U4GM Tips for Testing COD MW4 SMG Builds After the Update

Modern Warfare 4's November 13 update gives SMG players a reason to revisit close and medium-range builds. The biggest practical changes are better damage retention, reduced flinch, and a new rule for fighting through smoke. If you spend most matches pushing objectives or clearing cramped rooms, MW4 Bot Lobbies can offer a calmer place to test these changes before taking a new setup into public matches.

Smoke No Longer Does the Aiming for You

Aim assist now switches off when you fire through Smoke Grenade cover or the Smoke Wall Field Upgrade. That also applies to small openings made by bullets and explosions, so tracking someone through a thin gap will take real stick control. You'll notice it most during objective fights. A player who used to hold the trigger and follow movement through smoke now has to read the target, make manual corrections, and avoid wasting a magazine.

Weapon Maximum Range First Mid Range Minimum Damage
PPSh-41 10.8 to 13.34 m 20.19 to 21.34 m 13 to 14
Wz.55 Striga 11.94 to 14.61 m 21.34 to 28.7 m 19
ISO Nightshade 11.68 to 12.45 m 20.45 to 22.99 m 14 to 16
X-58 Nyx 10.8 to 11.94 m 19.94 to 21.59 m Not changed

Range Tuning Makes Several SMGs Easier to Trust

The PPSh-41 is the clear winner for aggressive players. Its close-range damage area now reaches 13.34 metres, while its first middle damage band extends to 21.34 metres. A weaker damage step was removed, and its floor rose from 13 to 14. The Wz.55 Striga gets the broadest reach increase, with its first middle band stretching to 28.7 metres. The ISO Nightshade also loses a damage step and rises from 14 to 16 minimum damage. Across the SMG group, incoming flinch drops by 15.6 percent and outgoing flinch falls by 15.5 percent, unless a weapon has separate values.

Try the PPSh-41 when you expect constant close pushes.
Pick the Wz.55 Striga for lanes that sit just outside normal SMG distance.
Use smoke for movement and cover, not for effortless target tracking.
Test range attachments before spending slots on them, as base profiles now reach farther.

Other Weapons and Event Progress

The Rezi 12 and Warlord receive modest range improvements, while light machine guns gain 19.3 percent less incoming flinch and deal 13.3 percent less to opponents. Wager Match trophy rates are higher across Multiplayer, and DMZ receives better trophy drops alongside changes to the Resupply Run event. Grind token audio has also been repaired, and CDL Operator heads should no longer look wrong at certain distances.

What Players Should Test First

Start with the PPSh-41 and Wz.55 Striga on a small map, then move into a mode with longer sightlines. Watch how often you lose fights after the first damage drop, and pay attention to smoke engagements without aim assist. The Joint Fire event runs through November 19, so Double XP and Double Weapon XP tokens are useful for unlocking fresh attachments. With a little practice, cheap Bot Lobbies MW4 can help you compare recoil, range, and smoke habits without the pressure of a live match.

Modern Warfare 4's November 13 update gives the PPSh-41, Wz.55 Striga and ISO Nightshade better range, while lower flinch makes SMG fights feel steadier. U4GM offers MW4 Bot Lobbies support for players preparing fresh loadouts and Wager Match sessions. Visit https://www.u4gm.com/cod-mw4/bot-lobbies to review the service, then get back in-game with less waiting.