MP5-SD is the only submachine gun in CS:GO with a silencer. In addition, this gun is a rare example of a weapon added to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive long after the game’s initial release. But which gun is better for CTs: MP5 vs MP9? Which SMG is the best? CS.MONEY Blog sorts out what to buy when playing on CT-side, and most importantly, why one gun is much better than the other.
And we really hope you haven’t bought any skins for MP9 or MP5-SD before reading this article. We’ve selected a couple of gorgeous options below—and if you decide to get skins for MP9 or MP5-SD, just click on the links or jump to CS.MONEY with prices cheaper than Steam Marketplace!
MP9 vs MP5-SD: Pros & Cons
First things first, let’s simply compare each gun’s main attributes and parameters to determine which is best at least on paper. MP9’s strong sides:
- High rate of fire: 857 rounds per minute versus 750 for MP5-SD.
- Low price. $1250 vs $1500.
- Higher accuracy in motion and the overall mobility. MP9 allows you to shoot on the run.
On the other hand, here’s MP5-SD’s strong sides:
- Easier and smoother recoil. MP5-SD’s shots are much more manageable.
- One more base damage point: 27 vs 26.
- Built-in silencer.
Obviously, MP5-SD has only one substantial strong side: its silencer. MP5-SD’s built-in silencer hides tracers and muffles shots, completely removing them with increasing distance. But, well, not without a couple fo caveats.
Is MP5-SD’s Silencer That Good?
The only significant strong side that we found in MP5-SD comes exists only with Built-in and Useless prefixes. In real life, built-in silencers are much more effective than removable ones. Legend has it, a shot made from MP5-SD is so quiet that it’s drowned out by the clang of SMG’s moving metal parts. This, of course, is not true. However, the advantage of built-in silencers over removables is obvious.
In CS:GO, however, it works the completely other way. M4A1-S and USP-S have silencers that entirely hide sound at a distance of 800 units, which is about 20 meters. To make it clearer, imagine the distance from the Double Doors exit to approximately the middle of the Pit on Dust 2. And both of these guns are accurate at this distance. This means that when flanking an enemy, a player armed with M4A1-S and USP-S can click a head, send an enemy to respawn and hide, and the enemy team will not hear a sound. Awesome, isn’t it?
MP5-SD’s silencer completely hides sounds at a distance of 1000 units, which is approximately 25.5 meters. Seems insignificant, right? That’s true, everything’s fine here. But there are two really annoying things about MP5-SD which ruin almost everything: accuracy and damage fall-off over a distance.
Imagine a situation. You successfully flanked your opponents on Dust 2’s Long. You stand behind the corner closer to the Attack base, and your opponents are just passing by the Car. Amazing timings. You need to do only one thing: click a head, maybe two, and it’s in the bag. Well, here’s where problems occur. MP5-SD’s one bullet to the head won’t kill the enemy even if it’s not protected by a helmet. And landing the shot is also not guaranteed: MP5-SD’s accurate shooting range is just around 14 meters. This means that even aiming exactly at the center of the head, about a third of your shots will fly past. That sucks!
By the way, we have also analyzed the differences between MP9 and MP7. It’s not so obvious there! Read the guide here:
So, MP9 or MP5-SD? Which gun is better?
The entire MP5 family, including MP5-SD, are truly legendary weapons. But in CS:GO, this gun can only offer a cool look and that’s it. MP9 is at least no worse in all respects, and noticeably better in some of them compared to MP5-SD: price, mobility, rate of fire… With MP9 you’re turning into a real hurricane that rushes around the map in search of victims. And with MP5-SD, you can make some cool shooting sounds and… that’s it.
But there’s one final point one can’t ignore when choosing weapons in CS:GO. Skins.
MP5-SD vs MP9 in terms of skins
Skins-wise, MP9 has 34 options to choose from, while MP5-SD has twice as less, only 17! Fortunately, both weapons can boast of various skins: realistic, bright, shiny, colourful, extraordinary, etc.
Best skins for MP5-SD
MP5-SD Agent radiates professionalism and rigor of a real FBI agent and costs from one dollar to five. MP5-SD Gauss would make a nice addition to Doom Guy’s arsenal, and generally resembles a beam-firing energy cannon, priced only around $2. And the most delicious option is MP5-SD Oxide Oasis, for true connoisseurs of expensive skins for useless guns (starting at 50 dollars-a-piece and up to $700).
Buy now: MP5-SD Agent, MP5-SD Gauss, MP5-SD Oxide Oasis.
Best skins for MP9
Let’s start with a smart MP9 Hypnotic, which skyrocketed in price thanks to CS:GO’s transition to the new engine, Source 2. This weapon finish sparkles with bright colors and does it gorgeously, enchanting. MP9 Goo shouldn’t be underestimated either, as it’s a fun and cheap CS:GO SMG skin, and its StatTrak version look supercool for just five dollars. But our favourite is MP9 Featherweight, designed for the fans of perforated gaming devices and pseudo-volumetric skins, moreover, at a reasonable price: about two dollars.
Buy now: MP9 Hypnotic, MP9 Goo, MP9 Featherweight.
Regarding the variety of skins, MP9 and MP5-SD drew. Therefore, just pick whichever gun you like most, MP9 versus MP5-SD, and go browse for the best skins! By the way, all skins are available on CS.MONEY: faster, better and cheaper than on Steam.
