf 45 sits at 558ms, while the Carbon 57 comes in at 560ms.

Its effectiveness does taper off slightly at mid-range, but that is where pairing it with an Assault Rifle like the M15 Mod 0 makes sense. When used within its optimal range, there is currently no SMG in Season 1 Reloaded that can outperform the Razor 9mm.

If you want to take advantage of the new meta before Season 2 arrives on February 5, this weapon is well worth adding to your loadout.