At a Glance
MP5 ST is a base submachine gun that occupies the balanced middle of the SMG class — moderate rate of fire, moderate per-bullet damage, and a stat profile that works in nearly any SMG-friendly build. Base damage of 25,000 per bullet, 800 RPM cadence, 30-round magazine, fast 1.9-second reload, and a 1.5x headshot multiplier define a weapon built for sustained CQC engagements without the extreme tradeoffs of heavier or faster SMGs.
- Who this is for. Players who want a reliable SMG that does not force them into a single archetype. MP5 ST works in proximity builds, kill-chain builds, and skill-DPS hybrids equally well.
- Balanced workhorse. 800 RPM is fast enough to clear groups, slow enough for control, and the 25K per-bullet damage is competitive for the class. The 1.5x HS multiplier is class-standard.
- Acquisition. Drops everywhere — particularly common from True Sons and Cleaners enemies. Targeted Loot rotation includes it on a roughly 5-week cycle. Easy to farm a god-roll.
- Best fit: Strikers Battlegear, Hunter's Fury aggressive setups, In Sync chest builds, generalist Heroic loadouts.
Full Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Base Damage | 25,000 |
| RPM | 800 |
| Magazine | 30 |
| Reload | 1.9s |
| Optimal Range | 20m |
| Headshot Multiplier | 1.5 |
Intrinsic Attributes (random roll)
The intrinsic on MP5 ST rolls weapon damage and a secondary like CHD, HSD, or damage to elites. God-roll farming aims for 14-15% on the primary and 12-13% on the secondary. Targeted Loot rolls average to higher rolls than open-world drops.
Customization Slot (Open)
MP5 ST's customization slot is open and accepts any SMG-class talent. The natural fit is Optimist for the ramping mag damage, but the moderate RPM and 30-round mag also make Pummel and Killer strong picks. The HK heritage of the rifle (compact, controllable) shows in the recoil pattern, which makes it forgiving for talents that reward sustained on-target fire.
Built-in Mods
Standard SMG mod slots — optic (red dot default), magazine, underbarrel, muzzle. The MP5 ST's balanced stat profile means it benefits from CHC and CHD mods more or less equally — there is no obvious "wrong" mod choice on this rifle. Magazine extension mods are popular for keeping Optimist stacks alive longer.
Weapon Talent: Customizable (Balanced Profile)
"Customizable Talent Slot" — Accepts any SMG-class talent. The 25K base damage and 800 RPM cadence reward sustain talents like Optimist or kill-chain talents like Killer.
The mechanic is the same as any base SMG — open talent slot, any SMG-class talent compatible. The difference is that MP5 ST's stat profile is balanced enough that nearly any SMG talent works. Optimist scales cleanly because the 800 RPM lets you reach max stacks within the first half of the mag. Killer pairs with the per-bullet damage for kill-chain rotations. Pummel rewards aggressive burst kills.
In practice, MP5 ST plays like the default SMG. You fire at SMG range, the 800 RPM clears grouped reds without burning the mag too fast, and the 1.9-second reload means you spend more time on target than reloading. On a Strikers Battlegear build, MP5 ST is one of the most reliable sustain SMGs in the class.
Practical numbers from a verified Optimist + Vigilance + Memento setup:
- Body shot, full mag, Optimist max: ~33,000 per bullet
- Body crit, Optimist max + Vigilance + Memento: ~125,000 per bullet
- Headshot crit at full stack: ~190,000 per bullet
- Sustained DPS, full mag: ~1.7M
The 25K base damage is lower than Police UMP-45 but the 800 RPM compensates. Sustained DPS across a full mag favors MP5 ST in extended engagements, while Police UMP-45 wins on per-shot ceiling.
Top Builds
MP5 ST × Optimist × Strikers Battlegear
The flagship sustain SMG build. Strikers stacks weapon damage on hits, Optimist ramps mag damage, and the 800 RPM is fast enough to ramp both stack engines together without burning the mag too quickly. Strong in extended Heroic engagements.
MP5 ST × Killer × Hunter's Fury × Coyote's Mask
The kill-chain proximity build. Killer gives 50% CHC after kills, Coyote's Mask adds swap-procced CHC, and Hunter's Fury rewards close engagement. Strong in tight Heroic rooms where kills come fast.
MP5 ST × Pummel × Memento
The aggressive burst build. Pummel rewards burst kills with bonus damage, Memento layers trophy stacks, and the 800 RPM puts kills out fast enough to keep Pummel active. Strong in solo Heroic clear runs.
PvE vs PvP
In PvE, MP5 ST is the default SMG. The 800 RPM clears grouped reds without burning the mag too fast, the 25K per-bullet damage scales into yellow burst with sustain talents, and the 1.9-second reload keeps you on target. The 20m optimal range is shorter than heavier SMGs, so MP5 ST encourages aggressive positioning. Where it falls off is the longest engagements — for those, an AR is the better pick.
The 30-round mag and fast reload are both excellent. You spend less time reloading than on Police UMP-45's 25-round mag, which means stack uptime is high and sustain talents like Optimist realize their full potential.
In PvP, MP5 ST is a strong CQC weapon. The 800 RPM wins most duels against slower SMGs, and the 25K per-bullet damage is enough to kill squishy DZ targets quickly. The 1.5x HS multiplier is class-standard. Most ranked players treat MP5 ST as a reliable workhorse rather than a meta pick.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | | — | — | | Balanced stat profile works in any build | 25K per-bullet damage lower than UMP-45 | | 1.9s reload is fast for the SMG class | 20m optimal range is short | | 800 RPM is the SMG sweet spot | Class-standard 1.5x HS multiplier | | Customization slot accepts any SMG talent | Lacks a defining damage ceiling | | Drops everywhere, easy to farm | Generalist — no extreme strengths |
Comparison
Versus Police UMP-45, MP5 ST has the higher RPM and lower per-bullet damage. UMP-45 is the heavy SMG, MP5 ST the balanced SMG. Different roles in the same slot.
Versus PP-19, MP5 ST is the standard-cadence pick. PP-19 fires at 1100 RPM and trades per-bullet damage for volume. MP5 ST sits in the middle of the cadence range.
Versus Honey Badger, MP5 ST is the random-rolled SMG to Honey Badger's locked premium AR. Honey Badger plays at SMG range despite the AR class label, which makes the comparison closer than expected.
FAQ
Is MP5 ST still good after TU22? Yes. The stat profile is balanced enough that no balance pass has needed to touch it. Optimist remains the meta first-pick talent.
What talent should I roll on MP5 ST? Optimist for sustain, Killer for kill-chain rooms, Pummel for burst. Optimist is the most common first pick.
MP5 ST or Police UMP-45? UMP-45 for harder per-shot hits, MP5 ST for sustained fire across a longer mag. Different tools, both worth keeping.
Can I run MP5 ST in raid? Yes. With Strikers and Optimist it is a viable raid SMG for close-quarters phases and CQC positioning.
How long to farm a god-roll? Targeted Loot rotates every 5 weeks. Outside the window, True Sons and Cleaners drops give you a steady supply within 1-2 hours of farming.
Closing
MP5 ST is the default SMG. The 25K base damage, 800 RPM cadence, 1.9-second reload, and 1.5x headshot multiplier put it firmly in the balanced middle of the SMG class, and the open customization slot accepts any SMG talent. Roll an Optimist variant and pair it with Strikers Battlegear for one of the most reliable sustain CQC builds in the SMG class.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-25 · TU22.1 · Verified vs in-game