If you're trying to dial in an SMG class for Black Ops 7, don't treat it like an AR with a shorter barrel. You're moving nonstop, picking fights on your terms, and resetting before the lobby can punish you. I usually warm up in the CoD BO7 Bot Lobby because it's the quickest way to feel what's actually working today, not what sounded good in a menu.

Start With The Feel, Not The Stats

The first thing you'll notice is sprint-to-fire makes or breaks your whole game. If your gun comes up late, you're done. That's why a control-focused stock that removes sprint-to-fire penalties is so hard to drop once you've used it. You can slide out, cut a corner, and still get bullets on target without that weird half-second where nothing happens.

Ammo That Lets You Punch Up

People hear high-velocity ammo and think it's only for longer guns, but it's sneaky on an SMG. It keeps your shots feeling "real" when someone's sitting just outside your comfy range. That 15–25 meter space is where AR players get cocky. With faster bullet speed, you don't have to over-lead, and your bursts land before they can settle in.

Grip vs Underbarrel, Pick One Job

Don't stack attachments that all try to solve the same problem. If your recoil is the issue, run a stabilizing underbarrel and accept the tradeoff. If it's your first-shot wobble and you're losing the opening bullet, a tactical grip usually feels better. The key is how it plays while you're moving, not how it looks in a recoil chart.

Perks For People Who Don't Sit Still

Ninja is popular because it changes the pacing. That sprint speed boost lets you hit lanes before people are ready, and the quick reset means you can take a close fight, dip, then re-challenge from a new angle. Pair it with Ghost when you're flanking, or swap to something like Easy Target when you're taking more straight-up duels.

Hip-Fire Is Your Emergency Exit

There are moments you just won't have time to ADS. Door swings, stair landings, someone bunny-hopping into your face. That's where Steady Aim earns its slot, especially on tighter maps. You're not "only hip-firing," you're buying yourself a reliable panic button so you can keep moving and keep pressure on.

Practice Like You're About To Be Punished

When you test a build, don't just shoot walls for two minutes and call it done. Run routes, clear common headies, and force yourself to reload at bad times so you learn the timing. Crank bot difficulty and play objectives like it's ranked. If you want the fastest confidence boost, set a loadout, run three matches, tweak one thing, then repeat. That's why some players buy CoD BO7 Bot Lobbies and treat it like a real training loop, not a casual warmup.