Maxim 9

title: "Maxim 9" weaponClass: "Pistol" rarity: "Named" baseDamage: 150000 rpm: 250 mag: 17 reload: 1.8 headshotMultiplier: 1.5

At a Glance

The Maxim 9 is a Named integrally-silenced pistol that has carved out one of the most unusual niches in The Division 2 — a sidearm that hits hard enough to be a real damage dealer, fires fast enough to keep tempo, and has a magazine large enough that you do not feel like you are running out of ammunition every five seconds.

With a 150000 base damage value, 250 RPM and a generous 17-round magazine, the Maxim 9 essentially functions as a high-damage SMG that happens to live in the pistol slot. It scales with sidearm-specific brand bonuses, fits into builds that other primary weapons cannot serve, and has the integrated silencer feature baked into the chassis design rather than as a removable mod.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-25 - TU22.1 - Verified vs in-game

Stats

Core numbers

• Base damage: 150000 per shot
• Rate of fire: 250 RPM
• Magazine: 17 rounds
• Reload: 1.8 seconds (full)
• Headshot multiplier: 1.5x
• Optimal range: 0-30m
• Damage falloff start: ~25m
• Aim down sights time: ~0.2s

Damage output

• Body DPS (sustained): ~625K
• Headshot DPS (sustained): ~937K
• Burst (mag dump, body): 17 shots x 150K = 2.55M in roughly 4 seconds
• Time-to-kill on a 1M HP red bar: under 1.5 seconds

Handling

Maxim 9 is one of the smoothest pistols in the game to handle. The recoil is light, ADS is fast, and the integrated silencer adds a slight downward pull that actually helps stability. The 1.8 second reload is fast for the class, and the 17-round magazine is large enough that most engagements end before you need to reload.

Talent

Maxim 9-specific talent

The Maxim 9 talent rewards weapon swapping. When you swap from your primary to the Maxim 9, the pistol gets a substantial damage buff for a window of time — typically 5-10 seconds at 30-50% damage uplift. The talent encourages a hybrid playstyle where the pistol is not just a backup, but an active rotation tool.

This makes Maxim 9 one of the few sidearms in the game that genuinely rewards the swap mechanic. Pair it with primaries that also have swap-based talents and you can chain damage buffs across both weapons.

Practical tips

• Swap to Maxim 9 the moment your primary needs to reload
• Combine with primaries that have swap talents like Determined or Reformation
• The buff window is generous, so do not panic-swap
• Reload your primary while the buff is active on Maxim 9 to keep tempo

Top Builds

Hunter's Fury Aggressor

Three-piece Hunter's Fury plus Brazos de Arcabuz holster plus Lengmo backpack. Maxim 9's swap talent fires every time you switch from your primary, layering on top of Hunter's Fury's close-range damage stacks. The result is one of the most lethal sidearm rotations in the game.

Striker Hybrid

Four-piece Striker plus Coyote's Mask plus Walker, Harris and Co. holster. Maxim 9 maintains Striker stacks during reloads of your primary, which keeps your damage uptime as high as possible. Strong for any build that values sustained DPS.

Skill Hybrid

Three-piece Hard Wired plus Sokolov chest. Maxim 9 fills the gaps between skill cooldowns, and the swap buff means you do not lose damage uptime even when skills are recharging.

PvE-PvP

PvE

In PvE, Maxim 9 is one of the strongest sidearms in the game. It carries solo Heroic content as a swap weapon, dominates close-range engagements when your primary needs a reload, and works exceptionally well in Countdown where target priority shifts constantly. The 17-round magazine is large enough to handle multiple targets, and the 150K base damage is high enough that even body shots delete reds quickly.

It is especially valuable on builds that run a long-range primary, since Maxim 9 covers the close-range gap that MMRs and rifles struggle with.

PvP

In Conflict, Maxim 9 is a respected secondary that can win duels. The swap talent activates the moment you switch, which means a primary-to-pistol transition during a fight gives you a real damage spike. Most opponents do not expect a pistol to hit as hard as Maxim 9 does, and the surprise factor pays dividends.

In the Dark Zone, the silenced design helps mask your shots from triangulation and the high damage profile makes it a viable contested-loot weapon.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• 150K base damage is among the highest in the pistol class
• 17-round magazine is generous for a sidearm
• 1.8 second reload is fast
• Talent rewards weapon swapping, layering with primary buffs
• Integrated silencer for stealth-leaning play
• Strong in PvE and PvP

Cons

• 1.5x headshot multiplier is class-standard, not exceptional
• Damage falls off past 25m
• Pistol slot competes with other strong sidearms
• Talent buff is timed, so over-extending mid-buff still gets you killed
• Build investment to maximize swap synergy

FAQ

Maxim 9 or D50?

D50 has higher per-shot damage but a smaller magazine and slower fire rate. Maxim 9 has more sustained DPS and a more flexible talent. For pure burst, D50. For sustained sidearm damage, Maxim 9.

Does the silencer have a mechanical effect?

The silencer reduces sound profile, which has tangible benefits in stealth-leaning open-world play and slight benefits in PvP triangulation. It is also baked into the chassis, so you do not have to choose between silencer and other muzzle mods.

What is the best brand bonus?

Hunter's Fury and Striker are both excellent. Hunter's Fury rewards the close-range play Maxim 9 excels at, while Striker rewards the sustained fire its large magazine enables.

Can Maxim 9 carry a build solo?

It can fill a primary role in builds that focus on sidearm damage, especially with the right gear bonuses. More commonly it is run as a high-impact secondary.

Does the talent buff stack with itself?

No. Swapping back and forth does not stack the buff — it just refreshes the timer. The buff is meant to reward genuine weapon rotation, not abuse.

Closing

Maxim 9 is the pistol that finally makes the sidearm slot feel like a real damage option. Most pistols in The Division 2 are emergency tools — Maxim 9 is a rotation tool. The high base damage, generous magazine, fast reload and swap-rewarding talent combine into a sidearm that earns its slot in serious builds. Whether you run it as backup to a long-range MMR or as a hybrid swap tool with an aggressive AR primary, Maxim 9 holds up across PvE Heroic, Legendary, Conflict and DZ runs. It is one of the most distinctive named pistols in TU22.1 and one of the few sidearms that genuinely shapes how you build around it.