Optimal C9 Loadout for Black Ops 6: Class Setup, Attachments, and Perks Guide

The C9 is undeniably one of the standout submachine guns (SMGs) in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, but its effectiveness hinges on the right build. Below is the ultimate C9 loadout, complete with attachments, perks, equipment, and more.

After community feedback, Treyarch reduced the damage range of the Jackal PDW, which had overshadowed assault rifles in the initial beta weekend. While the Jackal remains strong at launch, the C9 is still a top choice in multiplayer. Here’s our recommended configuration.

Optimal C9 Loadout for Black Ops 6

Muzzle: Ported Compensator
Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
Underbarrel: Ranger Foregrip
Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
Stock: No Stock

This loadout emphasizes enhancing the firepower and speed of the C9 while preserving its remarkable balance, which is essential for its popularity.

To kick things off, we suggest equipping the Ported Compensator, which significantly manages recoil for increased accuracy. Complementing this, a Reinforced Barrel boosts both damage range and bullet velocity, helping you effectively engage targets at medium distances.

The choice of Ranger Foregrip addresses two notable downsides by elevating both sprinting speed and horizontal recoil control.

You wouldn’t want to overlook the Ergonomic Grip, which dramatically enhances your Slide to Fire, Dive to Fire, and aim-down-sights (ADS) speeds. This becomes especially beneficial when utilizing advanced movement mechanics.

Ergonomic Grip in Black Ops 6 — Activision

The Ergonomic Grip ensures that agile players are even more challenging to deal with.

Lastly, utilizing the No Stock option greatly enhances movement speed, particularly affecting your strafing ability, allowing you to evasively navigate around enemy fire.

While some may prefer to swap out the Ported Compensator for a magazine attachment like the Extended Mag or Flip Mag, our experience shows that this loadout typically doesn’t require that additional ammunition.

Perks, Equipment & Combat Specialty

When assembling the rest of your C9 setup, prioritize speed and stealth, as swift engagements are critical for an SMG user.

Consequently, we’ve selected perks designed not to provide a Combat Specialty but to enhance your speed around the battlefield while becoming a nuisance for your foes.

The recommended perks and equipment for your C9 loadout are:

Wildcard: Perk Greed
Perk 1: Ghost
Perk 2: Fast Hands
Perk 3: Double Time
Perk 4: Ninja
Lethal: Semtex
Tactical: Stim Shot
Field Upgrade: Trophy System

While attachments have been tailored to mitigate the C9’s weaker aspects, the chosen perks and equipment focus entirely on mobility and stealth, allowing for strategic flanking gameplay.

Utilize these perks and equipment to elevate your gameplay.

In Perk 1, Ghost ensures you remain off enemy radar, enabling covert navigation on the map. Within Perk 2, Fast Hands enhances your weapon swap speed, which can be critical during intense confrontations.

Double Time is a staple for any SMG loadout, significantly increasing Tactical Sprint duration, while the fourth perk allows the addition of Ninja via the Perk Greed Wildcard, muffling your footsteps while you flank enemies.

While we skipped a Combat Specialty with our perk selection, we believe that trying to fit perks into the same category yields less effective results.

The Enforcer Combat Specialty provides tempo boosts to movement speed and health regeneration, making it beneficial, yet we declined to sacrifice our selected perks for alternatives in the first two tiers.

For equipment, the Stim Shot replenishes health and resets your tactical sprint—ideal for an aggressive playstyle—while Semtex Grenades are perfect for dislodging enemies from cover.

Lastly, the Acoustic Amp Field Upgrade, although less common, amplifies enemy footsteps, crucial for pinpointing foes during critical moments.

Pros and Cons of the C9 SMG

Pros	Cons
High accuracy	Sluggish mobility compared to other SMGs
Versatile but lacks dominance in specific areas	Balanced yet not exceptional in any category
Quick time-to-kill in close range	Significant horizontal recoil
User-friendly iron sights

C9’s Standing in the Black Ops 6 Meta

The C9 positions itself as a versatile option—effective in various aspects but not excelling in any single area. Other SMGs boast superior handling and agility, while alternative choices deliver more firepower.

Post the September 6 update, C9 and other SMGs display a comparable damage range of about 26 to 27 meters. Heading into the second beta weekend, the C9 registered an uptick in selection, hitting just above 10%, ranking as the third most favored weapon in the game, according to WZStats.

The XM4 trails closely behind by a mere 0.56%, while the Tanto. 22 leads at 10.97%, a number that may reflect the novelty of the weapon rather than its sustained popularity. Anticipate potential shifts in preferences, backed by statistical evidence.

Given that the C9’s impressive 246-millisecond time-to-kill bests the Jackal PDW’s 264 ms time at its base damage range, we predict the C9 could emerge as a prime choice, potentially dominating its class in Black Ops 6.

Unlocking the C9 SMG

You can unlock the C9 SMG once you gain access to custom loadouts at level 4, making it one of the simplest weapons to acquire in the game. Simply participate in a few matches to reach that level, and you can incorporate the SMG into your loadouts.

Alternative SMGs in Black Ops 6

If the C9 doesn’t meet your preferences, consider the Jackal PDW and Tanto. 22 as viable alternatives. Despite its nerf, the Jackal can still dominate in close-range encounters and offers unrivaled mobility and handling.

On the other hand, the Tanto. 22 presents a unique gameplay experience, utilizing a slower fire rate compared to other SMGs but delivering substantial firepower in medium-range battles.

Source